Black Friday (1945)

"Black Friday" raid on Førde Fjord
Part of the Second World War
Z33 under attack by Allied aircraft on 9 February 1945
Date 9 February 1945 Location Førde Fjord, Norway 61°28′N 05°39′E / 61.467°N 5.650°E / 61.467; 5.650 Result German victory
Belligerents
Australia  Canada  New Zealand  United Kingdom	Germany
Commanders and leaders
Colin Milson
Strength
31 or 32 Beaufighters 10 or 12 P-51 Mustangs 2 Warwick ASR aircraft	12 Fw 190s 1 destroyer 3 to 9 escort warships
Casualties and losses
14 aircrew KIA 4 POW 9 Beaufighters 1 P-51 Mustang	2 pilots, 7 sailors KIA 4 or 5 Fw 190s
Førde Fjord class=notpageimage| Førde Fjord (Førdefjorden) a fjord in Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway

On 9 February 1945, a force of Allied Bristol Beaufighter aircraft suffered many losses during an attack on the German destroyer Z33 and its escorting vessels; the operation was called Black Friday by the survivors. The German ships were sheltering in a strong defensive position in Førde Fjord, Norway, forcing the Allied aircraft to attack through massed anti-aircraft fire (FlaK).

The Beaufighters and their escort of Mustang Mk III fighters from 65 Squadron RAF were intercepted by twelve Focke-Wulf Fw 190s of Jagdgeschwader 5 (Fighter Wing 5) of the Luftwaffe. The Allies damaged at least two of the German ships for the loss of seven Beaufighters shot down by FlaK. Two Beaufighters and a Mustang were shot down by the Fw 190s and four or five of the German aircraft were shot down by the Allied aircraft, including that of the ace Rudi Linz.

The decision to attack Z33 and her escorts, rather than a nearby group of merchant ships, followed instructions from the Admiralty to RAF Coastal Command. The losses led to merchant ships being made the priority over destroyers and small warships. Another squadron of P-51 Mustangs was assigned to protect Allied aircraft operating near Norway from German fighters.