Shown here is the Type IXD2 boat U-852 beached on the coast of Somaliland (Somalia) near Cape Garafui after the attacks by Wellingtons of Nos.8 and 621 Squadrons. U-852 left Kiel on 18 January 1944 to operate in the Indian Ocean under the command of Kapitanleutnant Heinz-Wilhelm Eck. It sank two merchant vessels, one of which was the Greek SS Peleus of 4,695 tons. Eck ordered his men to machine-gun and throw hand grenades at the survivors, but three of these lived to tell the tale. From 1 to 3 May 1944, when patrolling the approaches to the Red Sea, U-852 was attacked by five Wellington G.R.Mk.XIIIs of No.621 Sqd. and one of No.8 Sqd., all based at Khormaksar, Aden but operating from various airfields. Seven Germans were killed in these attacks and the U-boat was so badly damaged that Eck was forced to beach it on the coast of Somaliland near Cape Garafui and blow it up. Fifty-nine survivors were taken prisoner. After the war Eck and two of his crew were convcted of their crimes and executed. Ref: AMD 199/2061
