Liberator III FK223 T/120 Sqn. on patrol 0929 - 0333 hrs. S/L, D, Isted, DFC Pilot. F/O. R. Crumpton 2nd. Pilot. W/O. W. Ferris Navigator. Sgt. H. Richardson Engineer. F/S. R. Bedford WOp/AG. Sgt. A. Allwood WOp/AG. F/S. R. Timoney WOp/AG. F/L. M. Thompson Gunnery Officer. (passenger) "Flying from Aldergrove, to escort ON 166, duly met the 46 M/Vs and six E/Vs, then patrolled on SNO’s orders. Over a calm sea a U-boat was sighted at nine miles in position 4808/2937, 15 miles from the convoy. Isted climbed into cloud, breaking out at four to five miles from the sub, only to sight a second U-boat two to three miles to port. Isted continued with his planned attack on the first boat dived to 50 feet and released six D/Cs. As he did so, the second boat began to dive. The whole stick exploded opposite the conning tower and six men could be seen in the tower but the sub had made no move to dive. As Isted circled, the boat was seen to go down but slowly, and some 45 seconds later the gun platform was still visible. The boat seemed to be having difficulty in diving and as Isted flew over his rear gunner fired 150 rounds at it. Some moments later the boat finally went below the waves and the SNO, having been informed, sent a destroyer and a corvette to investigate. They only found two large oil patches near the aircraft's burning marine marker." (Franks, 1995) The escort ships which went to the scene continued the depth-charge attacks. (120 Sqn. Ops. Record Book) Isted's attack was witnessed and reported to U-boat HQ by U 91 (Kapitanieutnant Walkerling). (Cheek, 1999 & Sharpe, 1998) U 623 joined "Bitter" group formed to attack the expected convoy HX226. On the night of 18th. February, HX226 passed to the N. of the group in the course of a long detour. It was then learned that convoys ON 166 and ONS167 were being routed S. of "Ritter" and the group moved SE. to join "Neptun" group. ONS166 was sighted by U 604 on 20th. February but she was driven off by the U.S. Coast Guard cutter SPENCER before the "Ritter" boats arrived. The Type VIIC boat U-623 - German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
PETER / GAGE, here my input re U 623 ; U 623 Type: VII.C, ocean-going. Constructor: Blohm und Voss, Hamburg. Armament: 14 Torpedoes, 1 x 88mm, 1 x 20mm. Commissioned: 21.5.42. Operational: November, 1942. Service Life: 14. Operational Life: 2. Patrols: 2. Theatre: Atlantic. Departed: 2.2.43, St.Nazaire; for North Atlantic. Last Action: 21.2.43, 6.U-Flotille, `Ritter', sighted by Liberator T/120 Sqd. RAF Aldergrove, (S.Ldr D.J. Isted), and attacked with 6 DC's, in the vicinity of c/v ON.166, and sunk in position 48.28N 29.15W, North Atlantic. The action was witnessed by U 91 (KL Walkerling). The Commander and all the crew were lost. Commander: OL H. Schroder 05.42-02.43. Regards Sadsac
PETER / GAGE, here my input re U 623 ; U 623 Type: VII.C, ocean-going. Constructor: Blohm und Voss, Hamburg. Armament: 14 Torpedoes, 1 x 88mm, 1 x 20mm. Commissioned: 21.5.42. Operational: November, 1942. Service Life: 14. Operational Life: 2. Patrols: 2. Theatre: Atlantic. Departed: 2.2.43, St.Nazaire; for North Atlantic. Last Action: 21.2.43, 6.U-Flotille, `Ritter', sighted by Liberator T/120 Sqd. RAF Aldergrove, (S.Ldr D.J. Isted), and attacked with 6 DC's, in the vicinity of c/v ON.166, and sunk in position 48.28N 29.15W, North Atlantic. The action was witnessed by U 91 (KL Walkerling). The Commander and all the crew were lost. Commander: OL H. Schroder 05.42-02.43. Regards Sadsac Many thanks, Sadsac.
Thanks Peter, my utmost admiration to those that flew and to those below the waves. Very well put Craig. I could not agree with you more. Like we have said before, the Coastal Command do not receive the credit that they deserve. After all the U-Boat scourge was the one thing that really worried Churchill and without the Coastal Command the supply of food and materials to the UK would have stopped and the consequences do not bear thinking about. Regards Tom
