U-boat Archive - U-615 - ASW-6



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	Attack Narrative

	Lt. (jg) O. R. Christian 2nd pilot's seat Lt. (jg) E. A. Hilbert (1st pilot's seat after Lt. (jg) Dresbach killed.)

	O. R. Christian giving the narrative:

	We sighted the sub at about the same time the radar man had a target, about 1820Q. The range was about 13 miles. We headed towards the sub. Lt. Crockett, who was organizing the attack procedure, told us to get in position for an attack, and he and the PV pilot would sweep the decks with machine gun fire for us as we came in.

	We got about two miles back of the sub and notified Lt. Crockett that we were ready to come in. Lt. Crockett told the PV to "lets go, PV, and sweep the decks." At 1825Q, 12⁰ 58' N & 64⁰ 55' W, we attacked on course 300⁰ (approximate). At the time of release our altitude was between 200 and 150 feet, 190 K IAS, diving angle of plane about 008⁰. The sub was on course about 3000, but he turned slowly to starboard as we came in on him. Bombs spaced 60 feet, 180 K GS by intervalometer.

	The sub started firing at us from the conning tower and aft of the conning tower at 1000 feet range. As we were approaching the sub, Lt. (jg) Dresbach was shot in the chest and arm. Lt. (jg) Hurley grabbed my shoulder, and as I looked I saw Dresbach sort of slump in his seat. Dresbach looked at me and motioned for me to take the controls.

	I pulled the plane out of the dive. Dresbach was removed to the forward bunk room. When I was out of range of the sub's gun fire, I began climbing to make a demolition run. Lt. Crockett said "proceed with demolition attack". Lt. (jg) Hilbert got into the first pilot's seat to help me. At 1830 we came out of the clouds and Lt. Hilbert started in a 50 dive to drop our demolition bombs from 1900 feet. The air speed indicator had been shot out by the sub's fire so I don't know what speed we were making. The demolition bombs were spaced at 150 feet, 180 K GS. Only one demolition bomb released. It exploded about 100 - 200 feet on the port beam of the sub. The distance could have been more. It did no damage to the sub. The sub fired at us the whole time we were making the demolition run, but the sub's gun fire ceased after the explosion of the demolition bomb. The explosion probably shook the gun crew aboard the sub momentarily. I told Lt. Crockett we were going home. He said "So long. Good work".

	Casualties:

	Lt. (jg) J.W. Dresbach, PPC, killed in action in first pilot's seat.

	E. H. Baites, AMM1/c, bow gunner, shot in leg. Serious loss of blood. In hospital.

	H. E. Kerr, Sea 2/c, bombadier's panel. Shot in left side, 3 ribs broken; in the leg; in the hip.

	Lt. (jg) T. M. Hurley, hit in face with splinters from instrument panel and bullet.

	P. R. Lanigan, RDM3/c, hit in wrist with piece of casing of 30 cal. round.

	The men who were hit were given first aid by Lt. (jg) Hurley,

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	who was hit in the face by splinters. It can be said that we had trouble finding out that Kerr was hit. He stayed right at the bombadier's station after he was hit three times and wouldn't say anything about being wounded. Finally we learned that he was hit.

	The plane has 14 bullet holes, all apparently made by 30 calibre fire.

	2 holes above bow gunner's window.
	2 holes above bombadier's window.
	2 holes in port bulkhead by bow compartment.
	1 hole in glass above second pilot's seat.
	2 holes in radar housing.
	2 holes in port nacelle.
	2 holes in starboard nacelle.
	1 hole through blade of starboard propeller.
	First pilot's air speed indicator, rate of climb indicator, radar, absolute altimeter, both artificial horizons, fluxgate compass, automatic pilot.

	Q. You spoke of observing gun fire aft of the conning tower. Can you give the exact location of this gun and its size?

	A. Well, I could just see a gun firing at us aft the conning tower. Whether it was on the conning tower or located on the deck I can't say positively. I don't know the calibre. I was too busy with other things to note exactly where the gun was located. But I think it was aft the conning tower on the deck.

