| :::: Flight - Mission Details ::::.... |
Base: Ballykelly
Time Up: 1949hrs (24/BK) - Time Down: 0658 hrs (25/Tain) - Duration: 11hrs 9mins
Op: CLA Sweep
A/C on patrol sighted C/T (conning tower) of U-Boat in act of surfacing in posn 65.18N 0628E. At 0149 hours and carried out an attack from 50ft, releasing 6-250lb DCS which straddled aft C/T. A second attack was made across port beam of U-Boat which now seemed fully surfaced and a further 2-250lb DCS were dropped. During both attacks, all gunners opened fire, registering hits on C/T. Subsequent examination proved that the DCS had been released "safe" - not due to mechanical failure. A/C landed Tain after sortie.
Crew on this day: F/L D.C.R Alcock (Capt) - W/O J.F. Seaver (2nd pilot) - F/O A. Barrel (Nav) - F/O R. Howis - Sgt D. Mortimer - Sgt C. Boardman - Sgt H.Williams - F/S R.J. Nunan - F/S R.G. Marlowe.
| :::: More U-boat Details ::::.... |
Update June 2014:
With the help of Rainer (uboat.net) the boat involved in this attack has been identified as U-276. Uboat.net states the following for this event.
| :::: Source - Endurance - Alwyn Jay ::::.... |
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