Word: u-boats
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...July [was] probably our most successful month, because the imports [at Allied bases] have been high, shipping losses moderate, U-boat sinkings heavy...
Almost on the first clear day out of port, a Liberator had found three U-boats stalking the convoy preparing for attack. The big plane dropped its depth bombs: one submarine was considered sunk. Surface craft attacked two more, depth-charged them. From one a huge oil slick bubbled to the surface: the U-boat was seen no more...
...carrier's first attack was made at dusk, when a TBF attacked a U-boat many miles off the convoy's starboard bow. Depth bombs straddled the fully-surfaced submarine, but it sank with no trace of a definite kill. At dawn next day the planes took off again. Another sub was spotted and attacked. But there was no certain evidence of a kill...
Attacks 3 & 4 came in quick succession, but the first definite kill did not come until sunset after the sixth attack. A TBF placed all its bombs right under the U-boat's stern. It went down at once, then popped up, hopelessly out of control. Once more it sank at a steep angle, then resurfaced. The crew poured out of the crippled vessel; 24 were taken prisoner. The next engagement of the carrier lasted 14 hours, from dusk to daylight. Twice again the escort carrier's planes struck. In the last attack four TBFs and two Wildcat...
...during a raid on the Nazi U-boat pens at St.-Nazaire, his bomber. Fortress 649, was badly hit and burst into flame. The fire sweeping the fuselage drove the radio operator and both waist gunners to "bail out. Emerging from his turret, Snuffy cast aside his own parachute, tackled the fire with extinguishers and water bottles. When he had used them up, he beat out the last flames with his hands. Meantime, he had contrived to man both waist guns in turn, helped to beat off harrying Focke-Wulfs and given first aid to the wounded tail gunner...