German submarine U-288

German submarine U-288 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II.

The submarine was laid down on 7 September 1942 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack as 'werk' 53. She was launched on 15 May 1943 and commissioned on 26 June under the command of Oberleutnant Willy Meyer.

She did not sink or damage any ships.

She was sunk by British aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm from two escort carriers in April 1944.

Service history
U-288 served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training from June 1943 to January 1944 and operationally with the 13th flotilla from 1 February.

1st patrol
The boat's initial foray began with her departure from Kiel on 26 February 1944 for the Norwegian Sea and finished at Narvik on 11 March.

2nd patrol and loss
She departed Narvik on 23 March 1944. On 3 April she attacked Convoy JW 58 but was sunk by rockets and depth charges from a Fairey Swordfish of 819 Naval Air Squadron and a TBM Avenger and a Wildcat (or 'Martlet' in FAA parlance), both of 846 squadron. The Swordfish had come from HMS Activity, the Avenger and the Wildcat had been launched from HMS Tracker.

Forty-nine men died; there were no survivors.