Skinner, William

Ken, No.53 Squadron was an RAF Squadron. The following from my notes, extracted from squadron ORB, etc. Date: November 10th, 1942. Approx 1030 GMT (06.30 local). Location: approx 107nm East of Edinburgh Field, Trinidad. Aircraft: Lockheed Hudson Mk.III, V9253, PZ-L. Fatalities Pilot: F/Sgt. Ronald Rasleigh Sillcock, AUS. 400840. Observer: Sgt. Patrick George Nelson, NZ. 411726. WOP/AG: Sgt. Robert Millar, RAFVR. 1057521. WOP/AG: Sgt. William Skinner, RAFVR. 1310678. Additional: Sea. 1c Harold Lewis Drew, USN. 6461768. It subsequently emerged that V9253/L and its crew had caught U-505 on the surface at 1010N 5904W and made a surprise attack on the vessel with great accuracy before it had time to crash dive. The U-boat commander Klt. Peter Zschech would appear to be have been rather incautious in not keeping a better watch. Possibly the Sillcock crew had located the target without the use of radar, because the U-boat's Metox system does not appear to have warned its crew of the Hudson's approach. It seems in keeping with determination Sgt. Sillcock showed in his previous encounters with U-boats that he came in very low and very fast. Three depth charges must have been near misses but because the vessel was still on the surface their detonation at a depth of 25 feet did not render a fatal blow. The fourth depth charge actually struck the rear gun platform and exploded on impact, carrying away the gun, severely injuring two members of the crew. The Hudson would appear to have been hit by shrapnel and debris from the explosion, as it crashed into the sea - a fireball - about one hundred yards beyond the badly damaged vessel. The Hudson's crew had no chance. The standard practice was not to send a signal to base until completing their first attack because of the risk of alerting the U-boat's radio watch. Therefore no one was aware of the tragedy, nor of U-505 lying damaged and stranded on the surface. This silence gave Zschech eight hours to get his act together and execute temporary repairs and limp away from the area. Hope this helps, Tony Broadhurst .