Official Squadron Diary for 2-3 May 1944

The six pages below are copies of the pages of the Form 540, the official Squadron Dairy for the days of 2 and 3
May 1944. They deal with the attack and sinking of U-852 in the Gulf of Aden and were written by Fg Off
PF Cottis, the Squadron Intelligence Officer. All errors from the originals have been left in.

Maritime Patrols

F540 Page 1

No. 8 Squadron

Date.	Aircraft Type & Number.	Crew.	Duty.	Time.		Details of Flight or Sortie	References.
Date.	Aircraft Type & Number.	Crew.	Duty.	Up.	Down.	Details of Flight or Sortie	References.
2/5/44	WELLINGTON MARK XIII HZ 958	F/LT.R.A.HENDRIE. SGT. BROWN.C.D. F/O. WILLERSDORF D. (Aus) SGT. RAW.D. SGT. WESTLEY.J.C. SGT. WILLIAMS. E.G.	Submarine Strike	1150	1730	Patrol :- To Carry out Submarine Strike. Observed:- Aircraft airborne RIYAN to carry out submarine strike. Failed to sight the submarine and aircraft landed at SCUISCUIBAN, early with engine trouble. Remarks :-6000 rounds of ammunition, 6 = 250lb Torpex D.Cs carried.
2/5/44	WELLINGTON MARK XIII JA 513	F/O.J.R.FORRESTER (Can) F/S.BELLCHAMBER. F/O.J.R.CULHAM. (Can) SGT.CALNEN.J.F. SGT.LAPSLEY.W.G.	Submarine Attack	0940	1805	Patrol :- Submarine attack, position 1023N. 5200E Observed:- Aircraft airborne RIYAN and set course for position 1300N. 5040E, arriving at 1038 hours. Course then set for 1150N. 5118E.. At 1045 hours, position 1245N 5048E, one motor vessel, 10,000 tons, course 070°, speed 12 knots. In position 1150N. 5118E, at 1119 hours, set course for position 1023N 5200E. This position arrived at 1208½ hours, but the U-boat was not in this position. At 1210 hours, in position 1020N 5202E, dropped sea marker circle searching with S/E., and at 1231 hours, homing on S/E contact. Contacted ( visually) one Catalina and 1 Wellington at 1235 hours in position 1028N 5208E. Intercepted message at 1300 hours from base to aircraft D -584- JLKS 0026 at 11362, course 260°, speed 12 knots to PLE,land SCUISCUIBAN. At 1305 hours, set course to make landfall. At 1315 hours, M.T.B. - NK1 - proceeding to position SCRZ 5603. When in position 1034N 5114E at 1325, set course for position 0956N 5103E and in position 0956N 5103E at 1345 hours, sighting reported to base- 465 - SCKZ 5603 - I.F.F. on stud 4. In position 0956N 5103E at 1351 hours, attacked the submarine, D.Cs not dropped. Again attacked the submarine, position 0956N 5103E, 1355 hours, and hits probable. Only one gun serviceable in the front turret. The flak was moderate. At 1400 hours, M.T.B. - NR2 - 511 - 4 - 513 - 2. At 1420 hours, M.T.B. NR3 - Submarine damaged, unable to submerge. Am shadowing, 3 hours petrol. Await instructions. M.F.B. at 1435 hours - NR1 - 571 - to PLE, land SCUISCUIBAN - 021413z.