The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-05-03

ing low, at an altitude of 300 or 500 feet. We were hit at three or four points on the port bow.
 There were three distinct bursts as the plane came overhead and raked the vessel from the bow to the mldship section on the port side, puncturing, should say 10 or l2 drums of fuel oil"
 He added that there was mo doubt" of the crafts nationality and added that three planes were shot down by the Germans.
 Gilbert said a deposition concern ing the incident was filed with the American consul in Bergen but ex- pressed the belief that the British plane, despite the American flags, had mistaken the ship for German vessel.
 The Flying Fish was fog-bound in the harbor and the interview ra- dioed in.
 Captain Wollaston said the Ger mans did not molest the Flying Fish or its crew members and, when the vessel sailed for home, escorted 1t through Thegerman mine fields.
 "The Germans seemed to be well supplied and their discipline was good" the captain said.
 Bombing Cruiser
 Describing the bombing of the German cruiser, Wollaston said:
 "One cruiser was hit by three bombs at about 7:30 a. m. At e:60 @. m. she was sunk out of sight"
 The German supply ship burned for Q day and a half with frequent explosions after the bombing, ac- cording to Gilbert.
 The captain was less positive than Gilbert about the machine gunning of the deck. The bullets, he said, "were probably from a plane that flew overhead" but added later that they might have come from Q land fortress firing on the plane and fol- lowing It's flight"
 The Flying Fish docked at Bergen March 27. The next day the Finnish steamer Kimi dragged anchor and crashed into the Flying Fish twice, denting her hull.
 Keeping her engines ready for use at all times" according to the log, the Flying Fish changed an- chorages and proceeded to discharge cargo.
 Came Hateful Day
 Then came the fateful day of April Q, the log for which follows:
 "At 2 @. m. received orders from the harbor master to black out the ship. 2.30 Q. m. vessel and city of Bergen completely blacked out. At 1 a. m. heavy gunfire heard outside the harbor. 4:30 Q. rn., German war ship entered Bergen harbor flying signal No vessel allowed to leave harbor.' s q. Ili., a second warship and g destroyer entered the harbor. 5:30 a. rn., a landing party of Ger man soldiers numbering amout 90 disembarked at head of sokltebrund Mole, fully equipped with hand gren- ades, gas masks, helmets, rifles and extra ammunition.
 "They scattered into e battle for- nation and headed at double time toward the heart of the city. 6 a. m., two torpedo boats painted white landed armed soldiers fully equipped. SOS a. rln., six or eight German air. craft flew over harbor and city drop ping leaflets. Heavy fire from Fort Helen one mile north of Skoltegrund at the cruisers who returned fire and bombarded fort for about Ave minutes.
 German Bombers Circle Fort
 "The German coinbers circled over the fort, dropped several bombs and then all firing ceased. a. ri., Ger man flag hoisted on the fort.
 "7:45 Q. rn, German naval party boarded ship, posted guard at radio room and examined ship papers, de- parting at 8:l5 c. m.
 "One destroyer docked on the other side of Skoltegrund Mole and commenced repairing shell hole In bow where shell had struck her on starboard side, to water line, and passed completely through her foc'sle.
 Several wounded men were land- ed and removed in ambulances and four men who had been killed were landed and removed In hearses.
 "The destroyer discharged anmu- hilton, aflti-aircraft guns, machine guns and supplies. Mobile bicycle forces and infantry men continued to land from four nien-of-war lying in the harbor.
 "Anti-aircraft guns were station. cd on the rooftops of warehouses on the dock and on the ends of the dock.
 8 D. m. Orders were given to evacuate city by buses, cars, motor boats, or any other means of trang- portation available. sis D. m. re. ceived orders from German Admira to leave our berth as an air raid was expected.
 Allied Planes Raid
 1928 ?. m. eight allied war planes raided the harbor, attacked the war ships, circled overhead, bomb diving and dropping bombs. No ship was seen to be hit. Shore batteries and aflti-aircraft guns returned 6 steady fire. No plane was hit, although they circled and Tnachine-gunned o,,auI..~ dou,,,U ti,a avna paion nso.