The Sinking of U-297

Osmium Steele · 08-31-11, 02:43 PM

I hope no one minds. I have been perusing (sp?) the booklet I purchased on the discovery of this uboat. Wanted to share with others who may have an interest.

Exerpted from Richard W. Skinner's booklet U-297 - The History and Discovery of a Lost U-Boat.

Pages 17 and 18

At 4:43pm, just three minutes after sunset and in fading light, whilst the aircraft was at the approximate position 58deg 44min N 04deg 20min W, white smoke was sighted about 5 miles away on bearing 045 green. Hatton immediately altered course to investigate, dropping the altitude of the Sunderland from 400 to 200 ft.

At a range of one mile a considerable wake was clearly visible. In fact as Hatton flew up the course of this wake, his navigator was able to measure its length - some 1,100 ft! None of the crew could see what was causing the wake, (though they were able to calculate its speed as being between 10 and 12 knots in a northeast direction), though we now assume it was the snorkel of U-297.

No doubt thinking that they were reasonably safe using the new snorkel device, the crew of U-297 were about to pay the ultimate price in proving that the theory behind such equipment was not infallible.

Having reached the start of the wake, Hatton describes what happened next:

'Our aircraft crossed the wake's track ahead of the smoke, turned to port and made an attack run at a height of 50 feet along the path of the wake from astern. Unfortunately, the depth charges failed to release, but as no faults were found a similar attack was made.

We closed in on the same course and height; this time the depth charges functioned and a straddle of six fell in a straight line up the wake. The time was 4:52pm.'

'Three depth charges entered the actual wake, with the other three reaching ahead at spacings of 60ft. The wake and smoke immediately disappeared. Our aircraft circled the area and 5 minutes later a pear-shaped oil patch and ochre-colored scum was noted. After a further 20 minutes this had spread to cover an area of 1 mile by 1/2 mile.'

My comments here: Flt.Lt. Hatton and his crew were never credited with the sinking.

In a sad twist, their plane crashed in the hills northwest of Killybegs, County Donegal at 0230 on 14 March 1945, bursting into flames, no survivors.

08-31-11, 02:43 PM	#1
Osmium Steele Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Upper midwest USA Posts: 1,101 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	The Sinking of U-297 I hope no one minds. I have been perusing (sp?) the booklet I purchased on the discovery of this uboat. Wanted to share with others who may have an interest. Exerpted from Richard W. Skinner's booklet U-297 - The History and Discovery of a Lost U-Boat. Pages 17 and 18 At 4:43pm, just three minutes after sunset and in fading light, whilst the aircraft was at the approximate position 58deg 44min N 04deg 20min W, white smoke was sighted about 5 miles away on bearing 045 green. Hatton immediately altered course to investigate, dropping the altitude of the Sunderland from 400 to 200 ft. At a range of one mile a considerable wake was clearly visible. In fact as Hatton flew up the course of this wake, his navigator was able to measure its length - some 1,100 ft! None of the crew could see what was causing the wake, (though they were able to calculate its speed as being between 10 and 12 knots in a northeast direction), though we now assume it was the snorkel of U-297. No doubt thinking that they were reasonably safe using the new snorkel device, the crew of U-297 were about to pay the ultimate price in proving that the theory behind such equipment was not infallible. Having reached the start of the wake, Hatton describes what happened next: 'Our aircraft crossed the wake's track ahead of the smoke, turned to port and made an attack run at a height of 50 feet along the path of the wake from astern. Unfortunately, the depth charges failed to release, but as no faults were found a similar attack was made. We closed in on the same course and height; this time the depth charges functioned and a straddle of six fell in a straight line up the wake. The time was 4:52pm.' 'Three depth charges entered the actual wake, with the other three reaching ahead at spacings of 60ft. The wake and smoke immediately disappeared. Our aircraft circled the area and 5 minutes later a pear-shaped oil patch and ochre-colored scum was noted. After a further 20 minutes this had spread to cover an area of 1 mile by 1/2 mile.' My comments here: Flt.Lt. Hatton and his crew were never credited with the sinking. In a sad twist, their plane crashed in the hills northwest of Killybegs, County Donegal at 0230 on 14 March 1945, bursting into flames, no survivors. __________________ In the month of July of the year 1348, between the feasts of St. Benedict and of St. Swithin, a strange thing came upon England... My U297 build thread