Dear all,

I found in my files an older excerpt from the KTB of Kommandant Seeverteidigung Kirkenes (RM72/740) telling the following story:

14.04.1944 Makkaur:

5 russian airplanes attack KMD cutter VESPER 120gt with SOLVEIG 15gt in tow. Cutter VESPER on fire, wreck is floating, salvage impossible, crew safed.

There was another VESPER after the war (fishing vessel from 1948 (=N-334-BN), ex cargo (?) SCAPA 1939-48 A/S Inger, Bergen (Mgr:) Jacob Kjöde, ex whaler ex CORONA IV ex FYND II ex SCAPA, built 1910 Hawthorns, 125gt, 137gt from 1948) which served with KM during the war as WESPE (NB17 Hafenschutz Bergen).

So this obviously is not the same vessel?
What was the origin of the VESPER being attacked by russian planes? Could VESPER be a mispelling of WESPE? But a bit strange that KM would have written a German name wrongly! And Makkaur is a bit more northern than Bergen!

Best regards, Axel