2 January 1945

Special observations during the night of 2/3 January 1945 — radio message 1804/3

To Naval High Command West, 2nd Naval Staff and the Commander-in-Chief U-boats/Operations: (1) From 18:55 to 22:00 in approximately grids B.F. 3517, 3518 and 3519, repeated parachute flares, red stars and, once, L.G. firing [source abbreviation] were seen. From 18:26 to 20:30 a fixed red light in grid B.F. 3517 drifted slightly westwards. Radar obtained no result.

(2) At 22:30, from Sark, a deep engine noise and briefly a small shadow were observed around grid B.F. 3548, probably a U-boat charging its batteries.

(3) At 10:00 two harbour-protection boats brought into Alderney a drifting rescue raft which had temporarily burned. Its American origin and equipment, which differed from the Leopoldville rescue gear, suggested a new U-boat success; no details were available.

T-1022 Roll 2422, PG 37998, Commander of Sea Defences, Channel Islands. T-1022 Roll 2422 — source scan 0769 (attachment)