KK Heinrich Timm took his boat the U-862 a type 1X D -2 across the Tasman Sea to escape pursuing forces after sinking ships off Australia.On the 7/1/45 rounded Cape Renga[NZ] and continued down east coast, returned via Tasman Sea to Batavia on 15/2/45 on the way sinking the SS Peter Silvester off Flinders Bay.The Germans had bases at Batavia, Penang, Surabaya, here were housed the Monsoon U-boats, working in conjunction with the Imperial Japanese Navy.The U-862 carried The Focke Angelis FA 330 A-1, a rotor kite towed into the wind, which had a radius of vision of 25 miles, as opposed to the conning tower of 5 miles.This reached 400 feet and was piloted by the ships doctor Jobst Schaefer, a parachute was provided.The crew were interned after the surrender in the infamous Changi camp, and the boat became I-502 in the Japanese Navy.The British returned the crew to Europe in 1947, and U-862 was scuttled in The Malacca Straits on the 14/2/46.So your friend was right