In September and October 1943, the German battleship Tirpitz was photographed by three members of ...

Place Europe: Norway
Accession Number P02511.010
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white - Print silver gelatin
Maker Dixon, John Hugh
Place made Norway
Date made 23 September 1943
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

In September and October 1943, the German battleship Tirpitz was photographed by three members of 543 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU), RAF, while lying in Alten Fiord, prior and subsequent to its attack by midget submarines of the Royal Navy on 22 September 1943. This aerial photograph, taken the day after the attack, identifies a naval force comprised of four ships, including two destroyers and two requistioned Norwegian warships, Harald Harfagre and C A Larsen, which were added to the German war effort. While the outlines of these ships are faintly visible they were not separately described in the original image. The photographer, 405595 Flying Officer (FO) John H Dixon, a member of the RAAF, flew with this unit from its base in northern Russia monitoring the movements of this and other components which formed a larger battle group. For his wartime service, FO Dixon later received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

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