DC-3 LOSS
THE 1943 SHOOT-DOWN OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRYING BRITISH ACTOR LESLIE HOWARD HAS BEEN SURROUNDED BY INTRIGUE, MYSTERY AND UNSUPPORTED THEORIES. CHRIS GOSS PUTS THE WHOLE DAY IN CONTEXT
WORLD WAR TWO
A part from a handful of reconnaissance flights over the Bay of Biscay, Luftwaffe air activity was decidedly sleepy in this area off France’s western coast on May 31, 1943. Three Ju 88s took off on a weather flight at dawn, one of them spotting an eastbound U-boat, while two more flew a recce sortie that evening and recorded just fishing boats in the vicinity.
The RAF’s Coastal Command had reported no major encounters with German aircraft since the 20th, but successfully attacked two U-boats in the Bay on the last day of the month when U-440 – captained by Oblt zur See Werner Schwaaf – was destroyed by a Sunderland of 201 Squadron, flown by Flt Lt Douglas Gall.
Meanwhile U-563 – commanded by Oblt Gustav Borchardt – was first damaged by the Halifax of 58 Squadron’s Wg Cdr Wilf Oulton, then a Sunderland of 10 Squadron RAAF flown by Flt Lt Max Mainprize and finally sunk by Fg Off W M French in his 228 Squadron Sunderland. Altogether, 95 U-boat crew were killed and there were no survivors.
On May 29, the Kr…
