Historical photograph from June 1944 showing a German submariner demonstrating the severe combat damage sustained by U-290 after an attack by a British Mosquito aircraft.
Damage to the German Type VIIC U-Boat U-290 (June 1944)
This striking archival photograph captures a sobering moment for the Kriegsmarine, showing a German submariner posing next to the heavily battered conning tower and superstructure of the U-290, a standard Type VIIC U-boat.
The image documents the violent risks faced by submarine crews operating under the shadow of Allied air supremacy in the latter half of the war.
The Attack by the RAF Mosquito
The story behind the damage illustrates the constant peril of aerial anti-submarine warfare:
- The Engagement: On June 14, 1944, while at sea, U-290 was intercepted and attacked by a British de Havilland Mosquito fast bomber belonging to No. 333 Squadron.
- Casualties and Repairs: The strafing and bombing run inflicted structural damage to the vessel's upper works and wounded eight crew members, forcing the submarine to cut short its patrol and limp back to a home port for emergency repairs.
- Final Scuttling: Having returned to service following repairs, U-290 survived nearly the entire conflict before meeting its end on May 5, 1945, when its crew scuttled the boat at the Kriegsmarine base in Flensburg following Germany's unconditional surrender.
📍 Location: Germany
📅 Date: June 1944
📷 Photographer: Unknown (Kriegsmarine Archives)
📰 Primary Source: U-boat Operational Records
Recommended reading:
- Type VIIC U-boats: The backbone of the German submarine fleet
- Allied Air Power vs. U-Boats: The impact of coastal command and tactical aircraft in 1944
- The Final Days at Flensburg: The scuttling of the Kriegsmarine in May 1945