SP(UB)04 Oberleutnant zur See Gunther Heinrich

£20.00

Product may vary slightly from image representation.
Heinrich was the U-boat commander of U-960, from the day it was commissioned to when it was sunk. Although not awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, Heinrich has the honour of taking the last U-boat safely passed the straights of Gibralter. After completing 2 successful patrols in the North Sea, on returning home from a third patrol covering the West of Ireland and North Atlantic, U-960 was spotted and attacked by two Mosquito aircraft of 618 Squadron on 27 March 1944, which led to 14 men aboard boat being wounded, but managed to entered port later the same day. On 17 May 1944 while operating in the Western Mediterranean during a fifth patrol, U-960 attacked the US destroyer USS Ellyson off Oran, which unbeknown to them was carrying survivors of Koitschka's U-616 which had been sunk 5 hours earlier east of Cartagene, Spain. The attack failed, but immediately the Allies launched a Swamp operation using 4 US destroyers and 2 RAF squadrons - 42 hours and 18 minutes later U-960 was sunk by 2 of the American destroyers and depth charge attacks from RAF aircraft.

Oberleutnant zur See Gunther Heinrich
Hand signed 5in x 7in photograph - numbered and certified on reverse.
Accompanied by matching biography card giving U-boat service details.