A lone aircraft against a convoy.

[sergey]

Colleagues. I need help solving another historical mystery. German documents state that at 3:04 on May 4, 1942, north of Terschelling Island, during an attack on Convoy 260 Elbe-Rotterdam, a lone Hudson sank the ship Sizilien (4,647 GRT) with bombs. Documents from 53, 59, 320, and 407 Squadrons of 16 Group do not mention any sorties on the night of May 3/4, except for one aircraft from 59 Squadron, which did not encounter the enemy. Meanwhile, 407 Squadron claims to have sunk the Sizilien, but provides a description of its aircraft attacking Convoy 261 the following night!
4-5 407 Sqn. Hudson V AM823 was attacking a convoy at first light when it was damaged
by flak that destroyed the instrument panel and seriously wounded the pilot, P/O
E.F. Paige and wireless air gunner P/O C.H. McCarthy. Despite his wounds P/O
Paige managed to fly the bomber back to base sitting on the unexploded shell that
had wounded him which was lodged in his seat, he and his crew P/O McCarthy,
P/O S.R. Balden and P/O D.E. De Rivers safe. He was awarded a DFC for this
action (407 SH). See May 25, 1943.
4-5 407 Sqn. Hudson flown by F/L R.M. Christie was also damaged by flak, losing an
engine, but completed it's bomb run to hit a merchant ship then flew back to base
(407 SH). The MV Sizilien was sunk in this attack (A. Thomas).
https://www.bombercommandmuseumarchi...airwar1942.pdf
I need to find out which squadron's aircraft sank this ship. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[sergey]

On the night of 3/4 May, Flight Sergeant E.L. Howey's crew sank the 4647-
ton Sizilien
https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/th...39-1945-11.pdf
Flight Sergeant E.L. Howey (O/407) took off at 01:25 and landed at 05:50 on May 3. The ship was hit at 03:04 on May 4. According to the Combat Log and Summary of Events, there were no combat sorties on May 4.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Originally Posted by sergey

Flight Sergeant E.L. Howey (O/407) took off at 01:25 and landed at 05:50 on May 3. The ship was hit at 03:04 on May 4. According to the Combat Log and Summary of Events, there were no combat sorties on May 4.

I guess that the above is taken from 407 Sqn ORB (https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/o...el_c12273/1256). I am quite sure that both in Form 540 and 541, when a date is used, the description is for the day of this date and the NEXT night, so 3 May 1942 includes night of 3-4 May 1942 and a mission from 01h25 to 05h50 hrs is actually occuring during the early hours of the 4th.

Found a part of a book online (https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/th...939-1945-7.pdf), check page 18 where it is written that 407 Sqn sank Sizilien in the night of 3-4 and Ruth four nights later (so 7-8, while the ORB lists all sorties under 7 May, actually attack took place in evening of the 7th given the hours in the ORB)

By the way, do you have data on casualties aboard Sizilien during this attack ?

[sergey]

Originally Posted by Laurent Rizzotti

I
By the way, do you have data on casualties aboard Sizilien during this attack ?

1 killed, 5 missing

[sergey]

Originally Posted by Laurent Rizzotti

I guess that the above is taken from 407 Sqn ORB (https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/o...el_c12273/1256). I am quite sure that both in Form 540 and 541, when a date is used, the description is for the day of this date and the NEXT night, so 3 May 1942 includes night of 3-4 May 1942 and a mission from 01h25 to 05h50 hrs is actually occuring during the early hours of the 4th.

The text is taken from the War Diary of 407 Squadron in the Kew Archives. The Brief Summary of Events for May 1942 also states that 407 Squadron did not conduct any sorties on 4 May. The timing of other attacks listed in the War Diary for May 1942 is unquestionable.

[sergey]

Perhaps 407 Squadron is having reporting issues. There's a similar claim for the sinking of the ship Senta on June 12, which was sunk by a single aircraft at 2:35 AM, but the squadron had no sorties at that time.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Since there lately has been a huge problem with the site and the additions by our friend Geoffrey Sinclair
thus been a bit delayed I hope his answer/additions are still valid. Here they are

AIR 22/163 Coastal Command weekly reports, sent/attacking

Strikes
4 May 1942
6/5 Hampden Kristiansund, land targets
2/1 Hudson shipping Bremanger area, M/V of 2,000 tons claimed destroyed (10x100 pound A/S
bombs dropped)
6/4 Hudson, shipping Ijmuiden aera, one large M/V believed hit, 2 Hudson lost (12x250 and 10x100
pound A/S bombs dropped)
1/0 Beaufighter

5 May 1942
8/1 Hudson, shipping North of Terschelling, M/V of 5/6,000 tons left in flames. (4x250 pound A/S
dropped), 1 Hudson damaged.

Other offensive operations
4 May 1942
1/1 Hudson, M/V 2,000 tons NW of Ameland, 4 direct hits, ship set on fire
1/1 Hudson, 2 M/V 2/3,000 tons Kristiansund harbour, larger M/V claimed hit

5 May 1942
1/1 Hampden Mandal airfield, 2x250 pound, was on a non operational flight
1/1 Hudson, M/V 2,000 tons North of Terschelling, results not seen
1/1 Hudson, M/V 1,500 tons North of Terschelling, results not seen
1 M/V off Norwegian coast, bombs overshot

Air 15/255
4 May 1942

407 squadron Hudson "O", sighted enemy convoy consisting of four medium cargo vessels
(1500/2000) tons and six smaller vessels of coaster type at 0303 hours on the 4th May 1942. N.W. of
Ameland. A/c attacked one of the vessels of 2,000 tons, dropping 10x100 pound A/S bombs, 3
seconds delay from mast height. Four direct hits were scored amidships four flashes being seen on
target. As a/c flew away the vessel was seen to be on fire. Intense orange coloured flames from
burning ship were seen from a distance of 30 miles. Claim M/V seriously damaged.

