UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET
AIR FORCE
 
BOMBING SQUADRON 110
 
     
 
- 1 -
 
 
NARRATIVE
  
     
  A/C was proceeding to hunt U/B in given position 44°15'N/09°00'W as result of message from 19 Group Coastal Command.  At 1300 in DR position 43°32'N 08°45'W flying at 5000' on course 143°T - NO CLOUD - VISIBILITY UNRESTRICTED - sea rough - a/c made radar contact bearing 090° relative 20 miles and altered course to 233°T to home.  At 1306 Spanish trawler on easterly course was sighted about 2 miles on A/C's port bow and immediately the co-pilot, Ens. Lyons, visually sighted a wake bearing 080° relative 3 miles.  On using binoculars wake was identified as fully surfaced U/B in position 43°44'N/08°26'W, course 150°T, speed 10-12 knots.  U/B seemed to be in a stern down trim possibly caused by the planning effect of its speed.  The A/C still at 5000' circled to port at about 2 miles from U/B losing altitude.  U/B opened fire but bursts were seen 1000 yards short of A/C.  A/C continued to circle with U/B remaining on surface on steady course after completing about 2-1/2 circuits and at 1800 ft. A/C started a wide diving turn to attack out of sun.  U/B made no attempts to dive but kept up intermittent fire which increased as A/C closed.  Flashes from C/T and white bursts ahead of A/C were seen.  A/C bow turret opened fire at 2000 yds. for test burst on run in and deck turret opened as soon as its guns could bear.  At 1315 in position 43°43'N/08°25'W attack was made on track of 000°T about 30° on starboard bow of U/B.  On final approach pilots emergency port blew open.  The approach was made in a diving turn to port with the A/C straightening out just prior to release which was at 70 feet at 220 MPH.  Six 250# torpex DC's, fuze setting 25', spaced by intervalometer at 60'/220 MPH were dropped.  Sea marker and smoke light were taped to #1 and #2 DC's but were not seen after explosions.  DC's exploded to starboard of U/B which appeared to have started turning to starboard to meet the attack, line of stick being 30° to U/B's original track but 15° to U/B's longitudinal axis at time of explosions.  First DC exploded 100 ft. abeam the bow of U/B, remainder converging on track at angle of 15 degrees, end of slick astern and slightly to starboard of U/B.  Pictures indicate that depth charges exploded in inverse order with #1 DC exploding last.  As DC's exploded, U/B was seen to roll over to its port and slide sideways through the water after which it swung around to port straightening out and then went into a 180° turn to port from which it resumed its original heading by a series of starboard turns.  The original heading of 150° was finally made good in a zig-zag course.  After A/C passed over U/B it pulled away in a climbing turn to port and commenced to circle to port at 2000' at a distance of 1/2 to 3/4 miles, U/B kept up intense fire all during run and as A/C went away.  A/C rear gunner was unable to fire due to hydraulic trouble in tail turret.  As A/C circled U/B continued zig-zagging at a reduced speed leaving a track of light oil.  
     
 
(OVER)
  
     
     

 

     

   
UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET
AIR FORCE
 
BOMBING SQUADRON 110
 
     
  Page 1 and 2 Continued:  
  It continued on making good a course of 150°T towards the Spanish coast 10 or 15 miles away.  Its mean course was in the direction of a Spanish fishing fleet off Cape Prior.  At 1328 while circling U/B, another a/c was seen approaching down sun and identified as a white Liberator, with British markings.  Voice communication was established but pilots of the other a/c appeared to be foreigners who had difficulty understanding and speaking English.  It developed that it was a Czech crew.  Lt. Parish assumed command as TITAN LEADER and advised other Liberator that he had made his attack and would give him supporting fire for his attack.  Other Liberator started to go in but broke off attack at 800 yards in the face of intense fire.  Ens. Lyons, co-pilot saw two brown puffs from the starboard wing of the other a/c just before it broke off its attack and two splashes in the water 300 to 400 yards short of U/B.  Both a/c continued to circle under intermittent fire from U/B until at about 1350 Lt. Parish advised other Liberator that he had reached PLE and was leaving, and passed command of the attack over to other Liberator.  At 1352 after radar fix on Spanish coast Lt. Parish departed for base leaving U/B in position 43°40'N/08°22'W, mean course 150°T, speed about 8 knots.  Bow gunner fired 100 rounds.  Numerous hits obtained on mid section and conning tower of U/B but no definite damage was observed.  No personnel were seen on deck of U/B.  U/B fire was seen to come from conning tower and aft of conning tower.  Rate of fire for probable 20mm or 37mm cannon was 100 to 140 rounds per minute bursting with white puffs.  No fire observed from heavy gun.  Very rapid M/G fire was observed from U/B.