Bomber over the Atlantic Sep 1940

[01dGobbo]

Hi

At about 0600 on 8 Sep 1940 the SS Empire Bison, an elderly 5000 ton tramp steamer, was attacked by a German aircraft. The position of the attack was 55' 17N 18' 03W, which is about 278 nautical miles West of Ireland; the ship was three days into a voyage from Liverpool to Halifax, Canada.

A witness to the attack wrote:

"The Sunday after we left at six in the morning a Jerry spotted us. He glided in from the stern. The first thing we knew he opened fire with his machine gun and shot down our wireless aerial. .... He dropped three bombs astern trying to hit our rudder and propeller. Then he dropped two amidships,one fell between the port lifeboats and the other opposite the ???? bunker. They were close because they have caused two big indents in the ship's side. a good job they did not go through or they would have set fire to our fuel oil. Then he dropped three bombs close to our bow. thank Heaven he did not get a hit. He cirled round firing small cannon shells and using his machine gun ...."

There was no description of the aircraft type but a newspaper report originating in the USA and reproduced in a West Hartlepool (UK) local paper referred to a twin engined bomber.

I have made enquiries about this on RootsChat.com and on mercantilemarine.org and one respondent suggested that I post on this board. What I would like to know is if there are any German records of this incident and if so what was the aircraft type and squadron and how do I get hold of a copy of the record?

All the best

Gobbo