Black May (73 page)

R
OLF
E
LEBE
. U-752. Oberfunkmaat (Radioman, second class). Captured 23 May 1943.

K
ARL
-H
EINZ
F
OERTSCH
. U
-659.
Leutnant (Ing) (Ensign, Engineering duties). Captured 4 May 1943.

F
RIEDRICH
G
ASSAUER
.
U-607.
Leutnant z. See (Ensign). Captured 14 July 1943.

E
RWIN
G
EIMEIER
. U-775. Maschinenmaat (Fireman, first class). Captured 17 April 1943.

F
RANZ
G
RÄTZ
. U
-187.
Funkmaat (Seaman [Radioman], third class). Captured 4 February 1943.

H
EINZ
K
ALISCH
.
U-439.
Matrosenobergefreiter (Seaman, first class). Captured 4 May 1943.

(No first name recorded) keitle. U-752. Matrosengefreiter (Seaman, second class). Captured 23 May 1943.

H
ELMUT
K
LOTZSCH
. U-775. Obersteuermann (Warrant Quartermaster [Navigator]). Captured 17 April 1943.

W
ALTER
K
öHLER
. U-752. Matrosenobergefreiter (Seaman, first class). Captured 23 May 1943.

(No first name given) K
UFFNER
. U-175. Maschinenmaat (Fireman, first class). Captured 17 April 1943.

E
RWIN
L
INK
.
U-659.
Maschinengefreiter (Fireman, third class). Captured
4
May 1943.

A
DOLF
M
ARCH
. U-175. Funkobergefreiter (Seaman [Radioman], first class). Captured 17 April 1943.

L
EOPOLD
N
OWROTH
. U-/75. Oberleutnant (Ing.) (Lieutenant [jg], Engineering duties). Captured 17 April 1943.

W
ERNER
O
POLKA
. U
-528.
Oberleutnant z. See (Lieutenant [jg]). Captured 11 May 1943.

O
TTO
P
HILLIPPS
. U
-432.
Obermaschinenmaat (Machinist’s Mate, second class). Captured 11 March 1943.

E
RWIN
P
LNZER
. U-752. Maschinengefreiter (Fireman, third class). Captured 23 May 1943.

W
ILHELM
R
AHN
. U
-301.
Oberfähnrich z. See (Senior Midshipman). Captured 21 January 1943.

(No first name recorded) R
ICHTER
. U-752. Maschinengefreiter (Fireman, third class). Captured 23 May 1943.

(No first name recorded) R
OSENKRANZ
. U-775. Mechanikerobergefreiter (Seaman, first class). Captured 17 April 1943.

(No first name recorded) R
OSS
. U
-432.
Funkgefreiter (Seaman [Radioman], second class). Captured 11 March 1943.

H
EINRICH
S
CHAUFFEL
. U-752. Leutnant z. See (Ensign). Captured 23 May 1943.

G
ERHARD
S
CHMELING
. U
-439.
Maschinenobergefreiter (Fireman, second class). Captured
4
May 1943.

R
UDOLF
S
PITZ.
U
-444.
Funkgefreiter (Seaman [Radioman], second class). Captured 11 March 1943.

H
EINZ
S
TOCK
. U-205. Mechanikerobergefreiter (Seaman, first class). Captured 17 February 1943.

(No first name recorded) T
LLLMANNS
. U
-752.
Maschinenmaat (Fireman, first class). Captured 23 May 1943.

(No first name recorded) V
OELKER
. U-175. Fähnrich (Ing.) (Midshipman, Engineering duties). Captured 17 April 1943.

(No first name recorded) W
EISSEFELD
. U
-444.
Maschinengefreiter (Fireman, third class). Captured 11 March 1943.

The writer is grateful to Archivist Horst Bredow and his staff at the U-Boot-Archiv in Cuxhaven-Altenbruch for locating the first names of most of these men.

5
. PRO, WO 208/4145. S.R.N. 1897.

6
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1881.

7
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1899.

8
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1891. Korv. Kapt. Otto v. Bülow (U
-404),
cited here, was author of one of the war’s more interesting acts of overclaiming, when on 25 April 1943 he signaled BdU that he had sunk an aircraft carrier, which he identified as “possibly [U.S.S.]
Ranger
.” The sinking took place, he said, in Qu AK 4737. He had used five torpedoes, including two FATs. “Two tongues of flame observed. Several very heavy shakings when moving away on the surface.” PRO, DEFE-3, TOI1038 GMT, 25/4/43. BdU replied: “Good, good. Report whether in your opinion aircraft carrier was sunk.” Ibid., TOI 1237/25/4/43. Bülow reported: “Assume sinking on account of absence of air and sea defense after hits, of severance of contact in spite of very good visibility and of damage which was without doubt heavy. Search proved fruitless.” Ibid., TOI 1640/25/4/43. Within five hours congratulations were transmitted to Bülow from the highest quarter: “In grateful recognition of your heroic participation in the struggle for the future of our people I award you, as 234th member of the German Armed Forces, the Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. Adolf Hitler.” Ibid., TOI 2150/25/4/43. The next morning Donitz and Godt conveyed their own kudos. Ibid., TOI 0839/26/4/43. But subsequent intelligence did not support the sinking of
Ranger
or of any other carrier. Hessler wrote: “F.O. U-boats [Dönitz] did not uphold the claim and was irritated at the premature announcement”; Hessler,
The U-Boat War,
Vol. II, p. 103. There is no confirmation of such an attack in British or U.S. records. It may be that Bülow sighted and attacked the nearby RN escort carrier H.M.S.
Biter.
If so, the carrier did not notice it.

