The Swordfish is moving too fast to ditch and too fast to release its torpedo when Wellham first reaches the harbour. Spotting a battleship behind him, he forces the damaged aircraft through a 180-degree turn to attack. Partial control obliges him to skid with left rudder and one wing low, an especially poor attitude for torpedo release. The target's lighter guns cannot depress enough at first, but their fire intensifies as the aircraft closes. Wellham releases before closing inside the torpedo's minimum safety distance, then the suddenly lightened Swordfish rises directly into the battleship's gunfire.
Notable Point · 22:14-23:55
A damaged Swordfish turns back for its torpedo run
Unable to ditch safely and determined not to waste the torpedo, Wellham reverses course and attacks a battleship with damaged controls.