USS Walter S. Brown (DE-258) - Shadowed By German Air Observation Aircraft

Shadowed By German Air Observation Aircraft

On 9 May, the convoy passed through the Strait of Gibraltar without incident but, two days later, detected German "snoopers" trailing the convoy. In the next few hours, 10 successive shore-based fighter interception sorties — even sorties conducted by British radar-equipped Beaufighters — failed to drive off the enemy reconnaissance aircraft. The Germans persistently maintained contact with the Allied ships.

First alerted by shore-based radar "eyes", the escort screen went to general quarters at 1316 on 11 May, beginning the first of five successive "on again—off again" alerts. Walter S. Brown took station on the starboard bow of the convoy, some 6,000 yards (5,000 m) from the guide. In Campbell, the commander of the screen, Jesse Clyburn Sowell, enjoined his escorts to be especially vigilant and warned that a dusk attack was well within the realm of possibility. At 2025, radar noted the approach of enemy aircraft; and Sowell formed his charges into eight columns 1,000 yards (1,000 m) apart to allow for plenty of maneuvering room. As UGS-40 went to general quarters at 2043 that evening, Dobler (DE-48) and Ellis (DD-154) took stations on Walter S. Brown's flanks.

When the enemy was reported 70 miles (110 km) north of Cape Corbelin, UGS-40 steered due east, through a smooth sea barely rippled by the light easterly airs, past Cape Bengut. Eleven minutes after sunset beneath a moonless, overcast sky, Walter S. Brown received orders to commence laying smoke.