User:Nick-D/Drafts3

Operation Zauberflöte
Date 16–18 May 1942 Location North Sea Result German victory
Belligerents
Germany	United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
	Mervyn Williams
Strength
1 heavy cruiser 2 destroyers 2 torpedo boats	54 aircraft
Casualties and losses
3 aircraft	9 aircraft

Operation Zauberflöte was conducted by the German military during World War II to return the damaged heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen from Norway to Germany. Prinz Eugen departed Trondheim in Norway on 16 May 1942 escorted by two destroyers and two torpedo boats. Allied aircraft made two unsuccessful attacks against the German force on 17 May. Nine Allied aircraft and three German aircraft were shot down. Prinz Eugen reached Germany without having incurred further damage on 18 May.

References

Works consulted

• Ashworth, Chris (1992). RAF Coastal Command: 1936-1969. Yeovil, United Kingdom: Patrick Stephens. ISBN 978-1-85260-345-8.
• Barker, Ralph (2010). Ship-Busters: British Torpedo-Bombers in World War II. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. ISBN 9780811706445.
• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea: 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-119-8.
• Thomas, Andrew (2012). Defiant, Blenheim, and Havoc aces. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 9781849086677.