Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

Hello friends,

from http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/kerlogue.html I have the information, that on 23.10.1943 two Mosquitos of the polish squadron 307 attacked and damaged the irish cargo ship Kerlogue (335 BRT).

Can you answer the following questions:

a) Is this information true?

b) Hit this aircraft also the landing ship infantery LCI 309 (was sunk also south of Ireland)?

b) Do you eventually have the Operation Record Book for Sq. 307 for October 1943? I have found only November.

Thank you

Darius

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

Darius

Not much of an answer, but looking in Cynk's Schiffer book vol 2, No 307 Sq was a night fighter unit under Coastal Command control at the time. Lots of bad weather during quite some time, made the unit operate by day as well. Most actions were so called Instep patrols in co-operation with the Navy. An "incident" this date is mentioned by Cynk as follows:
On the 23rd No.307's Mosquitoes on an "Instep" patrol damaged an enemy cargo ship. This is not to say it was the same ship although the identification is tempting.
At the time the CO was S/Ldr Jerzy Orzechowski and the units base was at Predannack and equipment was Mosquito NF.II and FB.VI

If 307 Sq was responsible we can be fairly certain that the crews were convinced the vessel was German controlled at the time.

Cheers
Stig

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

Hello Stig,

yes. In my link they said, they attacked a ship with french flag painted. This could be of course the irish flag (see picture no. one).

Greetings

Darius

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

Darius,

This story puts its as "later identified as RAF Mosquitoes..": http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/s...a6848030.shtml

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

Darius,

Perhaps this question and answer in the Irish Parliament on 2 Dec 1943 is interesting as well: http://historical-debates.oireachtas...312020002.html

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

Thank you guys,

I browsed a little bit in the Parliament Data, found another fine data about Irish ship losses:

http://www.oireachtas-debates.gov.ie...pl&setCookie=1

Greetings

Darius

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

Hallo Darius,

1. Unfortunately this story is true as you will have seen by now.

The Polish crews excuse of attacking a French ship is utter nonsense on their part. Vichy France ceased to exist in November 1942, a year earlier. Any French-flagged vessels in 1943 were allies of the Poles. They clearly identified it as 'French' but continued the attack for 20 minutes. All Irish merchant and fishing vessels were unarmed throughout the war, so the crew of the Kerlogue could not have fired back at the Mosquitos.

2. LCI 309.

I have no idea if the Polish aircraft were involved but it is possible. According to the monumental BRITISH AND EMPIRE WARSHIPS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR by H.T. Lenton (Greenhill Books, 1998) HMS LCI 309 was bombed by German aircraft in the Bay of Biscay on this date. It seems unlikely this happened in the Bay of Biscay for several reasons. These LCIs were not deep-water going vessels normally. Also it had no business in Biscay at that time. It could perhaps have been part of a convoy of such vessels travelling from the UK to the Mediterranean - or vice versa. I can't find anything further on it in various books.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

Hello Martin,

thank you for the additional information.

Darius

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

Every crew got a report of possible own shipping, so seeing a French one where it should not be at all, they could easily assume it was ex-Vichy and not repainted for some reason. There were worser mistakes.
On the other hand it could have well been an intentional attack, if British wanted to reduce Irish presence in the area. Use of Polish Air Force would lessen any tensions as could you imagine if those were Britons attacking Irish ship?

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

I agree with my friend and colleague Martin Gleeson,the Polish crews excuse is utter nonesense. Mistaking the Irish flag for an Italian flag would be more understandable, however the word EIRE was clearly marked on both sides, on the cargo holdcovers and with the Irish flag in the same locations. This was not noticed even after 25 mins despite the fact that the crews had been briefed of the presence of the Kerlogue outbound for Lisbon!
(Catholic) Polish forces were very hostile to (Catholic) Neutral Ireland.
The mosquitos were MJ656 S/Ldr M. Lewandowski (pilot) F/Lt G Kranwiecki (nav.) and DD726 P/O B Sachacki (pilot) P/O T Sliwak (nav.)
My understanding is that 307 Sqn was part of 10 Group Fighter Command and that the CO Jerzy Orzechowski was a Wing Commander and had in fact led the first Instep Patrol earlier that morning.
Tony K

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

Oh, that was very simple. Ireland was considered pro-German in many respects, so this could not help any friendship. Nonetheless this does not explain shooting at the ship, and if indeed crews were awared of presence of the ship, then I do not see any other reason but attack according to orders. Please have in mind, that about two weeks later Lewandowski overtook 307 Sqn and was promoted to A/W/C. This would not happen if he was guilty, would it?
Some corrections to spelling.
HJ656 S/L Maksymilian Lewandowski (pilot) F/L Czesław Krawiecki (nav.) and (I believe) DD728 P/O Bolesław Sochacki (pilot) P/O (I have got F/O) Tadeusz Śliwak.

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

Thanks Franek for those corrections, perhaps you could help further. I transcribed the details from the ORB (pre microfilm period) many years ago. Now on further checking I find I listed the other two Mosquitos airborne at the same time as DD717 P/O Piotrowski (P) P/O L Fowler (N) and W4051 W/O P Szemplinski (P) F/Sgt Sluszkiewicz (N)
The serials listed are not shown in the Air Britain serials lists as having served in 307 Sqn. I find it difficult to believe that I transcribed so much incorrectly! I would appreciate any assistance.
Tony K

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

DZ717 EW-P P/O Władysław Piotrowski (P) P/O G.L. (first names anyone?) Fowler (N) and W4081 EW-R W/O Lucjan Szempliński (P) F/Sgt Emil Słuszkiewicz (N). I think there are many errors in the ORB. There is around an NCO navigator who served at the period, so I will try to contact him in this regard.

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

Many thanks Franek.
Tony K

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

Hello,

thank you.

Darius

Re: Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943
 

Just a small bit more to add to this interesting thread, nothing to contradict what already has been said just some extra information.

After the attack when the politicians from each side of the Irish Sea were talking to each other, the British Government was initially only willing to accept no liability as the ship has been off course and inside the prohibited zone. In war cabinet meeting extracts they say that no compensation should be paid as the whoile incident had been a mistake.
The British ambassador to Ireland however suggested that the British should be prepared to pay some form of compensation to the injured seamen on the Kerlogue (He was trying to get some interned RAF pilots released). The British government agreed to the compensation, however the provisio was that no official statement by the Irish governement should be made without the wording first been seen by the British. They also wanted see to medical records for the injured men.

Another interesting document is a letter from the Naval Attache, Dublin to Naval Inteligence relating to Captain Fortune of the Kerlogue. They say he was a fine fellow.

Regards,

Mark