Peter Cundy - U-boat Encounters

U-boat Encounters

On 26 February 1943 the crew were on patrol when they spotted U-437 on the surface. The U-boat crash-dived as Cundy dropped depth charges without any visible effect. The Liberator continued its patrol and shortly afterwards saw a second submarine which was attacked with the remaining depth charges. The crew soon saw the submarine's bows appear almost vertically, and sink below the surface. Cundy and his crew saw the U-boat surface and sail away some time later. U-508 had been damaged and was forced to return to Lorient.

On patrol on 3 July 1943, Cundy sighted a U-boat on the surface several miles ahead. With his gunners opening fire with machine guns, he dived to attack and dropped the Hedgehog anti-submarine weapon onto the submarine, U-628. He made a second attack despite his aircraft suffering serious damage from return fire. Cundy then dropped four depth charges which straddled the submarine. Cundy made a further attack as the submarine settled low in the water. As he circled after his third attack, it was seen that the U-boat had sunk and crewmen were in the water. Cundy nursed his aircraft back to St Eval on three engines; there was also damage to the fuel tanks and the aircraft's tail, but he made a safe landing.