C O P Y
 
 
393 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (M)
 
 
Mitchell Field, NewYork
 
     
                                                                                                           May 15, 1942.  
     
  SUBJECT:    Attack on Submarine  
     
  TO:               Headquarters, First Bomber Command, 90 Church Street, New York,  
                       New York  
     
          At about 1641 on May 14, 1942 while on a routine patrol from Mitchell Field, Long Island, New York, at a position 39°35'N, 72°14'W, vessel was sighted at a distance of about one to one-half miles directly ahead of airplane.  Not more than ten seconds after crew sighted vessel high waves and sprays appeared around the vessel.  It was at this moment that the pilot realized that the sighted vessel was a submarine and was attempting a crash dive.  Orders were given to the bombardier to open bomb bat doors and prepare for attack.  Submarine course was at right angle with planes course and submarine was turning slightly to the right while attempting to crash dive.  Orders were given to bombardier to drop two depth charges since the attack had to be made at right angles to submarine's course.  Conning tower of submarine was visible until about one or two seconds before the first depth charge hit just ahead of conning tower and on top of submarine.  Second depth charge landed about 10 to 15 feet over and ahead of first depth charge.  Both depth charges detonated.  Altitude of plane at time of sighting vessel was 200 feet at an indicated airspeed of 170 - - Altitude of plane at time of attack, 25 feet at an indicated air speed of 200 miles per hour.  After attack, pilot circled to the left coming in over the point of detonation of first depth charge and dropped a third depth charge that hit and detonated within five or ten feet of first depth charge.  Dark brown oil slick appeared on top of surface after attack.  Plane remained in area for two hours after attack, circling around the oil slick.  Path of air bubbles formed an irregular line, observed, leading away from oil slick.  
     
          Track of submarine was plainly visible on the water and could be clearly defined as far as 1000 yds. from the position where bombing occurred.  
     
     
     
                                                                                         MAURICE J. FITZGERALD,  
                                                                                         Captain, Air Corps,  
                                                                                         Pilot.  
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

     
     
 
C O P Y
 
 
393 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (M)
 
 
Mitchell Field, New York
 
     
                                                                                                           May 15, 1942.  
     
  SUBJECT:    "Summary" Attack on Submarine  
     
  TO:               Headquarters, First Bomber Command, 90 Church Street,  
                       New York, New York.  
     
          Weather conditions were clear and unlimited, except for the visibility which was about five miles due to haze.  
     
          The angle at which we had to attack was difficult since it was at right angle to submarine and would have been impossible to swing around either behind or approach from the front of the submarines course and still reach the submarine before it could submerge out of bomb range.  
     
          The bombing was performed by an experienced bombardier and it was the pilots opinion that it would not be necessary to drop more than two depth charges due to the angle of attack of plane relative to submarine.  It was also realized by the pilot that the bombs could be released at a very low altitude and still not ricochet since the water became turbulent and rough around the submarine.  
     
          The submarine was painted light grey or light blue and appeared to be about 175 to 200 feet in length.  It was impossible to make out any structural details of submarine due to the position of the sun and the amount of water spray and turbulence of the water.  
     
     
     
     
                                                                                         MAURICE J. FITZGERALD,  
                                                                                         Captain, Air Corps,  
                                                                                         Pilot.