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. 29 - Forwarding of.       Enclosure:   (A) ASW-6 Report No. 29.         1. Enclosure (A) is forwarded herewith.                       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. This nicely coordinated attack had two gratifying results:         (a) The destruction of another Nazi U-boat.       (b) The “blooding” of the new commander of VC-9, a squadron with many kills already to its credit.         3. The waiting tactics employed by Lt. Comdr. Avery (after his first run when the submarine was thought to be diving) were in accordance with tactics designed by this ship.

 

	27 October 1943.
	CVE-11/A16-3
	Subject:                    ASW-6 Report No. 29 - Forwarding of.
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	4.                        The tactical objectives are first, to insure that at least one plane, and possibly two, will always be in position to make an optimum attack with the mine; second, to force the U-boat to dive without unduly risking our planes; and third, to provide a second plane for observation of the mine's functioning, which is virtually a necessity in rough seas.
	5.                        The attack of Ensign Sheela fully accomplished its purpose in forcing the U-boat to dive, but it appears that he was entirely too hurried in both his approach and ultimate drop for accurate bombing. As a matter of record, very few of the pilots of VC-9 ever practiced glide bombing before this cruise, although an effort was made to accomplish this training prior to embarkation. Present procedure requires that each pilot check his range errors on each flight by making both a glide bombing and mine attack on the wake of the carrier, using miniature bombs. Results are most gratifying, and consistently improving.
	6.                        In view of the mine's explosion observed by the turret gunner of the attacking plane and by the pilot of the second plane on the scene, together with the oil slick and three cylindrical objects which surfaced in the residue about 5 to 6 minutes after the explosion, it is considered that this attack resulted in a definite kill.
	A. J. ISBELL.
	Advance Copy to:
	COMINCH
	COMAIRLANT
	COMASDEVLANT
	- 2 -

 

