U-boat patrols

Patrol info for U-1059

Date lookup for 19 Mar 1944


DepartureArrival / FateDuration
12 Feb 1944Bergen19 Mar 1944Lost37 days

Commander

Officers *


Oblt. Günter Leupold

U-1059's position on 19 Mar 1944

Ships hit by U-1059 on this date

General Events during this patrol

We have no events listed for this date.

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Attacks on U-1059 during this patrol

19 Mar 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:
American Avenger (VC-6 USN, pilot Lt (jg) N.T. Dowty)

The sinking of U-1059
At 07.26 hours, the boat was attacked by an Avenger/Wildcat team from USS Block Island operating on ULTRA reports southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. The aircraft completely suprised U-1059, as she was not underway and men were seen swimming in the water. While the Wildcat (Lt (jg) W.H. Cole) made a strafing run, the Avenger dropped three depth charges that straddled the boat perfectly. U-1059 began to sink, but the AA gunners scored hits on the Avenger during its second attack run and it crashed into the sea, killing the pilot and one the crew. The mortally wounded pilot had nevertheless dropped two depth charges that sent the boat to the bottom. Ensign M.E. Fitzgerald survived the aircraft crash and found himself on a dinghy amidst German survivors. He helped a wounded survivor but kept the others at a distance with his pistol until USS Corry arrived and rescued him and eight German survivors, including the badly-wounded commander, Oblt Günther Leupold. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

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* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.

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