Brian Bastable, 210th Squadron RAF at May 18th 1944

[Rolfeb]

Hi All,
I am searing for any info and the misson report of Brian Bastable who flew a Catalina at May 18th 1944 and attached the U-Boat U 241 which sunk right away. All crew members of the U-boat were KIA.
The uncle of my friend was a crew member and I would like to help him to find more info regarding the mission.
Thanks in advance
Rolf

[RSwank]

The May 1944, 210 squadron reports exist as pdf files in the British National Archives.
You can download them for free. The files are the May 1944 210 Squadron Records of Events and the May 1944 210 Squadron Summary of Events.

Starting from this page: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
First Register (see right side of page 4th line down).
Then Sign-in (if the act of registration does not keep you signed in).
The two items you want to search for are:
AIR 27/1300/10
(which you will add individually to your shopping cart)
and
AIR 27/1300/9
As you check out you can click a box which will allow you to download the files for free.

[alieneyes1]

Citation for his DFC:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/2992

Flying Officer Brian BASTABLE (159501), Royal Air
Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 210 Squadron.
Recently this officer piloted an aircraft in an
engagement against a U-boat. In spite of intense
opposing fire. Flying Officer Bastable pressed
home his attack which ended with the destruction
of the enemy vessel. In this spirited action, this
officer displayed skill and determination of a high
order. He has completed much operational flying
and throughout has set a fine example.

[RSwank]

The U-241 had been attacked earlier by a plane from the 333 squadron.

https://uboat.net/boats/u241.htm

Those records should also be available in the archives.

[Chris Goss]

Please note RAF squadrons are 210 Sqn no “th” like USAAF

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

18 Group, Coastal Command.
18 May 1944
U 241, a type VIIC submarine, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Arno Werr, sunk.

Catalina 'S" (JX243), 210 Squadron, on patrol 0643-1155 hrs.

At 0940 hours in position 6333/0146, sighted from 200 feet, five to eight miles, a fully surfaced U-boat and attacked. Achieved a good straddle with six D/Cs, the centre of the stick going right across the boats mid-ships. Afterwards a large oil patch could be seen, 200 by 50 yards. In the exchange of gunfire during the run in, the front gunner of the Catalina hit the C/T with a good burst of fire, the pilot seeing one seaman fall into the water. The port blister gunner too joined in, firing 100 rounds of .5 ammunition. As the aircraft began to circle, the U-boat began to sink stern first at an angle of some 30 degrees and many survivors could be seen in the water. The Catalina had some slight damage to the tailplane.
U-241 had moved from Kiel to Kristiansund in April and was in Bergen by 3 May, starting its first patrol on the 13th. It went down north-west of Stadtlandet, Norway. Flying Officer Bastable and Warrant Officer Henderson*, who had manned the front gun, both received immediate DFCs.

FO B Bastable - Pilot
FS C L Sheppard - 2nd Pilot
FO R T Martin - Nav
FS D McAdam - Eng
WO R Henderson - 3rd WOP/AG*
FS F Chadbourne - WOM/AG
FS J B Underwood - 1st WOP/AG
FS W Stuart - FME/AG
WO D L Snedden - 2nd WOP/AG
FS T E Southern - FMA/AG

* AUS409700 W/O (later F/O) Raymond John HENDERSON RAAF
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/3187

See:
Search, Find and Kill: The RAF's U-Boat successes in World War Two.
Franks,Norman.
London:Grub Street,1995.
p.51.

Col.

[Rolfeb]

Originally Posted by RSwank

The May 1944, 210 squadron reports exist as pdf files in the British National Archives.
You can download them for free. The files are the May 1944 210 Squadron Records of Events and the May 1944 210 Squadron Summary of Events.

Starting from this page: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
First Register (see right side of page 4th line down).
Then Sign-in (if the act of registration does not keep you signed in).
The two items you want to search for are:
AIR 27/1300/10
(which you will add individually to your shopping cart)
and
AIR 27/1300/9
As you check out you can click a box which will allow you to download the files for free.

Thank you very much, worked.
Regards from Germany
Rolf

[Rolfeb]

Originally Posted by Col Bruggy

Hello,

18 Group, Coastal Command.
18 May 1944
U 241, a type VIIC submarine, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Arno Werr, sunk.

Catalina 'S" (JX243), 210 Squadron, on patrol 0643-1155 hrs.

At 0940 hours in position 6333/0146, sighted from 200 feet, five to eight miles, a fully surfaced U-boat and attacked. Achieved a good straddle with six D/Cs, the centre of the stick going right across the boats mid-ships. Afterwards a large oil patch could be seen, 200 by 50 yards. In the exchange of gunfire during the run in, the front gunner of the Catalina hit the C/T with a good burst of fire, the pilot seeing one seaman fall into the water. The port blister gunner too joined in, firing 100 rounds of .5 ammunition. As the aircraft began to circle, the U-boat began to sink stern first at an angle of some 30 degrees and many survivors could be seen in the water. The Catalina had some slight damage to the tailplane.
U-241 had moved from Kiel to Kristiansund in April and was in Bergen by 3 May, starting its first patrol on the 13th. It went down north-west of Stadtlandet, Norway. Flying Officer Bastable and Warrant Officer Henderson*, who had manned the front gun, both received immediate DFCs.

FO B Bastable - Pilot
FS C L Sheppard - 2nd Pilot
FO R T Martin - Nav
FS D McAdam - Eng
WO R Henderson - 3rd WOP/AG*
FS F Chadbourne - WOM/AG
FS J B Underwood - 1st WOP/AG
FS W Stuart - FME/AG
WO D L Snedden - 2nd WOP/AG
FS T E Southern - FMA/AG

* AUS409700 W/O (later F/O) Raymond John HENDERSON RAAF
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/3187

See:
Search, Find and Kill: The RAF's U-Boat successes in World War Two.
Franks,Norman.
London:Grub Street,1995.
p.51.

Col.

Thanks Col.

[Rolfeb]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Please note RAF squadrons are 210 Sqn no “th” like USAAF

Thanks CHris, didn´t know that.
Rolf

[Rolfeb]

Originally Posted by alieneyes1

Citation for his DFC:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/...upplement/2992

Thank you and regards
Rolf