Forum Marinearchiv
Flotten der Welt => Die Deutsche Kriegsmarine => Thema gestartet von: geosub1978 am 18 Februar 2021, 22:57:30
Hello,
According to most sources the minelayer Kiebitz was sunk at Fiume at 08:30 in Fiume on 5 November 1944 by US air bombing. However, other sources claim it was a RAF bombing showing even a photo with a Baltimore flying over the wreck.
Is there any positive evidence which aircraft sunk that ship maybe?
Greetings
George
According to war diary Admiral Adria Kiebitz was attacked at 12:58 and 13:45 by twelve 4-engine-bombers from a height of 7000 m and received one hit which caused fires.
At 15:30 there was another attack, this time deep. Kiebitz still burned and in the evening she sank at the pier.
Harbor commander Fiume later gives these details:
Attack 12:05 by 4-engine-bombers, first wave one hit aft and one near miss. 15:20 another attack and at 17:00 Kiebitz sank after an ammunition explosion.
Sorry, no more details are mentioned.
According to Combat Chronology 1941 1945 there were no US bombings at Fiume that date. On the contrary there were RAF bombings on 3-4-5-6 November but it is almost impossible to establish the unit. If these were 4 engines indeed, these have to be B24 of DAF which raided Fiume in November together with Baltimores of other units.