1st successful attack by Eastern Air Command.

Returning from patrol of Convoy ON140, sank U520 with four 250 lb depth charges.

U-Boat severely damaged, forced to return to St. Nazaire.

U209 was attacked by 5 Sqn and severely damaged; she sank on 7 May due to the damage received in this attack.

-originally reported as U630 sunk in this attack. U630 was sunk on 6 May by HMS VIDETTE.

Credit shared with HMCS DRUMHELLER and HMS LAGAN.

-Original records show U456 sunk in this attack. Post-war assessments indicate it was U753. U456 sank on 12 May 1943, while diving to avoid HMS OPPORTUNE having being given crippling damage from a torpedo fired by a Liberator aircraft from RAF 86 Sqn.

415 Sqn aircraft strafed and bombed U706 with six depth charges, then USAF Liberator from 4th A/S Sqn USAAF/T came in and finished the attack, sinking the U-Boat.

Sunderland was shot down by return fire from U489, five of the eleven crew were killed. The other six, all wounded were rescued by a destroyer along with 23 survivors from U489.

Originally recorded as sinking U669.  Post-war records indicate it was in fact U584 attacked and escaped without damage. U669 disappeared on 30 August 1943, possibly from a diving accident.

Aircraft was returning to Gander from Iceland, having escorted HMS RENOWN with Winston Churchill embarked as the British Prime Minister was returning to the UK following the Quebec Conference in Convoy ONS18.

Four depth charges were dropped on the U-Boat, lifting the sub 15 to 20 feet breaking her in two. U610 had sunk by the time the Sunderland returned to the area and the aircrew reported seeing 15 submariners amongst an extensive debris field. No survivors were rescued.

Two U-boats spotted on the surface, Sargent made two attacks, taking heavy return fire from both submarines.  In the first attack three 250 lbs. Torpex depth charges were dropped short of U448. On the second attack the Sunderland took heavy direct fire, killing two of the aircrew. Two depth charges straddled the conning tower of U448, the explosion lifted the submarine before it disappeared beneath the waves.  U281 was seen moving away on the surface. Sargent headed his aircraft towards the convoy and ditched near HMS DRURY. The Sunderland broke up on ditching, killing F/Lt Sargent. Coastal Command credits Sargent with a damaging U448, but does not identify the submarine.  In fact U448 had been seriously damaged in the attack, killing one submariner and wounding two others and was forced to return to base.

The loss of U420 is now assessed as “unknown.”

-8 rockets fired at U-Boat, all missed. U537 had just set up an automatic weather station in Martin Bay, Labrador on 22 October 1943.

Four bombs dropped, undamaged in the attack

Slightly damaged by four Depth charges, forcing the U-Boat to return to base.

F/O J.D. B. Ulrichson’s Sunderland while attacking U648 was severely damaged by return fire from the U-Boat. The Sunderland broke off the attack, an SOS from the damaged aircraft was sent approximately an hour later, stating they were about to ditch. No trace of the aircraft or crew of eleven was found.

-U648 was undamaged in this attack.

-Some reports list this aircraft shot down by U618 on the same date.

Beaufighter
-P/O K.S. Miller

Beaufighter
-P/O J.E. Glendinning

5759N 0652W

Six depth charges were dropped on U283, sinking the U-Boat.

-Four Depth Charges were dropped on the U-Boat, killing two sailors. U550 was sunk later on this patrol on 16 April 1944.

Six Torpex Depth Charges were dropped from a height of 50 feet. Four were seen to straddle the submarine. The U-Boat emerged from the explosions and performed a slow circle and then submerged briefly. Resurfaced came to a stop. Someone from the U-Boat signaled the Sunderland, “Fine Bombish” as the crew began to abandon. Seventeen were seen in rafts, sadly they were lost in a storm that followed.

F/O T.C. Cooke & aircrew dropped 3 depth charges and strafed the German submarine.

Bateman dropped six 250 pound Depth Charges on the U-Boat from a height of 150 feet. After the explosions return fire from U846 ceased and only a large oil patch remained.

U477 was spotted on the surface at a range of 4 miles. MacBride closed the distance and the Canso Gunner opened fire at 1000 yards, scoring several hits on the conning tower. Four depth charges were released from a height of 60 feet, explosions were seen to straddle the U-Boat, lifting it out of the water. Losing all forward momentum the crippled submarine turned to port, before sinking.  Five survivors were spotted, apparently waving at the Canso, although according to German records, none were rescued.

Sherman reported they were attacking a U-Boat near Alesund, Norway, then nothing more was heard from his aircraft. During the attack U-480 shot down the Canso, three of the aircrew were killed when the aircraft ditched and another four were lost, waiting rescue. The sole survivor, F/Sgt J.E. Roberts was picked up by a fishing vessel, in critical condition and rushed to Alesund Hospital, were he became a POW.

-Wellington “L” attacked and damaged U971, she was attacked and sunk later that day by aircraft of Czech OTU Squadron RAF and HMCS HAIDA and HMS ESKIMO

Some accounts place this attack on 20 June.

NOTE: In 1997, Mr Robert Coppock from the British Admiralty found evidence that U484 may have been sunk by HMS PORTCHESTER CASTLE and HMS HELMSDALE, suggesting the Canadian attack was on a “nonsub” target.  Canadian records still list the submarines demise by HESPELER and DUNVER, although 423 Squadron does not received an official share in the credit for the initial attack U484.

It is now believed Taylor attacked U486, which escaped undamaged.

-Four Mosquitos from 404 Sqn acted as air cover to RAF Mosquitos of 143 and 248 Squadrons and Mustangs firing RPs.  404 Sqn shares in the credit, but did not actively attack U2359.