On 16 June 1942, "Wild Swan" was in the Western Approaches as part of the escort for convoy HG84. She was detached for refuelling, and happened to be passing through a group of Spanish trawlers, when a squadron of 12 German Junkers Ju 88 bombers mistook these vessels as the convoy and attacked them. "Wild Swan" replied vigorously, claiming six German aircraft shot down. She was, however, already seriously damaged by four near-misses, she lost steering control and collided with one of the Spanish trawlers, which sank almost immediately. She rescued 11 survivors from the trawler, but "Wild Swan" also sank (at ). The British reported that three of the trawlers were also sunk by bombs.