23 May 1943 Part 2a

23 May 1943 Part 2a Convoy attacked and Ostflandern sunk

Related existing record: 23 May 1943 Part 2 — 23 May 1943 Channel Islands Sea Defence diary. This separate source account concerns material already represented in that record; it does not by itself establish an additional incident.

Twenty to thirty enemy aircraft attacked the St Malo–Guernsey convoy near Guernsey. It consisted of three minesweepers and three freighters. The steamer Ostflandern, 600 gross registered tons, carrying cement, antiaircraft guns and ammunition, sank after a bomb hit. The other ships were only slightly damaged. The crew was rescued. Aircraft gunfire caused five deaths, three serious wounds and seven slight wounds. One enemy aircraft was definitely shot down and another probably.

One enemy aircraft crashed into the sea, probably because of engine trouble. A British naval air officer was recovered by a harbour-protection boat and handed over to the Luftwaffe.

Editorial note: Aircraft loss assessments are those of the German report.

German Army, Seventh Army Headquarters (AOK 7), NARA T-312 Roll 1553. T312_R1553_Channel_Islands_English_Translation.docx, translated entry 109. Original source T312-1553.pdf, PDF page 406. PDF pages count from the first page and are not original folio or microfilm frame numbers.