U-166

Official US Coast Guard Reports
of the Action: Introduction

by Harry Cooper


Here is the US COAST GUARD report on the action:

From: Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Air Sta, Biloxi, Miss.
To: Commander, Gulf Sea Frontier.
Subject: Action Reports.

Reference: (a) The Commander in Chief, United States Fleet letter dated 7 Mar 1942 (FFI/AI6-3 Serial: 0332 Confidential).

Inclosure: (A) Original and one copy of Action Report form "U. S. Aircraft Action with Enemy", dated 31 July, 1942. (B) Original and one copy of Action Report form.

"U. S. Aircraft Action with Enemy", dated 1 Aug, 1942.

1. Inclosures (A) and (B) are forwarded herewith.

2. The pilots of the airplanes engaged in the action referred to in inclosures (A) and (B) have been interrogated and the actions have been analyzed and studied, and the efforts made have been pointed out.

3. Regarding the action on July 31, 1942, inclosure (A), it is believed that the pilot was apprehensive of anti-aircraft fire from the submarine, and that in judging the point of release of the bomb he failed to consider the difference in the sighting and dropping angle at 500 feet as compared to the lower altitudes of 100 and 200 feet. Also it is believed he relied too much on the pointing of the plane's nose on the target when he was merely in a gliding attack (35*) and not in a dive bombing attack.

4. The attack on I August, 1942, inclosure (B), appears to have been good in all respects and the pilot in confident that the bomb explosion was very close to the submarine.

5. An analysis of these actions has been disseminated to all pilots and instruction has been given and additional bombing practice is being carried out under different and varying conditions including the conditions encountered in the two actions referred to above, inclosures (A) and (B).

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