In December of 1939, the RCAF ordered 20 Douglas twin engine B-18 “Bolo” Bombers.  Intended for the Maritime Reconnaissance role, the aircraft were fitted with extra fuel and oil tanks, wing and propeller de-icing equipment and wing flotation compartments.  The aircraft, serial numbers 738 to 757, began arriving in December 1939 and in January, it was officially named the “Digby” after the Nova Scotia town of that name.  Like many other aircraft from the USA, they were flown to Pembina, North Dakota and crossed the border to Canada drawn by horse teams and then flown to Winnipeg.

Initially assigned to 10 (BR) Squadron at Dartmouth, five aircraft were immediately re-assigned to Gander, Newfoundland closer to the North Atlantic convoy routes.  From June 1940 until April 1941, five aircraft were rotated between Gander and Dartmouth until April when all squadron aircraft were moved to Gander.

In October, the squadron was very active in support of Convoy SC107 which was under attack by thirteen U-Boats of Veilchen Wolfpack.  The Wolfpack sank 13 ships of Convoy SC107.  At the same time, there was a further three Type IX U-Boats just south of the Veilchen Wolfpack but they took no part in the attacks on SC107.  This trio, made up of U-520, U-521 and U-522 encountered no ships and so were transferred to the area just off Halifax and the approaches to the St Lawrence.  U-520 was on its first operational patrol and had departed Kiel on October 3, 1942.

At 2002 hours on October 30, 1942 Digby 747, PB-X of 10 (BR) Squadron, was returning to Gander from a submarine patrol with Convoy ON-140 when the crew visually sighted U-520 115 miles due east of St John’s.  F/O Raymes descended the Digby from 3,200 feet and set up an attack by approaching the submarine directly along its track from astern.  Four Amatol MK VII depth charges were dropped and the co-pilot F/O Leigh watched huge bubbles and large quantities of oil come to the surface until darkness fell about 30 minutes later.  U-520 was sunk with the loss of all hands.

The upper portion of the painting displays the Digby attack while the lower section displays the aircraft on return to Gander being met by the Station Commander and to his left will be seen S/L J.M. Young, the 10 (BR) Squadron Commander.  Being greeted are F/O Raymes, Pilot, F/O Leigh, Co-pilot, P/O Johnson, Wireless Operator and last, with his always heavy load, the Navigator, F/O Martin.  Two other crew members, Sgt Bede and Sgt Gilfillan had not yet exited the aircraft.

Although the Digby continued operations throughout the war, this was its only submarine sinking.