The Hannan; sunk on July 28th 1944

Skipper · #1 (**permalink**) August 3rd, 2008, 10:14 AM

The Hannan; sunk on July 28th 1944

The Hannan was a 30x 6 meter Dutch ship that was confiscated by the Germans in 1942 and sailed to Belle Ilse , France. After D-Day it became almost impossible for Germans to commute from the Island of Belle Isle to the continent at Quiberon. However an attempt was made on July 28th. The Local commander said that a ship with supplies and a petrol tank ,as well as French mail would try to reach the mainland with two small (fisher boat) escorters on which light Flak had been adapted. Civilians willing to leave the island would be tolerated on the ship, at their own risks, as the small convoy would bear the German flag. No sooner had the three boats left Belle Isle that Mosquitoes from 248 Squadrons appeared out of nowhere. It was around 10 am, with mild wind and nice weather so the boats were easy targets. Despite light Flak, the Mosquitoes did not suffer any loss and the Hannan was stuck badly and sunk by two rockets that were fired by the Mosquitoes. The Hannan sunk immediately, as well as one of the escorters. The third one, with several casualties including the captain, attempted a return to Belle Isle and sunk upon reaching the Harbor. The surviving Germans and French civilians jumped over board and attempts were made by French fishermen and German soldiers to save the victims among them were women. Three French civilians were saved by two German soldiers. From the 11 civilians on board six were dead or missing.

The petrol and mail were lost. After the War, a local searcher from Belle Isle has found one of the Germans called Fritz Knoll and put him in touch with the lady he saved in 1944. Belle Isle was liberated on May 10th 1945. Two pows requested fair treatment for having saved French civilians. As a result they were released and could go home…

Sources Quiberon Museum who got info form E. Coantec