Patrol info for U-459
| Departure | Arrival / Fate | Duration | ||
| 22 Jul 1943 | Bordeaux | 24 Jul 1943 | Lost | 3 days |
Commander | Officers * |
 KrvKpt. Georg von Wilamowitz-Möllendorf |
Daily positions, sinkings and allied attacks during the patrol of U-459
We have 2 daily positions for the 3 days U-459 was at sea.
Departure from Bordeaux on 22 Jul 1943.
23 Jul 1943 -
Sunk on 24 Jul 1943.
Ships hit by U-459 during this patrol
General Events during this patrol
We have no events listed for this patrol.
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Attacks on U-459 during this patrol
24 Jul 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:
British Wellington (172 Sqn RAF/Q, pilot: F/O W.H.T. Jennings)
The sinking of U-459
approx. 17.15 hrs, NW of Corunna, Spain: despite taking the boat by surprise, the Wellington was hit by heavy and accurate AA fire on the initial attack run, lost control, and crashed into the boat on the starboard side. Only the tail gunner (Sgt A.A. Turner) survived, when his turret separated on impact and he found himself in the water close to an inflated dinghy. The remaining five aircrew were killed. U-459 lost several gunners and most of the AA guns in the crash, and the crew found three unexploded depth charges on deck when clearing the wreckage. They decided to roll them into the sea at high speed, but at least one exploded, close enough to disable the steering gear and cause severe damage to the stern compartments.
At approx. 17.30 hrs, a second Wellington (547 Sqn RAF/V, pilot F/O J. Whyte) strafed the boat and dropped seven depth charges, causing further damage. The commander then ordered the crew to abandon ship and scuttled the boat - apparently choosing to go down with his ship. 41 Germans and the sole British survivor were picked up by ORP Orkan some 8 hours later.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)About this data
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See all patrols for U-459
* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.