6 Bomber Group March 4, 1943
2 Halifaxes from 408 Squadron were joined by 5 Wellingtons from 425 and 429 Squadrons on a sea search. All returned to base, unsuccessful. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
The squadron was formed on 4 April 1942 at RAF Chivenor from No. 1417 (Leigh Light) Flight, and was part of 19 Group, Coastal Command. The squadron had been formed to continue the work of the development flight to use the new Leigh Light in conjunction with ASV radar on anti-submarine patrols. The Leight Light was a powerful (22 million candles) searchlight used to illuminate the surface of the sea and any submarines caught on the surface. It operated from bases such as Malta, Gibraltar and the Azores to exploit the new invention and it was also used to attack surface vessels. The squadron re-equipped with the Wellington Mark XIII and the rate of sorties increased, although the aircraft losses also increased as they were hunted by German night-fighters in the Western Approaches Source Wikipedia.
At 21.31 hours, the outbound boat was surprised by Wellington MP505 in the Bay of Biscay. But when the aircraft switched on the Leigh Light, it was hit by AA fire and crashed burning into the sea after passing over the boat, killing the crew of six. Two of the four depth charges dropped actually hit U-333, but one broke up without detonating and the other bounced of and caused only light damages.The same aircraft and crew had sunk U-268 on 19 Feb, 1943.Source Amrit RAF Commands
