Spain divers find WW2 U-boat wreckage I note that it had a short operational career of 10 months,a reflection on how the Battle of Atlantic was being won by anti U Boat Allied forces in late 1943...a prerequisite for the invasion of Europe.
Peter...any idea of the aircraft's history?..perhaps shown on cross Atlantic delivery. Interesting account of how Wolf was spirited back to Germany from Spain. Kapitänleutnant Eckehard Wolf - German U-boat Commanders of WWII - The Men of the Kriegsmarine - uboat.net
From the same site The Type VIIC U-boat U-966 - German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net Scuttled on 10 November 1943 in the Bay of Biscay off Porto de Bares, Spain, in position 43.46,8N, 07.38W, after being badly damaged by depth charges from a British Wellington (612 Sqn RAF/B), two US Liberator (VB-103 USN/E & VB-110 USN/E) and a Czech Liberator aircraft (311 Sqn RAF/D). 8 dead and 42 survivors. TD
Theres more on page 1 & 2 here - https://www.history.navy.mil/conten...l-aviation-squadrons-volume-2/pdfs/Appen3.pdf no mention of the downed Catalina though, cant find records of it either, Thats a Peter or Harry deptartment TD
No. No.228 Sqn operated Sunderland Sunderland MkIII EK572V-10/11/1943 No catalina involved or lost U-Boat Found of Spain RAF Catalina Loss? Ross
A potted history of Liberator I AM929 Construction Number 20. Ex 40-2368 Arrived St. Hubert 13.8.41. Test flights 17/18.8.41. Took on charge S.Hubert 19.8.41. To Gander 19.8.41. Gander Prestwick 19/20.8.41. To Scottish Aviation, Prestwick 20.8.41. Scottish Aviation to A&AEE Boscombe Down for bomb sight and diving trials 2.9.41. Returned to Scottish Aviation 25.1.42 for 120 Squadron mods, required as replacements aircraft. Converted to Liberator Mk.I. Operationally equipped with modified ASV Mk.II radar (No stickleback antenna as with previous Liberator Is) and no 20mm cannon. Scottish Aviation to 120 Squadron 3.8.42 (OH-H) Sank U 597 12.10.42 (Bulloch) Sank U 194 26.6.43 (Fraser) aircraft damaged in attack, repaired on site by 43 Group. Returned to 120 Squadron 6.8.43. Sank U 540 (Turnbull) with Liberator BZ712 of 59 Squadron. 120 Squadron to Scottish Aviation 23.12.43 for major overhaul, guns and ASV removed, awaiting collection 12.4.44. Rejected by Coastal Command as obsolete, held on Scottish Aviation charge from 8.7.44. Modified for use as transport. Flown Prestwick – Reykjavik – Dorval by Ferry Command crew for 231 Squadron 16/17.3.45. Extract from RAF Form 1180 (Accident Record Card) On 9.4.45 whilst on a communication flight the aircraft forced landed at 20.00 hours after a flight lasting 31 mins at Simone near St.Hyacinthe, Quebec Bay. The aircraft struck High Tension cables on approach after the starboard inner engine caught fire and fell out at 5000 feet, with the loss of power Flaps could not be lowered and the aircraft could not clear the obstruction, crashed and burnt out. Primary Cause – Fire in No.3 engine Contributory Factors – Failure of No.4 engine – failure of Hydraulics Civilian Inspection Supervisor dismissed (?)
No 311 Czech Squadron was formed at Honington as a Bomber Command squadron at the end of July 1940 and was equipped with the Wellington 1C . It was one of the Bomber Command squadrons that Harris was forced to and reluctantly had to accept for a transfer to Coastal Command in the spring of 1942 when that command was struggling against the U Boat menace in the Atlantic.Such was the shortfall in Liberators availability that the squadron continued to use its Wellingtons in the new role until June 1943.
Galicia y la Segunda Guerra Mundial: Sunderland EK572/V, 10/11/1943 Drawing done by a crew member of a Sunderland TD