General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
Re: Attack on HG-73, 26th September 1941
Posted by:
Mark McShane
()
Date: May 11, 2009 11:24PM
Rainer,
Q1, I'll get back to you tomorrow.
Q2, There were 19 seamen in the lifeboat that landed at Clifden, 9 from PETREL, 9 from LAPWING and 1 from CORTES. The other 2 CORTES crew picked up after the LAPWING sunk were two arab firemen anf they died during the two weeks in the lifeboat. The sole CORTES survivor to make it ashore was the bosun, Alfonso Pimentil. Originally from the Philipines but living and married in Liverpool. Pimentil was in a very weak state when he arrived at Clifden and was taken to hospital. Unfortunately the following day he died. He is buried outside Clifden in a small graveyard, badly overgrown I have spent hours walking through bushes and long grass trying to identify his plot, but I have yet to positively ID his last resting place.
Q3, After HMS LARKSPUR had lost the U/B contact she was returning to the convoy. She passed the stopped LAPWING (although did not ID the stopped ship herself). She cast off a small cutter when passing the men in the water.
When LARKSPUR rejoined she informed SO Escort that she had sighted a stopped ship still afloat. Rescue tug Zwartee Zee was instructed to go back and take the stopped ship in tow, she was escorted by HMS LEITH. A Catalina was also tasked with searching for the ship and other survivors. LEITH did find one final survivor from LAPWING on a raft, but nothing else. On the evening of 2nd October the search for any further survivors was called off.
regards,
Mark
Q1, I'll get back to you tomorrow.
Q2, There were 19 seamen in the lifeboat that landed at Clifden, 9 from PETREL, 9 from LAPWING and 1 from CORTES. The other 2 CORTES crew picked up after the LAPWING sunk were two arab firemen anf they died during the two weeks in the lifeboat. The sole CORTES survivor to make it ashore was the bosun, Alfonso Pimentil. Originally from the Philipines but living and married in Liverpool. Pimentil was in a very weak state when he arrived at Clifden and was taken to hospital. Unfortunately the following day he died. He is buried outside Clifden in a small graveyard, badly overgrown I have spent hours walking through bushes and long grass trying to identify his plot, but I have yet to positively ID his last resting place.
Q3, After HMS LARKSPUR had lost the U/B contact she was returning to the convoy. She passed the stopped LAPWING (although did not ID the stopped ship herself). She cast off a small cutter when passing the men in the water.
When LARKSPUR rejoined she informed SO Escort that she had sighted a stopped ship still afloat. Rescue tug Zwartee Zee was instructed to go back and take the stopped ship in tow, she was escorted by HMS LEITH. A Catalina was also tasked with searching for the ship and other survivors. LEITH did find one final survivor from LAPWING on a raft, but nothing else. On the evening of 2nd October the search for any further survivors was called off.
regards,
Mark
