SECRET SECURITY
                                                                                                                      October 15, 1943
     
 
STATEMENT OF LIEUTENANT (JUNIOR GRADE) STEWART B. HOLT, A-V(N), USNR., SQUADRON VC-9, ON SUBMARINE ATTACK OCTOBER 4 1943
 
     
          I, as pilot of TBF #7 on October 4, 1943, was flying AS/P at 4000', escorted by Ensign Horn in F4F #17.  I was flying a course of 180°T, and was passing between two layers of stratus clouds.  As we came through the overcast, I sighted a submarine on my starboard bow, about 2 miles ahead and bearing 030° relative.  I pointed at the submarine, and Ensign Horn spotted him immediately thereafter.  I reported the contact by radio, and continued ahead losing altitude.  Ensign Horn, without a moment's hesitation dove to strafe the U/B.  His fire was accurate and forced the U/B to submerge.  
          I saw that the U/B was diving, and I continued my approach with a diving turn to the right to come u-track on the U/B.  I lowered my wheels and retarded the throttle to lose excess speed I had gained in the dive.  The conning tower disappeared as I came up his stern.  I released the mine at 240' altitude and 130K airspeed.  My point of aim was ahead of the swirl and slightly to the starboard.  I continued ahead a few seconds, retracted the wheels, and closed the bomb bay doors.  I then turned steeply to the port and circled the area.  I was unable to see the explosion, but saw oil coming to the surface.  There were great quantities of brown oil boiling and several pieces of debris appearing in and around the oil.  I continued to circle the spot and noticed that a dark life raft about 6'x3' appeared nearby.  The oil slick grew in size and was stationary.  I circled until recalled by the ship.  
     
     
                                                                                             
                                                                                                       Stewart B. Holt.  
     
     
     
     

 

     

   
SECRET SECURITY
                                                                                                                      October 15, 1943
     
 
STATEMENT OF ENSIGN J. D. HORN, F4F PILOT ON SUBMARINE ATTACK OCTOBER 4 1943
 
     
          Lieutenant (junior grade) Holt and myself were returning from a search which we carried out to the North of the original point of contact.  On the final leg we made the sighting from our position in the clouds at an altitude of four thousand feet.  The U/B was 30° off our starboard and on a course of 000°.  I immediately pushed over for the attack and caught them apparently unaware.  My strafing attack continued from 3000' to 50', and when I passed over the conning tower it seamed to be alive with tracer bullets from my six 50 calibre machine guns.  
          They had been unable to man the guns on deck so they crash dived immediately and I called Lieutenant (jg) Holt informing him that she was diving and to come in for his mine drop.  
          Just as the stern of the U/B went under, Lt.(jg) Holt was in excellent position for his drop and approximately five seconds later he made his drop.  I had gained a little altitude and was circling directly overhead after my own attack; therefore, fortunately, I was able to witness the whole procedure.  
          Lt.(jg) Holt's drop, as I said before was in perfect position about 100' ahead of the swirl, and 25' to the starboard.  The mine entered the water on a parallel course and it seemed to be motionless for a second, then it moved forth a few feet at which time it headed directly for the U/B on a perpendicular course.  
          The contact and explosion occurred midway between the stern and conning tower.  After the explosion, a very small plume was visible and a few seconds later oil and debris started coming to the surface.  
          As time progressed the slick became a great deal larger and there was no doubt in my mind that another U/B had been sunk.   
          In closing, I might mention the fact that there was a life raft floating nearby.  
     
     
                                                                              
                                                                                                   Joseph D. Horn.