Naval pilot who crippled the Bismarck dies aged 97

2016 ends for Naval aviation as it began – with the loss of one of its greatest heroes.

After the passing of legendary test pilot Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown early in the year, the Fleet Air Arm community now mourns for Lt Cdr John ‘Jock’ Moffat – the man credited by some with decisively crippling the Bismarck.

Jock took part in the fateful attack by antiquated Swordfish bombers at dusk on May 26 1941, an attack which resulted in a lucky torpedo hit against Bismarck's rudder, jamming it.

Despite every effort by its crew, the battleship steamed in circles until the guns of the Royal Navy’s Home Fleet arrived the next morning to finish Bismarck off – and avenge the loss of the world-famous battle-cruiser Hood, which the German leviathan had blown up three days earlier.