USN strike inside the Arctic circle

4th October 1943: TBF Avenger pilot has a narrow escape during the US Navy's only carrier operation against the Germans

At 0618, Ranger launched 20 Dauntless dive bombers and an escort of eight Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighters of VF-4. One division of dive bombers attacked the 8,000-ton freighter LaPlata, while the rest continued north to attack a small German convoy. They severely damaged a 10,000-ton tanker and a smaller troop transport. They also sank two of four small German merchantmen in the Bodø roadstead. The SBD "4-B-19" was piloted by Lt(jg) Clyde A. Tucker with ARM2c Stephen D. Bakran as gunner and passes Kunna Head South of Bodø. It was one of two planes later lost in the attack.

USS Tuscaloosa during Operation Leader, as seen from HMS Belfast.

A second strike group included the Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber flown by Gerald W. Thomas.

The Royal Navy and the US Navy had been operating in the North Sea during the summer, hoping to tempt the Tirpitz out for an engagement. After the midget submarine attack on the Tirpitz they turned their attention to the shipping carrying vital iron ore to Germany. The force mounted an unusual joint operation on the 4th October - Operation Leader.

The Royal Navy Home Fleet escorted the carrier USS Ranger to a position 100 miles off the port of Bodo, just above the Arctic Circle in Norway.

Aircraft attack on enemy shipping, Bodo Harbor, Norway, showing SAAR under attack, 4 October 1943.

Gerald W. Thomas¹ flew a Grumman Avenger on the mission. It was his first combat sortie, a pre-dawn takeoff for a low-level, under-the-radar flight to the target area: