Rough seas and captures reduce five canoes to two

Coalfish disappeared from the group within minutes as five-foot waves struck the heavily loaded fifteen-foot canvas canoes. Conger then capsized and was scuttled, leaving Sheard and Moffatt clinging to the remaining boats until they had to swim toward shore. They reached land in this account, but neither survived; Moffatt's body was recovered, while the location of Sheard's burial remains uncertain. Coalfish eventually rejoined near shore after Wallace and Ewart had continued alone for hours. Cuttlefish also became separated, and damage to the canoe forced Mackinnon and Conway to abandon the attack and head toward Spain. They evaded capture for four days before French gendarmes arrested them and handed them to the Germans. Wallace and Ewart were captured near the Pointe de Grave lighthouse at daybreak, without the other crews knowing. By 8 December only Catfish and Crayfish remained free and able to continue the mission.