World War 2 Eagles: Sunderland

Monday, 27 July 2015

U-243

The Type VIIC uboat U-243 was built from 28 October 1942 at the Krupp yards in Kiel. She was launched on 2 September 1943 and pressed into service exactly one month later, under command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans Martens.

Her first voyage was a small trip from Kiel to Flekkefjiord, from where she sailed on her first war patrol on 8 June 1944. U-243 was ordered to reach the waters off Normandy, her target being the invasion fleet supporting the Overlord operation.

Three days after, the Uboat claimed its first victim in a very unfortunate accident. At 02.50 hrs, the boat opened fire with its AA guns on an aircraft flying over her at low altitude. The unidentified aircraft answered the recognition signals, but crashed in the sea seconds later. It was, in fact, a Ju 88 returning from a weather reconnaissance mission, and sadly only one crew member survived.

Sources online differ, identifying the aircraft as belonging to Wekusta 3 or Wekusta 5.

The following day, U-243 returned to Bergen due to engine troubles, where the Ju 88 survivor was landed ashore. The boat left again three days later, on the 15th, safely crossed the North Atlantic and positioned herself in the bay of Biscay, ready to hunt enemy vessels.

Instead of Allied ships, U-243 met her fate on 8 July: at 14.35 hrs the uboat was spotted by a Sunderland flying boat. The German sailors opened fire with their Flak guns, but the Sunderland manage to strafe the aircraft wounding all men on deck and silencing their guns. Six depth charges were dropped which they disabled all engines and crippled to German vessel, causing her to take a heavy list to port.

Other sailors came on deck to operate the Flak guns and keep the Sunderland away, but at 15:00 the Germans launched their dinghies and abandoned the boat.

This photo was taken by the Sunderland crew after dropping the six depth charges which sank the uboat

A second Sunderland and a Liberator reached the scene, initially dropping more depth charges: the commander of the first Sunderland, F/O Tilley, dropped a food pack and a dinghy before returning to base. Thirty-eight Germans managed to evacuate the sinking Uboat, leaving eleven of them behind. They were picked up during the night by HMS Restigouche, but commander Martens succumbed to the wounds caused by the strafing Sunderland.

The flying boat was W4030 and belonded to RAAF no.10 Sqn. Its commander, F/O Tilley was awarded the DFC and the gunner, Flt. Sgt Cook the DFM.

Sunderland vs. U-625

Monday, 6 June 2011

Sunderland vs U-boat

On 10 March 1944, Short Sunderland MK. III, EK591/U of No. 422 Sqn (Canadian) took off from Castle Archdale in Northern Ireland to cover convoy SC 154. The convoy's destination was Liverpool: it consisted of 28 merchantmen plus nine LSTs (Landing Ship Tank), and had departed Halifax on 28 February.

The Sunderland was flown by WO W. F. Morton: he and his crew were on their first operational patrol over the North Atlantic, and were assisted by two experienced officers. Flight Lieutenat A. Omerod acted as Second Navigator, with the task of judging the crewmen's navigation skills, while Flight Lieutenant Sid Butler was aboard with the task of judging the general performance of the novice team. He was, in effect, in command of the flying boat.

The Sunderland took off at 11.25 (circa) and was on its way to its assigned area three and-a-half hours later when a U-boat was spotted off the port side. Flt Lt Butler took over in command and approached the enemy vessel turning to port and reducing eight. The U-boat choose not to submerge but to stay and fight with its anti-aircraft guns. That's were the new orders for all U-boat commanders caught on the surface by enemy aircrafts: it was considered that submarines were more likely to be lost while submerging and unable to defend themselves rather than fight with 20mm and 37mm AA guns.
The wactics had succesfully worked out earlier that same day, when U-625 together with U-741 had shot down Vickers Wellington HF 311, No. 407 Sq (Canadian).

The Sunderland was approaching when the Germans opened fire from about five miles and started to zig-zag. Flt Lt Butler took the aircraft to within one mile from the U-boat, descended to 400 feet and tried to get into position for an attack. The Sunderland opened fire too, the flying boat and the submarine furiously shooting at each other. As Butler moved around the vessel the Germans also circled around and for about ten minutes the EK591/U was unable to attack.
Given the spirited defense mounted by the Germans, Butler realised that it was impossible to positionate perfectly for an attack, so decided to take his chance and dived, levelling the Sunderland at 50 feet above the water. Approaching at 400 yard the flying boat was welcomed by intense Flak fire and the hull was damaged below the waterline. A description of this dramatic moments is given by aircraft gunner Joe Nespor, and pilot Sid Butler:

Once in full view of the sub, two .5-inch in the nose opened fire. All guns on the U-boat were immediately silenced. Just as the aircraft was approaching the U-boat, a German gunner ran towards the gun, pulled the trigger on a 20mm cannon and the aircraft was hit on the nose. His timing was perfect as we could not depress our guns enough to reach him".

I have a distinct memory of a tall figure in a grey sweater - who was probably the gunner responsible for the damage our aircraft sustained in the last stages of the attack - leaving his guns at the last possible moment and diving for the conning tower as we passed overhead. A brave man indeed . [Britain at War, April 2010, p. 29]

Passing over the U-boat, the Sunderland released six 250lb depth-charges, set for detonation at twenty-five feet: they hit the U-boat, one on entering the water on the starboard side and three on the port side, exploding slightly astern of the conning tower.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE COMPLETE ATTACK SEQUENCE http://ww2eagles.blogspot.com/2011/06/photographich-of-attack-on-u-625.html

Flt Lt Butler circled the submarine to check the damage inflicted: for almost three minutes nothing happened, but then the U-boat appeared in difficulty, slowly submerging. The vessel re-surfaced another three minutes later, even more in trouble.
Butler continued to circle over the scene while the crewmen transmitted over the R/T calling for the attention of any Allied aircraft of warship in position to respond and reach the area. The signal was received by another Sunderland of 423 Squadron who headed towards Butler's position.
While Butler and his men were waiting for their comrades to arrive, they took a quick check at the damage inflicted by the U-boat guns. A two-and-a-half inches wide hole had been opened on the keel together with dozens of smaller holes. The crew carried out temporary repairs, with cover material for the bigger holes, and chewing gum for the smaller ones!

For nearly a hour and a half EK591/U circled over the vessel, then the U-boat crew flashed a visual sign to Sunderland: "FINE BOMBISH"[sic]. At this point the Germans began to abandon ship in dinghies.
U-625 sank at 17.40, in position 52° 35′, 20° 19′ W. The entire crew get safely into the dighies and life boats, but unfortunately no one survived. They were all lost in a storm the next night.

Minutes later the U-boat disappeared, Sunderland C of 423 RCAF Sqn reach Butler's position, allowing him and his crew to head form home. They finally landed at Castle Archdale at 23.31.

Flight Lieutenant Butler received the DFC for his succesfull attack on U-boat U-625.

CLICK HERE FOR THE DETAILED COMBAT CAREER OF U-BOAT U-625 http://ww2eagles.blogspot.com/2011/06/story-of-u-625.html