Skuas on Lake Lesjaskog

[Alex Crawford]

Hi,

It's Fleet Air Arm I know but hoping someone may be able to help.

In Fledgling Eagles by Chris Shores there is mention of three Skuas force landing on lake Lesjaskog due to fuel shortages. On looking through the 'net I found mention of Midshipman Leonard Gallagher who force landed on the lake due to running short of fuel. No date but shortly after 26th April 1940 as he landed in among some wrecked Gladiators. On searching the area he found enough fuel but no starter cartridges for his engine. On meeting up with some soldiers he headed for Aandalsnes. A short while late he spotted the Skua of Capt Partridge who had come down on another lake near Lesjaskog. Searching the aircraft Gallagher found a starter cartridge and headed back to his own Skua. The engine fired first time and Gallagher took off and headed across the sea towards Hatston in the Orkneys, some 350 miles away. He eventually made landfall and returned to his carrier, Ark Royal on 3rd May.

Would anyone have any further details of the Skua and Gallaghers observer. Any info on the other two Skuas that landed at the Lake would also be appreciated.

Thanks for your help,

Regards,

Alex

[wwrsimon]

Alex

Is he Leonard Henry Gallagher, later lost on the attack on the Scharnhorst on June 13th 1940? According to the book 'Skua!' by Peter C Smith (page 119-120), he was with Naval Airman G W Halifax when they landed at Setnesmoen airstrip and stayed overnight, the dates being April 28-29 1940.

Leonard Henry Gallagher was lost in L3028/A6G. His crewman on that day was P/O Wallace Crawford.

Regards

Simon

[Argus]

Hi Alex,

I've found the details below:


Skua L3046

800 Sqn Ark Royal, bullet through wing attacking He115 25.4.40 (S/L RW Kearsley & LA LC Eccleshall); Reported missing, but later arrived Hatston from Aandelsnes 29.4.40 (Mid LH Gallagher).

Location must be Åndalsnes in Norwegian.

Quote from Fleet Air Arm Aircraft (Sturtivant & Burrow). Pages 36 and 495.

So Simon has the correct person.

Regards

Finn Buch

[Alex Crawford]

Hi Simon, Finn

Thanks for your replies, much appreciated. Setnesmoen was where the remnants of 263 Sqn landed on the evening of 25th April. The Sqn destroyed their remaining Gladiators and evacuated on 27th, so when Gallagher arrived the airstrip had been abandoned.

Regards,

Alex

[Argus]

Hi again,

Do you know about this on-line edition, with the title "THE CAMPAIGN IN NORWAY" by T. K. Derry?

http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/UK/UK....html#contents

Regards

Finn

[Alex Crawford]

Hi Finn,

Thanks for the link, I've seen this site before and it has some very good info on the Norwegian Campaign.

Alex