World Battlefronts: Two Minutes

Lieut, (j.g.) Wallace A. LaFleur, a 22-year-old Louisiana boy patrolling from a baby flattop, sighted the U-boat first. He made two bombing runs, but antiaircraft fire from the submarine spoiled his aim.

Out of bombs but still circling the German, Lieut. LaFleur radioed his carrier, 70 miles away, for more planes. “I’m going to sit here all night,” he drawled, “if they don’t come.”

They came — two fighters and two torpedo bombers. They scored a perfect hit and a near miss. Two minutes after their arrival, the U-boat lifted its stern from the water, went down for good. That night Lieut. LaFleur slept in his bunk.