The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)

German U-boats sunk or damaged by the RCAF in WWII

1942

31 Jul 42: Lockheed Hudson Mk IIIA, RCAF s/n BW625 of No. 113 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia flown by Squadron Leader N.E. Small and crew, sank U-754 southeast of Cape Sable, Nova Scotia at 43-02N 64-52W.

30 Oct 42: Douglas Digby, RCAF s/n 747, aircraft Z of No. 10 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Gander, Newfoundland flown by Flight Lieutenant D.F. Raymes and crew, sank U-520 with four 250-pound (113.4 kg) depth charges at 47-47N 49-50W. The aircraft was returning from patrol of convoy ON140 when it spotted the U-boat.

1943

4 May 43: Consolidated Canso A, RCAF s/n 9747, aircraft A of No. 5 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Gander, Newfoundland flown by Squadron Leader B.H. Moffit and crew, sank U-630 at 56-38N 42-32W while on a close convoy patrol.
This attack has now been revised.
U-209 was severly damaged in this attack.

12 May 43: Short Sunderland Mk III, RAF s/n W6006, aircraft 3-G of No. 423 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Castle Archdale, County Fermanagh, Ireland with Flight Lieutenant J. Musgrave and crew shared the sinking of U-456 with two destroyers, HMCS Drumheller and HMS Lagan, at 48-37N 22-39W. The aircraft was providing escort to Convoy HX-237.
This attack has now been revised.
U-753 was sunk in this attack.

4 Aug 43: Short Sunderland Mk III, RAF s/n DD859, aircraft 3-G of No. 423 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Castle Archdale, County Fermanagh, Ireland with Flying Officer A.A. Bishop and crew sank U-489 at 61-11N 14-38W. AA fire from the U-boat shot the aircraft down and five of the 11-man crew were lost; the other six, all wounded, were rescued by a destroyer along with 23 survivors of the U-boat.

6/7 Sep 43: Vickers Wellington Mk XII(L/L), RAF s/n HF115, aircraft C1-W of No. 407 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Chivenor, Devon, England flown by Pilot Officer E.M. O'Donnell and crew, sank U-669 in the Bay of Biscay at 45-36N 10-13W.
This attack has now been revised.
U-584 escaped undamaged from this attack.

19 Sep 43: Consolidated Liberator Mk III, RCAF s/n 586, aircraft A of No. 10 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Gander, Newfoundland flown by Flight Lieutenant R.F. Fisher and crew, sank U-341 at 58-40N 25-30W. The aircraft was returned to Gander from Iceland after escorting Prime Minister Winston Churchill in HMS Renown from the Quebec Conference.

8 Oct 43: Short Sunderland Mk III, RAF s/n DD863, aircraft 3-J of No. 423 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Castle Archdale, County Fermanagh, Ireland with Flying Officer A.H. Russell and crew sank U-610 at 55-45N 24-33W. The aircraft was escorting Convoy SC-143.

26 Oct 43: Consolidated Liberator Mk III, RCAF s/n 586, aircraft A of No. 10 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Gander, Newfoundland flown by Flight Lieutenant R.M. Aldwinkle and crew, sank U-420 at 50-49N 41-0W after an hour-long engagement. The aircraft had been on convoy escort when the U-boat was sighted.
This attack has now been revised.
U-91 was slightly damaged in this attack.

1944

10/11 Feb 44: Vickers Wellington Mk XII(L/L), RAF s/n MP578, aircraft C1-D of No. 407 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Limavady, County Derry, Ireland with Flying Officer P.W. Heron and crew, sank U-283 at 60-45N 12-50W while providing convoy cover.

22 Feb 44: Consolidated Canso A, RCAF s/n 9841, aircraft S of No. 162 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Reykjavik, Iceland with Flying Officer C. C. Cunningham and crew, attacked and damaged a German U-boat (U-550).

10 Mar 44: Short Sunderland Mk III, RAF s/n EK591, aircraft 2-U of No. 422 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron based at St. Angelo, County Fermanagh, Ireland with Warrant Officer 2nd Class W.F. Morton and crew, sank U-625 at 52-53N 20-19W. The was W/O Morton's first operational mission as an aircraft commander.

