Flt Lt Frede Johannes Florentsen

254 Sqn

Beaufighter X (A)

15.06.44

04:10 - 08:05

0410 to 0435 A/B Langham in formation with 5 cannon and R.P. of No. 236 Squadron, 12 Cannon Beaufighters of No. 455 Squadron and 11 of No. 489 Squadron. C.R.V.R./254 had cannon only, while the remainder 10 A/C were armed with torpedo and cannon. W/C Gadd in C/254 led the two wings and a fighter escort of 10 Mustangs was picked up over Coltishall.
0556 A convoy was sighted N of Schierimonnikoog in posn. 53°35'N 06°05'E, 110/4 miles Co. 080t/10kts.
Composition 1 M/V (8000 tons) 1 Naval auxiliary 4000 tons 10 'M' Cl. M/S, 7 R/Boats. Most escorts flying balloons at 500 ft.
Torbeaus T.A.E.O.M.L./254 attacked M/V with torpodoes, Mk XV, set 10 ft. contest [?]. W.B.J. attacked Naval auxiliary with cannon. Q.O.J. also attacked 4 "M" Cl. M/S with cannon.
Results observed: 2 torpedo hits on M/V which was down at stern, listing to starboard and sinking. 2 torpedo hits on Naval auxiliary soon to be listing down by stern and sinking.
Rear "M" Cl. M/S on port flank blew up and seen sinking. Leading "M" Class M/S starboard column hit by torpedo. 5 other "M" Cl. seen on fire.
Photographs. show M/V ablaze from stem to stern, torpedo hit two thirds of way aft.
Naval auxiliary on fire with torpedo hit aft. At least 3 "M" Cl. on fire and cannon hits on 3 more.
Flak - Very maegre heavy and light flak from convoy. Moderate heavy flak from shore en route up the coast.
A most successful attack.
0647 to 0805 Landed Langham.

AIR 27/1516

Acc. to Nesbit (1997, p. 141) the ships are German experimental SCHIFF 49 of 7,900 t (form. Dutch AMERSKERK) and the Belgian M/V GUSTAV NACHTIGALL of 3,500 t, which are torpedoed and sunk. M/S M.103 hit by rockets and blew up. Further reference AIR 15/472