June 25, 1944 sinking of a German destroyer.

[Jank]

I have seen the date of May 9, 1944 given also. In addition, I have read some commentary that it actually happened in the Gulf of Venice which was why they knew right away that it was a German ship.

I have not read an actual pilot account. Just stories based on the account. I have also seen credit for the sinking listed somewhere on the web chronicling the Tuskagee Airmen's accomplishments.

It's possible that they got the area where the attack took place wrong. That's not an uncommon error. It's also possible that the Germans listed it as a bomb casualty since it was an explosion would have done the ship in. One does not need to actually see the bomb falling onto a ship to conclude that a bomb struck it if there is a terrific explosion in the midst of an air attack. It is assumed. Only the attacker knows for sure whether they used bombs.

I'm not sure why you are saying that they didn't know which plane they were flying. In mid 44, they were using P-47's.

I can't imagine that it was dreamed up. Such a claim would have been verified and these were black pilots. The 40's were an era of pretty severe racism. Making up incredible accomplishments for blacks wouldn't have been the order of the day!

 

[DanijelG]

Here is the TA-22, check the proportions with the crew on deck. And then is the UJ-202 towing the TA-22 from cape Salvore back to Trieste.

 

[DanijelG]

Here is the air raid / damage report from the TA-22. Is there any footage available from the airplanes? Who is to be asked for? Thanks.

 

[Nick Beale]

From the Diary of the Seekriegsleitung (naval ops. staff) for 25 June 1944: On the morning of the 25th, while on a sortie SE Trieste to test dockyard repairs, TA 22 was repeatedly attacked by 8–10 fighter-bombers, suffering two bomb hits and heavy strafing. The boat sailed into the San Marco dock with a severe list. One aircraft was reported definitely shot down and another probably. (My translation)

 

[DanijelG]

From the Diary of the Seekriegsleitung (naval ops. staff) for 25 June 1944: On the morning of the 25th, while on a sortie SE Trieste to test dockyard repairs, TA 22 was repeatedly attacked by 8–10 fighter-bombers, suffering two bomb hits and heavy strafing. The boat sailed into the San Marco dock with a severe list. One aircraft was reported definitely shot down and another probably. (My translation)

We know that no planes were lost on that mission. Here is the ship (first one) at the end of the war, at vallone di Muggia by Trieste.
The problem is that the pilots stated that on that day they sank a destroyer (none), an armed sailboat near Izola (none), and that they attacked the radio/radar station in Piran (no radar/radio station there - they strafed the main church on the town hill and killed one girl and two wounded of the chorus), the shipyard in Muggia (none), and that they flew into Trieste (none - how the FLAK didn't crushed them if that was true).

But sometimes later the squadron leader crashed mid sea just outside Umag (point Salvore) with a P-51 Mustang.

 

[Nick Beale]

I'm not at all surprised that both sides made inaccurate reports. You might be itnerested to see the deciphered signal sent from TA 22 after the attack. It is in UK National Archives file DEFE 3/660, item ZIP/ZTPGM/77740. This file is free to download.