CONFIDENTIAL  
     
  III.  Approach and Attack.  
     
          (a)  Narrative:  
     
          Radar reported target to the left between four and five miles and a wake was seen at once by Pinholster on the port beam at the edge of a light squall.  Immediate approach was made with 40" m.p. and 2400 r.p.m.  While submarine was moving at about 15 k. it opened fire about 15 seconds after we began our approach and bow turret opened fire at three miles.  Sub's fire was apparently inaccurate on first approach.  First fire from bow turret fell short of sub and was stopped until within 3/4 mile of sub.  When commenced again it was short but was raised until tracers were ricocheting from conning tower at 1/4 mile range.  
     
          Port gun in bow turret jammed three times during approach, and gunner was unable to clear the third jam.  All ammunition was expended from starboard gun on approach.  In all 374 rounds expended.  
     
          Just prior to drop U/B began a turn to port so that plane passed directly over conning tower at angle of about 30 degrees to fore and aft line of sub.  Bombs released while sub was surfaced with forward deck awash, and 8 or 10 men on deck and conning tower.  Two Mk 4 smoke bombs were thrown from waist hatch at the time the bombs were dropped.  
     
          Two crew members observed bombs explode in straddle of sub just about amidships.  
     
          Tail turret opened fire as plane passed over sub expending approximately 105 rounds.  Hits were observed on aft deck and conning tower.  
     
          Plane then put into steep left turn and circled sub to make a strafing attack and give the crown and tail turrets a chance to fire.  Crown turret open fire in this turn and tracers observed to hit conning tower and bow.  Plane made approximately 1-1/2 turns around sub expending 177 rounds from crown turret.  
     
          While circling in this strafing attack, the sub was seen to rise and fall in the water in a level attitude.  At one time only the conning tower would be visible followed by a full view of both forward and after deck with water flowing over the sides.  
     
          After completion of the first full turn, while broadside to sub, plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire damaging the plane and injuring two crew members.  With bow and tail turrets out, bombs expended, and two men wounded the pilot felt it best to return to base without further observing effects of attack.  
     
          When some distance from sub (on way back to base) another explosion was observed by F. M. Brazee from the waist hatch.  This explosion appeared similar to that of a depth charge, throwing up a high geyser of water that engulfed the sub.  
     
 
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                                                                                                                         CONFIDENTIAL  
     
  IV.  Results, etc.  
     
          After bomb explosions sub lost headway rapidly until almost dead in water.  It seemed to bounce on an even keel with the whole deck going under and reappearing alternatively.  
          A second explosion was observed by F.D.Brazee about four minutes after the depth charges were dropped.  This had the appearance of a depth charge explosion and completely obscured the conning tower.  
          At 0717 the following morning Lt. D. S. Billet of VB-133 observed an oil slick 700 by 300 yards in position of 15-50N  68-30 W.  THis slick was triangular in shape with the apex pointing 070 degrees and wind streaks passing through it.  Although the oil was easily visible there was no indication of oil rising at the time of observation.  A photograph of this slick is attached numbered IV(a) 5.  
          At 1425 Q the following day Lt. S. O. Livingston of Hedron 13 sighted an oil slick 400 feet by 150 feet at 15-57 N  68-30 W, the position of the attack.  This slick appeared about one day old and was oblong with longitudinal axis bearing 110 degrees.  Photographs are enclosed numbered IV(a) 1 through 4.  
     
  (k)  Description of sub:  
     
          Conning tower was approximately 12 feet high by 15 feet long.  Its base color was described variously as "rusty", "dirty grey", and "dark greyish blue".  Camouflage consisted of a lighter zig-zag streak running from the fore top of the conning tower to its rear base.  This streak was described as "dirty yellow", "cream", and even "light blue".  It was noticeably lighter than the base color.  
          There was a deck gun forward of the conning tower about 20 feet.  Another deck gun was located aft of the conning tower about half-way to the stern.  Two machine guns were firing from the top of the conning tower.  
     
  (l)  Own casualties:  
     
          3 hits on plane and 2 men wounded.  Twelve inch hole in top of tunnel hatch, ten inch hole in port side of hull six inches above rear hull gas tank, six inch hole in starboard forward outboard float struts.  All apparently from 20 m.m. explosive shell.  170 small holes scattered over starboard side of hull, empennage, and starboard wing and aileron, from shrapnel.  (Hole in top of tunnel hatch was evidently made by grazing explosive shell as no point of entry for this shell was found).  
          R. H. Boyland received wound in right foot and J. L. Wooten wounded in left arm and side from shrapnel.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

     

   
     
 
STATEMENT OF LIEUTENANT (JG) D. C. PINHOLSTER,
PATROL PLANE COMMANDER IN CHARGE OF FLIGHT IN
PILOT'S SEAT AT TIME OF ATTACK.
 
