Author: Franks, Norman L.R.
Publisher: Grub Street
Year: 1999
ISBN: 1902304098
Binding: Hard Cover
Book Condition: As New
Jacket Condition: Very Good
Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Description:
New book, 240 pages. U-boats were vulnerable when crossing the Bay of Biscay, coming and going from their French bases. Owing to the advances made in the detection of U-boats sailing at night across the Bay, Admiran Donitz ordered his captains to sail on the surface in daylight and remain there and fight if attacked by Allied aircraft. This they did from May until the beginning of August 1943, singly at first, then in small groups for mutual protection. Almost immediately, Coast Command were presented with a wealth of U-boat sightings, leading to attacks and sinkings. The danger to the flight crews were immense as they brought their large aircraft down to within 50 feet of their target in the face of tremendous cannon and machine gun fire in order to drop their depth charges. This is the story of the battle that raged between Coastal Command, American aircraft, and U-boats in these waters, and of the air battles between long range RAF fighters in combat with the Ju88 fighters of KG/40 which flew over the bay in search of the anti submarine aircraft.