Operation: Anti-Submarine patrol

Date: 11th August 1943 (Wednesday)

Unit No: 200 Squadron, Coastal Command

Type: Liberator GR.V

Serial No: BZ832 (built as a B-24D #42-63855)

Code: D

Location: 386 km (240 mls) south of Dakar, Senegal, North Atlantic

Base: Rufisque, near Dakar, Senegal

Pilot (Captain): Fg Off. Lloyd Allan Trigg VC, DFC, 413515 RNZAF Age 29. KiA (1)

1st Pilot: Fg Off. George Nicholas Goodwin J14450 RCAF Age 20. KiA

Navigator Fg Off. Ivan Marinovich 413103 RNZAF Age 26. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Fg Off. John Eric James Townsend BEM(M), 130317 RAFVR Age 33. KiA (2)

WOp/Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Terence John Soper 412908 RNZAF Age 21. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Plt Off. Richard Albert Bonnick 158149 RAFVR Age 27. KiA

Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Arthur Godfrey Bennett 412861 RNZAF Age 29. KiA

Air Gnr: Flt Sgt. Laurence James Frost 414872 RNZAF Age 22. KiA

Above left: Fg Off. Lloyd Allan Trigg VC, DFC, probably as a Plt Off. after being awarded his Pilot’s wings. (Unknown author - Courtesy of the Imperial War Museums (IWM)); right Fg Off. Goodwin. (From his Service Record)

Above: left to right: Fg Off. Marinovich, Flt Sgt. Soper, Flt Sgt. Bennett, and Flt Sgt. Frost. (Images Public Domain – No Known copyright restrictions)

Above an example of a Liberator GR.V. Records indicate that this aircraft was BZ825 ‘X’, from 200 Sqn. It was built as a B-24D #42-63848 (Courtesy of World War Photos)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Operations by 200 Sqn were initially launched from the French airfield at Rufisque, near Dakar in Senegal because the Pierced Steel Planking (PSP) runway at Yundum in Gambia was waterlogged.

On the 24th July 1943 200 Sqn received its first four Liberator GR.Vs which included BZ832. Operations with the Hudson continued until the 11th August 1943 when the first anti-submarine patrol flown by Liberators began with BZ832 and BZ830.

At 11:00 hrs both aircraft were signalled to divert and hunt for a U-Boat which had been attacked by a Catalina. The U-boat could not be found and BZ830 returned to base. Nothing more was heard from BZ832. It was not until a few days later that it became clear what had transpired.

BZ832 had caught U468 on the surface and dropped six depth charges which sank the U-boat some 386 km (240 mls) south of Dakar killing or injuring most of the crew of 51. During the engagement BZ832 was shot down by the U-boat and crashed into the sea nearby killing all of the crew. No bodies were recovered.

The captain of U-468, Oblt. Klemens Schamong, and 6 of his men were spotted in a dinghy and were rescued by the Royal Navy ship HMS Clarkia on the 13th August 1943.

The U-boat Commander gave the following description of the action:

"Between 9 and 10 o'clock on August 11, while on the surface, we sighted an aircraft and engaged it with all our guns. At first we thought it was a Sunderland, but we now know we were mistaken. As the aircraft was coming in to attack. It was hit and set on fire, apparently near the tail. Although the aircraft was well alight, the pilot pressed home his attack, released his bombs from a height of 15 metres, attacking from the port quarter and crossing the submarine just aft of the conning tower."

The Commanding Officer of the U-boat, supported by the Engineer Officer, then expressed sincere admiration of the pilot's courage in not allowing the submarine's heavy and accurate fire, and the precarious condition of his aircraft to deter him from pressing home his attack.

He continued:

"As the aircraft passed over us we could see our fire entering the aircraft through its open bomb doors, The bomb burst near the U-boat and I momentarily lost sight of the aircraft. However, I recovered from the shock in time to see the aircraft dive straight into the sea about 100 metres from the submarine, there being no survivors.”

Both the U-boat's Commanding Officer and the Engineer Officer were on deck throughout the engagement and are in entire agreement regarding the above account.

