Minelayer Kiebitz

[geosub1978]

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

[t-geronimo]

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.

[geosub1978]

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.