	III.       APPROACH and ATTACK.
	(a)      Narrative:
	Lieut. Comdr. Howard M. Avery , Commanding Officer VC-9, flying in TBF #9 had taken off from the ship at 0923 GCT to assist Lieut. (jg) W. S. Fowler in his attack on a submarine he had sighted at 0921 GCT. The submarine had submerged and the attack had been completed before Lieut. Comdr. Avery arrived, but the ship ordered him to remain on station.
	While using gambit tactics, at 1209 GCT he sighted a fully surfaced submarine about 12 miles southeast of the scene of Lieut. (jg) Fowler's attack.
	At the sighting, Lieut. Comdr. Avery was flying at 1400' on course of 1600T at 120 knots. The U/B was steaming on course of 1600T at 10 knots, and bore 1900T, 4 or 5 miles from the plane.
	Due to heavy seas breaking over the bow, Lieut. Comdr. Avery thought the U/B was submerging, so he immediately turned toward it losing altitude preparatory to dropping his mine. He closed on the U/B from astern on course 2100T losing altitude and speed. At about 500 yards he realized the U/B was not submerging and that he was too close to break off the attack, so he continued on course and strafed the coning tower with his two .50 cal. wing guns. He passed the U/B close aboard on the starboard side, jinking violently as he retired.
	Lieut. Comdr. Avery feels that the U/B was completely surprised as there was little or no AA fire returned during his strafing attack. As he passed the U/B he observed men in the conning tower and one man training his gun after him.
	He then made figure-eights about 2000 yards astern, jinking between 800' and 1200' and waited for the submarine to submerge. During this time sporadic bursts of high explosive AA fire, believed to be from 37MM guns were observed behind and short of the plane, at about the correct altitude. Once in a while a few bursts were observed ahead and beyond the plane. As per doctrine, Lieut. Comdr. Avery changed altitude and direction violently whenever he observed the guns on the U/B open up on him.
	ANNEX (A)
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	APPROACH and ATTACK (Continued):
	At 1217 GCT Ensign B. C. Sheela flying in TBF #12 arrived at the scene. He had been vectored there by the ship from a position 2150T 15 miles away. He was flying on course 0350T at 3000' at 200 knots when he saw the U/B 6 miles ahead just 100 to port of his heading. The U/B was on course 2250T at this time.
	Ensign Sheela immediately climbed to a position astern of the U/B and pushed over at 4500' in a steep dive. He attacked from about 150 on its port stern, or on course 2400T. The U/B was turning hard to port but it is doubted that it saw Ensign Sheela, as it did not fire on him and he was flying through the clouds. He released at 1500' pulling out at about 1200'. The bomb was over the mark, and landed about 800' ahead of the U/B and about 100' to starboard.
	The U/B immediately straightened out on its original course of 1800T and started to submerge.
	Lieut. Comdr. Avery at this time was about 2000 yards astern at about 800'. He immediately put on full power and closed to about 1000 yards, where he lowered his wheels and cut off his throttle to lose speed for the mine drop. At this time, the U/B's stern was still visible above the water at a high angle of dive. The stern was visible for 5 or 6 seconds after the conning tower disappeared.
	Lieut. Comdr. Avery attacked on a course of 2250T at 130 knots at 200'. The mine was released 25 seconds after the conning tower had disappeared, and struck the water 100' up the U/B's track and about 75' to the starboard. It was seen to start its run and turn to the port. About 20 seconds later Ensign Sheela and Falwell, gunner in Lieut. Comdr. Avery's plane, saw the explosion about 200' up track and 100' to starboard of the point of entry.
	Oil slick and three cylindrical objects appeared in the residue of the explosion about 5 to 6 minutes later, and it is believed that the U/B was definitely sunk.
	ANNEX (A)
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	COMPOSITE SQUADRON NINE
	13 October 1943.
	Narrative of Lieut. Comdr. H. M. Avery, U. S. Navy.
	While engaged in “Gambit” tactics at the scene of Lieut. (jg) Fowler's contact, I sighted a submarine fully surfaced on course 1800T, speed 10 knots, about 12 miles southeast of Lieut. (jg) Fowler's contact. I was passing through a moderate rain squall on course 1600T, speed 120 knots, altitude 1400 feet when the U/B was sighted bearing 0300 relative, a distance of 4 to 5 miles. Contact report was made at 1209 GCT to the U.S.S. Card and the range closed rapidly. At 2000 yards the U/B appeared to start submerging. All controls were set for Mk 24 mine drop and attack commenced. At about 500 yards it became apparent that the submarine's appearance of submerging was an illusion caused by the rough sea. It then being too late to break-off the attack without endangering the plane, I continued the attack and began firing both 50 cal. wing guns at the conning tower. Strafing was continued to a close range and the break-off made close aboard the starboard side. Retirement was executed rapidly with violent jinking and no damage.
	The radioman, Shirley, H. R. ARM2c., was able to get two pictures as we passed close aboard. The U/B appeared rusty and weathered. Several men were in the conning tower, one man was training a single mount (probably 20 MM) gun after us as we passed. Apparently the U/B was completely surprised and they seemed slow in getting their guns firing. Very little return fire was observed until after our getaway.
	At 1212 GCT an amplifying report was made and I circled 2000 yards astern to wait for the U/B to submerge. While I was circling the U/B fired AA that exploded in white puffs (some black) in patterns of 15 to 30 in each burst. The fire was accurate with most of the bursts behind the plane, a few ahead and beyond. Changes of altitude, heading, and speed were made in accordance with evasive doctrine.
	At 1220 GCT Ensign Sheela arrived in TBF-1C #12 and made a glide bombing attack, dropping his Mk. 12-500 lb. bomb about 200 yards ahead of the U/B. AA fire ceased and the U/B submerged soon after.
	At 1221 GCT I layed my Mk. 24 mine about 25 seconds after the C/T went under, altitude 200 feet, speed 130 knots at release. The mine made a normal entry about 100 feet uptrack and 75 feet to starboard of the swirl. A shock wave and bulging on the surface was seen by Ensign Sheela and by my gunner, Falwell, C.D., AMM2c. On circling back a dye grenade was dropped near the point of entry.
	Oil and three cylindrical objects came to the surface and
	ANNEX “B"
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	13 October 1943.
	Narrative of Lieut. Comdr. H. M. Avery, U. S. Navy (Continued)
	were photographed. The cylinders were about 15-20 feet long, 2-3 feet in diameter, steel colored with one side painted white.
	At 1235 GCT I was directed to return to base.
	H. M. AVERY.
	ANNEX (B)
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	Narrative by Ens. B. C. SHEELA 13 October 1943.
	I was flying a routine A/S Patrol with my crew L. E. EMMITT and J. A. BLAIS when the carrier gave us a vector of 0600 to a submarine contact at 1213 GCT. I immediately turned to this heading and added throttle. At 1219 I came out of a large rain squall and saw the submarine.
	Lt. Comdr. AVERY was circling the sub at about 1000' altitude and about 2000 yards out. I climbed to 4500 feet down course and above a layer of Cumulus clouds. I then wingovered back down the course of the sub and pushed over in my dive. At 1500 feet and with an airspeed of 300 kts. I released my 500# bomb and pulled out of the dive. My turret gunner observed the bomb to fall about 100 feet ahead of the submarine and on its course (pictures showed the bomb to be about 200 yards ahead of the sub).
	About one minute later the submarine started its crash dive. In another 30 seconds it was fully submerged. Lt. Comdr. AVERY then went down to about 200 feet and released his mine. It hit the water about 100 feet ahead and to the right of the swirl. About 15 or 20 seconds later I observed an explosion 200-250 feet ahead and to the right of the swirl. At 1225 GCT I resumed my patrol.
	Ensign B. C. SHEELA,
	AV-(n) USNR
	ANNEX (C)

