For the man who flew the torpedo bomber that crippled the German battleship Bismarck in World War II, an advertisement in an aviation magazine that caught his eye seemed like destiny.

As John Moffat flicked through the pages of the magazine, he saw an advert for a Piper Colt aeroplane, registration number G-ARKM.

And as it was from the Ark – HMS Ark Royal – that John flew his Fairey Swordfish on that fateful day when he delivered a telling blow against the pride of the Nazi fleet, it all seemed to fall into place.

“I wondered if by any chance that could be meant for me...” John told Navy News. As soon as he saw the little aircraft he knew he was right.

At the age of 84, there is no stopping John Moffat. He still flies every week from Scone airport, continuing a boyhood interest in flying that was developed during him service in the Navy from 1939-46 when he first trained as a pilot.

John was serving as a sub lieutenant with the RNVR in 818 Squadron when he took part in the attack on Bismarck which was led by Lt Cdr T. Coode.

“The conditions were unbelievable – force ten gale, 30ft high waves. It was difficult enough to take off, let alone get back. The worst storm I ever saw,” said John.

With HMS Sheffield signalling directions, the Swordfish aircraft climbed up through the clouds to 6,000ft to make their way to the enemy ship.

Even above the clouds, the Fleet Air Arm aircraft were being fired upon, and once the aircraft dived down to 600ft the problems increased – “... this bloody great battleship firing at us. Tracer bullets were coming at us like hail,” said John.

The observer, H.I. ‘Dusty’ Miller, had realised that the torpedo needed to be dropped into the trough between the waves and was peering over the side of the Swordfish shouting “Not yet, not yet” to his pilot, before he gave the signal: “Let her go, Jock.”

The two men saw the torpedo take to the water and as the aircraft turned away for cover, the Bismarck also turned, but did not know that their torpedo had hit the ship until later, when the talismanic German vessel, limping in circles with her steering gear damaged, was finished off by the Royal Navy.

John finished his career at Cowdray Park, part of HMS Daedalus, then left the service for an apprenticeship in the hotel trade. His days of flying became a bygone memory until a visit to his daughter in the US brought an opportunity to take to the skies again in his late sixties.

With an American licence acquired he returned to the UK to gain the British equivalent, and has been flying regularly since then.

John said: “I still think there’s nothing like the Navy – and the Fleet Air Arm has the edge on that other crowd.”

John is keen to hear from anyone from Cowdray Park who remembers him. Send your letters or emails to Navy News to be forwarded.