Evening star., 1943-04-14
BY FLIGHT LIT. F. C. COLBORNE.

OTTAWA, [P).-I have been asked
for a complete account of my at
tack on an enemy U-boat.
To start with, I really should go
back to the night before. Our
squadron had its first smoker that
night and of course my whole crew
was there. We knew we had long
hard day ahead of us and couldn't
enter into the festivities or remain
very late. After ensuring that all
my lads had returned to their quar-
ters, I too went to my room and to
bed.
Very early in the morning the
phone rang. 1t was operations.
Time to get up! I woke my navi-
gator, washed, shaved, and dressed
and then had breakfast. Trans
port arrived and took us to ops It
is at ops that we are given our
orders for the patrol and all infor-
nation about the convoy we are to
meet.
Twenty Subs Attack.
There were about twenty subs
in the wolf pack and they were CIV
ing the convoy rough time.
1t was still early when we set
course from the airport. From then
on it was routine flying. The navi-
gator busily going about his job of
getting us to the convoy-the wag
at his radio sets keeping listening
watch for any messages which base
may wish to send-the engineer
nursing maximum power from his
engines for minimum fuel con-
sumption. All was serene and the
trip out was uneventful until we
received a message from base ad-
vising us that a pack of submarines
had been sighted. We altered
course. Every one was doubly alert.
After another half hour it happened.
1--WE were at - altitude when
saw the U-boat 6 miles ahead and
slightly to port. AS promised by
the weatherman 1t was a cloudless
day in this area. No cloud cover!
No chance to sneak up on him! I
slapped open the throttles and
started to dive to gain speed. The
co-pilot, Sergt. Duncan, gave the
alarm signal to the rest Of the crew
and prepared to take pictures Of the
approach to attack. I was sure we
could never get to him in time
But he was caught mapping. Dun
can took two pictures as we ap-
preached.
Debris Tells of Hit.
"It seemed to take hours to get
near him. Why didn't he dive:
He must see us now. I began tc
fear that he was going to shoot II
out with us. Could we hold our own
against his superior fire power
How close should I go before taking
evasive action? The decision was
made for me. That tell-tale puff
of smoke from the U-boat sterr
signalled the start of his crash dive
But all too late!
1--WE were going miles per hour
too fast! feet. too high! I cut
throttles, showed her nose down
and made the attack. Throttles or
again as we were in close-then the
moment for release of the depth
charges! Every pilot knows in.
stinctively as he pushes the release
button if the attack was good.
was happy! The front gun. con-
ming tower, and all of the stern OF
the U-boat were visible as we passed
over. Then quick turn to port
to give the camera operator his
chance to get the pictures which
are so important in determining
results Of the attack.
Boiling Mass of Bubbles.
GAS we turned could see, through
the settling water Of our explosion
what appeared to be the coming
tower wallowing through the swirl
Ing water. 1t sank and then came
air bubbles, large boiling mass OF
them! These lasted for about IL
minutes, then oil spread over the
area with bits of debris. We re-
manned in the vicinity for nearly an
hour before setting course for base
1t was a long drag back to base, tax
ing seven hours to complete. But
we were all happy. We had dinner
on the way in and the rest Of the
flight was quiet, punctuated at inter-
walls by whoops of joy and bits OF
song
When we landed we all reported
to the intelligence officers office to
tell our story and have our photos
developed. They turned out per-
fectly, and will be lasting record
OF one of the greatest events in ou1
! lives"