www.tinyurl.com/hmsfiji www.tinyurl.com/hmsfijiassociation _____________________________________________________________________________ \\\\\___H.M.S. FIJI ASSOCIATION___\"-._ /////~~~ we will remember them ~~~/.-' _____________________________________________________________________________ A GERMAN PILOT'S MEMORIES OF THE BATTLE OF CRETE _____________________________________________________________________________ The Following is a copy of a letter sent to (HMS Fiji Survivor, ex-Boy Seaman) Reg Verne by (ex-Luftwaffe Pilot) Gerd stamp: Major Gerhard Stamp, born on June 3, 1920 at Bamberg, died on May 21, 1998 _____________________________________________________________________________ From: Gerd Stamp Obernhoferstr .41 5408 Nassau/Lahn 16th November 1986 To: Mr R.A Verne 63 St Johns Road Bedhampton Hants PO 9 3TRR Dear Mr Verne Thank you very much for yours of 31st October 1986. Let me first mention that I admired your compilation of HMS Fiji news to a scrap book, from which every reader can learn a lot. I was about to write to Admiral William Powlett, but you say that he remembers almost nothing of the 22nd May 1941. I saw your ship from above, and I dived at her during the early afternoon. However, I am not quite sure if it wasn’t the Gloucester. It must have been during that attack that the Fiji shot down one of our aircrews, who never returned. The pilot was the son of a Luftwaffe general. Another pilot's JU88 was hit by the Fiji’s A.A. He force landed near Monemvasia. He is still around and when I told him on the phone about my contacts to Fiji Members, he immediately replied that he was shot down by you’re A.A. His engines were fading and near Monemvasia he had to swim. The pilot, who dropped the final bombs on Fiji, was a close friend of mine. I enclose a photograph, but you will get a better one as soon as I shall have copies made. His name was Gerhard Brenner, born 1918 at Ludwigsburg near Stuttgart. He is a cheerful chap, full of humour. He loved girls and he was constantly fighting his 8 years older sister, who is still around. On the 14th June 1942 Brenner attacked a cruiser ‘Vigorous’ south of Crete. His JU88 was forced to land north of the convoy in a high sea. We shadowed him for 3 days but had neither helicopters nor a ship to rescue him. Seaplanes could not land on the high waves. On the fourth morning the sea was calm and flat, the rubber dingy was empty. The only thing left is his voice on a tape. I had no time yet to make a written transcript as he described his final raid against the Fiji, you will certainly get a copy. My research is a one man band, and it takes time to answer all these letters. I got stuck in the middle of February 1941 as I had to move with all my documents and files into another flat, which is less spacious. 22nd May 1941 might became a book of its own, as it was the first great air-sea battle in the history of mankind*. Best Regards Yours sincerely (signed Gerd Stamp) _____________________________________________________________________________ Photo of Gerhard Brenner: http://www.angelfire.com/ri/georgev/GerhardStamp.jpg NOTES: Ritterkreuzträger Gerhard Stamp "Iro Ilk, bomber ace of I./LG 1 at the controls of his Ju 88. Both Ilk and Stamp were awarded the Knight's Cross with I./LG 1 for audacious attacks on British shipping in the Med, before going on to fly single engine night fighters. The two were close friends. Ilk was shot down and killed by Spitfires as Gruppenkommandeur III./JG 300 in September 1944. Post-war Stamp achieved high rank in NATO and married Ilk's widow." _____________________________________________________________________________ Note: This material kindly provided by Gerry Myles, President, and Ronald Bennett, General Secretary, HMS Fiji Association _____________________________________________________________________________ ADDITIONAL NOTES FROM HMSFA WEB ADMIN * RE: "The first great air-sea battle in the history of mankind" The naval Battle of Taranto took place on the night of 11-12 November 1940 during World War II. The Royal Navy launched the first all-aircraft naval attack in history, flying a small number of aircraft from an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean and attacking the Italian fleet at Taranto. The effect of the British aircraft on the Italian warships led pundits around the world to predict the end of the "big gun" ship and the rise of naval air-power. The Italian fleet suffered a mortal wound, and the next day transferred its undamaged ships to naval bases farther north to protect them from similar attacks. Repairs to Littorio took about four months and to Caio Duilio six, but Conte di Cavour required extensive salvage work and its repairs were incomplete when Italy left the war in 1943. The Italian fleet lost half its strength in one night. The "fleet-in-being" diminished in importance and the Royal Navy increased its control of the Mediterranean. Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Taranto _____________________________________________________________________________