The Laconia Incident

Antipodean Andy · 17-12-2007, 12:22 AM

Laconia Incident - history of U-Boat War

Werner Hartenstein and the Laconia Incident

In Deep and Troubled Waters by Dr. Tony Large

spidge · 17-12-2007, 12:57 AM

Good one, Captain Robert C. Richardson III.

I wonder how he felt when the real story of the Laconia sinking surfaced?

Kyt · 17-12-2007, 09:32 AM

I'd never heard of the incident so thanks for that.

The attacking of Red Cross bearing ships and aircraft was not unusual - many rescue boats and aircraft attempting to rescue downed aircrew in Channel were atacked by both sides.

Even the Pathe news admitted it:

YouTube - Heinkel He59 Red Cross Seaplanes shot down

Hugh · 17-12-2007, 09:53 AM

You may be interested in a letter on my website written by Karl-Friedrich Merten, Captain of U-68 who sunk the "CITY OF CAIRO". He explains the sinking of the ship in relation to the LACONIA incident.

Why I did it, by U-boat Captain

Regards
Hugh

Kyt · 17-12-2007, 10:09 AM

Thanks Hugh.

The issue of rescue at sea seems to be a murky area, amd one "abused" by all sides. Whereas one could expect such behaviour from the Soviets and Japanese, neither of whom were signatories of the Geneva Conventions, one would have expected better from those who did follow it on land.

Whilst you were posting the above message I was having a look around for more information and I found this interesting (though I should stress that the quote) should be read in context of the whole article):

Quote:

On 13 July the Air Ministry released Bulletin 1254 which stated that as of 20 July air-sea rescue planes would be shot down. 44

Sir Winston Churchill presented a somewhat less legalistic and more sanguine interpretation of the issue when he wrote, "We did not recognize this means of rescuing enemy pilots so they could come and bomb our civil population again. . . all German air ambulances were forced down or shot down by our fighters on definite orders approved by the War Cabinet."45 It was Churchill's contention that since the 1929 Geneva Convention made no specific mention of rescue airplanes, such aircraft were not entitled to its protection.

The Germans claimed that their rescue aircraft were protected by Articles 3, 6, and 17 of the Convention. According to Article 3, " . . . the belligerent who remains in possession of the field of battle shall take measures to search for the wounded." Article 6 provided that, "Mobile sanitary formations, i.e., those which are intended to accompany armies in the field, and the fixed establishments belonging to the sanitary service shall be protected and respected by the belligerents." Article 17 claimed that, "Vehicles equipped for sanitary evacuation, traveling singly or in convoy, shall be treated as mobile sanitary formations. . . . "

SEENOTDIENST: Early Development of Air-Sea Rescue

So, one wonders what the standing orders were for Captain Robert C. Richardson to make his decision.