U-Boat Scourge

by J Eugene Porter

  Everyone laughed except Ensign Brand who knew that he could only have a Coca-Cola anyway.

  16

  18 February 1942

  260 miles NNE of

  Langley, Virginia

  • United States naval vessels sunk: Destroyer Truxton and stores ship Pollux by storm, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland.

  • War Department orders overseas contract activities throughout the world militarized. All civilian contract activities are to be terminated by 18 August 1942.

  • Japanese invade the island of Bali, Netherlands East Indies. This completes the isolation of Java.

  The B-25s had been flying about seventy-five minutes. The plane Brand was in flew at an altitude of eighty-two hundred feet. About three thousand feet behind and two thousand feet higher was the B-25 carrying Commander Jameson. The planes were very loud because the exhaust system was within a few feet of where the pilot and co-pilot sat. The wind seemed to whistle in from every angle, making for a chilly ride. At this altitude, the temperature was nearing zero degrees. With a tailwind of thirty knots, the plane was flying at its normal cruising speed of 230 mph. The bombardier sat just ahead and below the cockpit. He was joined in this cramped Plexiglas world by Lieutenant Flannigan. While the bombardier was engaged in checking out his bombsight, Flannigan surveyed the seascape with binoculars.

  Brand crouched between the pilot and co-pilot and used the plane’s intercom to talk to other members of the crew. He had Sergeant Laird searching through the side window behind the bomb bay doors. The navigator occasionally looked out his window but was more involved with staying on a course within a couple degrees of where he thought he was. None of the Air Corps navigators in this squadron had been trained to work positions over water. So, it was understandable they would be somewhat concerned as to their precise location. Occasionally, the radio operator would contact the other plane to verify they were in sight of each other and to ask for position checks. Brand took note of these activities, wondering why something as simple as binoculars for the entire crew would be an issue or why the navigators who were all officers had little or no overwater navigation training.

  After ninety minutes on the same heading, Major Karnes radioed Lieutenant Colonel Adams in the other B-25, announcing he was making a ninety-degree turn to the west for five minutes then he would make another ninety-degree turn to the south for the return leg to Langley. The colonel acknowledged the transmission and prepared to follow the major’s lead. After the course change, Brand decided to do some of his tests, which he had not discussed with Karnes or Adams or even with Jameson.

  “Major, could you climb to ten thousand feet and notify the colonel to add two thousand feet to his altitude.” The major nodded his head and radioed the colonel. Both planes began their climb and within a few minutes leveled out at the new altitude. Brand visually patrolled the sea, pulled out his pad and pen, and made calculations. Brand then asked Major Karnes to inform Adams to drop further behind their aircraft until each could barely make out the other.

  Again, the major did as requested thinking nothing of the command. In a few minutes, the top turret gunner announced over the intercom, “Major, I cannot see the Colonel. I think I know where he is which would be at five o’clock and up, but I sure can’t see him now.”

  The major acknowledged this communication. Brand asked Sergeant Laird if he could locate Colonel Adams’ plane. Laird reported negative to the request and said he had lost the colonel about a minute before the top turret gunner had.

  “Very good, Laird,” said Brand. Then he requested the radio operator to contact the colonel for a visual check.

  In a few minutes, the radio crackled, “Green two, I have visual on you, and I am on course with you, over.”

  The major responded, “Green one, thank you for the report. We have lost visual of you and needed to know if you were still present.”

  Brand now decided to reverse positions. He instructed Major Karnes to have Colonel Adams drop altitude until he was at eight thousand feet, then pull ahead of the major’s aircraft. He asked the major to slow to two hundred miles per hour and let the colonel overtake him. As soon as the radio confirmed the instruction, Brand started one of the stopwatches he carried. The major observed Brand’s actions but said nothing, knowing he would probably not get an answer.

