26 May 1941. In mid-morning, Coastal Command Catalina Mk.1 WQ-Z (s/n AH545) piloted by Flying Officer Dennis Briggs, RAF 209 Squadron, RAF Castle Archdale, Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, spotted Bismarck (via her oil slick) and reported her position to the Admiralty.
Improbably, I stumbled into Waterloo station just after this occurred and they were straightening things out. My train was moved from platform 1 to 19 (which I duly ran) then back again to platform 1 (which I ran again).
Hopefully not a metaphor.
Born 20 May 1920, Flying Officer John Alexander Cruickshank VC, AE. For his actions on 17 July 1944, he was awarded the VC for sinking a German U-boat and, despite serious injuries, safely landing his aircraft. The last surviving recipient to have been awarded the VC during WW2.
In Shere In Surrey, the museum has a tribute to Hoppy Hopgood of 617 squadron who died 86 years ago today. His legacy is building a dam in Uganda . #perarduaadastra