The Kattegat, in between Denmark and Sweden.
Pilot:
W.O. JD Nicol
Sunny Updegrove For her transcript of Neville Baker's story
Neville Baker For his account of "G" for George's sinking of the U-534
Dai Williams Son of Cled Williams,Wireless Op/Beam Gunner on "G" for George. For Crew photo & DFC Citation and NEW Admiralty signal congratulating crew of G/86
Ern Collett Crew member of "G" for George, for correcting the Crew List
Ron Howatson Brother of crew member of E/547 Liberator
"G" for George reached their Kattegat patrol area at 1313 hrs and, within 20 minutes had picked up a radar contact at position 5635/1158,at a distance of four and half miles. At an altitude of 1,000 ft, dead ahead, sighted 3, fully-surfaced U-boats in staggered line-astern.
A Liberator of 547 Squadron made two attacks on one but, overshot on both attempts, although the second run may have caused some damage.This aircraft (E/547,Pilot, F.L. G.W.Hill ) was then hit by Flak; which tore off a wing, and crashed into the sea.Only one survivor was observed, and he was picked-up by a boat from nearby Anholt lighthouse.Nicol saw the U-boat which had been attacked while diving, and the centre one was already submerged, but the third (U-534) was still fully surfaced, and was attacked with 6 depth-charges.One of these landed and stuck on; the upper casing! Strong Flak was met, but subdued by the front and rear gunners.
A second run was made and 4 D/C`s were dropped....the resulting explosion caused the
U-boat to heel over to starboard, and roll the depth-charge already lodged in the deck,
over the casing and into the water; which then detonated; bulging in and splitting the
pressure hull in the aft torpedo room, flooding it!. After which, the rear gunner saw the
sub sinking,stern-first.
Later, about 40 survivors,dinghies and wreckage were photographed.Nothing further was seen
of the
other 2 U-boats.
Nicol then guided the rescue boat to the survivor of the downed Liberator.
Of the 52 men aboard the U-boat all, but three, survived. Kapitan
Nollau took his own life, a year later...
John Nicol, from Cardiff recieved the D.F.C......He died in 1976
Some information extracted from "Coastal Command at War".
A typeIXC/40
U-Boat, commanded by 26 yr old KapitanLeutnant Herbert Nollau.
Was built in 1942,and had made two cruises: from Bordeaux to the Atlantic in the summer of
1944, and then a trip to Kiel in the autumn. She had left Kiel on the 4th of May, for
Norway, and was sunk 13 miles North-East of Anholt Island, position 5645 / 1152, 
where her
wreck was discovered in 1986 by a Danish diver, Age Jensen. She became the subject of a salvage operation in August
1993, being raised to the surface intact by the Dutch salvage company, Smit Tak, financed by Danish
Publisher and businessman, Karsten Ree.
Coming into Birkenhead docks
QUESTIONS?
ANSWERS?
We welcome any Questions or Answers regarding the U-534
Please send them to "U-Forum"
Jerry Mason's Excellent reference site
Historic Warship's own U-534 web site
AND...If you can read German...(some sites in English!!!) ALL the U-Boat sites your ever likely to need at...
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