U-625 Sinking

[Matt308]

Anybody know the use and origin of "fine bombfish" in this Sunderland attack summary for U-625?

"Shown here is the Type VIIC boat U-625 under attack from an Coastal Command Sunderland. U-625 left Brest on 29 February 1944, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Siegfried Straub, for another war cruise in the North Atlantic. On 10 March 1944, in combination with the Type V11 boat U-741, it shot down Wellington G.R. Mk. XIV (HF311) of No.407 (RCAF) Sqd, flown by Pilot Officer E.M. O'Donnell from Chivenor, North Devon. Its luck ran out later the same day when it was picked up by Sunderland G.R. Mk.111 (EK591) of 422 (RCAF) Sqd, from Castle Archdale, Northern Ireland, under the captaincy of Flight Lieutenant Sidney W. Butler. The U-boat was straddled with a stick of six depth charges. The Sunderland was hit in an exchange of gunfire but was able to continue operating. The U-boat crash-dived but resurfaced and signalled 'Fine bombfish' to the Sunderland. It then sank for the last time. Some men were seen in dinghies but all fifty-three crew members lost their lives. Ref: AIR 15/472"

 

[Njaco]

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/album/general/p19950-u-625.html

There appears to be a lot of pics about this incident. The Sunderland over the water is the plane that attacked. Pic taken the next day.

 

[Matt308]

Yeah I can't fathom the supposed "signal" by the Uboat commander. Perhaps something lost in the German-to-English translation?

And how would that have been "signalled"? Semiphore? I can't imagine an HF broadcast that the Sunderland intercepted. Perhaps a shore station and the "signal" was coded perhaps for sinking?

Lots of missing pieces in this

 

[Njaco]

Perhaps something lost in the German-to-English translation?

I think thats your answer right there.

 

[meatloaf109]

That was my first thought. Perhaps one of those "Felson/Nelson" screw ups like U-99 had.