Unknown author of the successful attack.

[sergey]

The German report on the sinking of the minesweeper M 1203 states that the attacking aircraft was identified as a Whitley. In the darkness, it could easily have been confused with a Hudson, also twin-engine and with a twin fin.

[sergey]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

The pilot of the missing 22 Sqn Beaufort was Plt Off C L Jenkins. (GMT+1)

This is what another source reports about the flights of the 22nd squadron on December 9, 1941.
On 8 December 1941, the weather
was unsuitable for flying during the day, but two aircraft were despatched during the night to
undertake ‘Moon Rover’ patrols. Both took off at 03.30 hours, on 9 December, F/22 flown by P/O
THORNTON, and the other, AW.203, flown by P/O JENKINS.
F/22 returned after a short trip, because of the poor conditions. P/O JENKIN’s aircraft radioed base
to the effect that they would be back early. That was the last message received from the aircraft.
The body of Sgt DICKSON was washed ashore at Sennen Cove, close to the Lizard, as were parts of
the aircraft. The ORB states: ‘which points very much to the fact that he had engine trouble, and
made a bold effort to reach land before putting down.’
https://www.britishmilitaryhistory.c...AILEY-V3_2.pdf
Thus, the Beauforts could not be attacked by German minesweepers. And as for the time of the attack specified in Sergeant Crew's report, it is probably a mistake - it was not 0246, but 0426. Therefore, Hudson himself did not fly back to his airfield in Limavady, but landed at Predannak, the closest to Brest.

[Chris Goss]

Plausible and the only likely contender