Thread: Lt-Cdr Edgar Lee, last survivor of Channel Dash

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obit...Edgar-Lee.html

Lieutenant-Commander Edgar Lee, who has died aged 88, was the last of the Fleet Air Arm heroes in the famous Channel Dash, the daring attack on a powerful German fleet in the English Channel in February 1942.

In the late morning of February 12, Lee was observer in the second of six Swordfish sent to prevent the German armada fleeing up the Channel under cover of bad weather.

The battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the cruiser Prinz Eugen had been raiding British convoys in the Atlantic, but were then ordered by Hitler to return home through the English Channel with a heavy air escort. Poor intelligence, and even poorer British inter-service co-operation, had enabled the Germans to reach the Straits of Dover before any response was mounted.

Despite the suicidal nature of the mission, Vice-Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsey was told by Sir Dudley Pound, the First Sea Lord: "The Navy will attack the enemy whenever and wherever he is to be found."

At RAF Manston, Wing Commander Tom Gleave was so appalled that he stood alone at the edge of the snow-covered airfield to give the six Swordfish a farewell salute. The Germans, too, would be astounded at such foolhardy bravery.

As Lee's pilot, Sub-Lieutenant Brian Rose, levelled for his torpedo drop he saw their squadron leader, Lieutenant-Commander Eugene Esmonde (who would be awarded a VC) being hit and then crash into the sea. "Now, Brian, now!" Lee shouted, unaware that their speaking tube had been severed by gunfire.

Rose duly pressed on through the heavy flak until he was about a mile from Gneisenau. His main petrol tank was then hit, sending splinters into Rose's back; but he held on to the controls, though neither he nor Lee realised that their torpedo had been fired.

As the engine spluttered, Rose switched to an emergency gravity tank, but the Swordfish continued to lose height.

At last he swerved round the stern of Gneisenau and out of the murderous flak. Lee turned to look for their torpedo, which "seemed to be running well", but did not see it hit.

Their torpedo air gunner, "Ginger" Johnson, was slumped over his gun and, as Lee tried to shift his body, Rose managed a barely-controlled ditching in the sea about 500 yards from the enemy destroyer screen.

The Swordfish floated long enough for Lee to launch a dinghy. Lee pulled Rose aboard, then returned to the aircraft – but Johnson was too firmly wedged to be shifted before it sank. For an hour and a half Lee nursed Rose until a motor torpedo boat, attracted by his Verey signals, picked them up.

Among the many men honoured for their heroism during this engagement, Lee was awarded a DSO. The German ships made their home ports, and there were only five survivors from the squadron's 18 aircrew.

Edgar Frederick Lee was born on May 18 1921 at Gosport, where his father had settled after service in the Royal Navy in the First World War. Edgar spent his early childhood in Egypt and Singapore, where his father was involved in constructing a chain of bases and mooring towers for the airship route to the East, then went to Northgate Grammar School, Ipswich, where he excelled at sport and became head boy.

He volunteered for the Fleet Air Arm in May 1940, two days before his 19th birthday, and after initial training at HMS St Vincent, began a flying course in Trinidad later that year. In April 1941 he qualified as an observer, and in June served in 825 naval air squadron in the carrier Ark Royal, flying the Swordfish torpedo-reconnaissance-bomber until the ship was torpedoed by U-81 in November 1941. Lee was rescued by the destroyer Legion, which came alongside the listing ship, but regretted losing his large collection of gramophone records. He rejoined 825 squadron when it reformed in March 1942, and flew with it until July, before being sent to rest at St Merryn on air direction duties.

In February 1943, Lee was one of six naval observers lent to Bomber Command to help make up a shortfall in experienced navigators in the RAF. He flew in Lancaster bombers of No 106 Squadron under the command of Wing Commander Guy Gibson, DSO, DFC, with whom he played squash. Lee and two other observers survived their tours in Bomber Command; the other three were killed.

Between August 1943 and November 1944 Lee passed on his skills at aviation schools in Canada, returning to England to qualify as a signals officer in August 1945. He was demobilised two years later.

Rejoining the reserve in 1956, he was promoted to lieutenant-commander in 1961, and served in numerous Nato and national exercises until 1981, when he retired.

After the war Lee trained as a teacher, and taught at Mildenhall Secondary School, Suffolk, and later became deputy headmaster of Breckland School, Brandon. A keen all-round cricketer, he also enjoyed fishing, gardening and sailing on the river Deben.

He was elected president of the Channel Dash Association, which is committed to erecting a fitting memorial to the Channel Dash heroes. Earlier this year he was present at St Paul's Cathedral to celebrate the centenary of the Fleet Air Arm. On October 12 he gave a lecture about his Channel Dash experiences.

Edgar Lee, who died on October 29, married first, in 1942, Isabel Lee Robinson. He married secondly, in 1974, Carol Aldham, who survives him with the two daughters of his first marriage

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