Identifying Aircraft Involved in Uboat Search

[Mark McShane]

Originally Posted by Peter Clare

Hi Mark,

On 22/23 February 1945 120 Squadron were involved in a U-boat hunt using Sono buoys.


Hope this is of some help

Regards
Peter

Peter,

Yes this is the same search as you describe above. In the Escort Group report the Commander states that all three aircraft involved in the search reported the movement of the uboat in identical terms.
He goes on to say "by no stretch of the most optimistic imagination could such action, after a hunt lasting for twelve hours, be attributed to a presumably sane U-boat Commander".

The cause of the circling contact that all three aircraft detetced was attributed "to the sound produced by tide rips". EG 21 say that "they noticed that the banks of the North Channel give a noise which can bemistaken for H.E. by inexperienced operators when a strong flood ir running"

This is very good piecing all this together, 120 sqdn ORB must be on the shopping list next.

Any idea Peter where the Swordfish mention could have been flying from?

Regards,

Mark