The submarine was badly damaged by the aircraft's attack and it sank in 20 minutes, few of the crew having time to get their life-saving jackets. Most of the crew were suffering from severe chlorine gas poisoning (the battery room was flooded with sea water) and only the strongest swimmers of those least affected managed to survive the sharks. They kept them away by submerging their heads and "roaring" under water. The U-boat's Commanding Officer, two other officers and one rating were in the sea for about 1½ hours after the sinking, one of the officers supporting the rating on his back. Then they sighted a rubber dinghy already occupied by three other survivors. They climbed in and learned that the folded dinghy had been found floating in the water and that one of the three had opened it and inflated it with the oxygen bottle. Upon examination the dinghy proved to be of the type supplied to the Liberator. It must have floated free at the moment of the crash. It is presumed that the empty dinghy sighted by one of the rescue aircraft came adrift in like manner.

The engagement is also described in the citation accompanying the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross (VC) to Fg Off. Trigg in Ser (1) below.

(1) Fg Off. Trigg was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 200 Sqn. London Gazette 18th June 1943. Citation reads:

"This officer has taken part in a large number of shipping reconnaissance and convoy escorts. In March 1943, he was detailed to provide anti-submarine escort to a convoy that was being attacked by several U-boats. When in the vicinity of the convoy, Pilot Officer Trigg sighted an enemy submarine and although in an unfavourable position delivered a vigorous and effective attack. Two days later he sighted another U-boat and immediately made a determined attack, one of the depth charges exploding on the bow of the enemy vessel. During the course of a fine operational career this officer has set a conspicuously good example of keenness to fly under all conditions”.

Fg Off. Trigg was posthumously awarded the VC on the 2nd November 1943. London Gazette 2nd November 1943. Citation reads:

“Flying Officer Lloyd Allan TRIGG, D.F.C. (N.Z.4I35I5), Royal New Zealand Air Force (missing, believed killed), No. 200 Squadron. Flying Officer Trigg had rendered out standing service on convoy escort and anti-submarine duties. He had completed 46 operational sorties and had invariably displayed skill and courage of a very high order. One day in August, 1943, Flying Officer Trigg undertook, as captain and pilot, a patrol in a Liberator although he had not previously made any operational sorties in that type of aircraft. After searching for 8 hours a surfaced U-boat was sighted. Flying Officer Trigg immediately prepared to attack. During the approach, the aircraft received many hits from the submarine's anti-aircraft guns and burst into flames, which quickly enveloped the tail. The moment was critical. Flying Officer Trigg could have broken off the engagement and made a forced landing in the sea. But if he continued the attack, the aircraft would present a "no deflection" target to deadly accurate anti-aircraft fire, and every second spent in the air would increase the extent and intensity of the flames and diminish his chances of survival. There could have been no hesitation or doubt in his mind. He maintained his course in spite of the already precarious condition of his aircraft and executed a masterly attack. Skimming over the U-boat at less than 50 feet with anti-aircraft fire entering his opened bomb doors, Flying Officer Trigg dropped his bombs on and around the U-boat where they exploded with devastating effect. A short distance further on the Liberator dived into the sea with her gallant captain and crew. The U-boat sank within 20 minutes and some of her crew were picked up later in a rubber dinghy that had broken loose from the Liberator. The Battle of the Atlantic has yielded many fine stories of air attacks on under-water craft, but Flying Officer Trigg's exploit stands out as an epic of grim determination and high courage. His was the path of duty that leads to glory”.

(2) The British Empire Medal (Military) (BEM(M)) was awarded to 937269 Flt Sgt. John Eric James Townsend on the 8th June 1942. London Gazette 8th June 1942. Citation reads:

"One evening in December, 1941, an aircraft, when nearing an aerodrome, hit the top of a belt of trees and ploughed its way through them. In the process, the wings were torn away and the engine became detached; the perspex from the pilot's cockpit cover and the turret cupola were also torn away. The aircraft was finally stopped by an almost head-on crash into a large tree, which was demolished, and the fuselage came to rest 10 yards beyond the tree, lying on its starboard side with the engine a few feet ahead. The engine and the fuselage caught fire, the flames rising to 10 or 12 feet. The flames did not last long as the petrol tanks had fallen out in the wood. Although suffering from severe shock and in a collapsing condition Flight Sergeant Townsend (the air gunner) at once crawled from his turret and assisted his pilot who, though conscious, was suffering from severe head injuries. The rescuer released the pilot's harness and, with some difficulty as the pilot's legs were jammed in the rudder pedals, he managed to extricate him. In his dazed condition Flight Sergeant Townsend did not know that the petrol tanks had fallen out and his anxiety was therefore increased because of the fire near the aircraft's bulkhead. He had just dragged the pilot clear when a civilian arrived who assisted him to carry the injured pilot from the aircraft. With great forethought, Flight Sergeant Townsend inflated and inverted the dinghy to serve as a bed for the injured pilot and wrapped him in his parachute for warmth. Securing the first aid kit from the fuselage, he administered morphia to the pilot, who was suffering acutely, and applied bandages to his head wounds. He then ensured that the guns, which were apparently undamaged, were made safe. Throughout, this airman, without any thought for his own welfare although suffering from cuts over the eye and severe shock, displayed most praiseworthy conduct".

