| :::: Flight - Mission Details ::::.... |
Base: Ballykelly
Take off time: 0242 hrs (K) - 0314 hrs (F)
Op: A.S Patrol
ORB notes the following: "K/59 - A/C was on A/S patrol south of Ireland when a suspicious oil streak was sighted in posn 49'40'N, 09'40'W at 0611 hours. Gouts of oil were coming to the surface and spreading out. At 0637 an attack was made with Proctor but no results were observed. Oil continued to come to the surface and streak was eventually estimated to be 6,1/2 miles long. Patrol resumed".
"F/59 - A/C was on A/S patrol in the same area as K/59 when the same suspicious oil slick was sighted in posn. 49'36'N, 09'40'W. K/59 was seen to make his attack and "F" decided to attack also with Proctor which he did at 0727. No results observed, at this time large blobs were still coming to the surface. At 0943 in posn. 49'52'N, 09'38'W a U-boat periscope and feather sighted in the middle of the smooth oil patch. Sight was lost of the periscope when A/C turned to intercept and was not regained.
"K" crew on this day: F/L V.E. Camacho (capt) - F/L J.R. Morril (sec pilot) - F/O R.S. Shewry - (Nav) - Sgt L.M Waltham - Sgt W. Derbyshire - W/O W. Wilkinson - W/O M.A. Cuyler - F/S R.L MacCleary
"F" crew on this day: F/L W. Teare (capt) - F/O G.E McArthur - F/O J.C. Goodacre - F/S J.P Williams - Sgt P. Stoneman - F/S J. Barr - F/O J.E. Collins - F/S R. Hannah
NOTE: "Proctor" was a code name given to the 'FIDO' acoustic torpedo. This is the first account of 59 Sqn crews using the FIDO that I have come across.
| :::: More U-boat Details ::::.... |
Unknown
| :::: Source - Memoires of F/L E.E. Allen DFC ::::.... |
During WWII, the RAF used three-letter codes to identify their aircraft from a distance. Two large letters were painted before the roundel, which signified the squadron to which the aircraft belonged, and another letter was painted after the roundel which indicated the individual aircraft. Aditionally, there was the individual serial number for each aircraft, which was painted in a much smaller size, usually somewhere at the rear of the aircraft: (more)
Codes used by RAF 59 Squadron:
PJ Sep 1938 - Sep 1939
TR Sep 1939 - Oct 1942
1 Aug 1943 - Jul 1944
WE Jul 1944 - Oct 1945
BY Oct 1945 - Jun 1946, Dec 1947 - Oct 1950