     
          I received a report of the target on port beam, about 5 miles distant, from the Radar Operator and immediately observed a wake at the edge of a squall in that location.  Giving orders to man "Battle Stations", I turned perpendicularly to subs course and approached with 40" manifold pressure and 2,400 r.p.m.  The bow gunner was ordered to begin shooting at 3 miles.  His first fire was short and was gradually raised until I observed his bullets ricocheting from the conning tower.  
     
          I came in very low, probably less than 25 feet, and passed directly over the conning tower.  At the time of my drop the nose of the sub was submerged with the conning tower visible.  It took approximately 15 seconds after the drop for me to bring the plane around to the left enough to see the sub again.  Then I saw it fully surfaced as though blown out of the water.  
     
          I circled at a steep angle in front of the sub to give the crown and tail turrets opportunity to bear.  The bow gunner reported his guns out of ammunition.  
     
          When I reached a position about 40 degrees relative to the sub's course and while in a steep bank broadside to the sub I felt numerous hits.  It was then reported to me that two men were injured and that the tail turret was out of commission.  
     
          In view of the damage to the plane, the injured personnel, and bow and tail turrets inoperative I departed from scene of the attack without further observation.  
     
     
     
     
                                                                                        D. C. PINHOLSTER,  
                                                                                        Lt.(jg), A-V(N), USNR.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

     

   
     
 
STATEMENT OF LIEUTENANT (JG) H. M. FREELAND,
A-V(N), QUALIFIED AS PATROL PLANE COMMANDER,
FLYING AS SECOND PILOT IN THIS FLIGHT.
 
     
          I had been at the controls until just prior to the sighting, when I was relieved for chow by Lieutenant Evans, who was navigating the flight, when "Battle Stations" was called.  I moved at once to a position just behind the pilot's seat where I stood during the approach and the attack.  
     
          My first view of the submarine was with forward deck awash as though sub might be trying to dive.  The sub started firing at approximately 3 miles range from machine gun on the conning tower.  Tracers were observed passing on both sides of the plane.  Blue bursts of smoke were rising from aft the conning tower.  The conning tower was a rusty gray color camouflaged with a cream colored "zig-zag" running diagonally across it.  There was one deck gun forward of the conning tower and another not quite half-way between conning tower and stern.  
     
          During our attack I could see our tracers glancing off the conning tower at an angle of 30 to forty degrees to the sub's fore and aft axis.  The anti-aircraft fire ceased as the plane passed over and began again after the plane reached a position about 330 degrees relative to sub's course.  We circled sub and sustained hits from anti-aircraft fire when bearing about 60 degrees on sub's course.  
     
          Wooten was wounded at this time and due to helping him I saw the sub no more.  
     
     
     
     
                                                                                                H. M. FREELAND,  
                                                                                                Lt.(jg), A-V(N), USNR.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

     

   
     
 
STATEMENT OF LIEUTENANT (JG) EVANS, A-V(N),
NAVIGATOR OF FLIGHT, SITTING IN SECOND PILOT'S
SEAT AT TIME OF ATTACK.
 
     
          Radar reported a target to the left that might be a squall but appeared too dark at times.  First sighting of the sub was in a squall.  The pilot sounded "General Quarters" at time of radar indication while the sub was 4-1/2 to 5 miles distant, bearing 285 degrees.  
     
          Sub started firing 15 seconds after we began our approach.  Our attack was pushed in the face of this fire and no hits were noticed in the plane.  The first fire from the plane was short and was gradually raised until at 1/4 mile range, the bullets from the bow were ricocheting from the conning tower.  
     
          As the plane passed directly over conning tower I saw 8 or 10 men bare from waist up around the conning tower and on the deck.  I could not see the nose of the sub at this time, which indicated the sub may have started to crash-dive, although this did not seem logical.  
     
          The conning tower was blackish with a yellowish camouflage zig-zagging diagonally fore and aft.  There were shots from the conning tower and puffs of smoke from aft of the conning tower.  The tracers fired left a brownish smoke.  The tracer shells started directly at us and then seemed to veer to right and left.  The aft deck gun was fired.  
     
