USS Swasey (DE-248) - Attacked By Luftwaffe Aircraft

Attacked By Luftwaffe Aircraft

Just before midnight a force of approximately two dozen German Dornier 217s and Junkers 88s attacked the convoy. A smoke screen was laid to cover the convoy; and, as a result, the escorts were attacked. At 2345 hours, Swasey's guns opened fire on a torpedo plane approaching on the port bow. The plane dropped its torpedo which passed down the port side only 15 feet (4.6 m) from the ship. At 2355 the gunners splashed an enemy bomber which passed over the fantail at a height of 50 feet (15 m). At 0004 on 12 April an enemy plane passed from port to starboard, 200 yards (180 m) off the bow. A torpedo track was sighted approaching the bow at 0012. The ship had to maneuver radically to avoid it. No merchant ships of the convoy were damaged in the engagement, but USS Holder was torpedoed on the port side. Bizerte was reached on the 13th. Swasey, with task force TF 65, returned to New York on 11 May with convoy GUS-37.