Aircrafts versus U-617 12/Sept/1943

[Jan7]

Dear Friends of Forum:
As all you seen in my last post http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww...ht-brandi-karl-d-nitz-doenitz-u617-11511.html and as said to all in my presentation, I'm in a Historichal Investigation on U-617:

As all you seen in this post of Liberator Surrender of U 570 - World War II Forums

What follows is an account of the loss of U 617 taken from "U-boat versus Aircraft" by Norman Franks and Eric Zimmerman.

On 11/12 September 1943 Wellington aircraft were in action against U 617 (Kapitanleutnant Albrecht Brandi) The U-boat had been located and attacked initially by Wellington 'P' of 179 Squadron at 0050 hrs off the northern Moroccan shore, heavy flak being met as soon and the Leigh Light went on. Squadron Leader D B. Hodgkinson RCAF straddled the boat with his depth charges and the boat began to leave a trail of oil. Keeping the boat under observation they homed in Wellington 'J' of the same Squadron.

It appeared as if the submarine was trying to make neutral waters, the boat clearly seen by 'J''s crew on a calm sea under a cloudless sky. The radar picked her up then the oil trail could be clearly seen in the moonpath. 'J' attacked up the moonbeam in position 3517/0302, the boat opening up with heavy flak almost as the Leigh Light came on, and the aircraft was hit in several places, the rear gunner being fatally wounded.

The front gunner had tried to keep the u-boats gunners heads down, hits being seen to splatter around the conning tower, then the depth charges were going down from 80 feet. Knowing his aircraft had been hit around the port side, the pilot kept on going and stated to climb to 500 feet, but upon inspection the damage was not too server so he turned back to the results of his attack.

About a minute later flames could be viewed comming from the conning tower for almost a minute and the boat could be seen down by the stern. The aircraft continued to shadow the boat for 45 minutes until it finally beached herself on the Moroccan coast in position 3513/0329. Next morning U 617 was lying on her port side with the conning tower awash; her crew were ashore, drying their clothes. She was finished off by attacks from Hudsons, Swordfish and finally gunfire from HM ships. The German crew suffered no casualties and all 49 men survived. Interned by the Spanish, they were later repatriated to Germany.



Wellington J/179 Squadrons wounded rear gunner made no mention of being hit, but as the captain finally turned for home, there was no reply from an R/T check, so one of the crew went to investigate. He had remained at his post and bled to death.



Crew of Wellington J/179



P/O. W H. Brunini. Pilot

Sgt. A. Jones. 2nd pilot.

F/O. V H. Johnson. Navigator.

Sgt. F M. Crowdis. Wop/Ag.

F/S. H W. Barnfield. Wop/Ag.

F/S. W. Jones RNAF. Died of wounds.

And in this pages

Coastal Command ORBAT -- 23 August 1943 :

Gibraltar
Base Unit Aircraft Type Establishment Strength Available Remarks
New Camp No. 202 Catalina IB 12 9 5 5 aircraft fitted with Leigh Light
North Front NO. 48 Hudson - Rocket Projectile 20 23 15
North Front No. 233 Hudson 20 20 13 Half fitted with rocket projectiles
North Front No. 179 L/L Wellington VIII and XIV 15 18 7

I am now in a research of photos or any the aircrafts who are destinated In the RAF Gibraltar Base or any material similar and adequate for complete our Investigation.

As a member of our Historical Investigation group, I thank you in advance.


Jan.

 

[Jan7]

I found photos of 179 Squadron in Gibraltar: Edward Brain Weatherhead in Coastal Command 179 Squadron.

I sent an email to the responsible in demmand of help.



Jan.

 

[skaife1321]

My father, Len Skaife, was a member of 179 squadron, rear gunner of a Lancaster. He has so many memories to share and would be very keen to get in touch with anyone from that era or interested in his experiences/pictures.
Rob