A Very Short War
Encyclopedia
A Very Short War is a one-hour documentary produced in 2010 by Karl Conti of Conti Bros Films. It was written by Susan Young and directed by Bill Young and Myles Conti. It was publicly and privately funded, with support from Screen Australia
, The History Channel
, and NRK2
.
n aviator Cliff Carpenter who built his first aeroplane in a garage on Military Road, Cremorne, Sydney and lost his life when the RAF Sunderland Flying Boat
L2167 from 210 Squadron was shot down over Norway
on the day of the German invasion of that country
. Susan Young (writer) and Bill Young (co-director) are the niece and nephew of Cliff Carpenter.
The nine RAF airmen who lost their lives that day, 9 April 1940, were the first Allied servicemen to lose their lives in the defense of Norway. They are remembered with a special ceremony each year at their graves in the Sylling
churchyard, north east of Oslo
. There was one survivor – Welshman Ogwyn George, the radio operator – who fell 3000 feet (914.4 m) without a parachute, hitting trees and landing in unusually deep snow. He was discovered and rescued by Norwegian Johan Brathen.
The mission in the RAF Sunderland Flying Boat L2167 of 210 Squadron was a volunteer mission. A crew of ten were assembled -
They left on 8 April 1940 in Sunderland L2168 and flew north from Pembroke Dock on the south west tip of Wales to Holyhead in north Wales and overnighted there. The next morning they flew to Invergordon in Scotland where, for what was believed to be a mechanical problem, they changed aeroplane to Sunderland L2167. They took off at 1pm and opened sealed orders to learn of their destination - Oslo, Norway. Mission - general reconnaissance. According to the one survivor, Ogwyn George, the crew had no knowledge that Germany had invaded Norway on that day. The Sunderland arrived over Oslo around 5.30pm and was hit by flak from German ships in Oslo Harbour. The pilot turned the Sunderland north-west to escape but was pursued and fired upon by two Messerschmitt Bf 110
s piloted by Oblt Werner Hansen and Oblt Helmut Lent
. The Sunderland exploded and crashed in the mountains of Overskogen north of the village of Sylling.
Helmut Lent went on to become a Luftwaffe nightfighter ace with 110 kills to his credit. He was killed in a landing accident in 1944 and was given a state funeral, presided over by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring
. Werner Hansen was shot down and killed by 'own flak' in 1941.
The story of the invasion of Norway on the 9 April 1940 is detailed by Norwegian writer Cato Guhnfeldt in his book Fornebu 9. april, published by Wings, 1990. A vivid account of the fate of Sunderland L2167 is included in this book.
whilst trying to locate King Island. They eventually made landfall back in Victoria near Geelong, desperately short of fuel. The interview, recorded in September 2008, lasted 45 minutes and is the last extensive interview Nancy Bird Walton gave before her death on January 13, 2009.
Screen Australia
Screen Australia is the Federal Government’s key funding body for the Australian screen production industry. Its functions are to support and promote the development of a highly creative, innovative and commercially sustainable industry....
, The History Channel
The History Channel
History, formerly known as The History Channel, is an American-based international satellite and cable TV channel that broadcasts a variety of reality shows and documentary programs including those of fictional and non-fictional historical content, together with speculation about the future.-...
, and NRK2
NRK2
NRK2 is one of the TV channels of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation . It was launched in 1996. It has traditionally concentrated on more on cultural and in-depth programmes than its mother channel NRK1 and has also shown drama series, comedies, and news. When not broadcasting regular...
.
Australian aviator
It follows the life of early AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n aviator Cliff Carpenter who built his first aeroplane in a garage on Military Road, Cremorne, Sydney and lost his life when the RAF Sunderland Flying Boat
Short Sunderland
The Short S.25 Sunderland was a British flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers. It took its service name from the town and port of Sunderland in northeast England....
L2167 from 210 Squadron was shot down over Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
on the day of the German invasion of that country
Operation Weserübung
Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway during the Second World War and the opening operation of the Norwegian Campaign...
. Susan Young (writer) and Bill Young (co-director) are the niece and nephew of Cliff Carpenter.
