Page 32 - John Musgrove
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On April 9 1945 a force of 591 Lancasters from 1 and 3 Groups, supported by 8
Pathfinder Mosquitoes from No. 8 Group including 29 Lancasters from 576
Squadron were tasked to attack the German naval port at Kiel.
On the run in to the target John, flying in LM 294 P – Peter spotted below his
Lancaster the German pocket battleship Admiral Sheer which had tied up alongside
three days before. Seconds after this image was taken, a huge explosion was seen
as the ship's magazine exploded. The next page image was taken after the raid and
shows the ship upside down in the water. Admiral Scheer was hit by numerous
bombs and capsized. She was partially broken up for scrap after the end of the war,
though part of the hull was left in place and buried with rubble from the attack in the
construction of a new quay. The number of casualties from her loss are unknown.