No 608 squadron, Hudson E, sighted 2 M/V approximately 5,000 and 3,000 tons, at 0318 hours on
the 4th May 1942. Bremanger. Vessels were lying moored as though lashed together. A/c attacked
in glide from 3,00 to 30 feet, releasing stick of 10x100 pound A/S bombs, 3 seconds delay, spaced at
10 feet from bow of one M/V to stern of other. A dense cloud of whitish-grey smoke was seen to
belch from target and as no explosions were seen in the water crew claimed that vessels must have
been damaged. Three bursts were also fired at vessels but no results were seen. Intense light flak
was experienced from both vessels and from shore batteries. A/c sustained some damage. Claims
M/V's damaged.

59 squadron, Hudsons N, T, M and 53 squadron X, Ijmuiden 1142 to 1150 hours, 3 M/V claimed
damaged, W/53 shot down

608 squadron Hudson Q, 2357 hours Kristiansund N, 2 M/V anchored, 10x100 pound A/S bombs,
claim at least 1 M/V damaged

5 May 1942

407 squadron Hudson N sighted a convoy of 11 M/V ranging from very small to 2,000 tons at 0352
hours 5 May, North of Terschelling. A/c attacked the 2,000 ton M/V in shallow dive dropping 4x250
pound GP bombs, 3 second delay from 50 feet. Explosions were observed and an orange flash. No
further results were seen as owing to intense light flak violent evasive action was taken. Crew was
convinced of very near miss on starboard side of vessel. No claim.

407 squadron Hudson O sighted a convoy of 15 M/V ranging from very small to 2,000 tons at 0304
hours 5 May, North of Terschelling. A/c attacked M/V of 1,500 tons diving from 2,000 to 500 feet
and releasing 10x100 pound A/S bombs, 3 second delay from 800 feet. Orange flash seen and a/c
shuddered from explosion. Accurate position of flash could not be observed as evasive action had to
be taken from intense light accurate flak. Claim M/V damaged

407 squadron Hudson T sighted a convoy of 10-12 M/V at 0516 hours 5 May, North of Terschelling,
Convoy consisted of 1 M/V of 5/6,000 tons, 2/3 of 2/3,000 tons and 6/7 of under 1,500 tons
escorted by 3 flak ships/ A/c attacked the 5.600 tons M/V dropping 4x250 pound A?S bombs, 3
seconds delay from 50 feet. Bomb bursts seen on starboard side and on eck aft of centre of ship,

Rear gunner saw debris fly into the air and intense smoke and flames. Vessel was left burning.
Intense flak experienced and a/c was hit in starboard engine which burst into flames just after
release of bombs. A/c returned to base on one engine. Two other M/V were raked with M.G. fire
but no results seen. Claim M/V damaged/

407 squadron Hudson H sighted same convoy as T/407 at 0509 hours on 5th May 1942 North of
Terschelling, A/c started to attack but met intense light flak. A/c was hit in nose and the pilot
wounded before the attack could be made but throughout the engagement the rear gunner
returned fire of one of the flak ships, firing 300 rounds M.G no results were observed. No claim

608 squadron Hudson M small M/V and one E/V 1545 hours Norwegian coast, 4x250 pound A?C
bombs, no claim

Dictionary of Disasters at Sea During the Age of Steam, Including sailing ships and ships of war lost in
Action 1824 to 1962 by Charles Hocking F.L.A.

SIZILIEN
Rob. M. Sloman, Jr.; 1930; J. Readhead & Sons; 4,647 tons; 393-7x54-2x24-8; 436n.h.p.; triple-
expansion engines. The German steamship Sizilien was bombed and sunk by British aircraft on May
4th, 1943, off Terschelling.

[sergey]

Originally Posted by Stig Jarlevik

Air 15/255
4 May 1942

407 squadron Hudson "O", sighted enemy convoy consisting of four medium cargo vessels
(1500/2000) tons and six smaller vessels of coaster type at 0303 hours on the 4th May 1942. N.W. of
Ameland. A/c attacked one of the vessels of 2,000 tons, dropping 10x100 pound A/S bombs, 3
seconds delay from mast height. Four direct hits were scored amidships four flashes being seen on
target. As a/c flew away the vessel was seen to be on fire. Intense orange coloured flames from
burning ship were seen from a distance of 30 miles. Claim M/V seriously damaged.

[/i]

This flight description in Squadron Diary AIR 27/1793/17
by Sergeant Howey (O/407) refers to 3 May. In the Summary of Events AIR 27/1793/16, this flight is also listed as 3 May. And in the Coastal Command Reports, it is listed as 4 May. Is this an error in the 407 Squadron records?

[sergey]

Thank you so much for your help!
I have one more request. According to information from German documents, the Swedish ship SENTA, which was part of a convoy, was sunk by air attack at 02:35 on June 12, 1942, north of Borkum. None of the squadrons of 16 Group flew combat sorties that night, but I have seen claims that this ship was sunk by an aircraft from 407 Squadron. AIR 27/1793/18 and AIR 27/1793/19 contain no information about this squadron's sorties on June 11 and 12. Could this be another accounting error? If possible, please help establish the truth.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Originally Posted by sergey

1 killed, 5 missing

Belated thanks, I have been unable to log to TOCH for several days.

Regarding Senta, this online book on Swedish losses (https://filedn.com/ljdBas5OJsrLJOq6K...ou-1963-60.pdf) confirms that she was bombed at 0235 hrs on 12 June 1942. 2 of the 5 dropped bombs hit the stern. The whole crew abandoned ship that sank at 0300 hrs.