Triumph and Tragedy

Triumph and Tragedy for D-Day Naval Aviators

26 Fleet Air Arm aircrew lost their lives during Operation Neptune, supporting Allied forces in the English Channel and providing air cover for the landings in France between 6 June 1944 and 3 July 1944.   

Tragically two young fighter pilots from the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (Air) Branch died on D-Day itself, 6 June 1944, whilst taking part in fighter spotter missions, carrying out sweeps over the beachheads and providing naval gunnery spotting and reconnaissance for battleship and cruiser shore bombardment forces. Another, in a courageous endeavour, made it home safely.

Sub Lieutenant (A) Anthony Bassett RNVR (21) was killed flying a Fleet Air Arm Supermarine Seafire, Serial No. NF533 of 885 Naval Air Squadron, when he was hit by flak and crash landed close to Sword Beach. He is buried in Hermanville War Cemetery, Normandy, France and is also commemorated on Column One of the British Normandy Memorial.

The other pilot to lose his life on D-Day was Sub Lieutenant (A) Hugh Cogill RNVR (20). He was flying a Supermarine Spitfire, Serial No. EN 821 assigned to 808 Naval Air Squadron, when he was hit by enemy fire and the aircraft dived into the English Channel near Le Harve while he attempted to bale out. Sub Lieutenant Cogill’s body was not recovered but he is commemorated on the Fleet Air Arm Memorial at Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire and on Column One of the British Normandy Memorial.

Lieutenant (A) William Wallace RNVR was flying a Supermarine Seafire, Serial No. NF537 of 886 Naval Air Squadron operating from HMS Daedalus, Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire, the busiest UK airfield on D-Day, when he was hit by flak while flying over the Normandy beaches. He made a forced landing, and then in an act of remarkable bravery, walked back to the French coast through No-Man’s-Land, the treacherous area between opposing sides, surviving his ordeal, and making it safely back to the Allied Invasion Forces.

A service of Remembrance will be held at the Fleet Air Arm Museum on 6 June 2024 at 10.30 am to remember the naval aircrew who fought and gave their lives during Operation Neptune. Many were lost over the English Channel and France and their names are commemorated in the Fleet Air Arm Roll of Honour held in the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church at RNAS Yeovilton. Later in the day, the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church will join the nation, ringing their bells at 6.30pm and conducting a Lamplight of Peace ceremony at 9.15pm. Navy Wings Swordfish W5856 in D-Day invasion markings will fly over the Fleet Air Arm Memorial Church at 6.30pm for the start of the national bell ringing.

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