FVC9/A16
 
COMPOSITE SQUADRON NINE
 

                                                                                                             c/c Fleet Post Office,

  
                                                                                                               New York, New York.  
                                                                                                               18 October 1943.  
     
 
From:   Commanding Officer.
To:   Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet.
Via:   (1) Commanding Officer
    (2) Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
     
Subject:   ASW-6 Report No. 28 - Forwarding of.
     
Enclosure:   (A) ASW-6 Report No. 28.
     
  1. Enclosure (A) is forwarded herewith.
     
  2. No comments.
     
   
H. M. AVERY
 
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U.S.S. CARD
27 October 1943.
CVE-11/A16-3
1st Endorsement
 
     
 
From:   Commanding Officer.
To:   Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet.
Via:   Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
     
                        1.                  Forwarded
     
                        2.                  The faulty arming handle resulting in the bomb release casualty has been replaced.
     
                        3.                  The 60 second lapse between the U/B's submergence and the dropping of the mine allowed submarine possibly to reach a depth from which the explosion phenomena would be difficult to observe on the surface of even a calm sea.
 
 
                        4.                  In the turbulent sea conditions described in Lieut. (jg) Fowler's attack on the preceeding day (see ASW-6 No. 26, 12 October 1943), and persisting throughout this day as well, the “smooth circular patch” of water observed by the radioman appears as a contributory but not necessarily conclusive bit of evidence.
     
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27 October 1943.
   
  CVE-11/A16-3
     
  Subject:                    ASW-6 Report No. 29 - Forwarding of.  
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                          5.                  However, it is believed that the large oil slick extending upwind from the yellow and white spoiler boards, as sighted from the relieving plane by both Lt. Comdr. Avery and his radioman, and the indistinct but recognizable photographic evidence obtained by the latter, constitute the clinching evidence.  
     
                          6.                  Therefore, whereas my despatch report classified this attack as a “probable kill”, it is believed that Lt. Comdr. Avery's statement and the attached photograph definitely establish this attack as a sinking.  
     
     
                                                                                                                 A. J. ISBELL.  
   
     
  Advance Copy to:  
      COMINCH  
      COMAIRLANT  
      COMASDEVLANT  
     
 
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  Paragraph III.       Approach and Attack.
   
                                (a)      Narrative:
     
                                Plane was on first leg of second sector on regular dawn A/S patrol flying away from the ship (ship's course 0800) on course 3210T at 1000' at 150Ks, when Lt.(jg) Fowler sighted fully surfaced U/B three miles away on his starboard bow, bearing 3310T. The U/B was on course 1350T. Lt.(jg) Fowler immediately climbed and circiled to starboard astern of U/B preparatory to dropping 500# bomb. Lt.(jg) Fowler did not press emergency release as he thought the bomb had dropped. When he realized it did not drop he circled, checking to see if he could discover why it failled to release. Finding no reason, he again climbed to make another bombing run. When he was at 3000', directly in front of U-boat, it started to dive, so he immediately dove to get low enough to lay the mine. When he got into position he flew directly up the U/Bs stern, still on course 1350T and dropped mine from 175' at 125K about 60 seconds after conning tower had disappeared. Lt.(jg) Fowler estimates the drop to have been 450 feet ahead of the swirl, directly on course.  
     
                                About a minute and a half later, what is believed to have been the explosion was seen by the radioman.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
     
 
13 October 1943.
   
   
                                                                  NARRATIVE OF RESULTS FROM LEUT. (jg)  
                                                                  FOWLER'S ATTACK BY SHIRLEY, H.R.,ARM2c  
     
        While circling the area of Lt.(jg) Fowler's attack, Mr. Avery asked me if that was an oil slick under the left wing.  
     
        We spiraled down and circled at low altitude. I took three pictures of the slick and spoiler boards from the mine. It looked like the mine had exploded and oil was coming up about 200 to 300' upwind from the spoiler boards.  
     
