Eric Arthur Mills

Joined HMS Victorious on 11/7/1941 after training in Trinidad and leave.

Germany's Operation Barbarossa threatened the survival of the Soviet Union. The British decided that the best way to show support for their new ally would be to attack ports occupied by the Axis; the use of carrier-borne aircraft had previously been shown effective at Taranto and against the battleship Bismarck.

The strike force, consisting of the two carriers, two cruisers, Devonshire (flagship of Rear
Admiral Wake-Walker) and Suffolk, and six destroyers (Escapade, Active, Anthony, Achates,
Antelope and Intrepid) left Scapa Flow for Seidis Fjord in Iceland on 23 July 1941. They arrived two days later, refuelled and sailed the following day for Norway. The destroyer Achates was mined off Iceland on 25 July and towed home by Anthony; they were replaced by Inglefield and Icarus. The strike was supposed to be a surprise attack but, since it was light for 24 hours a day at that time of year, surprise was almost impossible and was lost when the attacking force was spotted by aircraft shortly before launch of the attack.

HMS Furious attacked ships in the harbour of Petsamo, Liinahamari, launching nine Fairey Albacores from 817 Squadron, nine Fairey Swordfish of 812 Squadron and six bomb armed Fairey Fulmars from 800 Squadron. In the end, the harbour was almost entirely empty and the raiders claimed the sinking of only one small steamer and the destruction of several jetties, amid heavy antiaircraft fire. One Albacore and one Fulmar were lost due to enemy action and one more Fulmar was lost due to engine failure prior to the attack.

The raid on Kirkenes was a disaster. The Luftwaffe had been alerted and had their Bf 109 and Bf 110 fighters in the air and waiting.

Victorious launched two sub flights consisting of a total of 12 Albacores from 827 Squadron, eight Albacores from 828 Squadron, and nine Fulmars from 809 Squadron. The Fulmars were unable to rendezvous with the Albacore squadrons, who were thus left without fighter protection. TheAlbacores had to attack by flying over the mountains and the fjord rather than attacking from the sea. There were only four cargo vessels within the harbour. The aircraft released their torpedoes quickly to get away from anti-aircraft fire, sinking one 2,000 long tons (2,000 t) vessel, setting another on fire and causing minor damage ashore. One Bf 109, two Bf 110s and one Ju 87 were claimed shot down for the loss of 11 Albacores and two Fulmars, with a further eight Albacores damaged.

Incomplete German loss records confirm the loss of at least one Bf 110 to a Fulmar and
one Ju 87 to an Albacore.

827 Sqn HMS Victorious - Albacore N4364, lost without trace.
Lt Maurice McKendrick
Mid Eric Mills
LA Frank Sharples - MIA

Unknown