U-342

Shown here is the Type VIIC boat U-342 under attack from an RCAF Canso (American Catalina) flying boat. U-342 left Bergen for its first war cruise on 3 April 1944, under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Albert Hossenfelder, but when 330 miles south-south-west of Iceland fourteen days later was attacked by Canso 'S' (9757) of No. 162 (RCAF) Sqad., flown from Reykjavik by Flying Officer Thomas C. Cooke. The U-boat and the Canso exchanged fire on the run-in and then three depth charges were dropped. One exploded close to the U-boat, which sank leaving wreckage. There were no survivors from the crew of fifty-one. Ref: AIR 15/472