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Re: 3rd-4th February 1945 attack
Posted by:
ARANTALES
()
Date: December 06, 2023 07:15PM
The operations record books for Squadrons 206 and 547 are available at TNA (TNA AIR27/1224A/25 & /26 for #206, and AIR27/2034/14 for #547.
The information therein deviates somewhat from the above. The confusion might originate with the report from Liberator "C" of Squadron 206 (F/O J.J.Y.Glazebrook).
Shortly after 0337 on Feb 4, 1945, the aircraft attacked a 3-island type coaster of about 2000 tons with 6 DC's. The DC's exploded but the results were not observed, and the aircraft resumed its patrol.
Almost immediately the Liberator obtained a hazy and indeterminate radar contact 10 miles on the starboard beam. The captain homed on to the contact which broke up when close to about 8 clips. The Leigh Light was switched on late and the only person sighting anything was the Flight Engineer who saw from the open bomb bay door a stationary u-boat.
The Captain flew on for 8 miles and returned on a reciprocal course and attacked the swirl or wake of the submerged u-boat seen visually. The disturbance seen before the DC's entered (the water) was churned up violently by the explosions suggesting a good straddle.
A large escort vessel opened intense and heavy flak as DC's were dropped continuing to fire until the aircraft left the area. ... "Five hulls, stationary on water, were seen near the escort vessel, and PRESUMED to be more u-boats. The area was left immediately after the attack". (note: capitals are mine)
All attacks listed in the Operations Record Books for the Squadrons 206 and 547 for 3-4 Feb 1945 all mention attacks mainly on surface vessels or on just 1 u-boat, and the 5 "u-boats" mentioned in relation with Liberator C/206Sq were 5 stationary hulls near an attacked escort vessel, hulls which were only presumed to be 5 u-boats. In none of the ORB reports is there any mention of an aircraft actually having seen 5 u-boats during an attack.
No German source is known to me documenting 5 u-boats to have been present in the area of the attacks around Bornholm.
All attacks on 3-4 Feb 1945 near Bornholm seem to have targeted a convoy with surface vessels, U537 and the sub chaser UJ1115.
Regards,
Walter
The information therein deviates somewhat from the above. The confusion might originate with the report from Liberator "C" of Squadron 206 (F/O J.J.Y.Glazebrook).
Shortly after 0337 on Feb 4, 1945, the aircraft attacked a 3-island type coaster of about 2000 tons with 6 DC's. The DC's exploded but the results were not observed, and the aircraft resumed its patrol.
Almost immediately the Liberator obtained a hazy and indeterminate radar contact 10 miles on the starboard beam. The captain homed on to the contact which broke up when close to about 8 clips. The Leigh Light was switched on late and the only person sighting anything was the Flight Engineer who saw from the open bomb bay door a stationary u-boat.
The Captain flew on for 8 miles and returned on a reciprocal course and attacked the swirl or wake of the submerged u-boat seen visually. The disturbance seen before the DC's entered (the water) was churned up violently by the explosions suggesting a good straddle.
A large escort vessel opened intense and heavy flak as DC's were dropped continuing to fire until the aircraft left the area. ... "Five hulls, stationary on water, were seen near the escort vessel, and PRESUMED to be more u-boats. The area was left immediately after the attack". (note: capitals are mine)
All attacks listed in the Operations Record Books for the Squadrons 206 and 547 for 3-4 Feb 1945 all mention attacks mainly on surface vessels or on just 1 u-boat, and the 5 "u-boats" mentioned in relation with Liberator C/206Sq were 5 stationary hulls near an attacked escort vessel, hulls which were only presumed to be 5 u-boats. In none of the ORB reports is there any mention of an aircraft actually having seen 5 u-boats during an attack.
No German source is known to me documenting 5 u-boats to have been present in the area of the attacks around Bornholm.
All attacks on 3-4 Feb 1945 near Bornholm seem to have targeted a convoy with surface vessels, U537 and the sub chaser UJ1115.
Regards,
Walter
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