#162 Osprey Squadron RCAF (Sectabimur usque per ima) RAF Wick. Canso A aircraft 9842-B, while on patrol of Area "Scarlett" in the North Sea beyond the Shetland Islands spotted a German submarine, U-480 running on the surface. The Canso attacked but accurate anti-aircraft fire from the submarine forced the Canso to ditch in the sea off the coast of Norway. Three aircrew were killed in the attack but five were able to get into the aircraft's inflatable dinghy. Sadly, adrift in the sea and without enough food or water to drink only one crew member survived to be picked up 1944-06-22 by a Norwegian fishing boat. Unable to provide medical help, the Norwegians had no choice but to hand the sole survivor, Flight Engineer Sergeant JE Roberts (RCAF), over to the Germans, who became a Prisoner of War
Flying Officer L Sherman DFC (RCAF), Flying Officer JL Harrison (RCAF) and Flying Officer RR Ward (RCAF) were all killed in action during the U-boat attack
Flying Officer GW Besley (RCAF), Warrant Officer Class 2 FR Dreger (RCAF), FS MA Gaslason (RCAF), Flying Officer FW Lawrence (RCAF) were all missing, (killed in action) during the nine days adrift at sea after the crash. The missing have no known grave and are commemorated on the Runnymede War Memorial
Sergeant JE Roberts (RCAF) was the sole survivor from his crew
This same crew, flying in Canso 9842-B had attacked and sunk submarine U-980 with four depth charges 1944-06-11, only a couple of days before they were shot down for which Pilot Flying Officer Sherman (RCAF) was awarded an immediate Distinguished Flying Cross
The Long Road, Trials and Tribulations of Airmen Prisoners from Stalag Luft VII (Bankau) to Berlin, June 1944-May 1945 by Oliver Clutton-Brock The Canso and the Catalina in the R.C.A.F. I Canso Investment Counse...
The Type VIIC U- boat U-480 - German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
The Type VIIC U-boat U-980 - German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net