Bio / Text:
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Svendsen was accepted into the RAF the beginning of 1941and commenced flying training. He continued training at 5 SFTS (No 64 Flying Course) at Tern Hill in Shropshire. He posted to 32 Sqn (flying Hurricanes at Manston) on 10 December 1941 On 5 April 1942, Svendsen was posted to the squadron and flew one of the three 'Danish Spitfires'.
On 17 April 1942 Svendsen (and fellow Danish pilot Thalbitzer) participated in a Rodeo—a fighter sweep—over the Cherbourg peninsular, acting as top cover for 118 and 501 Squadrons. The Danish pilots were engaged in battle with Fw 190s from JG 2 and damaged one German aircraft.
Fighter Command carried out two circus operations over Northern France. In Circus 133 (24 April), six Bostons of 88 Squadron were to bomb the airfield at Abbeville. The Ibsley Wing, operating from Tangmere, was acting as escort. Over the French coast at Cap Griz Nez, the wing was intercepted by Fw l90s from II/JG26 from Abbeville/Durat. Four Spitfires were shot down, including Svendsen. 234 Squadron Operations Record Book records:
'The Squadron operating from Tangmere together with 501 and 118 Squadrons carried out a fighter sweep over the French coast at Berck sur Mer. Seven of our aircraft became separated from the main formation when reaching the French coast and attacked from above and astern by 20 F.W.190s. Black and Red Sections (F/Lt. Watkins (U.S.A.) F/Sergt. Fisher, (CAN) P/O Svendsen, (Danish) and Sgt. Machan (Canadian) are missing from this operation.'
(NA: AIR 27/1439)
Svendsen had been at the squadron for three weeks, and flown twelve missions in eight days. He was only 20 years old. The squadron had been hit hard. On 27 April 1942, it was withdrawn to regroup at RAF Station Portreath in Cornwall.
