Patrol info for U-558
Date lookup for 20 Jul 1943
| Departure | Arrival / Fate | Duration | ||
| 8 May 1943 | Brest | 20 Jul 1943 | Lost | 74 days |
Commander | Officers * |
 Kptlt. Günther Krech |
U-558's position on 20 Jul 1943
Wolfpack operations during this patrol
U-558 operated with the following Wolfpacks during this patrol
Oder (17 May 1943 - 19 May 1943)
Mosel (19 May 1943 - 24 May 1943)
Trutz (1 Jun 1943 - 16 Jun 1943)
Trutz 1 (16 Jun 1943 - 29 Jun 1943)
Ships hit by U-558 on this date
General Events during this patrol
We have no events listed for this date.
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Attacks on U-558 during this patrol
20 Jul 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:
American B-24 Liberator (19th A/S Sqn USAAF/B, pilot Lt H.E. Dyment)
The aircraft was apparently lost with its crew of ten after depth charging the inbound U-558 in the Bay of Biscay. The boat was sunk shortly afterwards in further air attacks. She was attacked by five aircraft in one week, shooting down one and damaging three. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)
20 Jul 1943
The sinking of U-558
Approx 1200 hrs, Bay of Biscay, inbound: despite having the port inner engine stopped by flak, an American B-24 Liberator (19th A/S Sqn USAAF/F, pilot Lt C.F. Gallmeier) dropped seven depth charges which caused severe damage and left the boat unable to dive. While the Liberator was returning to base, British Halifax DT642 (RAF Sqdn 58/E, pilot F/L G.A. Sawtell) dropped a further eight depth charges, which finished off U-558. The only survivors were the commander, the 2 WO and three ratings. They were sighted by an RAF Liberator piloted by S/L T.M. Bulloch on 24 July and his report resulted in their rescue the day after by HMCS Athabaskan.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)About this data
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* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.