Naval History Forums

If the Bismarck could have launched one final flight with letters home, film, etc.,...

- What do you think we would learn?
- What photo or video would we see?
- Would the plane have made it safely?

It's interesting to speculate about this. We would, of course, probably not have much additional on the sinking itself, but would probably have recovered a fair number of track charts, photographs, and film from the Denmark Strait action, and other subsequent events, e.g. more details revolving around the damage to the rudder. Some men might might have tried to include some personal items on the plane, but I doubt if the amount of material of this sort would have been significant.

I think we would probably have a fairly dramatically different -- and much more accurate -- picture of the Denmark Strait action, though.

Bill Jurens

Hi Bill,
Would a small seaplane have had the fuel to get back to a safe place? It would have been a dangerous journey!

Fellow Contributors,

The Arado AR 196 Model A-3 claimed a 670 mile range so without bombs it could have comfortably reached the French coast. Whether the wallowing Bismarck could have maintained a suitable beam to weather course (wind over wings) to launch it successfully, even if the catapult were not damaged, is another matter.

All the best

wadinga