The Return of the German Tanker ‘Altmark’

In February 1940, the German tanker ‘Altmark’ was making its way back to Germany. On board were 299 British sailors who had been captured and were being held as prisoners of war. These men had been taken from vessels that had been sunk by the pocket battleship ‘Admiral Graf Spee’ during actions in the southern Atlantic.

Passage Through Norwegian Waters & POW rescue

During its return journey, the ‘Altmark’ navigated through Norwegian waters. At this time, Norway maintained a position of neutrality in the ongoing conflict. The presence of the German tanker did not go unnoticed, as it was spotted by a British aircraft. One of the pilots involved in this reconnaissance was Henry Thwaite. Following the sighting, the British prisoners of war held on the ‘Altmark’ were freed by the Royal Navy. This operation was carried out under the direct orders of the First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill.

The Final Mission of Henry Thwaite

Tragically, Henry Thwaite lost his life, along with the rest of his crew, on a subsequent cosatal reconnaissance mission over the north coast of Denmark on Monday 15^th April 1940. Their aircraft, a Hudson with the registration N7289 NR-J, departed at 12:45 hours from RAF Thornaby. The mission ended in disaster at 15:50 hours over the western Skagerrak, when the plane was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf-110C of 3./ZG1, piloted by Uffz. Helmut Eberlien.

Henry was 23 years of age and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Englefield Green, Surrey.

Husband of Mary Thwaite: elder son of Alwyn Howarth Thwaite & Henrietta Thwaite of Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

A downloadable copy of this story is available here.

Revised: October 2025