 

	13 October 1943.
	NARRATIVE OF FALWELL, C. D., AMM2c
	I was gunner in TBF # 9 and we were on patrol over Lieut. (jg) Fowler's attack. About 1100 the pilot reported sighting a submarine ahead. He said, “Get everything ready for Dog Mike.” We made a small turn and lost altitude. As we went in I saw a few tracers back off the tail. I was all set to see the mine drop over the tail, when I saw the U/B on the port side on the surface. We went by and got away in a hurry.
	Lieut. Comdr. Avery then climbed and circled astern of the submarine. They fired at us all the time we were circling. I saw plenty of bursts all around us, especially when we were about 1/2 mile away. I would say they were good gunners. I noticed we were doing a lot of violent maneuvers to avoid the bursts.
	About 5 to 10 minutes after our strafing attack, I saw a big explosion about two or three sub lengths ahead of the U/B , and saw a TBF pulling out. I heard Ensign B. C. Sheela report he had dropped his bomb. Soon after this, Lieut. Comdr. Avery told us to get set, sub was going down, and we dove to attack.
	I saw the mine hit the water and saw it start its run. I kept my eyes right on the spot and all of a sudden there was a shock wave a little to the right and almost touching the spot where the mine entered. It looked like the first indication of a depth charge explosion.
	We circled to the left and marked the spot. Oil was coming up and making a large slick. On our next circle we saw three objects like very large water-filled bombs. They were dark colored, at least one foot in diameter and about ten feet long.
	I took gun camera pictures of the slick and objects but they did not develop clearly.
	C. D. FALWELL,
	AMM2c.
	ANNEX (D)

 

	13 October 1943.
	NARRATIVE OF SHIRLEY, H. R., ARM2c
	We had been on gambit tactics on the scene of Lieut. (jg) Fowler's attack for about two hours when a submarine fully surfaced was seen by Lieut. Comdr. Avery. It was off our port side and about 4 miles away when I saw it. We were around 1200 ft. We immediately rushed in and the pilot strafed the decks and coning tower with his .50 calibers. I took two pictures of the submarine as we went by. They at once began to fire back at us. There were bursts all around us. Some were white and others were black. Pilot called the ship as soon as submarine was seen and Ensign B. C. Sheela was already on his way to the scene. We maneuvered back and forth changing altitude and course often to keep from becoming an easy target. Ensign Sheela arrived at 1110. He circled high and observing that we were drawing fire from the starboard side, he made his attack from the port side of the submarine. He dropped his 500 pound bomb. I saw it as it hit the water. It missed by at least a sub's length ahead of the submarine. The enemy seemed to be taken by surprise and at once began to submerge. We then rushed in and dropped our “Dog Mike”. I got a picture of it as it struck the water. We then circled back as quickly as possible. The mine went off but at the time I was not in position to see the explosion. Very shortly large oil slicks came to the top. Pictures were made. Also three buoys were seen and I made pictures of them also.
	HENRY R. SHIRLEY,
	ARM2c, U.S.N.R.
	ANNEX (E)

 

	13 October 1943.
	Narrative of L. E. Emmitt, AMM2c., USNR.
	Submarine was sighted by Lt. Comdr. Avery and Mr. Sheela was given vector from ship to assist.
	Flying at about four thousand, Mr. Sheela saw the submarine on port bow, called back to us, “There she is,” and immediately started his dive.
	The submarine, as I saw it, had hatches secured ready for diving and was just partly awash. Mr. Sheela dropped his bomb but over-shot the mark, I thought, about a hundred feet ahead of the submarine causing the submarine to crash dive giving Mr. Avery a chance to lay his mine for a hit.
	I saw another splash, called Mr. Sheela's attention to it. I then saw Mr. Avery's plane close to the water winging around.
	A short time later, Mr. Sheela saw the resultant explosion of the mine and spoke of it, but I was not in a position to see it. We started circling the area, searching for debris, bodies, or oil slick. Right afterwards the ship called us to resume our own patrol.
	I can give no account of the time of attack, dropping, or when leaving the area, other than the fact that from the time ship directed us to the contact until the submarine was sighted only a few minutes, surprisingly short, had elapsed.
	I used the gun camera taking several shots both at long and at short range. I did not fire the gun nor did Mr. Sheela fire his wing guns.
	L. E. EMMITT.
	ANNEX (F)

 

	13 October 1943.
	Narrative of J. A. Blais, ARM3c, USNR.
	While flying regular A/S patrol with Mr. Sheela, we were called by the ship stating that a contact had been made. We rushed to the position. All of a sudden Mr. Sheela shouted, “I see it,” and then it happened. Mr. Sheela winged to one side and went into a dive straight for the sub.
	Just then I got into position ready to take pictures. From the back window I did not get to take a picture because we went by the sub at too great a speed which made it so I could not see the sub. I got to the port window where I saw the sub and the bomb explosion and took pictures of it.
	To me it wasn't any more than one minute after the bomb hit that the sub submerged. We circled around until ship called us and told us to resume search.
	J. A. BLAIS.
	ANNEX (G)

	Picture # 1   Was taken from Ensign Sheela's plane, just a few seconds after he had dropped a 500# bomb on the U/B. As will be noticed the bomb exploded quite a distance ahead and to starboard of the U/B.       Picture # 2   Shows the mine, dropped by Lieut. Comdr. Avery, entering the water, and starting its run toward the U/B.       Picture # 3   Shows part of the oil slick which appeared shortly after the explosion of the mine. Attention is invited to the two small objects, surrounded by white foam in the top right hand corner of the picture. These are two of the three “cylindrical objects” which came to the surface shortly after the explosion of the mine.       Picture # 4   Is an enlargement of the area mentioned in Picture #3.           Following are two pictures of the U/B itself, taken from Lt. Comdr. Avery's plane, on the first run over the U/B, during which a strafing attack was carried out.
	Respectfully submitted,
	Lesley McCreath, Jr.,
	Lieut. (jg), USNR.,
	A.C.I. Officer,
	Composite Squadron NINE.

Picture #1,      Taken from Ensign Sheela's plane, just a few seconds after he had dropped a 500# bomb on the U/B

Picture #2,      Mine, dropped by Lieut. Comdr. Avery, entering the water, and starting its run toward the U/B.

Picture #3,      Part of the oil slick which appeared shortly after the explosion of the mine. Attention is invited to the two small objects, surrounded by white foam in the top right hand corner of the picture. These are two of the three “cylindrical objects” which came to the surface shortly after the explosion of the mine.

Picture #4,      An enlargement of the area mentioned in Picture #3.

U-402 taken during Lieut. Comdr Avery's first pass

U-402 taken during Lieut. Comdr Avery's first pass