  Ten minutes later, the Bombardier reported a clear sighting of the colonel’s plane, saying it stood out well against the open water. Again, Brand was testing the visual sighting of aircraft against the water and color schemes that would or would not help in lessening the plane’s visibility. Both bombers were painted in the normal Army Air Corps green used as the camouflage over land but stuck out like a sore thumb over water. A few minutes later, Flannigan was on the intercom asking Brand if he saw the wake of a ship ahead. Brand looked over the co-pilot’s head, scanning the sea with his binoculars, and finally saw the telltale faint tracks of a ship that had passed this point some miles ago. The Major got on the intercom saying, “Pilot to bombardier, do you see this wake? What is the heading?”

  The bombardier reported back, “Still can’t see what the lieutenant is talking about. Which direction?”

  Brand reported a heading of 196 degrees. “I can make out a freighter on the horizon now with some smoke. Same heading. Major, please head for that ship at your best speed and pass it at five hundred feet to port please.”

  The major looked at Brand and smiled. “Finally, some fun. Radio, tell the colonel we are going to do a pass on this ship at the request of Mr. Brand.”

  Brand quickly interjected, “Radio, this is Brand. Please also ask the colonel to stay at altitude and have Commander Jameson record the event.”

  As the radio operator sent the message, Brand could feel the plane pick up speed and begin to drop in altitude. Soon he was looking at an indicated air speed of 325 mph, which was fifty miles per hour over the max cruising speed and the plane was still picking up speed. The plane had dropped some three thousand feet in only a few minutes, and the ship was getting much closer. Major Karnes told the co-pilot to get his hands on the yoke in case he needed help pulling up and leveling off. The co-pilot, who had been chewing the same piece of gum since the plane took off, calmly placed his hands on the yoke and watched the major for any indication of an order to pull back hard. The plane was nearly at fifteen hundred feet and still pushing 325 mph when the pilot asked for the co-pilot’s help in leveling off. The pilot had reduced engine power, and the plane was no longer buffeting as it had been earlier in the dive.

  The crew on the Norwegian tanker was already on edge with submarines reported on the American coast, but they had gone ahead and moved north from Aruba with their cargo of sweet Venezuelan crude knowing it was needed by the Allies. They were to join a convoy in New York heading for England in another week, so if they could make it another two hundred miles, they at least could have some time off in the Big Apple. The ship carried a four-inch cannon on the stern of the ship, and the Norwegian crew was well trained by two years of war on how to use it. They also had four separate 20mm anti-aircraft mounts. These had been used several times defending the ship from the dreaded FW-200 long range bombers that ranged out of France. The anti-aircraft guns were not manned, but the four-inch piece was always manned with a skeleton crew of three who would expect the rest of the gun mount crew of seven to show up on a minute’s notice.

  The crew nervously scoured the sea on each side of the big fourteen thousand-ton tanker but did not expect to have an airplane come at them from the stern. With only fifty seconds or so of notice, everyone looked amazed as a big green twin-engine bomber flew by the ship at what they thought was a few hundred feet. The major was right at one thousand feet precisely and about five hundred feet to the starboard side of the tanker. The ship’s crew ducked when the plane passed and then recognized the American markings on the plane and all started to cheer and wave their caps. Having air cover, even for a brief period meant that no U-boats would be both
ering them for at least a while.

  Major Karnes looked at the ship as he buzzed by at nearly three hundred miles per hour and with a smile asked Brand, “Ensign, is that what you wanted me to do?”

  Brand looked at the pilot and replied, “Yes sir, exactly. Now if you can turn around and head back to the ship, but this time approach from just off the bow at cruising speed, it would be helpful. Also, Major, you might waggle your wings as you pass to let them know you are one of the good guys. I think I saw some anti-aircraft weapons on board.”

  “Geez, I didn’t see any guns, are you sure?” The major looked at his co-pilot who also shook his head negatively.

  Brand said, “Well, Major, at the slower speed and without diving on it, let’s see how many they have and where they are located. This could be a useful piece of attack information. Also, would you have your radio operator contact the colonel. Tell him to make a similar pass as if he were going to drop bombs on this ship, but he should not get any closer than fifteen hundred feet from the vessel. I think the ship is Norwegian and these people have a few more years’ war experience.”

