Patrol info for U-459
| Departure | Arrival / Fate | Duration | ||
| 22 Jul 1943 | Bordeaux | 24 Jul 1943 | Lost | 3 days |
Commander | Officers * |
 KrvKpt. Georg von Wilamowitz-Möllendorf |
Daily positions, sinkings and allied attacks during the patrol of U-459
Legend
indicates an Allied attack on the boat.
shows the loss of the U-boat.
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We have 2 daily positions for the 3 days U-459 was at sea.
Departure from Bordeaux on 22 Jul 1943.
23 Jul 1943 -
Sunk on 24 Jul 1943.
Ships hit by U-459 during this patrol
No entries found.
General Events during this patrol
We have no events listed for this patrol.
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Attacks on U-459 during this patrol
24 Jul 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:
British Wellington (172 Sqdn RAF/Q, pilot F/O W.H.T. Jennings)
The sinking of U-459
At about 17.15 hours, the Wellington of 172 Squadron surprised and attacked the boat, was hit by heavy AA fire during the approach and crashed into her starboard side! Only the rear gunner Sgt A.A. Turner miraculously survived the crash when his turret broke off on impact and he found himself in the water close to an inflated dinghy. The remaining five crew members were killed. U-459 lost several gunners and most of the AA guns in the crash and to make things worse the crew found three unexploded depth charges on deck when clearing it from wreckage. They decided to roll them into the sea at high speed, but at least one of them exploded and was close enough to disable the steering gear and to cause severe damage to the stern compartments.
At about 17.30 hours, the boat was strafed and attacked with seven depth charges by another British Wellington (547 Sqdn RAF/V, pilot F/O J. Whyte), causing further damage. The commander then ordered the crew to abandon U-459 and then scuttled the boat - apparently choosing to go down with his ship. 41 German survivors and the British survivor were picked up by ORP Orkan after about 8 hours.
About this data
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* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.
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