UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET
HEADQUARTERS OF
THE COMMANDER FOURTH FLEET
C/o FLEET POST OFFICE, NEW YORK, N.Y.
A16-3(7)                                                                                                                     96/yg
        
CONFIDENTIAL
                                                                                                             
 
FIRST ENDORSEMENT to                                 
 
  FVB107/A16-4 Ser. 08  
  of Aug. 3, 1943.  
     
 
From: The Commander FOURTH FLEET.
To: The Commander in Chief UNITED STATES FLEET.
   
Subject: Anti-Submarine Action - Report of (VB107 ASW-6 #2,3,4,5,6.)
 
     
          1.        Squadron VB-107, having been lately equipped with PB4Y in place of PBY-5A aircraft, has combined operational with training flights during the recent, July 1943, intensification of submarine activity along the Brazilian coast.  The action, described in thte five reports forwarded herewith, occurred during a persistent hunt lasting 23 hours which resulted in the sinking of the submarine.  
     
          2.        Attention is invited to the apparent explosion on the deck of the submarine which occurred after thte attack by 107-B-6 and which may have a bearing upon that plane's dive into the sea with the loss of all hands.  Three occurances of deck explosions have recently been reported by aircraft operating under this command.  Explosions of ammunition on the deck of the submarine, internal explosion, or contact explosion of torpex depth bombs are among the possibilities deemed worthy of consideration.  
     
     
                                                                                     
                                                                                      C. E. BRAINE,  
                                                                                      Chief of Staff.  
     
  Copy to:  
          Cinclant.  
          FAW-16.  
          VB-107.