Warbird Information Exchange

In terms of sheer numbers, though, carrier aviation in general, and the Avenger in particular were far more active and numerous in the Pacific.

In the Atlantic, the Avenger's range, ability to carry large quantities and a large variety of ordinance combined with airborne radar sets did make it a uniquely capable aircraft. The Swordfish was likely the only plane that could be competitive with the Avenger in those categories, and the Avenger was by far a much more modern aircraft.

A Fairey Swordfish Mk.III with ASV Mk.XI radar between its wheel legs, dipole arrays on its wings struts, and rocket launching rails under the wings.

With the development of new torpedo attack aircraft, the Swordfish was soon redeployed successfully in an anti-submarine role, armed with depth-charges or eight "60 lb" (27 kg) RP-3 rockets and flying from the smaller escort carriers or even Merchant Aircraft Carriers (MAC) when equipped for rocket-assisted takeoff (RATO). Its low stall speed and inherently tough design made it ideal for operation from the MAC carriers in the often severe mid Atlantic weather. Indeed, its takeoff and landing speeds were so low that it did not require the carrier to be steaming into the wind, unlike most carrier-based aircraft. On occasion, when the wind was right, Swordfish were flown from a carrier at anchor.[8]

Swordfish-equipped units accounted for 14 U-boats destroyed. The Swordfish was meant to be replaced by the Albacore, also a biplane, but actually outlived its intended successor. It was, finally, however, succeeded by the Fairey Barracuda monoplane torpedo bomber.

The Swordfish was now equipped with ASV radar and rocket projectiles for anti-submarine operations. The Swordfish Mk.II had wings with metal-skinned undersides and launching rails for eight 60lb rockets. The provision for a float undercarriage was deleted, and the more powerful Pegasus 30 engine installed. The Mk.III had ASV Mk.XI radar in a big radome between the landing gear legs. This radar had a range of about 40km against ships, and in good conditions also against U-boats; but it would detect a Schnorkel only in very calm seas and at distances below 8km. Some Mk.IIs and many Mk.IIIs became Mk.IVs when a cockpit canopy was installed.

Swordfishes operated from 14 escort carriers and 18 MAC (Merchant Aircraft Carrier) ships. MAC ships were converted oil tankers or grain ships, with a flight deck but minimal maintenance facilities, and the aircraft were continuously exposed to the often appalling weather. For operations from small flight decks with heavy loads, rocket-assisted take-offs were necessary.

In their anti-submarine role, the Swordfishes were very successful. They usually flew patrols at night, patrolling between 145km and 40km ahead of the convoy. Targets were located with radar, and investigated by dropping flares. In September 1944, Swordfishes from HMS Vindex sank four U-boats in one voyage. In total, Swordfishes claimed 22.5 U-boats.

I have a lot of respect for Barrett as well as Bob Dohr and several others as aviation authors and you can almost follow a direct line of information and research improvements by them over the years and as information that was kept out of sight by 'security restrictions' disappeared as the years passed and things that had to be guessed at from sketchy word of mouth from years past and taken as gospel, have been shown to be wrong as the real story creeps out from under it's cover.

19 Mar 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: American Avenger (VC-6 USN, pilot Lt (jg) N.T. Dowty)

The sinking of U-1059At 07.26 hours, the boat was attacked by an Avenger/Wildcat team from USS Block Island operating on ULTRA reports southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. The aircraft completely suprised U-1059, as she was not underway and men were seen swimming in the water. While the Wildcat (Lt (jg) W.H. Cole) made a strafing run, the Avenger dropped three depth charges that straddled the boat perfectly. U-1059 began to sink, but the AA gunners scored hits on the Avenger during its second attack run and it crashed into the sea, killing the pilot and one crewman. The mortally wounded pilot had nevertheless dropped two depth charges that sent the boat to the bottom. Ensign M.E. Fitzgerald survived the aircraft crash and found himself on a dinghy amidst German survivors. He helped a wounded survivor but kept the others at a distance with his pistol until USS Corry arrived and rescued him and eight German survivors, including the badly wounded commander, Oblt Günther Leupold. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

Beginning in August, 1943, his squadron, VC-6, was ordered to combat duty in the Atlantic, providing an air arm for escort carriers Croatan, Core, and Block Island. On March 16, 1944, LTJGs C.A. Wooddell and his fighter escort Paul Sorenson were launched from Block Island to search for enemy submarines. They sighted U-801 about 10 miles away. Sorenson strafed the boat and Wooddell dropped two depth bombs which exploded 50 yards to starboard. The boat submerged and Wooddell dropped a MK-24 acoustic homing torpedo which missed. That night, Avengers piloted by LTJGs J. W. Steere, Powell, Conkling, and Elefter dropped sonobuoys which picked up submarine sounds and another MK-24 torpedo was dropped without result. Just after midnight, radio transmissions from U-801 were detected by Block Island's HFDF gear and the destroyer Corry and an Avenger piloted by Dowty were sent to investigate. Dowty and his longtime radioman, ARM1/c Edgar Burton, dropped sonobuoys throughout the night, often flying at 100 feet above the waves. At 0427, they spotted the feather of a periscope and dropped a MK-24 torpedo just as it submerged. The weapon exploded, violently shaking the boat and causing a crack 15-20 cms. long and 2 mm. wide in the pressure hull in the Diesel compartment. Dowty was unsure if they had damaged the boat, but at dawn they saw an oil slick originating where they had dropped the MK-24. Forced to return to the carrier due to lack of fuel, a jubilant Dowty radioed in the news. The destroyers Corry and Bronstein gained sonar contact and conducted eight depth charge attacks. At 1118 U-801 surfaced and was taken under fire by the destroyers. The crew abandoned ship and the boat sank at 1124. 47 crewmen were rescued.

Just two days later on the morning of March 19, south-west of the Cape Verde Islands, LTJG Dowty and his fighter escort LTJG William Cole sighted U-1059 fully surfaced about 10 miles away. Cole pushed over and conducted a strafing attack from the boat's port quarter. According to the testimony of the survivors, U-1059's gunners fired heavily on the attacking planes. Dowty followed Cole's attack dropping two Mark 47 depth bombs which exploded on either side of the conning tower. The explosions raised the submarine high in the water and it sank stern first within 20 seconds. Fifteen survivors were seen in the water, eight of whom were rescued.

Immediately after delivering the depth bomb attack, the TBF was seen to circle wheels down, then suddenly dip one wing and fall into the water. LTJG Norman Dowty and his radioman ARM1/c Edgar Burton were lost. Ensign Mark E. Fitzgerald, who was flying in the TBF as an observer, survived the crash.

Norman Dowty was awarded the Navy Cross for his "extraordinary heroism" and "brilliant airmanship" against U-1059. Fellow crewman Franklin Woodward, VC-6 historian, submitted this tribute : "LTJG Norman Dowty's death was a heavy blow to the squadron, for he was one of its best liked and oldest members. This officer and his radioman, ARM1/c Edgar Burton, had both done by far the outstanding work on the cruise, and it seemed ironically tragic that they both should die before realizing that they had been responsible for the squadron's most outstanding success in battle."

Robert F Dorr?
Yes, and just as critical, how hard it is to kill a myth, and how much history's a lot more complex than the story that can be covered in one page of text / Hollywood script / exam question / Journalist's notebook, or...

Regards,