Post by Administrator on Oct 2, 2022 19:20:37 GMT
VIA: Neutral Shores, Ireland and the Battle of the Atlantic.
After the Fall of France from the summer of 1940 onwards, the Luftwaffe and the FW200 “The Scourge of the Atlantic” would menace allied shipping transiting the Bay of Biscay and the Northwest Approaches. The OG/HG convoys trading between the UK and Gibraltar would be particularly affected by this new aerial threat.
Convoy HG-44 departed Gibraltar on 19 September 1940 with 28 ships. On 30 September the British cargo ship BARON VERNON was bombed by an FW200. Later after becoming detached from the convoy another British cargo ship, LATYMER with a cargo of sardines, fishmeal and 3000 tons cork, was bombed and set on fire by an FW200 on 02 October 10’ NW Bray Head, Co. Kerry.
The 22 survivors abandoned ship and were picked up by the trawler KILGERRAN CASTLE and landed at Valentia Island.
Other ships in convoy HG-44, AVOCETA and PETREL, were to endure their own harrowing experiences later when sunk sailing in convoy HG-73. Survivors from attacks on this convoy from PETREL, LAPWING and CORTES would later come ashore in Galway in September 1941.
After the Fall of France from the summer of 1940 onwards, the Luftwaffe and the FW200 “The Scourge of the Atlantic” would menace allied shipping transiting the Bay of Biscay and the Northwest Approaches. The OG/HG convoys trading between the UK and Gibraltar would be particularly affected by this new aerial threat.
Convoy HG-44 departed Gibraltar on 19 September 1940 with 28 ships. On 30 September the British cargo ship BARON VERNON was bombed by an FW200. Later after becoming detached from the convoy another British cargo ship, LATYMER with a cargo of sardines, fishmeal and 3000 tons cork, was bombed and set on fire by an FW200 on 02 October 10’ NW Bray Head, Co. Kerry.
The 22 survivors abandoned ship and were picked up by the trawler KILGERRAN CASTLE and landed at Valentia Island.
Other ships in convoy HG-44, AVOCETA and PETREL, were to endure their own harrowing experiences later when sunk sailing in convoy HG-73. Survivors from attacks on this convoy from PETREL, LAPWING and CORTES would later come ashore in Galway in September 1941.