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On A/S patrol ahead of E.G.6 carrying out creeping line ahead patrol, flying on track 022 degs at 1500 feet, in weather 2/10 to 3/10 cloud, base 2500 feet, sea calm, visibility good, wind 020 degs 10 m.p.h. obtained S/E contact bearing Red 90 degs, range 10 miles. Aircraft flew on a wide half circle to port in order to place U/B between himself and the moon. The half-circle completed, and with the U/B 7 miles distant on the port beam, aircraft turned to port to home and by this time height had been lost to 800 feet and aircraft was on course 090 degrees, then U/B on the surface was sighted by moonlight, dead ahead, distant 2-1/2 miles, in position 44 degs 15 mins N., 20 degs 38 mins W., course 360 degs 6/7 knots. No description of U/B is given. Aircraft dived straight into attack from Red 090 degs to U/B's course, the front gunner raking the decks on the run in and hits being seen ricocheting off U/B. Three Mark XI Torpex depth charges were released from 60 feet, set to shallow depth, spaced 60 feet, while U-boat was on the surface, tracking across the conning tower. Rear Gunner also fired at the U/B as aircraft passed over. Evidence from the rear gunner states that No. 1 depth charge exploded close to U/B's hull on port side opposite conning tower, No. 2 is estimated to have hit U/B and No. 3 exploded about 80 feet to starboard of U/B. Only two depth charge plumes were seen, believed to be Nos. 1 and 3, and also a brilliant blue flash which Rear Gunner assumed to be No. 2 depth charge hitting the U/B. Aircraft circled to port intending to come in for a second attack from U/B's port bow but owing to cloud obscuring the moon U/B was not sighted again visually until the last moment when aircraft was still at 500 feet and too high for attack with depth charges. U/B was seen to have turned through 180 degs in or near the position where it had first been attacked and was stationary on a heading of 180 degs with the stern well down and the bows well out of the water - all of U/B astern of conning tower was awash. Front gunner again raked all visible parts of U/B, scoring hits, and U/B replied with M.G. fire - pilot took successful evasive action by flying on a zig-zag track. A flame float was dropped beside the U/B's starboard beam, but cloud across moon obscured pilot's view and aircraft turned away to port short of the contact which was maintained on the A.S.V. This operation was repeated, as the moon remained obscured, but on coming in for the third time on the U/B's starboard beam, it was clearly seen by moonlight with the flame float slightly astern. The silhouette, sharply defined in the moonlight, showed the U/B to be lying stopped, well under the water abaft the conning tower with the bows well clear of the water. Aircraft attacked from Green 90 degs to U/B's heading, front gunner again raking U/B on run in, releasing from 40 feet three Mark XI Torpex depth charges, set to shallow depth, spaced 60 feet, while U/B was still visible. The U/B replied, before depth charges exploded, with what the Navigator estimated to be a single found of cannon fire - this destroyed the aircraft's rear turret and wounded the rear gunner in the left leg, Rear Gunner also sustained splinter wounds in his left arm. The Rear Gunner being wounded, no other member of the crew is able to state the position of entry or explosions of the depth charges. The Navigator, however, who was in the astro-hatch saw the spray subsiding from the explosions but could see no sign of the U/B - he is convinced that had the U/B still been on the surface he would have seen it. Owing to the injuries to the Rear Gunner the Captain of the aircraft broke off the action immediately after his attack and set course for base at 2255. At no time during the action was the Leigh Light used. |
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