An excerpt -
I was once again scheduled for the dawn patrol. It was deceptively cool and in the pre-dawn hours in the desert with no wind but you could tell the day was going to be a scorcher. My wind man and I took off just as the dawn was breaking. We were scheduled to patrol over a convoy of 63 ships about 40 miles off the coast on a compass heading provided by the Navy.
Shortly after take off my wing man called to say that he was having engine problems and was going to return to the base. I could return with him and wait to get a replacement which would take quite a delay or continue alone.
I decided to go it along. As I approached the coast I could see that there was what we called a temperature inversion – a pall of air over the water causing a thin layer of super saturated air about 500 feet thick. There was absolutely no wind and the water was like glass. Visibility was limited in the area near the water but bright and clear above it.
As I approached the convoy I could see the plume of smoke over the enormous diesel engines. With no wind and exhaust was like a solid object extending behind the line of ships.
I flew in front of the convoy and started down the far side trying to stay out of the oppressive smelly smoke. The sun was just beginning to come over the horizon increasing the effect of the eyries dawn.
Because of the restricted visibility you could not see the horizon in any direction. Because of the smoke pall of smoke hanging over the water for miles behind the convoy I flew further down it than normal and climbed to go over it as I circled behind the convoy. In the distance in the rays of the rising sun, I could see a flickering bright on what I thought was the horizon.
There was a very little chance of a boat or any thing human in this vast expanse so I reasoned it might be a large school of fish. Anyway, curiosity led me to go look. As I got closer I could see through the haze that it was water reflecting off something metallic. As I got closer I could see that it was a long thin boat. . no a submarine! Closer a large swastika on the tall Conning tower.
I switched on my guns- all of them.
I could see figures running across the deck toward the Conning tower. I started firing – the 30 cal. Machine guns started spraying the decks – the water – the tower – the 50 cal. Sprayed the tower – the 37 mm. cannon shells marched across the water and as I got closer three of them hit the Conning tower the last one at point blank range. As I passed within inches I could see figures behind the tower beginning to climb up.
I had already added full throttle I climbed straight up to above the haze layer. I could see that sub begin to dive. I pulled out the Vari Pistol(a small rocket launcher) and fired it toward the convoy three times. I could see the flash of the wake of one of the destroyers almost immediately coming at full speed.
I the meantime I could see the sub barely under the surface. I could see an eyrie blue green light coming from the opening of the still open hatch and gray-white greasy smoke puffs and a torrent of water all at one time.
It once again started to surface. I dived again but it only briefly emerged then again went under.
I was very busy trying to fly the plane watch the destroyer which looked like it was flying over the calm water with a 30 feet wave over the bow and being sure not to lose sight of the submerged submarine.
As the destroyer got closer I again dived on the sub and fired again to show the destroyer exactly where it was.
The destroyer made an abrupt skidding turn and maneuvered right next to the plainly visible sub. Immediately I could see all of the canisters of explosives on that side of the destroyer arc into the air and splash the water. Luckily I had just passed by because almost immediately there was a tremendous explosion and a large geyser of water above where - when the water calmed - the sub had been. I had completely disappeared. There was a lot of debris on the water but I could see no sign of life.
The destroyer quickly dispatched small boats to search for debris. But the sea returned to its mirror finished like nothing every happened. Shortly after that my replacement flight showed up and I returned to base.
On the way back I was directed by radio to return instead to squadron headquarters at Mai-son Blanc airfield near Algiers.
Our squadron intelligence was Captain A. C. Wills. Before the war he had been a lawyer in New York City and he must have been a good one. He put me through a thorough de- briefing making sure I could give him every smallest detail that I could remember.
About a week later our squadron intelligence officer Captain A. C. Wills said he and I were invited to luncheon on a submarine in the harbor at Algiers to celebrate the affair. We were quite impressed.
We were picked up at the airport in the closest thing that was available to a limousine. When were arrived at the dock the whole crew and a contingent of high brass officers were lined up to greet res??. We wore piped abroad with full honors. We were escorted below deck to a large room that seemed out of place in the otherwise cramped quarters. There was a table of hor d’oeuvers and bottles of champagne.
We were introduced to officers from Naval headquarters, the submarine, the destroyer that was involved. Everyone was very congenial and friendly. There were many toasts and congratulations. We were served a great meal with food like I had almost forgotten. Those submariners knew how to live!
Then the ranking Navy officer took over and the mood was all business. Captain Wills, ?????
The Navy had made a big announcement a few weeks that the boycott and barricades at the Straits of Gibraltar were successful and that the Mediterranean was clear of U boats. He wanted to be sure that I had actually seen the U-boat on the surface – If I had made sure that it had a Swastika and ever detail I could remember about the size and configuration.
Every detail of my experience and memory were examine and dissected. Opinions were made as to what the submarine could have been doing and was doing It was only about 12 – 15 miles behind the convoy at daylight so it must have been or could have been in the middle of it during the night. It could have been trailing or just catching up with it.
When I first saw it, it was not under way but quickly dived. The submarine then stopped – did not dive – further.
The submariners did not believe that my 37 mm cannon could pierce the conning tower but could damage the hatch mechanism. The destroyer crew could clearly see the U-boat but could not see the marking well enough to see the number but could see the Swastika
After much talk, conjecture and debate, the final decision was that the U-boat had been sunk – that my attack had not been corroborated ,that the U-boat had been discovered by me and the destroyers had sunk it,it might be that it might have already been disabled and that it had come up for repairs after it was far enough behind convoy to be seen.
The destroyer and I were to share credit for the probable destruction of the U-boat. They said that I would receive a commendation from the Navy. I did receive an Air Medal from the Air Force. I never heard from the Navy.
Our group flew 16,000 defensive missions during it's career in the war,most of them over water,most of them on convoy patrol,most of them at low altitude. To my knowledge we only saw one other submarine a friendly french one.As far as I know I am the only Fighter Pilot with credit for one.

Upon pondering, it may have been another signia on the sub, I was concentrating on other areas more. From what I have learned, the sub must have been the Gorgo, I did notice that in the Neilds report I am referred to as a British airplane.