I have posted below the papers I was hunting out for John on the attack his grandfather Gerry Fellows made on U-672 in April 1944. It is a while since I have really looked at these papers , especially the report on the attack so I am enjoying this chance to catch up with the events of that day . It would seem that the pilots didn't get to see these reports, when 423 visited Fermanagh I showed two reports to Bruce Whitney who attacked two suspected submarine contacts in late 44 - he was totally surprised by what he saw and exclaimed , "that is exactly what happen , exactly what happened". Perhaps for Gerry it would have been the same , at this moment I am just sad that he never got to read these papers and I missed the opportunity to place them in his hands , in life we do have regrets. The station commanders view is that the premature explosion of the depth charge saved the submarine , he may well have been correct - I think (IMHO) his assessment of the attack is correct. The attack was delivered with the sun at their backs , the guncrews were silenced ,luck favoured the submarine on this occasion - the pilot could not have done more in pressing home his attack. getting home was something of a challange and they stayed over the target for 35 minutes. DD862 - she as told in the linked thread became part of my families history as well , I will add a short account of one of the crew from that aircraft tomorrow.
James, A great piece of written History, which shows the courage of Coastal command crews. Regards Tom
James, Smudger, the very fact that U 423 was attacked ON THE SURFACE is significant - the blast of the bombs would be pushed up into the air. This is proof by the fact that the A/C took such damage herself. Had the U-boat been UNDER the surface then she would probably / possibly have been sunk. As it was she `just lifted up', the explosion `by-passing' the hull. This happened in the case of U-373 being D/C'd by D/120, piloted by Peter Cundy. At least it is a `possibility'. Regards Sadsac
James, just came up with this information. The Type VIIC boat U-672 - German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net Juno Beach Centre - Attack on U-672 by Sunderland “A”, 423 Squadron U-Boat Operations There appears to be a slight conflict, but as the crew reported oil I tend to think that the submarine must have been damaged to some degree. Regards Tom
Shaken up inside , just as the aircraft was , had the last charge gone it it is possible that it might have done for her. Ken Wynn tells this of her operational history and a brief biography of her commander from Busch and Roll. The oil leaks and scum from the depth chrages would have hung around for a while and she was listing slightly. That she returned to St Nazaire on 12/5/44 probably indicates that the repairs were made good. A look at her log to see what damage was done would be an interesting read. That the crew were all rescuded when the boat was sunk is luck repeating itself, two "get of jail free cards" in terms of avoiding the grim reaper. Fropm John's point of view it does mean that some of the crew may still be contactable , possibly via the U-Boat crew newsletter "Shultag Kuste". Horst Bredow at U-Boat Archiv is the best way to follow this up. Tom , in relation to the named crew members of U-672. Horst Hofmann's award of the German Cross in Gold - he was an Oberbootsmannsmaat on U134 , 3rd Flotilla at the time of the award. ( Gericke's book on "Holders of the German Cross in Gold , in Silver and Honour Clasp in the Kriegsmarine". Biblio Verlag 1993). This boat would seem to cross over into Peter's interest in 120 Squadron.
James: Thanks for posting this thread about my grandfather, it sure made my day. Almost everything that I can find about the attack has been posted on my website here.
This boat would seem to cross over into Peter's interest in 120 Squadron. James U 672 does indeed cross over into my interest, I can add the following info. 23 April 1944. Liberator V LL M/120. Duty. Search for U-boat. The Liberator was airborne at 1841 hrs of the 23rd from Ballykelly and was on patrol at 2254 hrs. At 0100 hrs of the 24th a radar contact was made at 15 miles. The aircraft homed onto this position and illuminated with the Leigh Light at one mile, a large U-boat trimmed down was sighted. The aircraft attacked with 6 x 250 lb depth-charges from 150 feet estimated to have straddled ahead of the conning tower. At 0110 hrs a pattern of buoys were released and the area swept. Nothing was seen but contact was made on the buoys. At 0200 hrs M/120 was joined by N/120 which also maintained contact on the buoys and at 0440 hrs N/120 released a second pattern on which contact was maintained until 0645 hrs. M/120 left the area at 0619 hrs having reached PLE and landed at Ballykelly at 1006 hrs of the 24th.
Thanks Peter for the details on the attack from 120 Squadron - I just can't help but think that the crew of 672 were perhaps the most lucky men in U-Boat command. In 44/45 the Lough Erne aircraft were being introduced to sonar bouys - they called it "High Tea".
James, Smudger, to add a little to 423 / U 672 ; U 672 Type: VII.C, ocean-going, schnorkel equipped (June, 1944). Constructor: Howaldst-werke, Kiel. Armament: 14 Torpedoes, 1 x 88mm, 1 x 20mm. Commissioned: 6.4.43. Operational: September, 1943. Service Life: 15. Operational Life: 9. Patrols: 3. Theatre: Atlantic. On 24.4.44, attacked by Sunderland A/423 Sqd. RCAF Lough Erne, (Flt Lt F.G. Fellows) in position 50.36N 18.36W with 6 DC's, extensively damaging U 672. Departed: 6.7.44, St. Nazaire; for Channel area. Last Action: 18.7.44, 6.U-Flotille, scuttled after attack by HMS Balfour (FF L.Cdr C.D.B. Coventry) in position 50.03N 02.30W, North of Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK. The Commander and 51 crewmen being made POW. Commander: OL U. Lawaetz 04.43-07.44.
Here is some info from my website Castle Archdale, Northern Ireland Coastal Command (Sqdn. 423/A, pilot F/LT F.G. "Jerry" Fellows) Jerry"s time during WW2 was 1941-1946. Following the war, Jerry continued his Air Force career as a liaison officer at the Canadian Embassy in Washington and he was assigned to the Pentagon with the U.S. Air Force during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was a test pilot and Commanding Officer of the RCAF Squadron at the Central Experimental and Proving Establishment in Suffield, Alberta and Commander of the BOMARC 446 "SAM" Squadron surface-to-air missile base in North Bay. He was honourably released from the Air Force in June of 1969. This group attacked U-672 On April 24 1944 Back Row: Bruce Whitney (2nd pilot), Gord Stevenson (Gunner), Dick Dyer (Wireless operator), Tom Edwards (Gunner), Paddy O'Neil (Engineer), Cal Calvert (Navigator) Front Row: Ron Oliver (Engineer), Stan Cowan (Wireless operator), Jerry Fellows (Pilot/Captain), Jim Caslake (Operator), Bob Scott ( 2nd pilot) 24 Apr, 1944 The attack on 24 April, 1944 at 1339hrs southwest of Ireland, in position 50.36N, 18.36W, by depth charges from a Canadian Sunderland aircraft (Sqdn. 423/A, pilot F/lt F.G. Fellows) formerly credited with sinking U-311 was in fact against U-672 inflicting severe damages. The aircraft suffered near-fatal damages when a depth charge detonated prematurely but the pilot managed to bring it back to base. (Sources: 1986-04-01, FDS/NHB Part of KTB report. Ulf Lawaetz U-672 Commander Born 5 Nov, 1916 Died May 2 2002 Copenhagen
Thanks, James and U311 for share these interesting documents. It's very curious see the both sides of the history and the source of the books that I readed. Off toppic: Is possible obtain similar documents reffers at U-617 & 179 Squadron in his final attack? Jan.
You might want to try uboat.net and email the webmaster...maybe he can help. Just recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with a crew member of u-672, his account of the attack is found on my site.
