Easter Sunday Raid
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The Easter Sunday Raid was an air attack on Colombo, Ceylon during the Indian Ocean raid by carrier-based aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy on 5 April 1942. The Japanese objective was to destroy the Ceylon-based British Eastern Fleet in harbour. The British preemptively dispersed shipping from the harbours before the attacks due to advance warning from intelligence in March 1942, and air reconnaissance during the raid.
Leonard Birchall piloted the Catalina that initially spotted the Japanese fleet.
Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters escorted the attacking bombers.
RAF Hawker Hurricanes made up the bulk of the defending fighters.
No. 30 Squadron RAF
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Number 30 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft and is based at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.
Squadron badge
Westland Wapiti Mk.IIa J9409 of No. 30 Squadron flying over Mosul, Iraq, in 1932.
Republic Thunderbolt Mk. II HD298 of No. 30 Squadron taking off from Chittagong, 1944.
Vickers Valetta C.1 VW838 of No. 30 Squadron at Manchester Airport in 1953.