General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
Re: U-955
Posted by:
Metman
()
Date: July 15, 2010 03:27PM
Problem resolved gentlemen. This subject was discussed on the RAF Commands forum back in 2004 and I copy the definitive answer below.
Brian
***********
Eric Zimmerman, co-author of "U-boat versus Aircraft", has drawn my attention to the fact that a U-boat was sighted on 05May44 by FK226/G of 86 Squadron operating from Iceland. The following narrative of the encounter is a transcript from the RAF Iceland Weekly Intelligence Summary for the week ending 06May44 :
At 0324B hours on the 5th May Liberator G/86, Captain, W/O. Moseley, as a result of radar contact, sighted a surfaced U-boat in position 59°52'N. 19°28'W. course 250° T, speed 12 knots. The U-boat was not attacked owing to the inability of aircraft to get into position to sight U-boat up moon sufficiently far ahead, despite repeated attemps. During these manoevrings light flak was experienced.
To This, Eric adds the following:
"I see with interest where you and others have been speculating on a claim by U955 to have shot down an aircraft on May 5, 1944. The U-boat failed to return from this patrol being sunk June 7, 1944 by Sunderland S/201. As is stated in "U-boat versus Aircraft" the mystery originated by a signal to BdU in which the U955 claimed a Liberator shot down at 0420 hours in grid AL2449. As you speculate no Liberator was lost to U955 but there was an encounter, one in which you will no doubt have an interest as it did involve an Iceland based aircraft. It is virtually certain that U955 met Liberator G/86 (FK226) (W/O M.G. Moseley). The liberator gained a radar contact at 0324 hours, distance 2 miles and then sighted a surfaced U/B in the moonlight. Flak was experienced. A/C made repeated attempts to position U/B for an upmoon attack but these attempts all failed. Radar contact was initially held through these manoeuvres but was lost at 0336 hours. Regained at 0345 but lost for good at 0405 hours. Position of this encounter was 59.50N 19.32W. The positions of the two combatants are 56nm apart. What transpired from the point of view of U955's crew will remain a mystery but it seems certain that when G/86 passed out of sight, they felt their flak defence had been successful and that the Liberator had been brought down. A no means uncommon claim especially during a night action."
Ragnar J. Ragnarsson (Iceland)
***************
Brian
***********
Eric Zimmerman, co-author of "U-boat versus Aircraft", has drawn my attention to the fact that a U-boat was sighted on 05May44 by FK226/G of 86 Squadron operating from Iceland. The following narrative of the encounter is a transcript from the RAF Iceland Weekly Intelligence Summary for the week ending 06May44 :
At 0324B hours on the 5th May Liberator G/86, Captain, W/O. Moseley, as a result of radar contact, sighted a surfaced U-boat in position 59°52'N. 19°28'W. course 250° T, speed 12 knots. The U-boat was not attacked owing to the inability of aircraft to get into position to sight U-boat up moon sufficiently far ahead, despite repeated attemps. During these manoevrings light flak was experienced.
To This, Eric adds the following:
"I see with interest where you and others have been speculating on a claim by U955 to have shot down an aircraft on May 5, 1944. The U-boat failed to return from this patrol being sunk June 7, 1944 by Sunderland S/201. As is stated in "U-boat versus Aircraft" the mystery originated by a signal to BdU in which the U955 claimed a Liberator shot down at 0420 hours in grid AL2449. As you speculate no Liberator was lost to U955 but there was an encounter, one in which you will no doubt have an interest as it did involve an Iceland based aircraft. It is virtually certain that U955 met Liberator G/86 (FK226) (W/O M.G. Moseley). The liberator gained a radar contact at 0324 hours, distance 2 miles and then sighted a surfaced U/B in the moonlight. Flak was experienced. A/C made repeated attempts to position U/B for an upmoon attack but these attempts all failed. Radar contact was initially held through these manoeuvres but was lost at 0336 hours. Regained at 0345 but lost for good at 0405 hours. Position of this encounter was 59.50N 19.32W. The positions of the two combatants are 56nm apart. What transpired from the point of view of U955's crew will remain a mystery but it seems certain that when G/86 passed out of sight, they felt their flak defence had been successful and that the Liberator had been brought down. A no means uncommon claim especially during a night action."
Ragnar J. Ragnarsson (Iceland)
***************
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
U-955
|
Metman | 07/15/2010 01:37PM |
|
Re: U-955
|
Metman | 07/15/2010 03:27PM |