Bristol Beaufort Mk.I

The second in a successful trio of twin-engine aircraft designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company during the 1930s, the Beaufort is the only monoplane produced for the RAF designed from the outset as a torpedo bomber and reconnaissance platform. Developed from the Blenheim light bomber, the Beaufort was ordered off the drawing board, illustrating the RAFs urgent need for an effective torpedo bomber. Although initially intended as an evolutionary adaptation of the existing Blenheim bomber, the new aircraft looked significantly different from its predecessor, with a much deeper front fuselage section housing a crew of four and the ability to carry a torpedo in a semi-recessed configuration.

Bristol Beaufort Mk.I (N1016 OA*X)
No. 22 Squadron, RAF Coastal Command
6th April 1941.

Fg. Off. Kenneth Campbell (RAFVR)
23 yrs. old (B: 21 04 1915. D: 06 04 1941)

On the morning of 6th April 1941 Fg. Off. Campbell and his crew (Sgt's J P Scott, R W Hillman and W C Mullis) attacked the German battleship, Gneisenau, in Brest harbour, France.
The Gneisenau, moored on the north shore of the harbour, was protected by a stone mole, numerous anti-aircraft batteries and three heavily armed anti-aircraft ships. Running the gauntlet of the defences, attacking at almost sea level, he passed the anti-aircraft ships at less than mast height and skimming over the mole launched a torpedo at point-blank range.

On attempting to evade the high ground behind the harbour, his aircraft was subject to overwhelming anti-aircraft fire from the hills and his aircraft was destroyed. The crew all died in the crash, and they were buried in Brest, by the Germans with full military honours.

News of the successful attack on the Gneisenau, putting her out of action for 6 months, only reached London when résistance groups reported the events which resulted in the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Fg. Off. Campbell.

The Citation Reads:
"This officer was the pilot of a Beaufort aircraft of Coastal Command which was detailed to attack an enemy battle cruiser in Brest Harbour at first light on the morning of 6th April 1941. The aircraft did not return but it is known that a torpedo attack was carried out with the utmost daring.

The battle cruiser was secured alongside the wall on the north shore of the harbour, protected by a stone mole bending around it from the west. On rising ground behind the ship stood protective batteries of guns. Other batteries were clustered thickly round the two arms of land which encircle the outer harbour. In this outer harbour near the mole were moored three heavily armed anti-aircraft ships, guarding the battle cruiser. Even if an aircraft succeeded in penetrating these formidable defences, it would be almost impossible, after delivering a low-level attack, to avoid crashing into the rising ground beyond.

This was well known to Flying Officer Campbell who, despising the heavy odds, went cheerfully and resolutely to the task. He ran the gauntlet of the defences. Coming in at almost sea level, he passed the anti-aircraft ships at less than mast-height in the very mouths of their guns and skimming over the mole launched a torpedo at point-blank range. The battle cruiser was severely damaged below the waterline and was obliged to return to the dock whence she had come only the day before.

By pressing home his attack at close quarters in the face of withering fire on a course fraught with extreme peril, Flying Officer Campbell displayed valour of the highest order."

Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 10 March 1942. 13 March 1942, Numb. 35486, p. 1163

The crew all died in the crash, and they were buried in Brest, by the German Naval forces with full military honours. His crew were Sgt's J P Scott, R W Hillman, and W C Mullis. News of the successful attack on the Gneisenau, putting her out of action for 6 months, only reached London when résistance groups reported the events which resulted in the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Fg. Off. Campbell.