Posted on 05/15/2010 9:36:15 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
THEY were Hilter's biggest threat to Britain. But the first time Scots naval officer John MacDonald set eyes on some of Germany's mighty U-boat fleet, they were just a vast, impotent armada.
John was one of the few witnesses to the enemy's "grey wolves" surrendering in a secret operation on the remote sea loch of Eriboll in Sutherland.
On May 20, 1945, he watched in amazement from an island mail boat as the Nazi submarines slowly surfaced in the 10-mile-long loch, their periscopes displaying black flags of submission.
Operation Daylight was one of the most unusual episodes at the end of World War Two and as, locals living along the shoreline were sworn to secrecy, the incident was dismissed by many as myth.
But the 65th anniversary of the event and the release of a new book has renewed interest.
Speaking for the first time, John, 84, said: "The memories of that day are vivid. I had been on leave in Stornoway and was using the mail boat to travel to the mainland, along with other passengers, when I saw the subs.
"It was early in the morning, around 7.30am and broad daylight when our boat was passing Loch Eriboll.
"I saw four U-boats in the water with their black flags up. I could not believe what I was seeing at first. It was so strange. Everyone on the mail boat was thinking 'This is great. We've had many a scary moment with them'.
"When we finally arrived and went ashore, we were told our train to Inverness would be delayed because extra carriages were needed to take the German prisoners. Then we saw them, all four crews under heavy armed guard.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailyrecord.co.uk ...
strange
My favorite story was the U-Boat trying to attack Hoover Dam.
um. good luck with that.
How did a black flag come to mean surrender? I thought it meant piracy.
For anyone who is curious the U-Boat who was supposed to have made the mission it is U-133
bflr
No. German U-boats were ordered by the Allied powers to fly a black flag and sail to an Allied port and surrender.
While the army and air force could surrender where they were, many U-boats were still at sea, and so careful arrangements had to be made at the end of hostilities.
If you look at my post you would see the word “supposed”
Yup. Just adding a reference.
Ok
:)
Traditionally, the black flag means that no prisoners will be taken, or that the ones flying it will ask for no quarter. Opposite of a white flag.
I like that.
>> I like that.
Me too.
Me three. Never seen that one!
I have lived in Las Vegas for 35 years now. Hiked every canyon, mountain, etc.
Overlooking Hoover Dam is a relatively flat-topped hill, not exactly a mesa, called "Fortification Hill." Spent an ugly night up there, sleeping on the ground, one cold November many years ago, in fact. :(
Anyway, the idea was that the Japanese bombers would attack the dam, but anti-aircraft emplacements would be situated up there to knock 'em down when they did.
Man, the paranoia factor must have been high in the 1940's. We were that scared.
Ah, the comfort of 20:20 historical hindsight. Thank God it never got that bad for us.
Sauron
Its impossible because the Colorado River is shallow. Secondly, the the U-Boat would have to make the trip around the southern tip of South America, Any lastly, they would at some point need to refuel. Another U-Boat fable,that U-120 was sunk by “a toilet” supposedly the only U-boat to suffer that ungraceful fate.
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