Peter Cundy
Peter John Cundy | |
---|---|
Born | Wing Commander | 3 October 1916
Unit | |
Commands held | No. 210 Squadron RAF |
Battles/wars | World War II • Battle of the Atlantic |
Awards |
Peter John Cundy
Early life and family
Cundy was born at
Military service
After serving as a cadet in the Eastbourne College Contingent, Junior Division, Officers' Training Corps, Cundy was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 9th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, part of the Territorial Army, on 14 July 1937.[3]
On 11 April 1940 Cundy was attached to the Royal Air Force, being granted a temporary commission as a
In 1941 Cundy joined No. 120 Squadron, flying a new long-range American-built B-24 Liberator. On 11 January 1942 while on patrol over the Bay of Biscay, he saw a Heinkel He 115 twin-engined floatplane, and manoeuvred his aircraft so his gunners could bring their fire to bear. The seaplane escaped into cloud with an engine on fire. Soon afterwards Cundy sighted the U-373 refuelling alongside a large tanker. Cundy immediately attacked both vessels with depth charges and machine gun fire. The submarine was damaged but dived, leaving a large patch of surface oil. Cundy was then attacked by another enemy He 115, but the Liberator's gunners drove it away damaged before Cundy resumed his attack on the tanker.[5] Cundy and his navigator, Pilot Officer Ronald Roxburgh Fabel, were both subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.[7]
Cundy was promoted to the
U-boat encounters
On 26 February 1943 Cunday was on patrol when he spotted U-437 on the surface. The U-boat crash-dived as Cundy dropped depth charges without any visible effect. The Liberator continued its patrol and shortly afterwards saw a second submarine, U-508, which was attacked with the remaining depth charges. They saw the U-boat's bows appear almost vertically, and sink below the surface, so were rather surprised to see her surface and sail away some time later. However, U-508 had been damaged and was forced to return to Lorient.[5]
On patrol on 3 July 1943, Cundy sighted a U-boat on the surface several miles ahead. With his gunners opening fire with machine guns, he dived to attack and launched the Hedgehog anti-submarine weapon onto the submarine, U-628, which had recently left Brest on its fourth cruise. He made a second attack despite his aircraft suffering serious damage from return fire. Cundy then dropped four depth charges which straddled the submarine. Cundy made a further attack as the submarine settled low in the water. As he circled after his third attack, it was seen that the U-boat had sunk and crewmen were in the water. Cundy nursed his aircraft back to St Eval on three engines; there was also damage to the fuel tanks and the aircraft's tail, but he made a safe landing. This was the first use of the Hedgehog anti-submarine weapon from an aircraft.[5]
On 23 July 1943 Cundy was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. His citation read:
- "Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross this officer has been almost continuously engaged on operations. In February 1943, during an anti-submarine patrol, he executed two attacks on U-boats. During a flight in July 1943, Squadron Leader Cundy sighted a U-boat. In spite of heavy opposing fire from the vessel, which damaged his aircraft and disabled one engine; he pressed home two vigorous attacks, straddling the U-boat with his depth charges. Afterwards a large patch of oil appeared on the surface of the water. Squadron Leader Cundy is a skilful pilot whose leadership, courage and determination have been outstanding.[9]
Command HQ service
In November 1943, after three years of constant operations, Cundy was transferred to Coastal Command HQ on staff and planning duties. During this period he also flew tests evaluating the
Throughout the war Cundy had served on attachment to the RAF, but on 1 September 1945 he finally relinquished his Territorial Army commission as a second lieutenant, accepting a permanent commission in the RAF,[12] with the rank of squadron leader.[13][14]
Cundy then flew
He was promoted to wing commander on 1 January 1952,[15] and eventually retired from the RAF on 3 October 1963.[16]
Post-military career
Cundy worked as a personnel manager for a market research company before taking up property management. In 1995 he was met the surviving crew members of U-373, who had escaped his attack in January 1942, when he was invited to Bavaria as guest of honour at their annual reunion, where he met the II WO, Joachim Jaworski. He attended every reunion for the next ten years.[5]
Cundy retired to East Anglia, where he enjoyed fishing and shooting. Cundy died on 4 August 2005. He had married Section Officer Sheila Frost, WAAF, in 1945. She died six days before her husband, and they were survived by three sons and a daughter.[5]
References
- ^ Eastbourne College War Service Record 1939-46. 1965. p. 23. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ "Casualty Details: Cundy, Robert Michael". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ "No. 34417". The London Gazette. 13 July 1937. p. 4519.
- ^ "No. 34840". The London Gazette. 30 April 1940. p. 2557.
- ^ London. 13 August 2005. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ "No. 35183". The London Gazette. 6 June 1941. p. 3230.
- ^ "No. 35434". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 January 1942. p. 443.
- ^ "No. 35575". The London Gazette. 26 May 1942. p. 2293.
- ^ "No. 36104". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 July 1943. p. 3325.
- ^ "No. 36597". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 July 1944. p. 3177.
- ^ "No. 37119". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 June 1945. p. 2986.
- ^ "No. 38139". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 December 1947. p. 5756.
- ^ "No. 37511". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 March 1946. p. 1531.
- ^ "No. 37892". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 February 1947. p. 971.
- ^ "No. 39429". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1951. pp. 59–60.
- ^ "No. 43131". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 October 1963. p. 8425.
External links
- "SP(CC)03 Wing Commander Peter Cundy DSO DFC AFC TD". Aviation Collectables. 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.