Note: The aircraft was Defiant I, V1137, RA:?, from 410 Sqn, RCAF which crashed at Drem, East Lothian on the 8th December 1941. The pilot was Flt Lt. Robert Lionel Frank Day DFC, 41263 RAF who was KiA on the 18th June 1944 (132 Sqn Spitfire IX, ML120, FF:P).

Burial Details.

Above: The Malta Memorial (Courtesy of the CWGC)

Fg Off. Lloyd Allan Trigg VC, DFC. Malta Memorial. Panel 12, Column 1. Born on the 5th May 1914 in Houhora, New Zealand. Son of Francis Arthur and of Cecilia Louisa (née White) Trigg. Husband of Nola Bernice (née McGarvie) Trigg, of Whangarei, Auckland, New Zealand.

This was 47th or 51st operation for Fg Off. Trigg spanning 656 hrs in total.

He is remembered on the Roll of Honour World War 2 (Taipa monument), Taipa, Mangonui District, Far North, New Zealand. Also on the Dunedin, Victoria Cross winners' plaque, Queens Gardens, Dunedin and the Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories.

Fg Off. George Nicholas Goodwin. Malta Memorial. Panel 10, Column 1. Born on the 9th August 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Son of Nicholas Lanser and Maud (née McClellan) Goodwin, of Erickson, British Columbia, Canada.

Fg Off. Ivan Marinovich. Malta Memorial. Panel 12, Column 1. Born on the 16th March 1917 in Oratia, Auckland. Son of Lovre and Mary Marinovich (née Rosandich) of Oratia, Auckland, New Zealand.

This was the 50th operation for Fg Off. Marinovich spanning 605 hrs in total.

He is remembered at the Oratia School Second World War Memorial, Shaw Road, Oratia, Auckland. Also on the Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of memories.

Fg Off. John Eric James Townsend BEM(M). Malta Memorial. Panel 6, Column 2. Born in the 4th Qtr of 1911 in Dursley, Gloucestershire. Son of Joseph Thomas and Winifred Madeline A. (née Holman) Townsend of Gloucestershire. Husband of Ruby Kathleen (née Parsons) Townsend of High-Grove, Painswick, Gloucestershire, England.

Flt Sgt. Terence John Soper. Malta Memorial. Panel 12, Column 2. Born on the 7th January 1922 in Nelson, Tasman. Son of Algernon Leslie and Jean Winifred (née Vaughan) Soper of Takaka, Nelson, New Zealand.

This was the 39th operation for Flt Sgt. Soper spanning 420 hrs.

He is remembered on the Takaka War Memorial, Tasman District, Nelson Region.

Plt Off. Richard Albert Bonnick. Malta Memorial. Panel 6, Column 2. Son of Ernest and Jessie Bonnick, of Kingsbury, Middlesex, England.

Flt Sgt. Arthur Godfrey Bennett. Malta Memorial. Panel 12, Column 2. Born on the 27th December 1913 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Son of John Arthur and Miriam May (née Gale) Bennett, of Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand.

This was the 52nd operation for Flt Sgt. Bennett spanning 488 hours in total.

Flt Sgt. Laurence James Frost. Malta Memorial. Panel 12, Column 2. Born on the 9th July 1921 in Auckland, New Zealand. Son of David and Georgina Sarah Frost, of Kumeu, Auckland, New Zealand.

This was the 65th Operation for Flt Sgt. Frost spanning 449 hrs in total.

He is remembered on the Edendale Primary School War Memorial, WW1 & WW2, Sandringham Road, Auckland, New Zealand. Also on the Onehunga War Memorial Swimming Pool, Jellicoe Park (off Quadrant Road), Park Gardens, Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand, and the Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories.

Researched by Ralph Snape (Aircrew Remembered) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew (Jul 2023).

Sources listed below:

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