USS Walter S. Brown (DE-258) - The German Aircraft Attack

The German Aircraft Attack

The Germans — a mixed force of Ju-88's, He. 111's, and Do. 217's — approached from the stern of the convoy and broke into groups to attack from different points of the compass. Eight minutes after the initial sightings, the first German aircraft came in low and fast and entered Walter S. Brown's defense sector. The destroyer escort trained her guns on two aircraft, but these targets quickly slipped out of range. Two more, however, then came into range. Walter S. Brown commenced fire with her forward 20-millimeter and 3-inch battery and scored hits on both aircraft. One climbed for a moment into a steep, almost vertical bank but then faltered and crashed astern of the ship.

Seconds later, a fifth aircraft bore in fast across the destroyer escort's bow and her starboard side and crossed over to port. Both Walter S. Brown and Dobler deluged the aircraft in a murderous cross-fire of 20-millimeter and 1.1-inch (28 mm) guns that slapped it into the sea. "Almost immediately", wrote Lt. Comdr. Louis B. Burdette, USNR, in his action report, "another single plane was reported coming in from ahead." Again all forward guns swung about, tracked their target, and opened fire as the aircraft swung right to attempt to launch a torpedo at the lead, escorts. Despite the fact that they could not hear the bearings being called out from the bridge over the sound-powered phones, the gunners manning the Oerlikons kept up a withering fire which forced the fifth enemy away.