U-71

The Type VIIC boat U-71 left St Nazaire on 4 June 1942 for an other war cruise, under the command of Kapitanleutnant Walther Flachsenberg. On the following day it was attacked about 140 miles west of Bordeaux by Sunderland Mk.11 (W3986) of No.10 (RAAF) Sqd, flown by Flight Lieutenant S.R.C.Wood, from Mount Batten, Devon, who dropped eight depth charges. The U-boat crash-dived but then resurfaced and an exchange of fire took place, as shown here. The U-boat then dived once again. The Sunderland was damaged and during its return flight was engaged in combat with a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, when further damage was sustained. The U-boat was also damaged but managed to return to St Nazaire. It carried out five more war cruises before being relegated to training duties in June 1943. By this time it had sunk five merchant vessels. It was scuttled at Wilhelmshaven on 2 May 1945. Ref: AIR 15/470