a radio message to link with and and attack an important convoy several hundred miles to the south. Realising that the only feasible method of reaching the area on time was to travel on the surface, the three boats proceeded south in full daylight on 16 October 1943. Fate Luck ran out fast as a patrolling aircraft spotted the boats and called in Consolidated Liberator aircraft from several different squadrons. A fierce battle followed, in which two Royal Air Force Liberators were shot down before all three boats were sunk. U-964 was seriously damaged by bombs from aircraft of 86 Squadron (particularly from the plane of Flying Officer George Gamble), and began to sink, her crew scrambling over the side into the sea as she settled. Of the approximately 35 men who escaped the submarine, only five survived to be collected by several days later. Only three of these men subsequently recovered from their ordeal. References Bibliography External links German Type VIIC submarines World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean World War II submarines of Germany U-boats sunk by depth charges U-boats sunk by British aircraft U-boats commissioned in 1943 1942 ships U-boats sunk in 1943 Ships built in Hamburg Maritime incidents in October 1943