Identifying Aircraft Involved in Uboat Search

[Mark McShane]

Gents,

I have been reading a report from a surface escort group who were involved in a search for a uboat. The escort group commander states that they were directed to a possible submerged target by aircraft 962W12. This aircraft was using sono buoy's to detect the submerged targets. Later in the same search this particular aircraft was relieved by W5 who was in turn relieved by W7. The date was February 1945.

It does not look like a serial number and perhaps it may be a call sign, any assitance would be greastly appreciated.

Regards,

Mark

[Mark McShane]

I have some additional information;

The reference stated ealier, 962W12, was the aircraft's r/t call sign. In a follow up appendix it is listed as

Aircraft - R/T call sign
USV 55 - Crown W 12
USV 15 - Crown W 5
- - Crown W 7

NQH 14 - Crown W 4
This last aircraft is from the following day from the above ealier and is a Liberator that is mentioned. Can anyone identfy from which squadron this unit belongs to?

One other aircraft for now that is mentioned is a Swordfish JMB 77, again any help in identifying this would be appreciated.

Regards,

Mark

[Leendert]

Mark,

Do you have any info where all this took place and perhaps the exact date?

If names of naval vessels of the escort group are mentioned, then this may be helpful as well.

Both Coastal Command and US Navy flew Liberators from bases in Britain in 1945.

"Crown" a squadron call sign?

Regards,

Leendert

[Mark McShane]

Leendert,

Both searches took place over the 22nd & 23rd of February 1945. The ships involved were those of the 21st Escort Group, HMS Loch Shin, Loch Insh, Cotton & Goodall. The search area was in the North Channel, at a position approximately midway between the Isle of Islay and the Mull of Kintyre.

Regards,

Mark

[Peter Clare]

Hi Mark,

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

On 22nd Liberator S/120 sighted and attacked a U-boat after dropping a pattern of Sono buoys, after the attack the U-boat appeared to circle in the area indicating damage to its steering gear. Escort vessels were homed onto the area.

Also on the 22nd, Liberator O/120 was involved in the same hunt, dropping a pattern of Sono buoys on a suspected target, but owing to the escort group being in the area contact was only maintained intermittently.

On the 23rd another 120 Liberator joined the hunt (Aircraft code not readable) A basic Sono pattern was dropped and faint propeller beats were heard.

Also on the 23rd Liberator S/120 was ordered to the area and dropped a Sono buoy pattern but with no results.

Liberator X/120 joined the hunt but did not drop any Sono buoys.

Liberator O/120 then joined the hunt dropping a Sono pattern and obtaining a positive result. The escort group was advised of the contact.


The above is taken from the 120 Squadron ORB, no aircraft serial numbers are given and positions are not included in the report. At the time 120 Squadron were operating out of Ballykelly, Northern Ireland.


Hope this is of some help

Regards
Peter

[Chris Goss]

The Coastal Command Intelligence Summary, held by the AHB, might help in your quest

[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

[Peter Clare]

Hi Mark,

The only mention of the Swordfish is as follows.....

23.2.45
Liberator 8 LL X/120

Received message from control to co-operate with Swordfish A/C hunting U-boat. Arrived in position and established visual sighting of Swordfish A/C (1822hrs) Advised control of negative R/T contact and was instructed to contact escort group for further instructions.

No details or other mention of Swordfish.

Regards
Peter

[Mark McShane]

Thanks Peter,

Any idea what squadrons were operating Swordfish at this time and based around the North of Ireland/West coast of Scotland?

Regards,

Mark

[Peter Clare]

Originally Posted by Peter Clare

On the 23rd another 120 Liberator joined the hunt (Aircraft code not readable) A basic Sono pattern was dropped and faint propeller beats were heard.

Mark,

Regarding the above, from No.120 Squadron ORB

Senior Officer of the escort group advised that noises were possibly caused by tidal rips.



All seems to match with your info.

Regards
Peter.