Complex sentence: The Swordfish of the squadron ferried some of the ship's crew off the doomed ship prior to her eventual sinking, and Esmonde was Mentioned in Despatches for his actions on this occasion.
Split into simpler sentences: The Swordfish of the squadron had flown off before she sank taking some of the ship's crew with them. He was Mentioned in Despatches for his actions on this occasion.