Date of birth:

June 8th, 1924

Nationality:

German (1933-1945, Third Reich)

U 459
24.07.1943: 'U 459' was badly dammaged in the Biscay northwest of Cape Ortegal by depth charges from the Wellington Q of the British RAF Squadron 172, flown by W.H.T. Jennings, and the "Wellington" V of British RAF Squadron 547, flown by J. Whyte.
One plane crashed. The left wing tore open the quarterdeck of the submarine, one of the plane's engines destroyed the bridge and the quadruple flak. A depth charge remained lying on the upper deck. When rolling overboard, this depth charge exploded and severely damaged the pressure hull.
'U-459' sunk while Korvettenkapitän Georg von Wilamowitz-Moellendorf stayed on board and went down with her together with 19 crew members.
The 34 survivors were picked up by the Polish destroyer ORP ORKAN (G.90).
24.07.1943: survived and captured - POW

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• - Verleihungsurkunde U-boot Kriegsabzeichen