Sylt

However, they had managed to observe a number of Royal Navy ships in the naval base at the Firth of Forth and radioed through this information along with details of the unusually clear weather conditions.

Shortly before midday, 12 Junkers Ju 88s in three groups of four took off from Westerland on the German North Sea island of Sylt.

Each was carrying two 500-kilogram bombs that they intended to drop on the British ships in the open water of the Firth of Forth, one of which they erroneously believed to be HMS Hood.

Spitfires from 602 and 603 Squadrons were scrambled to respond, but some of the German bombers were able to attack ships on the river before the fighter planes arrived.