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Operation: Anti-Submarine Sweep, East Mediterranean
Date: 1st November 1942 (Sunday)
Unit No: 233 Squadron, RAF Coastal Command
Type: Hudson III
Serial: AE591
Code: ZS:?
Base: RAF Gibraltar, Gibraltar
Location: South of the Balearic Islands
Pilot: Sgt. Douglas Henry Jenkins 968859 RAFVR Age 24. MiA
2nd Pilot: Flt Lt. Patrick George Attenborough 63793 RAFVR Age 34. MiA
WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Charles Arthur Smith 649493 RAF Age 22. MiA
WOp/Air Gnr: Plt Off. Austin Victor James Bettridge 49029 RAF Age 22. MiA
REASON FOR LOSS:
On the 1st November 1942 AE591 took-off from RAF Gibraltar at 09:00 hrs and joined two other Hudson’s on a Anti-Submarine sweep in the East Mediterranean.
At 11:39 hrs when at Lat/Long 37 26N, 01 43E Hudson V9169, flown by Flt Sgt. S. Woodward, altered course to investigate a suspicious object, which turned out to be the conning tower of a U-Boat.
This Lat/Long is some 140½ km (86 mls) south of Ibiza in Balearic islands.
At 11:46 hrs at Lat/Long 37 35N, 01.38E V9169 dived from 2000ft to 150ft and dropped 4 depth charges on the diving U-Boat. They fell and exploded about 75 yards ahead and slightly to starboard of the swirl caused by the diving U-Boat forcing it back to the surface with severe damage. Flt Sgt. S. Woodward circled back and attacked again with an Anti-Submarine bomb.
This Lat/Long is some 34¾ km (21½ mls) NE of the position from where Flt Sgt. S. Woodward sighted the suspicious object.
The German gunners opened fire and immediately scored hits on the tail of the aircraft, causing the bomb to fall wide. After receiving more hits during a third attack run the heavily damaged Hudson then left the area and returned to base.
Note: Flt Sgt. Stanley Woodward 1172871 RAFVR was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) whilst with 233 Sqn. Promulgated in the London Gazette on the 26th February 1943.
AE591 arrived on the scene shortly afterwards and was also hit by Flak on its first attack run with 3 depth charges. The Hudson caught fire and crashed into the sea 500m (1,640ft) from the U-Boat. The 3 depth charges that were dropped exploded harmlessly. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman and Sqn ORB).
The periscope of the U-boat, identified as U-565, was badly damaged and it was forced to return to its home port at La Spezia in Italy, from where the 29th U-Boat Flotilla operated.
Burial details:
Above: Malta Memorial (Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC))
Sgt. Douglas Henry Jenkins. Malta Memorial, Panel 4, Column 1. Born in 3rd Qtr of 1916 in Stratton, Cornwall. Son of William Edwin and Laura M. (née Prideaux) Jenkins. Husband of Josephine Mary (née Ley) Jenkins of Bude, Cornwall, England.
Flt Lt. Patrick George Attenborough. Malta Memorial, Panel 2, Column 1. Born on the 3rd September 1909 in Benhilton, Sutton, Surrey. Son of Capt. Edward Ernest and Helen Mary (née Haye) Attenborough of Sloane Avenue Mansions, SW1. Husband of Rosa Janette Attenborough of Oxford, Oxfordshire, England.
Flt Sgt. Charles Arthur Smith. Malta Memorial, Panel 3, Column 2. Born on the 5th July 1920 in Islington, Greater London. Son of Charles and of Hilda Edith (née Dennis) Smith of Highbury, London, England.
Plt Off. Austin Victor James Bettridge. Malta Memorial, Panel 3, Column 1. Born on the 6th March1920 in Cwmbran, Llantarnam, Monmouthshire, Wales. Son of Cecil Victor and Rhoda (née Wheatley) Bettridge. Husband to Nancie G. (née Burt) Bettridge of Hove, Sussex, England.
Researched by Ralph Snape from Aircrew Remembered as dedicated to this crew and their families (Aug 2024).
Other sources listed below:
RS 10.08.2024 - Initial Upload
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