Tribute to William F Dickson by Ivan Berryman [Postcard]

Artist: Ivan Berryman [browse all Ivan Berryman]

Aircraft Depicted: Sopwith Camel [other products featuring this aircraft]

19th July 1918 - the Tondern raid, the first raid in history carried out from an aircraft carrier. Captain Dickson is shown in his Sopwith Camel 2F.1 departing HMS Furious just after 3am, and along with 5 other aircraft would successfully attack the German Zeppelin sheds at Tondern in Denmark. They destroyed two airships in their hangar, and the entire base was subsequently abandoned. 7 aircraft began the raid : one turned back with engine trouble, three landed in Denmark afterwards while another failed to return to the British fleet. Only Dickson and Captain B Smart ditched in the sea near the British ships and were recovered. For this raid, Dickson was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He later moved to HMS Revenge and HMS Queen Elizabeth then flew on HMS Argus and was a test pilot at the Royal Aircraft Establishment. In World War Two he helped to plan the Allied invasion of occupied Europe. He remained in the RAF post war, retiring in 1959 as Marshal of the Royal Air Force. He died in 1987.

Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm)