Lt. Gordon R. Fiss, USN, in 92-P-6 was providing night air coverage for TAW-15 convoy in a PNY-5A armed with four MK 29 six hundred and fifty pound depth charges with 50 foot depth settings.  An enemy submarine was sighted at 22:30 Q 27 August at Lat. 17⁰-40'  Long. 74⁰-50'.  The submarine was visually sighted in the moon path three miles astern of the main convoy body, fully surfaced.

        It was sighted about one quarter of a mile off the port beam, estimated speed eight to ten knots.  The altitude of the plane was five hundres feet and an attack was commenced immediately without additional power to prevent gaining too much speed, since it was apparent the submarine could not submerge prior to the drop.  The approach was made into the moon path 235⁰ relative to the submarine, at an attempted lead of three quarters of the submarine's length.  The starboard manual bomb release was pulled when the submarine was about 200 feet distant and about 45⁰ relative bearing; a speed of 125 knots and an altitude of 50-75 feet was obtained at the instant of the drop.  The second pilot released the port bombs manually about 1 second later; the submarine was submerging with the bow awash as far as the conning tower at the time of release.

        "A quick glance astern a few seconds later revealed the conning tower becoming obliterated by the bomb upheaval.  Members of the crew in the waist hatch stated the stern of the submarine was raised clear of the water.  However I did not see this, my attention being necessary on the airplane which was close to the water.

        "A Corvette was sighted about two miles away while commencing a return circle and the word "SUB SUB" was flashed by Aldis lamp.  Upon completing the circle to the position of the drop a flare was released.  At this time the submarine was sighted again on the surface in the moon path but lost as we continued the circle.  It was sighted againon the successive circle.

        "The Corvette was approaching and commenced firing at about two to three hundred yards.  It continued to approach and rammed the submarine.  A great deal of gun fire was issuing from what appeared to be the submarine and the Corvette.  

        "After about five to ten minutes the submarine and Corvette seperated about two hundred yards with teh gun fire attack continuing.  After about fifteen minutes a destroyer approached from the direction of the convoy and it too opened fire from about three hundred yards.  After a few minutes the firing ceased and the Corvette approached closer.  Two small life boats were then seen in the vicinity.  I did not see the submarine disappear but later an oil slick was observed and sharp white flashes which appeared to be gun fire was issuing from the general area at about five second intervals.  However upon closer observation it was seen that no submarine was afloat and that the flashes were coming from what looked like under the water, since they could be seen dimly prior to their final bubble like flash.  This continued for an hour while prisoners were being picked up.  At 0050 we returned to base."

PATROL SQUADRON NINETY TWO

VP92-10-ltr

File    :   F15

Serial:    (281)

                                                                                      c/o  Postmaster,

                                                                                      New York, New York.

                                                                                      September 1, 1942.

From:	The Commander, Patrol Squadron NINETY TWO.
To    :	The Commander Caribbean Sea Frontier.
Via  :	The Commandant, Naval Operating Base, Guantanamo.
Subject:	Lieutenant Gordon M. FISS, U.S. Navy - Commendation of
Enclosure:	(A) Action Report dated 27 August 1942.

        1.        Enclosure (A) is forwarded herewith.

        2.        Lieutenant Gordon R. FISS, U.S.N., is considered worthy of the highest commendation for services above and beyond the call of duty.  The flight on which this action occurred was not a required convoy coverage.  Lieutenant FISS had been engaged in arduous duties at the Joint Operations Center, Guantanamo, working from fifteen to eighteen hours daily.  He specifically requested permission to conduct this flight in the belief that he could encounter enemy submarines in ther suspected fueling areas.  A mechanical failure in the aircraft assigned to the convoy resulted in its return to base which would thus have left the convoy temporarily uncovered had it not been for the immediate availabilty in the convoy area of Lieutenant FISS.  His prompt action in sighting, engaging and damaging the U-94 to the extent that it could not submerge are believed to have contributed appreciably to the ultimate sinking.  Had it not been for his extreme devotion to duty under trying circumstances there is little doubt that our losses during the evening of 27 - 28 August would have been considerably larger.

                                                                                        J.  A.  MORENO

Copy to:

    CompatwingELEVEN

In reply

adress Commandant, U.S.

Naval Operating Base

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

Refer to

File No.         NE37/A16

Serial No      0292

                                                                                               September 3, 1942

FIRST ENDORSEMENT

on "U. S. Aircraft -- Action

with Enemy" report dated

27 August 1942.

From:	Commandant.
To    :	Commander-in-Chief United States Atlantic Fleet.
Via  :	The Commander Caribbean Sea Frontier.
SUBJECT:	Report of U. S. Aircraft Action with Enemy.
Reference::	(a) CinClant conf. file A2-11/A16-3/FF13 serial 0551 of 16 March 1942.

        1.        Subject report, a bombing attack on an enemy submarine by a PBY-5A type aircraft of Patrol Squadron 92, piloted by Lieutenant Gordon R. Fiss, U.S.N., which occurred at 0230 Zone 4 time in Latitude 17⁰ 40' North and Longitude 74⁰ 50' West, is forwarded herewith.

        2.        The attack was excellently conducted inasmuch as the pilot on observing the surfaced submarine went immediately into a dive and within fifty seconds dropped four 650 pound depth bombs.  The submarine sustained damages inasmuch as it was later observed that the vessel was unable to submerge.  It was later learned that the damage consisted of the destruction of the horizontal rudders, extinguishing the lights in the submarine and the slowing it so from ten to twelve knots.

        3.        In other reports it is seen that the final destruction of the submarine was accomplished by the HMCS OAKVILLE by gunfire and ramming.  The airplane which was covering a convoy remained in the vicinity until relieved.  Had not the OAKVILLE been in the vicinity and completed the destruction of the submarine, some hour and a half would have elapsed before a second plane would have gotten in the area.  It is believed that when practicable planes should operate in pairs and this doctrine hasbeen established at Guantanamo by the use of six B-18-B army bombers recenely reported to this Station for duty.

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In reply

adress Commandant, U.S.

Naval Operating Base

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

Refer to

File No.         NE37/A16

Serial No      0292

                                                                                               September 3, 1942

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