RAF or USAAF attack on German shipping on 8 December 1943 (could be Med or Adriatic)

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by Allan125, Oct 3, 2020.

  1. Allan125

    Allan125 Junior Member

    Looking for some assistance with regard to an RAF or USAAF attack on German shipping on 8 December 1943, and we would like if possible to know what was the RAF/USAAF unit involved in the attack.

    The details are pretty vague as it could be in the Mediterranean or the Adriatic.

    This is about a german sailor who had previously served on the Prinz Eugen and Scharnhorst, he settled in Sheffield post-war and was wounded by bomb splinters on 8 December 1943. He was serving on 2 Transport Flotille, we have no idea of the actual type of ship, but a Herbert Gruner was the commander and was only an NCO, so we are presuming a caique, small motorboat, yacht, or even a Siebel ferry or Marinefahrprahm, and as it was supplying local garrisons this more points to the Adriatic than the Med.

    The unit was 1 Transport Flotille, seconded to 2 Transport Flotille - 1 Transport Flotille was established in May 1943 in France, and in July 1943 moved to Italy with seventeen landing craft. Headquarters first at San Remo and later Imperia. 2 Transport Flotille was formed in September 1943 from units of the 1st Transport Flotille, headquartered in Venice, also oversaw transport operations in the Adriatic.

    Unfortunately his file only gives the unit, date of the action and details of his injuries, but with no location, but as it states his injuries are "bomb splinters" we assume it was an air attack.

    Many thanks in anticipation

    Allan Hillman
     
  2. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Allan,

    I've checked in Vol 4 of the Shores et al 'A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945' for 8 Dec 43 and, unfortunately, there are no details of any anti-shipping strikes that day. It seems, however, that they only record missions which led to aircraft casualties so it looks like there were no losses to the Allied unit involved. Not much help I'm afraid but I'll keep an eye out for any sources that might be more useful.

    Good luck.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  3. Tom OBrien

    Tom OBrien Senior Member

    Allan,

    Try one of these files from the National Archives (free to download) they are the War Cabinet weekly resumes of military activities for the week before and after 9 Dec 43 so hopefully will cover the date you are looking for, unfortunately I'm already up to my limit for downloading files (max of 50 in 30 days):

    CAB66/44/12
    CAB66/44/19

    This is an example of what you get:

    http://filestore.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pdfs/small/cab-66-62-wp-45-98-3.pdf

    regards

    Tom
     
  4. Allan125

    Allan125 Junior Member

    Thank you for the quick response Tom, I will let you know if we can crack this one.

    Cheers

    Allan
     
  5. ltdan

    ltdan Nietenzähler

    I would also consider the possibility that the injury may have occurred on land
    USAAF Chronology:
     
  6. Robert-w

    Robert-w Banned

    I had wondered about that but the only coastal targets on the 8th Dec are on the wrong side of Italy
     
  7. Allan125

    Allan125 Junior Member

    Thank you gentlemen, I will pass that on

    Allan
     

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