  The major informed the radio operator of the request while turning the plane about for the second pass.

  Brand then asked, “Sir, can you communicate with the tanker? Do you have their frequencies?”

  The major looked sheepishly and said, “I don’t have the foggiest idea about that. We can monitor emergency frequencies, but we have no information about who is on what radio channel. That would probably be very helpful.”

  “Yes, Major, it would be helpful to gain information on where ships are and what they have seen or experienced without clogging emergency frequencies which the enemy is probably monitoring.” Brand looked down at his notes, which were getting more detailed by the moment. There were so many small fixes that could improve the situation, but people must get out of their own little world and look at the bigger picture. Not an easy thing to do. Change comes slowly and with much reluctance. Brand tried to remember which of the astronomers back at the Lowell Observatory had explained this concept to him when he was so much younger. Things do not change until there is either a directive to do so or there is so much pain that you must.

  Within a few minutes, the B-25 flown by Major Karnes had again passed the tanker at a slower speed and a safer distance. The wagging of the wings had been greeted by the waving of hats from the crew of the slow-moving ship. As the plane started to climb back to a better cruising altitude, he looked back and saw Colonel Adams’ B-25 perform its run on the tanker. He noticed the plane was highly visible from their lower altitude and when the bomber had completed its run, it pulled to the right and began its climb. He noticed the major also performed a right-hand turn after his two runs at the tanker as well, and wondered if that was from training or instinct. Either could be important in a real attack on a U-boat.

  Brand commented to the pilot, “I guess we should be heading back to the base unless of course, we find a real target.”

  The major smiled, nodded agreement, and pointed to the co-pilot to take over flying duties, then started to write in his log book about the encounter with the tanker. He wondered how quickly the navy people had seen the ship’s wake and knew how to follow it for an attack. Perhaps the young ensign had just shown him how to work up an attack profile for his plane that could kill a U-boat. He would practice this again. He looked at the young ensign with a new appreciation for whatever it was this young man was doing. He hoped to get more ideas from him and knew he would have to get his address so they could keep in touch.

  17

  19 February 1942

  Naval Air Station

  Banana River, Florida

  • Battle of Badoeng Strait starts at night and continues the next day. Allied naval force (Rear Adm. K.W.F.M. Doorman, Royal Netherlands Navy) of three cruisers and accompanying destroyers attack retiring Japanese Bali occupation force; two Netherlands cruisers and one United States destroyer are damaged. One Japanese destroyer is damaged.

  • Japanese bombers raid harbor, airfields and shore installations at Darwin, Australia.

  • United States naval vessel sunk: Destroyer Peary by dive bomber, Darwin, Australia.

  The team had departed Langley at 0700 hours with many feeling slight hangovers. The pilots and crew of the B-25s had been overly generous in both the officers and NCO clubs. The pilot of the R4D observed as the B-25 pilots got hammered and watched with awe how much the marine lieutenant drank without getting plastered. Commander Jameson, as a senior officer, spent most of his time with the base commander and squadron commander hunched over one drink for most of the evening. With them, was Ensign Brand who drank a few Coca-Colas and seemed to be holding the rapt attention of the senior officers. Apparently, the ensign provided a series of recommendations to the Air Corps officers on ways to improve their U-boat search and attack activities. They seemed to be not only impressed, but took copious notes. The gathering broke up around 2200 hours, and the commander pulled the lieutenant out of the Air Corps pilots’ ongoing party.

  As the R4D reached its cruising altitude of eight thousand feet for the three-hour flight south, the pilot was visited by the ensign who asked if he could sit in the co-pilot seat. The pilot and co-pilot had no problem letting the young man sit in for a while during the routine flight in near perfect conditions. The morning was warmer than usual with a southerly breeze running no more than twelve knots and none of the fog that often runs in the waters near the Chesapeake Bay.

