Here is a fascinating site regarding the story of the Sunderland which tangled with eight JU-88’s and shot down three.
http://www.n461.com/n461_story.html
”Shells and bullets crashed into the Sunderland. Tail had a go at the rapidly nearing fighter on the port but Midships didn’t. Fuller’s guns lay fully depressed with his turret turned starboard. He rested over his guns, eyes slitted. Little Fuller, no more than a boy – he even looked a boy – sat on his guns, barrels down, and watched the 88 on the starboard side hurtle at him, watched the bullet-holes spatter all round him, yet didn’t waver. He watched until that thundering 88 filled up the sky, head on, and was fifty yards off the wing-tip. Fuller flashed his guns up, sighted and shot. Hundreds of rounds slaughtered the 88 as it broke away. Fuller poured them into it and suddenly it was a cloud of flame and black smoke and bits and pieces. It screamed vertically into the sea.”
It limped back to Cornwall, and force landed on the beach at Praa Sands
An amazing story about a remarkable crew.
By: Pondskater - 5th February 2012 at 13:03
so does anyone know the actual losses on the German side?, be interesting to know how they tally up with the claims
That’s where it gets difficult.
Chris Goss has researched those Luftwaffe units in his excellent book “Bloody Biscay” Crecy 1997 ISBN 0-947554 874
As Ross says above, Lt Friedrich Maeder of 13/KG-40 intercepted a Sunderland that day. Goss records that he claimed to have shot down a Sunderland 300 km NW of Brest at 18:58 – the timings match.
In his appendix for losses from III & V/KG-40, Goss does not record any aircraft lost on that day.
It is where these things get awkward. There was a battle – no doubt epic. There are claims on both sides but the detail is lost.
AllanK
By: PeterVerney - 1st February 2012 at 19:24
Had to wipe my eyes after reading that.
By: Arabella-Cox - 1st February 2012 at 18:59
Not to be trifled with
I think the Sunderland got a reputation for fighting back and was not to be trifled with.
The Germans didn’t refer to it as the Flying Porcupine for nothing. Many a kill was scored by Sunderland gunners against attacking aircraft during the war.
Great story though. One can only imagine what it was like to be under attack by such a potent aircraft at a Ju.88 – and eight of them:eek:, your days (or minutes) were numbered.
Anon.
By: SimonDav - 1st February 2012 at 17:55
so does anyone know the actual losses on the German side?, be interesting to know how they tally up with the claims
By: Ross_McNeill - 1st February 2012 at 17:42
The details collated in the ORB and other sources are:
02/06/43
No.461 Sqn
Sunderland III
EJ134
Op: Derange 2 Patrol
Took off: Pembroke Dock
Time Up: 13:31 hrs
F/L C B Walker RAAF
P/O W J Dowling RAAF
P/O J A Amiss RAAF
F/O K McD Simpson DFC RAAF
Sgt E C E Miles MID
Sgt P K Turner RAAF
F/Sgt E A Fuller DFM
F/Sgt H A Miller RAAF
Sgt A Lane RAAF
Sgt L S Watson RAAF
F/Sgt R M Goode DFM RAAF
Attacked by Lt Friedrich Maeder of 13/KG40 and seven other Ju88s in position PLQ 24W/1778 at 18:58 hrs. During the 45 minute combat Sgt Miles was killed manning the starboard galley gun and the navigator wounded. The tail gunner F/Sgt Goode was throw against the side of his turret and knocked out during the evasive tactics. The port outer propeller fell off and the engine caught fire but the Sunderland struggled back 350 miles to be beached at Praa Sands, Marazion, Cornwall at 22:48 hrs. The damage was so severe that the aircraft was struck off charge.
The subsequent loss was:
13/08/43
DV968
Op: Musketry III
Took off: Pembroke Dock
Time up: 07:00
F/O W J Dowling RAAF
F/O D T Galt DFC RAAF
F/O J C Grainger RAAF
F/O K McD Simpson DFC RAAF
F/Sgt P K Turner RAAF
Sgt L S Watson RAAF
F/Sgt A E Fuller DFM
W/O H A Miller RAAF
F/Sgt A Lane RAAF
F/Sgt C D L Longston RAAF
W/O R M Goode DFM RAAF
Shot down by Lt A Schroeder of 13./KG40 in position PLQ24W/1515 at 14:28 hrs into the Bay of Biscay. The Sunderland had radioed that it was under attack by Ju88s at 14:49 hrs. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial to the Missing.
Regards
Ross
By: Arabella-Cox - 1st February 2012 at 17:09
I don’t know how much poetic licence was in that story, but if only a proportion is entirely factual, then it is, as it says, one of the most daunting duels i’ve ever read about.
It made me feel utterly empty to see that after all that, what was left of the original crew failed to return from a subsequent mission.
It serves as a reminder that war does not treat even the most deserving of men and women as it does in the movies.
War must test the strongest of faiths.
Thank whoever it is out there that most of us did (and do not) not have to witness such things at first hand.
By: Peter - 1st February 2012 at 15:10
Speechless….
By: mantog - 1st February 2012 at 14:54
fantastic read, thanks for posting!
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February 1, 2012 at 11:52 am