| At about 1350 on 16th October 1943, 422 SQN Sunderland of RCAF (FL P T Sargent) was patrolling for convoy ON-206, and got a fix on 2 U-Boats. Sargent came out of rainclouds and attacked one of them. The U-Boat, probably U-470, put up a strong defence. The Sunderland dropped 3 D/Cs and came around for a second attack. The aircraft was hit this time thoroughly: the nose gunner was killed, much equipment was shot to pieces and numerous holes appeared throughout. The navigator was seriously wounded and shortly died along with another crewman. Sargent dropped more D/Cs despite the ferocity of the defence, all the while the second U-boat was also firing. The Sunderland was in trouble and barely made it back to the convoy, calmly informing the SNO they were going to ditch. The aircraft hit hard, breaking up and killing Sargent. Later that day at approximately 1900 3 more aircraft attacked U-470 south-east of Cape Farewell. First in was 120 SQN Liberator (FL H F Kerrigan of RCAF) whose attack was also met with fierce flak, damaging his aircraft. He circled and came around to drop 4 D/Cs and fired with MG. As he circled 120 SQN Liberator (FL B E Peck) came in also taking flak, dropping 6 D/Cs. Peck the came around for his second attack, this time taking no flak, and used MG as well as 2 more D/Cs. There is some confusion at this point as to who actually sank U-470, as 59 SQN Liberator (PO W G Loney RAAF) also came in and delivered a D/C attack, being damaged by flak. In any case all 3 aircraft were credited with the sinking, as U-470 had no chance against so many attackers, and during the final attacks foundered, going down vertically. 15 or more crew were seen in the sea over a wide area. Peck asked the SNO to pick up survivors, HMS Vidette and HMS Duncan were despatched. Due to fears of other U-Boats operating in the area only Duncan approached, and barely slowed down. Only 2 men, Gerhard Tacken and Heinz Knappe managed to grasp the nets that were trailed over the side. The other 46 men of U-470's crew died.
The Admiralty Report on interrogation of the survivors of U-470 is available. You can find how to obtain a report here.
We have 48 crew names for this boat. click here for crew names of U 470
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