	Q. Do you know why the second demolition bomb did not release?

	A. No.

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	R. E. Lehman, Sea 1/c, Flight Deck

	I was watching the sub during the D/C attack run. As we approached I could see the men on the sub firing at us. There were so many men on the conning tower that I don't see how they were able to move around. The gun fire at us seemed to be coming right out of the conning tower. I don't know how many guns were firing at us at the time. I could see little puffs of smoke going out from the conning tower.

	When Mr. Dresbach was hit I looked away from the sub to him. So I didn't see anymore of the action. I helped Mr. Hurley cary Mr. Dresbach back to the forward bunk room.

	During the demolition run I was helping take care of Mr. Dresbach, and I didn't see any of the action.

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	P. R. Lanigan, RDM3/c, Radar
	(Ser. No. 603 42 23)

	On the D/C run I was on the flight deck, standing up beside the radar. When we were quite a way from the sub, I saw puffs of smoke coming from the port side of the conning tower. When we got closer I saw tracers coming at us. I could feel the plane being hit. I could see men on the sub. The conning tower looked

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	crowded with people. These people obscured my view of any guns on the sub. I saw our gun fire. The first couple of bursts were to starboard and then to port of the conning tower. I didn't see any of the men on the sub fall, but I don't know how they kept from being hit. The bullets were going right into them

	On the second run, the demolition run, I went back into the tail to relieve the tail gunner as he could man the radio. I didn't see the demolition bombs explode.

	Q. I believe you were hit during the D/C attack?

	A. Yes sir, but it didn't amount to anything. Just a splinter.

	Q. What scale did you have the radar on at the contact?

	A. The 20 mile scale, sir.

	Q. Any tilt to the antennae?

	A. No, sir.

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	E. J. Ruff, ARM 2/c, Tail Turret

	I saw the explosions of the D/C. Instead of four explosions, there was just one huge explosion. It was 25-30 feet astern of the sub. The explosion shook the sub violently and the sub turned over to starboard at a sharp angle. I believe the knocking over of the sub upset the gun crews because the sub ceased firing at us as we pulled away. I returned the sub's fire with about 100 rounds from the 50 calibre machine gun. The tracers were hitting the conning tower of the sub.

	I saw one demolition bomb explode off the port beam of the sub. I poured about 50 rounds into the sub this time. I got hits on the conning tower.

	While we were pulling out of the dive over the sub, I saw men standing on the conning tower with their hands wrapped around their heads, and I also saw two or three men lying on the deck by the forward deck gun with their hands wrapped over their heads. I guess they were afraid of the tracers and splinters from the D/C bombs.

	Q. Did you get an accurate view of the armament of the sub?

	A. No, sir. We were traveling so fast and I was so busy with my 50 calibre machine guns that I didn't get a good look at the guns on the sub. The sub wasn't firing at us when we pulled out of the dive. Somehow, the way these men were covering up their heads with their arms caught my eye and just stuck in my mind.

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	Intelligence Summary:

	Note:

	The initial interrogation of this tactical crew was accomplished by Lt. Sommerville, A.C.I., who is attached to the Fleet Air Operations Office, N.A.S., Trinidad. Additional interrogation was done by the squadron A.C.I. officer. To acquire a full picture of this attack ASW-6 Nos. 10-43 and 11-43 V.P.-204 should be studied.

	This attack was monitored throughout its duration by receivers tuned on the voice scene of action frequency. Lt. L.D. Crockett, the central figure in ASW-6 No. 11-43, V.P.-204, had assumed command of strategy and operations at the scene of action.

	Lt. Crockett was heard to exclaim over the air as soon as this plane (204P-8) had delivered its D/C attack, "That's a beauty, Dresbach!" And a beauty it was, particularly under the circumstances of its delivery.