  The pilot began talking to the young ensign about the conversation held last night with the senior Air Corps pilots. “Seems the bomber boys were very interested in your approach to search and destroy missions. How did you come up with some of these ideas?”

  Brand thought carefully about what he could and could not discuss before deciding to give a general summary of his recommendations. “Well, Commander, the Air Corps put these people into a situation without any instruction on how to handle it. I demonstrated how to fly at altitudes that would provide good visual observation and limit the enemy’s ability to detect the aircraft. Secondly, I wanted to see if pilots could use their superior speed and maneuverability to dive at a submarine plunging below the surface while placing their weapons in such a way to maximize their hits. They need some depth bombs in the worst way, but they could do some damage with their normal high explosive bombs if they hit water when the submarine was no more than twenty-five feet below the surface. Below that depth, a regular bomb will provide concussive force but not enough to do damage to the U-boat. A depth charge dropped in a pattern of four to six weapons with a spacing of 150 feet and set for twenty-five to fifty feet will increase the likelihood of doing sufficient damage, either sinking the submarine or driving it to the surface where a second attack could be coordinated.”

  Brand gazed straight ahead and asked, “Would it be possible to handle the controls for a while?”

  The pilot was still trying to get his head around the information provided by the young ensign, so it took a few seconds to understand the question being asked of him about flying the plane. “Ensign, do you have any stick and rudder time?” He smiled assuming the young man had never been in a plane and certainly didn’t know how to fly.

  “Sir, I’ve had a pilot’s license for three years. I also have a multi-engine license with over three hundred hours in twin-engine aircraft. Only about thirty hours in a DC-3 but that was about a year ago.” Brand again looked at the pilot for approval.

  “I guess I underestimated you again, Ensign. If you are ready, let’s see what you’ve got. Your aircraft, Ensign Brand.”

  Brand took the wheel in his hands, placed his feet on the rudder pedals, and began a series of check-offs that would make any pilot proud. He confirmed the course first, then the altitude, followed by the airspeed, fuel, and manifold pressure. The pilot seeing that the ensign did indeed know how to fly a DC-3 as well as anyone else with the same number of hours, smiled over at Brand and said,
“Let me know when you want to be relieved.”

  Brand smiled, nodded, and continued scanning the skies, the instruments, and the ground below him to ensure he was on course and doing what was professionally required.

  At around 1100 hours, the plane touched down at the Naval Air Station at Banana River. The station was established only the year before and had two regular runways, but it had several slipways into the river for the handling of the PBYs and PBMs which were the real attractions at this base. Again, just like at Langley, a staff car with a flag and “Follow Me” sign appeared as the plane slowed. It followed the vehicle to a set of hangers and what appeared to be control towers. One tower was located at the head of a two-story building constructed using only tar paper and wood. The other tower was a few hundred feet further inland and stood next to one of the amphibian ramps. It was connected to one of the new metal Quonset huts that were popping up all over America.

  When the plane taxied into its parking place guided by two sailors with small red flags, another set of VIPs appeared from the tar paper building. Two navy captains and a lieutenant commander marched up to the ladder being set at the rear of the R4D and once the door was opened Commander Jameson and Lieutenant Flannigan exited the plane followed by Brand and the gunny.

  Jameson walked up, saluted the captains, and introduced himself and the other two officers who returned the salute and then shook hands with one and all.

  The navy captain then said, “Welcome to Banana River, gentlemen. We are glad to be of any help to you and your mission. I received not only a phone call this morning from Admiral Andrews but also a teletype from Admiral King wanting to know the minute you arrived and to put you on the phone to Admiral King’s chief of staff, Admiral Willson. If you would follow me to my office, we will get you through to Washington.”

  With that, the entire group walked to the building, containing the captain’s office. Once inside, the chief yeoman presented Commander Jameson with three teletypes all marked top secret, then showed them to the base commander’s office. Base commander, Captain Ted Young, picked up the phone and ordered a call to the office of Admiral Willson and then hung up as the call was placed and connected.