D/S Komet

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Appeared Chief Officer Peder Aaraas ...

The vessel, which belonged to Tangvald Pedersen, Porsgrund, and had a crew of 16 men including the master, was on voyage from Caen to Grangemouth with a part cargo of ammunition. The value and insurance of the cargo unknown. The vessel was on departure in completely seaworthy condition.

The vessel's master, Captain Adler Røstad, was hit a machine gun bullet and died on board. Several of the crew were wounded. The vessel was fired on with shells and sank.

The chief officer produced the deck scrap log book and poduced an "Extract from the scrap log book for the s/s "Komet" on voyage from Caen to Grangemouth" signet by him, which extract was also signed by the 2nd officer Knut Sauness, and the 2nd engineer, Karl Olavesen.

The extract was read and approved by chief officer Aaraas.

The extract was compared with the produced scrap log book and was found to be in conformity with this.

The first attack at 16 o'clock, about 25 miles off the shore, lasted half an hour, the second one at 18 o'clock, about 10 miles off the shore, about 20 minutes. The aeroplanes were flying as low as they could close over the mast top. They came one after the other and fired.

The aeroplanes were light grei, the chief officer did not see any marking. The first 3 aeroplanes were larger than the 7 aeroplanes of the second attact. During the second attack tyhere were shells making holes of about 1 foot in diameter. The shells of the first attack were not som large, but had great striking power. They wetn through the ship's side. The shells were of various kinds, som of the were filled with explosives while others were inscendiaries.

No ships were in the neighbourhood during the first attack neither during the second one.

The "Komet" was flying the Norwegian flag aft. The lifesaving raft forward was painted with Norwegian colours (national-).

The weather was of good visibiligy. During the last attack we could see land.

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The wounded are:-

1. Chief Engineer Harald Pedersen ...

2. A. B. Seaman Sigurd Olsen ...

3. Ordinary Seaman Gunner Ingebretsen ...

4. Ordinary Seaman Harry Grosvold ...

5. Assistant Whatne ...

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Appeared the 1st witness, Knut Andreas Sauness (2nd Officer) ...

The witness has experience of bombs from previous bombing attacks.

During the first attack there were 3 bombs, but none of them hit the vessel.

During the first attack the 3 aeroplanes cme one after the other, quite low, and used guns and immediately thereafter machine guns. The aeroplanes were flying in the figure 8. The 7 aeroplanes of the second attack had more powerful guns then the first 3 aeroplanes and were of a little different type.

The witness saw the Swastika marking on th tail of the aeroplane.

Otherwise, the witness made statement in conformity with Chief Officer Aaraas's statement which was read out to the witness and approved by him.

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Appeared the 2nd witness, 2nd Engineer Karl Edvard Olavesen ...

The chief engineer was standing in tyhe steering engine room when he was hit. The witnes thinks that a projectile has gone through the stomach.

During both attacs the witness was down in the engine room.

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Appeared the 3rd witness, A.B. Seaman Nils Grødal ...

During the first attack the witness was in the berth forward, during the second attack he had taken shelter in the steward's cabin.

The witenss did not see any marking on any of the aeroplanes.

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