	The strategy at the scene of action with this crippled enemy submarine was for 205P-11, (Lt. Crockett of V.P. 204 P.P.C.) and the PV, both aircraft having expended their bombs on the submarine, to sweep in from each bow of the submarine in an effort to clear the decks of gun crews, while the third plane (204P-8 in this instance) made a depth charge attack from astern.

	Although Lt. (jg) Dresbach had foreknowledge of the accurate and voluminous fire power of this submarine, he did not hesitate to engage this stubborn, difficult enemy. He dove right into the fray.

	At the critical moment of his attack, he was shot through the chest and shoulder by two 30 calibre rounds, which entered the bow of the plane, and burst through the instrument panel. Whether as a last conscious act or an act already begun at the time the bullets struck him, Lt. (jg) Dresbach pressed the firing button, releasing 4 MK 44 D/C. He then slumped back in his seat, looked across to Lt (jg) Christian, in the second pilot's seat, and motioned him to take over the controls.

	The ordinary firing key, which is usually held in one hand by the pilot in the first pilot's seat, is an awkward gadget to hold, leaving him with only one hand and arm to work the yoke. The pilot needs both hands and arms to apply to the yoke while the plane is diving at about 200 knots in order to hold the plane true and bring it out of the dive over the submarine. Hence, to enable the pilot to apply both hands to the yoke and still have the ability to release his bombs at the desired moment, a button has been installed on the yoke with electrical connections running to the bomb release installation on the pedestal. It was this button which Lt. (jg) Dresbach pushed.

	Although the D/C were spaced at 60 feet, 180 K.G.S. by the intervalometer only one tremendous explosion was observed about 30 feet astern of the submarine. The submarine was observed to shake violently, heel over to starboard, rock back to port, and continue to rock. The submarine was apparently badly shaken up by this attack. The tail gunner is of the opinion that the gun crew were certainly pitched off balance, if not thrown to the deck of the sub.

	Credit for this attack must go to Lt. (jg) Dresbach.

	Commendation must go to Lt. (jg) Christian, in the second pilot's seat, who took over the controls of the plane with less than 200 feet altitude at a speed of 190 K IAS, and who brought the plane safely out of the dive and through the storm of the gun fire which was still finding the plane. It was a cool piece of work.

	Lt. (jg) Dresbach was removed from his seat by Lt. (jg) Hurley, who was bleeding in the face from splinters off the instrument panel and 30 calibre rounds. Lt. (jg) Hurley was standing by to replace either of the pilots who might be hit. However, he took charge of first aid in the forward bunk room and Lt. (jg) Hilbert got into the first pilot's seat in order to deliver an attack with demolition bombs on the submarine.

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	On this attack run, E.H. Baites in the bow turret was wounded in the leg and was brought into the forward bunk room for first aid. Also P.R. Lanigan, who had now risen from the radar set to witness the action, was wounded slightly in the wrist. However, H.E. Kerr, at the bombing panel, made no murmur of his wounds, one in the side, one in the leg, and one in the hip. He remained on station to set up for the bombs. It was only after the attacks were completed on the sub that it was found out that this man was wounded. Both Baites and Kerr are expected to recover from their wounds. In fact, both men report they will deliver another attack within ten days.

	Only one of two demolition bombs, 2 MK17 TNT D/C equipped with an instantaneous nose fuse, released. It exploded off the port beam of the sub apparently out of damaging range. Accurate bombing from 1900 foot without a bombsight is difficult business.

	All bombs expended, with exception of a hung Mk17 D/C and the MK 24 bomb, which is for a particular operation; and, with 205P-2 standing by waiting for its turn to attack, 204P-8 returned to base.

	It is possible that 204P-8 added some damage to the already crippled submarine. The nature and extent of this damage is unknown.

	A plot of the explosion of the D/C and the demolition bomb is appended.

	One of the remarkable aspects of this attack is the high morale of the officers and men participating in it. Besides being willing to engage the enemy as soon as possible, the officers and men are eager to engage the enemy. The two men in the hospital, Baites and Kerr, are exceedingly anxious to get into another engagement.






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