| Royal Air Force (RAF) Bristol Beaufighters strike Greek shipping in Fiskardo Harbor. On July 19, 1944, RAF Number 603 Squadron Beaufighter NE595 took off from RAF Gambut Aerodrome, Libya, with 2 other aircraft to carry out an offensive sweep over the Aegean Sea. The formation flew to Zakinthos and commenced their sweep up from there to Kefalonia. A small Caique was attacked at Sami before the flight headed north to Fiskardo. As they approached the small harbour town of Fiskardo 2 German anti-aircraft guns, 1 on the old lighthouse and 1 on the harbour wall, opened fire, hitting NE595 the just behind the wing and starting a fire in the fuselage. The Navigator, Flight Sergeant John G. “Jack” Shaw (August 14, 1922 – July 19, 1944), was killed immediately, but the Pilot, Flight Sergeant Harold E. Yorke (April 28, 1918 – November 2001), with much effort was able to pull the aircraft up over the ridge, ditching in the sea beyond. Yorke was able to get out of his sinking aircraft but was badly hurt, both from burns to his body and having smashed his head on the gun sight on impact. Because of this when he swam to shore, he was not able to get far and was captured soon after and became a Prisoner of War. The remaining 2 aircraft continued on their mission, attacking another Caique just south of Fiskardo before returning to RAF Gambut. The wrecked Beaufighter remained on the seabed until the 1960s, when local fisherman dragged it closer to the shore where it was blown up for scrap. However, some large sections of the wreck remain there to this day in 17 meters (55 feet) of water. The local diving school in Fiskardo runs diving trips for more experienced divers. A marble memorial was placed on the seabed at the crash site in 2016 and officially unveiled by the surviving family of Flight Sergeant Yorke. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0697.jpg |
| Image Size | 165.88 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1080 x 1439 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Royal Air Force Official Photographer |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | July 19, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Fiskardo |
| State or Province | Kefalonia |
| Country | Greece |
| Archive | Royal Air Force |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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