U-625

Shown here is the Type VIIC boat U-625 under attack from an Coastal Command Sunderland. U-625 left Brest on 29 February 1944, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Siegfried Straub, for another war cruise in the North Atlantic. On 10 March 1944, in combination with the Type V11 boat U-741, it shot down Wellington G.R. Mk. XIV (HF311) of No.407 (RCAF) Sqd, flown by Pilot Officer E.M. O'Donnell from Chivenor, North Devon. Its luck ran out later the same day when it was picked up by Sunderland G.R. Mk.111 (EK591) of 422 (RCAF) Sqd, from Castle Archdale, Northern Ireland, under the captaincy of Flight Lieutenant Sidney W. Butler. The U-boat was straddled with a stick of six depth charges. The Sunderland was hit in an exchange of gunfire but was able to continue operating. The U-boat crash-dived but resurfaced and signalled 'Fine bombfish' to the Sunderland. It then sank for the last time. Some men were seen in dinghies but all fifty-three crew members lost their lives. Ref: AIR 15/472