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Arthur Aldridge | Squadron Leader Arthur Aldridge DFC Although Arthur Aldridge was only to spend two months in Malta - 217 Squadrons Beauforts were actually en route to Ceylon at the time - the results he achieved make hirn a legend amongst torpedo airmen. On his first operation from Malta on June 15 1942 he and his crew made a lone attack on the Italian fleet and sank the 10,000 ton heavy cruiser Trento. Perhaps as a result, the Italian Navy never put to sea as a fleet again. On June 21 Aldridge sank the 7,744 ton cargo ship Reichenfels. Although wounded in the action, Aldridge went to the rescue of another stricken Beaufort which was under attack from a Ju88 and drove it off. For his operations in Malta, Aldridge was awarded a Bar to his DFC. |