          After making our drop and turning to where I could get another view, I saw brownish smoke puffs from the starboard side of the sub about half-way between the conning tower and stern.  
     
          We swung in a steep left turn and made another circle, firing the crown and tail turrets.  During this time our fire was ricocheting along the entire deck although concentration seemed to be around the conning tower.  
     
          We came around in another steep left turn at which time we were hit, damaging the plane and injuring two crew members.  
     
     
                                                                                              F. E. EVANS,  
                                                                                              Lt.(jg), A-V(N), USNR.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

     

   
 
  STATEMENT OF F. D. BRAZEE, AMM2c, PHOTOGRAPHER IN WAIST HATCH.  
     
          On the way out I asked permission from Mr. Pinholster to keep the waist hatch open and I saw some objects on the water but they proved to be no sub.  
     
          The radar operator picked up a target about 4 to 5 miles on the port beam.  I looked out there and saw a wake.  I reported to the Captain that there was a small ship or something on the surface.  The pilot called "General Quarters", and I manned the camera in the waist hatch.  I gave a float light to Countryman, R. E., passenger, and one to the Radioman and began to take pictures.  
     
          We came in on the sub at 30 degree angle to the course and I was taking pictures all the time.  We had gone about a mile beyond when I saw explosions straddle the U/Boat and then I saw water pouring off the decks as the geyser subsided.  The sub appeared to be riding a little higher in the water.  
     
          I didn't see any flashes of gun or tracers but I saw smoke puffs near the bow and in the air just over me.  I didn't see anyone on the decks.  I noticed that the conning tower was camouflaged.  
     
          When we passed over sub I had Countryman throw out the smoke bomb.  
     
          When Wooten fell to deck, I called the bow gunner for the first-aid kit.  Then I sent the tail gunner forward to tell the pilot to get the hell of of there because the interphone had been knocked out, we had dropped our bombs and used all our ammunition.  Then I went forward and saw holes in forward bunkroom so had gunner and the passenger standby with fire extinguishers.  Had men examine the plane for damage.  
     
          I returned to waist to close the hatches.  While closing the starboard waist hatch I looked for the sub again.  I saw it rising and falling in the water and the water running off the decks.  While I was looking at it an explosion took place, like a depth charge, and a geyser of water obscured the conning tower.  I tried to tell the pilot to look at this explosion but the interphone was out and I could get no one's attention.  We were pretty far away by now and I could not see the sub again.  
     
     
                                                                                         F. D. BRAZEE, AMM2c  
     
     
     
     

 

     

   
 
  STATEMENT OF BOYLAND, R.H., AMM3c, TAIL GUNNER AND RADAR OPERATOR.  
     
          I was operating the Radar when I picked up a target at approximately 5 miles off of the port beam.  Right after I reported it to the pilot, the man in the waist hatch, port side, reported a suspicious object in a rain squall.  The pilot sounded "General Quarters", and I proceeded to the tail turret, my battle station.  I had just gotten back there when I heard the order for the bow turret to open fire, over the interphone.  I then raised my guns to the extreme upward position for better vision.  As we were on our run I noticed tracers coming by both sides of the tail.  We were dropping continuously until I estimate we were between 25 to 50 feet off of the water and we leveled off and i immediately noticed the wake of the sub coming from underneath me.  I then lowered my guns and began firing a few rounds when I saw the first depth charge explode about 15 feet short of amidships.  Right after that, the second charge exploded on the opposite site of sub near bow (diagram below) about 5 to 10 feet away from sub:  
     
 
 
     
  After the first charge exposed the sub began a crash dive but on the second explosion the bow of the sub appeared to raise to the surface at an extreme angle.  Diagram below:  
     
 
 
     
  The sub then seemed to try to surface but it seemed to rock badly both to port and starboard.  I noticed men around the forward deck gun and conning tower and they kept firing at me even during its attempt to crash dive.  As we were circling around after the attack I could keep my turret trained on the sub and kept firing until a shell put my turret out of commission.  After the attack, as were leaving the scene, I observed a lot of commotion on deck and it appeared to me that there were men falling in the water but I could not say for sure as there was sort of a hazy smoke or mist around it due from the explosions.  It is my opinion that we got it.  
     
     
                                                                                        R. H. BOYLAND, AMM3c, USN.