                                                                                                   Henry R. Shirley  
     
     
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

 
 
     
 
13 October 1943.
   
                                                            PILOT'S STATEMENT OF ATTACK ON U/B
                                                            13 OCTOBER 1943 BY LT.(jg) FOWLER  
     
        I had just flown out of a rain squall on course 3210, 1000' altitude, speed 150 Ks, when I sighted a U/B three miles away, course 1350T, speed 12-15 Ks. As the waves were washing over the bow I could not determine immediately whether U/B was going to dive or not.  
     
        When U/B gave me a burst of fire I decided that I had time to give him a 500# bomb. I made a run but bomb failed to release due to arming handle slipping back into safe.  
     
        I then climbed to 3000' for another run when I observed U/B was diving. I dove down with wheels down, whiping the plane all over the sky trying to lose speed and altitude.  
     
        When I reached the point of release I was in an awkward position and slightly fast. I knew I had enough time to drop mine and get results. I whipped around and made another approach dropping mine at 125 Ks, and at 175', 450' ahead of swirl, 60 seconds after U/B had submerged.  
     
        I was called back to the ship soon after, when relieved by Lieut. Comdr. Avery.
     
        I saw no results of damage. My radioman observed what he believed results of the explosion.  
     
     
                                                                                                  
 
                                                                                                      Wilma S. Fowler
  
     
     
     

 

 
 
     
 
13 October 1943.
   
  NARRATIVE OF GOERING, R. I.., ARM3c.
     
        We were on a regular A/S patrol when Mr. FOWLER called me and said he saw a U-boat ahead and off the starboard side. He started to climb to make a bombing run and I put the arming handle forward which had slipped back to “safe” during flight.  
     
        After the run Mr. FOWLER asked me to check and see what was in the bomb bay and I saw the bomb and mine still there. As we climbed to make another bombing run the sub started to dive and we went down to drop the mine. I noticed the arming handle again back in the “safe” position so I armed it again and went to the rear window to take pictures. I took pictures of the drop and the mine starting on its course.  
     
        About a minute or two later I observed a smooth circular patch of water and took a picture of it. A little later Lt. Comdr. AVERY appeared on the scene and then we were called back to the ship.  
     
                                                                                      
                                                                                              RUSSEL I. GOERING.  
     
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

 
 
     
 
13 October 1943.
   
  NARRATIVE OF R. A. BURTON AOM3c.
     
        While on a routine A/S patrol Mr. FOWLER observed a sub a few degrees on out starboard bow. We went in to make a bombing run. Upon completing the run it was discovered that the bomb had not been released so we circled and climbed to make another run. During this time the sub had started its dive so we went down to drop the mine. The mine was released and entered the water ahead of where the sub had dissappeared. I saw the mine enter the water and start on its run. The sub was black and of fairly large size. Although I saw no deck guns or crew there was some anti-aircraft action that appeared to be of 40mm and 20mm. I saw no indication of an explosion at all. Throughout the attack I was using my gun camera but none of the pictures turned out. After circling for a short time we were called back to the ship.  
     
     
                                                                                               R.A. BURTON  
                                                                                           
     
     
     
     
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

 
 
     
 
13 October 1943.
   
                             NARRATIVE OF LIEUT. COMDR. H.M. AVERY, USN,
                             OF RESULTS OBSERVED OF LT.(jg) FOWLER'S  
                             ATTACK ON SUBMARINIE 13 OCTOBER 1943  
     
        I was catapulted in TBF #9 at 0929 GCT to assist Lt.(jg) Fowler in an attack on U/B, bearing 2870T, 30 miles.  
     
        I relieved him over the attack area at 0940 GCT. At 0953 GCT a long narrow oil slick was seen and report made to USS CARD. On investigation, the slick was 300' long and 20 to 30' wide. At the downwind end, the yellow and white spoiler boards from the mine were scattered in the slick area.  
     
        This oil slick and position of the mine spoiler boards had the same appearance as the oil slick that was observed later in my own attack; excepting the slick was smaller and there were no cylindrical objects in sight.  
     
        At 100 GCT three photographs were take from minimum altitude and speed by H. R. Shirley, ARM2c. The overlay of #2 print shows size and position of the slick.  
   
        It is believed that this oil slick was caused by the explosion of Lieut. (jg) Fowler's MK 24 mine and that the oil slick was from a destroyed U/B.  
     
     
 
H. M. AVERY