Perth's eyewitness account describes an attack by about a dozen Junkers 88s after the surface battle. Formidable launched fighters while the fleet put up a heavy anti-aircraft barrage. The attack concentrated on the carrier, with a near miss briefly hiding her behind a column of water, but the account reports no bomb damage. It also records the loss of two British aircraft and describes a close shot by one of Perth's Breda guns.
Notable Point · 37:04-38:05
Air attack on Formidable after Matapan
Formidable faced a concentrated air attack after Matapan, opposed by fighters and the fleet's anti-aircraft guns.