The nine RAF airmen who lost their lives that day, 9 April 1940, were the first Allied servicemen to lose their lives in the defense of Norway. They are remembered with a special ceremony each year at their graves in the Sylling
Sylling
Sylling is a village in Lier municipality, in the county of Buskerud, Norway.-Location:Sylling is located near the southern end of Tyrifjorden. Sylling is known for agriculture, particularly the cultivation of fruit. Local farms have a long history of cultivation of strawberries and vegetables...
churchyard, north east of Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. There was one survivor – Welshman Ogwyn George, the radio operator – who fell 3000 feet (914.4 m) without a parachute, hitting trees and landing in unusually deep snow. He was discovered and rescued by Norwegian Johan Brathen.
The mission in the RAF Sunderland Flying Boat L2167 of 210 Squadron was a volunteer mission. A crew of ten were assembled -
- AC2 George Eveson (29) of Wales)
- AC1 Robert (Bertie) L Millar (18) of Northern Ireland
- AC1 Graeme H Maile (22) of Wales)
- AC1 Ogwyn George (1919 - 1986) of Wales (survivor)
- LAC Douglas W B Upham (27) (Kent, England)
- LAC Frederick A Morrison (30) (Northern Ireland)
- Sgt James A L Barter (21) (Monmouth, Wales)
- Sgt Pilot J C Carpenter (28) (Sydney, Australia)
- PLTOFF Arthur F LeMaistre (26) (Winnipeg, Canada)
- FLTLT Peter W H Kite (20) (London, England) - Captain
They left on 8 April 1940 in Sunderland L2168 and flew north from Pembroke Dock on the south west tip of Wales to Holyhead in north Wales and overnighted there. The next morning they flew to Invergordon in Scotland where, for what was believed to be a mechanical problem, they changed aeroplane to Sunderland L2167. They took off at 1pm and opened sealed orders to learn of their destination - Oslo, Norway. Mission - general reconnaissance. According to the one survivor, Ogwyn George, the crew had no knowledge that Germany had invaded Norway on that day. The Sunderland arrived over Oslo around 5.30pm and was hit by flak from German ships in Oslo Harbour. The pilot turned the Sunderland north-west to escape but was pursued and fired upon by two Messerschmitt Bf 110
Messerschmitt Bf 110
The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often called Me 110, was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II. Hermann Göring was a proponent of the Bf 110, and nicknamed it his Eisenseiten...
s piloted by Oblt Werner Hansen and Oblt Helmut Lent
Helmut Lent
Oberst Helmut Lent was a German night-fighter ace in World War II. Lent shot down 110 aircraft, 103 of them at night, far more than the minimum of five enemy aircraft required for the title of "ace".For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter...
. The Sunderland exploded and crashed in the mountains of Overskogen north of the village of Sylling.
Helmut Lent went on to become a Luftwaffe nightfighter ace with 110 kills to his credit. He was killed in a landing accident in 1944 and was given a state funeral, presided over by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
. Werner Hansen was shot down and killed by 'own flak' in 1941.
The story of the invasion of Norway on the 9 April 1940 is detailed by Norwegian writer Cato Guhnfeldt in his book Fornebu 9. april, published by Wings, 1990. A vivid account of the fate of Sunderland L2167 is included in this book.
Last interview with Nancy Bird Walton
The documentary includes an interview with legendary Australian aviatrix, Nancy Bird Walton who flew with Cliff Carpenter and got lost over Bass StraitBass Strait
Bass Strait is a sea strait separating Tasmania from the south of the Australian mainland, specifically the state of Victoria.-Extent:The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Bass Strait as follows:...
whilst trying to locate King Island. They eventually made landfall back in Victoria near Geelong, desperately short of fuel. The interview, recorded in September 2008, lasted 45 minutes and is the last extensive interview Nancy Bird Walton gave before her death on January 13, 2009.
External links
- http://www.averyshortwar.com/
- http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2009/mr_091216_2009wrap.aspx
- http://www.contibrosfilms.com.au/Conti_Bros_Films/News/Entries/2010/9/16_SBS_Content_Sales_and_Distribution.html
- http://www.averyshortwar.com/AVSW/media_files/Good%20Weekend.pdf
- http://hem.fyristorg.com/robertm/norge/Assault_on_Fornebu.html
- http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2186906
- http://www.lwag.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2585
- http://dbdesignbureau.buckmasterfamily.id.au/aus_aircraft.htm
- http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&sl=no&u=http://overskaunett.piczo.com/%3Fg%3D29580136&ei=7hr8TdThJIjEvgPzkYy2Aw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBwQ7gEwADgK&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dogwyn%2Bgeorge%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26prmd%3Divns