A commemorative piece to recognise the extreme bravery and sacrifice that occurred on February 12th, 1942, when six Fairey Swordfish were pitted against an overwhelming force of the Kreigsmarine and Luftwaffe. In this doomed attempt to sink the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen, all six Swordfish were shot down and only 5 of the 'Gallant Eighteen' aircrew survived. Their flight leader, Lt Cdr Eugene Esmonde, was posthumously awarded the Victoria cross. A supreme example of courage and duty. The German Admiral, Otto Ciliax, who viewed the attack from the bridge of the Scharnhorst, observed that the “handful of ancient planes” had been “piloted by men whose bravery surpasses any other action by either side that day”. 330ml capacity (We recommend hand wash only and avoiding use in a microwave oven)
