9 August 1944 Part 3

9 August 1944 US Navy Fisher recollection of the PT 503 engagement

Editorial note: Undated later testimony placed by the action date. The uncaptioned photograph has no established date or identified subjects; it is supporting material, not a dated photograph of the action.

9 August Dawn and exchange of fire

He recalls calm seas and heavy patches of fog at dawn, sporadic gunfire, and hearing at least one torpedo engine start before release. He heard no torpedo impact explosion. While the boat headed south slowly, an officer instructed Fisher and Brumm to aim at enemy bridges as targets appeared. Fisher heard the forward 37 mm and .50 calibre guns fire but could not see past the fog and the boat’s forward section. As PT 503 turned left or east through approximately 180 degrees and headed north, the stern gun fired towards incoming tracers. Fog and smoke prevented clear sight of the enemy ships. [F pages 1–2]

After firing Wounded men and smoke

After the order to cease fire, Fisher found Brumm unconscious on the deck with a rapid pulse. Fisher could not identify his injuries, partly because blood from his own head wound obscured his vision. He states that the final report attributed Brumm’s death to chest wounds from shrapnel. Paul Peppell, the engineer on duty, emerged from the engine hatch wounded. A damaged smoke tank on the fantail also obscured the stern. [F page 2]

Engine compartment and return

On hearing a warning of fire in the engine room, Fisher and Bob Biele took extinguishers below. Fisher initially feared leaking petrol and discharged an extinguisher beneath the outboard engines. He subsequently concluded that there was no fire: the smoke came from the damaged smoke tank, and the liquid was cooling water escaping under pressure through shrapnel holes in the engine water jackets. PT 503 then headed towards USS Maloy to transfer the seriously wounded and dead. Fisher describes the return to Cherbourg as uneventful. [F page 2]

Comparison with the contemporary report

Fisher’s approximate 1630 departure differs from the squadron report’s 1800 departure; both readings are retained. His description of a northward withdrawal at flank speed also differs in emphasis from the official account, which records fouled engines limiting evasive action to 1400 rpm. His observations add a gun crew perspective but do not supply exact attack times. [D pages 2–3; F pages 1–2]

Fisher recalls radar directed 88 mm shore fire as a usual occurrence around Jersey. This is his general recollection, not proof of radar directed shore fire during this particular engagement. The contemporary report states that this action gave no particular grounds to believe the enemy was using radar. [D page 4; F page 1]

Photograph supplied with the recollection

The photograph appears on the second PDF page without a caption, names or a date. It is reproduced as supplied; the identities and occasion have not been inferred. [F page 2]

US Navy supporting material — uncaptioned photograph supplied with Donald E. Fisher’s recollection, source set F page 2. Date, subjects and occasion are not identified. Original image retained at source resolution.

US Navy. Donald E. Fisher, undated personal recollection of PT 503, source set F, pages 1–2. Supplied compilation: Jersey Convoy Action 13 to 14 August 1944.docx. Set letters and page or screenshot numbers refer to that compilation.