17 Apr 44: Consolidated Canso A, RCAF s/n 9767, aircraft S of No. 162 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Reykjavik, Iceland with Flying Officer T.C. Cooke and crew, sank U-342 at 60-23N 29-20W.

24 Apr 44: Short Sunderland Mk III, RAF s/n DD862, aircraft AB-A of No. 423 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Castle Archdale, County Fermanagh, Ireland with Flight Lieutenant F.G. Fellows and crew sank U-311 at 50-36N 18-36W.
This attack has now been revised.
U-672 was heavily damaged in this attack.

3/4 May 44: Vickers Wellington Mk XIV(L/L), RAF s/n HF134, aircraft C1-Mof No. 407 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Chivenor, Devon, England with Flying Officer L.J. Bateman and crew sank U-846 in the Bay of Biscay at 46-04N 09-20W.

3 Jun 44: Consolidated Canso A, RCAF s/n 9816, aircraft T of No. 162 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron operating from Wick, Scotland with Flight Lieutenant R.E. MacBride and crew, sank U-477 at 63-59N 01-37E in the face of intense AA fire from the U-boat.

11 Jun 44: Consolidated Canso A, RCAF s/n 9842, aircraft B of No. 162 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron operating from Wick, Scotland with Flying Office L. Sherman and crew, sank U-980 at 63-07N 00-26E.

13 Jun 44: Consolidated Canso A, RCAF s/n 9816, aircraft T of No. 162 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron operating from Wick, Scotland with Wing Commander C.G.W. Chapman and crew, sank U-715 at 62-45N 02-59W. As a result of AA fire from the U-boat, the Canso had to ditch and the crew spent nine-hours in the water; one crewman drowned.

24 Jun 44: Consolidated Canso A, RCAF s/n 9754, aircraft P of No. 162 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron operating from Wick, Scotland with Flight Lieutenant D.E. Hornell and crew, sank U-1225 at 63-00N 00-50W. As a result of AA fire from the U-boat, the Canso had to ditch and the crew spent 21-hours in the water with one dinghy. Two members died before they were rescued. Flight Lieutenant Hornell died shortly after rescue and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for inspiring leadership, valor and devotion to duty.

30 Jun 44: Consolidated Canso A, RCAF s/n 9841, aircraft A of No. 162 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron operating from Wick, Scotland with Flight Lieutenant R.E. MacBride and crew, damaged U-478 at 63-27N 00-50W; the U-boat was subsequently sunk by a Consolidated Liberator Mk V of No. 86 (RAF) Squadron based at Tain, Scotland.

4 Aug 44: Consolidated Canso A, RCAF s/n 9759, aircraft W of No. 162 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron operating from Wick, Scotland with Flying Officer W.O. Marshall and crew, damaged U-300.

11 Sep 44: Short Sunderland Mk III, RAF s/n ML825, aircraft AB-D of No. 423 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Castle Archdale, County Fermanagh, Ireland with Flying Officer J.N. Farren and crew joined HMCS Dunver and HMCS Hespeler in sinking U-484 at 56-51N 08-04W.

29/30 Dec 44: Vickers Wellington Mk XIV(L/L), RAF s/n NB855, aircraft C1-Lof No. 407 (General Reconnaissance) Squadron based at Chivenor, Devon, England with Squadron Leader C.I.W. Taylor and crew sank U-772 in the English Channel at 50-05N 02-31W.

Compiled by Jack McKillop

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kostenuk, Samuel and Griffin, John. RCAF Squadrons and Aircraft, 1924-1968. Toronto, Canada: A.M. Hakkert Ltd and Sarasota, Florida: Samuel Stevens & Co., 1977. 257-pages. ISBN 0-88866-577-6.
Robertson, Bruce. British Military Aircraft Serials, 1911-1979. Cambridge, England: Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1979. 366-pages. ISBN 0-85059-360-3.

Revision notes: Gudmundur Helgason, uboat.net