Just recently my Nan passed away. She named her only son Barry after her cousin who was killed in 1942. The Story she used to tell was that he was the gunner in a Swordfish and he was killed attacking the Bismarck. As a child this was a good story but as I grew older and interested in history I knew it not to be correct and whilst she was alive I didn’t want to upset her so I left it at that. Just recently I began to look into the story.
It turned out old Nan just had the wrong boat and the wrong plane. Barry Cain was a wireless operator and rear gunner of a Bristol Beaufort and on the 17 may 1942 he and a mix of Beauforts, Beaufighters and Blenheims set out to attack the Prince Eugen off the coast of Norway. The report reach costal command on the 16th of may stating that the Prince Eugen was escorted by two destroyers but when the attacking force arrived on the 17th of may it was escorted by 4 destroyers. The Beaufighters went in first raking the ships with cannon fire , as the blenheims made dummy torpedo runs to further distract the gunners, Some Bf109’s from I./JG 5 appeared and the Blenheims attempted to fend them off. Three Beauforts were shot down by defensive fire before they could release there torpedo’s and it is believed that Barry was on one of these three aircraft.
This action is believed to be one of the last actions for 42 squadron as they were moved from Scotland to the North African campaign in June 1942.
I don’t think anyone from my Nan’s side of the family new or visited Barry’s grave which is in Sola Norway and after a plea for help on this forum one man replied. I wish to thank JON-OLAV HOLDEN for replying and arranging for the photographs of Barry’s grave in Norway and also the kind people at the Sola cemetery for taking the pictures (There are no common wealth war graves cemeteries in Norway).
Sorry for the long post but these story’s to me make the forum the great place it is.
Once again many thanks to all involved.
It turned out old Nan just had the wrong boat and the wrong plane. Barry Cain was a wireless operator and rear gunner of a Bristol Beaufort and on the 17 may 1942 he and a mix of Beauforts, Beaufighters and Blenheims set out to attack the Prince Eugen off the coast of Norway. The report reach costal command on the 16th of may stating that the Prince Eugen was escorted by two destroyers but when the attacking force arrived on the 17th of may it was escorted by 4 destroyers. The Beaufighters went in first raking the ships with cannon fire , as the blenheims made dummy torpedo runs to further distract the gunners, Some Bf109’s from I./JG 5 appeared and the Blenheims attempted to fend them off. Three Beauforts were shot down by defensive fire before they could release there torpedo’s and it is believed that Barry was on one of these three aircraft.
This action is believed to be one of the last actions for 42 squadron as they were moved from Scotland to the North African campaign in June 1942.
I don’t think anyone from my Nan’s side of the family new or visited Barry’s grave which is in Sola Norway and after a plea for help on this forum one man replied. I wish to thank JON-OLAV HOLDEN for replying and arranging for the photographs of Barry’s grave in Norway and also the kind people at the Sola cemetery for taking the pictures (There are no common wealth war graves cemeteries in Norway).
Sorry for the long post but these story’s to me make the forum the great place it is.
Once again many thanks to all involved.
Comment