407 Squadron - Operations
On completion of O.T.U. we were posted to our squadron, which was located at Chivenor in the county of Devon, on the west coast of England. We flew on patrols over the Atlantic Ocean and over the Bay of Biscay, seeking out U-boats and the supply ships servicing and re fuelling them. The German U-boat fleet employed the French ports on the Bay of Biscay as their main base from which they roamed out into the Atlantic.
Submarines, operating under water as they did, were impossible to detect from the air. They were compelled to surface from time to time, however, to re-charge their batteries. They invariably did this at night under cover of darkness and they were consequently susceptible to discovery at those times.
Therefore our patrols were mainly carried out after dark, searching for them with radar. Our objective was to attack any unfriendly submarine or naval vessel we discovered.
Radar enabled us to search a broad expanse of sea. With the assistance of a revolving scanner (antenna), under suitable conditions we could search an area up to ninety miles in every direction. Ifwe detected a blip (signal) on our radar screen of an unknown object on the water, we homed to it. We flew in the dark with no lights on, at an altitude of approximately 800 feet. The strategy was to approach the target prepared to attack in the event that the object proved to be unfriendly. We had secret equipment aboard known as I.F.F. (Identification, Friend or Foe) which enabled us to identify friendly planes and ships; as well it helped identify us to them.
The Leigh-light was a carbon-arc searchlight that generated fourteen million candlepower. The beam was extremely intense and was highly blinding to the gunners on deck, giving the attacking aircraft a great advantage. The plane also had the added advantage of surprise; frequently the sky was totally cloud covered and it was not possible for the boat or submarine crews to see the attacking aircraft until the Leigh light was turned on. If the attack was carried out properly there was little chance for the gun crews on the ships or submarines to react until after the aircraft had passed over them, and had dropped its depth charges.
We had a .303 calibre machine gun in the nose of the plane. This gun was used for strafing purposes on offence and could be utilized on defence in the event of an attack by fighters. Some planes, but not all, were equipped with .303 machine guns on either side. We had four .303 calibre guns in the tail turret with 20,000 rounds of ammunition, and carried eight depth charges in the bomb bays. The depth charges were released in strings of four. The theory was to straddle your target between the number two and three charges.
For some weeks prior to D-Day the squadron was engaged in "Operation Cork". We operated exclusively over the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay in an attempt to keep U-boats out of the Channel and away from the invasion armada in its pending voyage across to the shores of France. Just prior to D-day, operations were stepped up and we then flew both day and night patrols.
The American Army under General Patton broke through the German lines in mid July and scurried on towards the Bay of Biscay. The main U-boat ports of Brest, St. Nazaire and Lorient were rendered useless to the German U-boat fleet. Submarines could no longer find shelter there so the main thrust of U-boat operations was transferred to the northern bases, which the Germans had established on the west coast of Norway.
The U-boat fleet continued their relentless attacks on Allied shipping but now had to roam from bases much further than they had previously. At the end of July, [A] our squadron on the other hand, moved to a station in Scotland to be closer to their Norwegian base of operations. We operated out of our new base from the first week of August 1944 until that crucial day in September when we did not return.
Editor's Note:
According to the Squadron Operations Records, the last sortie from Chivenor was on August 21, 1944, and the first sortie flown from Wick was August 26, 1944
On completion of O.T.U. we were posted to our squadron, which was located at Chivenor in the county of Devon, on the west coast of England. We flew on patrols over the Atlantic Ocean and over the Bay of Biscay, seeking out U-boats and the supply ships servicing and re fuelling them. The German U-boat fleet employed the French ports on the Bay of Biscay as their main base from which they roamed out into the Atlantic.
Submarines, operating under water as they did, were impossible to detect from the air. They were compelled to surface from time to time, however, to re-charge their batteries. They invariably did this at night under cover of darkness and they were consequently susceptible to discovery at those times.
Therefore our patrols were mainly carried out after dark, searching for them with radar. Our objective was to attack any unfriendly submarine or naval vessel we discovered.
Radar enabled us to search a broad expanse of sea. With the assistance of a revolving scanner (antenna), under suitable conditions we could search an area up to ninety miles in every direction. Ifwe detected a blip (signal) on our radar screen of an unknown object on the water, we homed to it. We flew in the dark with no lights on, at an altitude of approximately 800 feet. The strategy was to approach the target prepared to attack in the event that the object proved to be unfriendly. We had secret equipment aboard known as I.F.F. (Identification, Friend or Foe) which enabled us to identify friendly planes and ships; as well it helped identify us to them.
The Leigh-light was a carbon-arc searchlight that generated fourteen million candlepower. The beam was extremely intense and was highly blinding to the gunners on deck, giving the attacking aircraft a great advantage. The plane also had the added advantage of surprise; frequently the sky was totally cloud covered and it was not possible for the boat or submarine crews to see the attacking aircraft until the Leigh light was turned on. If the attack was carried out properly there was little chance for the gun crews on the ships or submarines to react until after the aircraft had passed over them, and had dropped its depth charges.
We had a .303 calibre machine gun in the nose of the plane. This gun was used for strafing purposes on offence and could be utilized on defence in the event of an attack by fighters. Some planes, but not all, were equipped with .303 machine guns on either side. We had four .303 calibre guns in the tail turret with 20,000 rounds of ammunition, and carried eight depth charges in the bomb bays. The depth charges were released in strings of four. The theory was to straddle your target between the number two and three charges.
For some weeks prior to D-Day the squadron was engaged in "Operation Cork". We operated exclusively over the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay in an attempt to keep U-boats out of the Channel and away from the invasion armada in its pending voyage across to the shores of France. Just prior to D-day, operations were stepped up and we then flew both day and night patrols.
The American Army under General Patton broke through the German lines in mid July and scurried on towards the Bay of Biscay. The main U-boat ports of Brest, St. Nazaire and Lorient were rendered useless to the German U-boat fleet. Submarines could no longer find shelter there so the main thrust of U-boat operations was transferred to the northern bases, which the Germans had established on the west coast of Norway.
The U-boat fleet continued their relentless attacks on Allied shipping but now had to roam from bases much further than they had previously. At the end of July, [A] our squadron on the other hand, moved to a station in Scotland to be closer to their Norwegian base of operations. We operated out of our new base from the first week of August 1944 until that crucial day in September when we did not return.
Editor's Note:
According to the Squadron Operations Records, the last sortie from Chivenor was on August 21, 1944, and the first sortie flown from Wick was August 26, 1944