World War Two Acrostic Quiz | World War II

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Can you name the British four-engined bomber, which along with the Stirling and Halifax, carried out the night bombing campaign against the Third Reich?

Answer: Lancaster

The Avro Lancaster normally carried a crew of seven - pilot, flight engineer, navigator, bomb-aimer (what the Americans call a bombardier), wireless (radio) operator and two air-gunners. The gunners normally occupied the mid-upper and rear turrets. The Lancasters used in the Dams Raid in 1943 had their mid upper turrets removed, and the second gunner became a front gunner in this case.

2. After being awarded the Victoria Cross for aerial operations during the War, this man went on to found a chain of homes for the incurably sick. Who was he?

Answer: Leonard Cheshire

Group Captain (Geoffrey) Leonard Cheshire (1917-1992). His Victoria Cross was unusual in that it was not awarded for a single outstanding feat, but for flying operations over four years. He was the British observer at the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, which may have been instrumental in his decision to devote himself to the relief of suffering.

The Cheshire Foundation Homes can be found in many countries around the world. All four choices, including Cheshire, commanded 617 (Dambusters) Squadron at some point during the war. Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross for leading the squadron's initial raid on the Ruhr Dams in 1943 and was killed in action the next year.

3. The supply ship of the pocket battleship Graf Spee tried to return to Germany with about 300 British merchant seamen as prisoners after Graf Spee was scuttled near Montevideo. What was the name of the supply ship?

Answer: Altmark

Seamen of HMS Cossack (Captain Philip Vian) boarded Altmark in a Norwegian fjord on 16 February 1940. With the shout 'The Navy is here'! they released the merchant seamen, who had been transferred to Altmark after their ships were sunk by Graf Spee.

4. During the German invasion of which country did the word 'quisling', meaning 'traitor', enter the English language?

Answer: Norway

Vidkun Quisling had been Norwegian minister of defence in the 1930's, and later formed the National Union Party, a fascist group. He encouraged the Nazi invasion and served as 'Minister President' in the occupation government. He was found guilty of war crimes and executed in 1945.

5. The Reverend John Weir Foote was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in the 'reconnaissance in force' at Dieppe in 1942. What was his nationality?

Answer: Canadian

Sometimes described as a rehearsal for D-Day, the raid on Dieppe resulted in heavy casualties for the units involved, most (though not all) of them Canadian, including a great many prisoners of war. Hon.Captain Foote, attached as Chaplain to the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry of the Canadian Army, deliberately allowed himself to be taken prisoner in order to be able to give what help and comfort he could to his men.

He died aged 84 in Norwood, Ontario, Canada in 1988.

6. Which passenger liner was sunk within six hours of Great Britain's declaration of war on 3rd September 1939?

Answer: Athenia

On Sunday, 3rd September 1939, SS Athenia was sunk 200 miles off the Hebrides by the submarine U-30 with the loss of 93 passengers and 19 crew members. The three incorrect choices are connected to WWI. Lusitania's story is well-known. Imo and Mont Blanc collided in the harbour of Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1917.

The resulting explosion (one was carrying munitions) destroyed much of the city and caused great loss of life.

7. Which famous WWII aircraft was designed by Reginald Mitchell?

Answer: Spitfire

Reginald Joseph Mitchell (1895-1937) did not live to see the success of his creation, one of the most famous fighters of the war. His story is told in the 1942 British film 'The First of the Few' (known as 'Spitfire' in the USA) starring Leslie Howard.

8. Which German battleship spent much of the war lurking in a Norwegian fjord, posing a threat to Allied shipping which caused it to be the object much attention?

Answer: Tirpitz

The raid on Tirpitz by midget submarines (X-craft) of the Royal Navy on 22nd September 1943 did enough damage to put the battleship out of action for months. The commanders of the two successful midget subs, Lieutenants Donald Cameron and B.C.G. Place were each awarded the Victoria Cross.

9. In what country is El Alamein, site of one of the major battles of the war in North Africa?

Answer: Egypt

The battle lasted from 23rd October to 4th November 1942, and was decisive in that Rommel was forced to retreat having been defeated by Montgomery's Eighth Army.

10. Which British ship was sunk in the British fleet anchorage at Scapa Flow on 14th October 1939?

Answer: Royal Oak

The submarine U-47, commanded by Gunther Prien, entered Scapa Flow undetected, torpedoed her victim, and escaped. Prien's victim, the battleship HMS Royal Oak sank with 800 of her crew. Her wreck was later designated an official war grave. Prien and his crew became famous for their exploit but did not survive the war. U-47 was lost with her entire crew on 8 March 1941.

Source: Author spanishliz

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World War Two Acrostic Trivia Quiz

As before, my thanks to ensiform for the idea of an acrostic quiz. The initial letters of the answers to questions 2 through 10 spell the answer to question one. All questions relate to World War Two.

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