Hello all,

I have three attacks on the 19th, 20th and 21st of July 1944, that I would appreciate any help with in tracking down the U-boat involved. Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks.


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Date: 21/07/1944
Base: Tain
Time UP: 1725 Hrs - Time DOWN - 0945 hrs (Stornaway) - 21st - DURATION - 16hrs 20mins
Op: A/U Patrol

note: This mission was undertaken in an aircraft from 120 Sqn - Z/120

ORB states the following: "Z" was on its way to its patrol area in Norwegian waters on a course of 023'T flying at 800 ft when a radar contact Red 45'/16 miles was obtained at 0005hrs. Course was not altered immediately in case contact was another A/C but when the bearing was Red 90'/ 18 miles Captain altered course gradually to post, keeping target constantly on port beam until finally "Z" reached a position north of the target. Cloud was broken at 0018hrs and with the A/C now on a Co.140'T a large fully surfaced U-boat was sighted by nose look-out 30' on port beam course 120'/15 knots, estimated posn. 69'57'N, 08'56'E. "Z" altered Co. towards target immediately but flak from the U-boat was so intense from 2 miles to one mile from target that the Captain took avoiding action to starboard. Immediately after this the U-boat was seen to be submerging and the Captain manoevured for his attack by losing height and banking in a wide sweep to port.

At 3/4 mile range the port beam and rear gunners opened fire, straddling the conning tower of the disapearing U-boat. The U-boat was under the surface when the aircraft was half a mile away. The Captain made his final approach from a narrow angle on the U-boat's starboard beam and as he tracked over 6 DC's spacing 55 feet were released from 75 feet, using Mark III Bombsight at 0020hrs. The first DC was seen by the rear gunner to enter the water 30 yards ahead of the leading edge of the swirl. The time interval between complete submergence and release was 10 seconds exactly (Astro watch).

After the attack the aircraft circled the position, dropping a marker and a few minutes later some oil came to the surface which developed into an oil slick 4 miles long by 200 yards broad by the time the aircraft left. An ERSB pattern was laid beginning at 0040hrs but no submarine noises could be heard although buoys seemed to be operating correctly, The rear gunner claims that he saw several pieces of yellow wreckage at 0120 in posn of attack. Aircraft remained in vicinity until PLE at 0303B/21.

Crew on this day: S/L B.A Sisson DFC (capt) - F/L R.A. Williams (sec pilot) - P/O W. Whittaker (nav) - F/L A.A. Fox - F/S N.W. Beames DFM - W/O W. McLoughlin - F/S A.R. Playford - Sgt J. Kelly - F/O H. Humphries.



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Date: 20/07/1944
Base: Tain
Time UP: 0346 hrs - Time DOWN: 2105 hrs - DURATION: 17hrs 19mins
Op: A/U Patrol

ORB states the following: "N" was patrolling in Norwegian waters on Co.223'T at 500 feet when a radar contact Red 20'/9 miles was obtained. This was followed by a visual sighting of a fully surfaced U-boat bearing Red 30'/8 miles oin the est.Co 130'/8 kts. This sighting was at 1308, the U-boat's posn. being 71'44'N. 05'30'E. The Captain manoevured into position for an attack from the U-boat's starboard beam by crossing its track 2 miles astern. The U-baot was by this time taking avoiding action to port, thereby turning its stern and its armament towards the aircraft. The flak from the U-boat was intense but inaccurate during the run-in, exploding below and to port of the aircraft.

As the A/C tracked over the stern of the U-boat from a bearing of 15' astern 6 DC's were selected, spacing 55 feet but no DC's were released as the lock-slect lever was not fully into "select" position. This took place at 1312 and almost immediately the U-boat was seen to be in the act of submerging while still turning to port.

After tracking over the Captain turned to starboard and then approached for his 2nd attack in a wide sweep to port. This time a point 400 feet ahead of the swirl apex was chosen as aiming point and although 6 DC's were selected. 7 were released from 50 feet, spacing 55 feet at 1314, 40 seconds (by stop watch) after submergence. These were seen to explode and straddle at an angle of 90' the track of U-boat when last seen. The Mark III low level Bombsight was used.

After the attack a small patch of oil was seen in the posn of the explosions and the rear gunner claims that during the track over after the attack, he saw a circular black object in this position which gave him the impression that the U-boat was re-surfacing. Nothing further was seen at this stage and the A/C resumed patrol at 1335, leaving a marker.

When "N" returned to the scene of the attack at 1437, two oil streaks 150 and 400 yards were sighted together with an oval life raft and two pieces of wood about four feet long. There was nothing else seen and at 1450 the A/C set course for base, PLE having been reached.

Crew on this day: F.O D.A. Willows (capt) - F/O G. Rubenok (sec pilot) - F/O F.L Swierzynski (nav) - F/S H.J. Watts - W/O C.D. Street - Sgt G. Callegari - Sgt S.W.T Ricketts - F/O C.P. Emerson - W/O J. Dickinson.


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Date: 19/07/1944
Base: Tain
Time UP: 1243 hrs (19th) - Time DOWN: 0213 hrs (21st) - Duration: 14 hrs 30 mins
Op: A/U Patrol

Mission report: "F" was on its way to Patrol area in Norwegian waters, flying at 1400 feet on a Co,019' T when the starboard beam gunner sighted at 1912 hrs a fully surfaced U-boat bearing 90'/6 miles on a course 030'/10 knots. It's estimated position was 7019N.0602E. A radar contact was obtained simultaneously with the same bearing and distance. "F" lost height immediately and turned to attack, replying with nose gun to the U-boat's intense but inaccurate fire. A/C tracked directly over conning tower from a bearing of 30' on the U-boats port quarter, releasing 6 DC's using Mk.III bombsight, spacing 55 feet from a height of 100ft. The last two DC's were seen to explode as an overshoot but the U-boat was enveloped by the plumes of the earlier explosions. This attack was at 1915 and 1917. "F" tracked over the bows of the U-boat releasing two DC's from 75 feet, spacing 55 feet and the points of entry were seen to be equidistant from bows, making a perfect straddle. Brown smoke was seen issuing from the base of the conning tower after the first attack, and it increased in volume after the second. U-boat did not submerge until 1941hrs and continued to fire constantly until that time. When the U-boat was seen to be submerging "F" tracked over the swirl and two members of the crew (port and beam rear gunners) claimed that they saw 4 or 5 black objects in the swirl. "F" set course for base at 2003, PLE having been reached.

Crew on this day: F/O R.C. Penning (capt.) - F/O A. Johnston (2nd pilot) - F/O P.A Richardson (nav) - F/O R. Webb - W/O W.G. Willows - Sgt A.J. Waterfield - Sgt G.T. Rogers - Sgt J.E. Berry - Sgt J.H. Walton

I have been told that the U-boat involved on the 19th was U-716 but I have not been able to find any source that confirms this...