大象传媒

After completing the ships trials we entered Panama City (Biboa) via the Pacific coast where, whilst we were in a bar, some members of the crew of a US submarine approached us. They claimed they were ready to torpedo us but realized we were friendly and about to enter the Pananma Canal. Our only other friendly contact with the US Navy was in Norfolk, Viginia, when three of us were sent ashore to their naval base. We found fifty 20mm cannons with their latest aiming device firing away at a slow moving aircraft towing a sleeve target (drogue). these recruits were not enjoying any success because several circuits were made by the plane with the same drogue. We were expected to join them using this electronic device that we had never seen before. However, we noticed that these cannons were creating so much smoke that it was impossible for the device to focus on the target! We decided to load up with a tracer bullet every third round and guide these tracers using a hosepipe system aiming ahead of the target, using only our eyes to look beyond the smoke and ignoring the electronic device. This proved totally effective - th last plane lost 3 drogues in three consecutive circuits. To those recruits who applauded us, we were considered crack-shots - no complaints received, and our own confidence was boosted. Fortunately for us, we never did fire a shot in anger, because we then completed six Atlantic convoys without being attacked by air. Of course, we were always a target for submarines, but in 1944 they were less of a menace than earlier in the war (since a large proportion of them had been destroyed).

'This story was submitted to the People's War site by Gareth Watts of the CSV Action Desk, Leicester, on behalf of Teddy Briggs and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.'

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