Mosquito Attack on Irish ship on 23.10.1943

[Franek Grabowski]

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.

[Tony Kearns]

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

[Franek Grabowski]

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.

[Tony Kearns]

Many thanks Franek.
Tony K

[Darius]

Hello,

thank you.

Darius

[Mark McShane]

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