9
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1833.

10
. PRO, WO 208/4205, S.R. Draft No. 3335.

11
. PRO, WO 208/4145, S.R.N. 1834.

12
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1831.

13
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1832.

14
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1807.

15
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1801.

16
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1734.

17
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1758.

18
. Ibid.,
S.R.N. 1738.

19
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1768.

20
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1739.

21
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1796.

22
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1778.

23
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1566.

24
. Ibid., S.RN. 1868.

25
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1864.

26
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1861.

27
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1860.

28
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1862.

29
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1854.

30
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1848.

31
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1531.

32
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1823.

33
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1835.

34
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1847.

35
. PRO, WO 208/4205, S.R. Draft No. 1905.

36
. Ibid., S.R. Draft No. 5470.

37
. Ibid., S.R. Draft No. 2220.

38
. Ibid., S.R. Draft No. 3495.

39
. Ibid., S.R. Draft No. 1977.

40
. Ibid., S.R. Draft No. 2802.

41
. PRO, WO 208/4145, S.R.N. 1777.

42
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1857.

43
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1728.

44
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1896.

45
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1799.

46
. Ibid., S.RN. 1782.

47
. Ibid., S.RN. 1888.

48
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1878.

49
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1850.

50
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1805.

51
. Ibid., S.RN. 1826.

52
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1821.

53
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1822.

54
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1779.

55
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1732.

56
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1865.

57
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1900.

58
. PRO, ADM
223/120, N.I.D. UC No. 318, 2 April 1943, “Morale Among U-Boat Prisoners of War.” The writer is indebted to W. J. R. “Jock” Gardner at NHB/MOD for sending him a copy of this document.

59
. PRO, WO 208/4x45, S.R.N. 1695.

60
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1890.

61
. Ibid.

62
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1842.

63
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1710.

64
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1803.

65
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1800.

66
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1802.

67
. Ibid., S.R.N. 3495.

68
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1800.

69
. Ibid., S.R.N. 1732.

C
HAPTER 10

1
. PRO, ADM 237/114, Convoy ONS.6; ADM 199/2020, An Analysis of the Operation of Support Groups in the North Atlantic (Period 5th May-12th June), 15 July 1943 [hereafter Support Groups]; AIR 41/48, Peyton Ward, “The R.A.F. in the Maritime War,” Vol. IV, p. 70.

2
. NARA, KTB-BdU, 7 May 1943.

3
. The X-B-Bericht Weekly Summary for 3–9 May 1943, Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv, Bestand RM 7/755, X-B-Bericht No. 19/43, Woche vom 3.5–9.5 1943, f. 87V and f. 88r.

4
. Ibid. The information produced by B-Dienst on HX.237 read: “Funkspruch vom 6.5 2330 Uhr [German time] meldete Unbek. aus See die Position des Konvois in 43 56 N 48 27 W.”

5
. Ibid., f. 87V. The information on 7.5.43 read: “Am 7.5 1600 Uhr befand sich der Geleitzug mit 38 Schiffen in 42 08 N 45 42 W, Kurs etwa 128 Grad, Fahrt 9 sm.” See also NARA, KTB-BdU, 8 May 1943.

6
. Ibid.

7
. Ibid.

8
. PRO, DEFE-3, ff-448 and 449, 745.

9
. Ibid., Reel 718, time of interception (TOI) 1730, 9 May 1943, decrypted 21 May 1943; NHB/MOD, Assessments, f. 275.

10
. David Hobbs, “Ship-borne Air
Anti-Submarine Warfare,” in Howarth and Law,
Battle of the Atlantic,
pp. 391–392.

11
. Ibid., p. 391. Cf. William T. Y’Blood,
Hunter-Killer: U.S. Escort Carriers in the Battle of the Atlantic
(Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1983), Appendix I, “Escort Carrier Technical Data,” pp. 279–281.

12
. Hobbs, “Ship-borne Air,” Howarth and Law,
Battle of the Atlantic,
pp. 389–390.

13
. NARA, KTB-BdU, 10 May 1943.

14
. NHB/MOD, Assessments, f. 278.

15
. NARA, KTB-BdU, 11 May 1943; NARA, RG 457, SRGN 17844.

16
. NARA, KTB-BdU, 12 May 1943.

17
. Herbert A. Werner,
Iron Coffins: A Personal Account of the German U-Boat Battles of World War II
(New York: Bantam Books, 1969), pp. 160–161. Although Werner states in his introduction that he wrote this volume “with the aid of notes I took during the war,” he told this writer that he consulted no official records such as U-230's KTB, accounting for certain events recounted out of sequence and errors in the times given for certain events. Few memoirs of the U-boat war can match Werner’s, however, in expressing the grim realities that U-boat men faced in May. “At the end of May all the sea officers at Brest were appalled,” he told the writer. “The petty officers and ratings were not fully aware of the extent of the losses. At that level morale remained high. But officers were now criticizing the leadership of the Navy, though only to their close friends.” Interview with Werner, Ponte Vedra, Florida, 9 May 1995. A criticism of Werner’s book
Iron Coffins
by Jürgen Rohwer is given in
Marine-Rundschau: Zeitschrift für Seewesen
, 67. Jahrgang (Frankfurt a/M: Verlag E.S. Mittler
Sc
Sohn GmbH bin, 1970), pp. 186–191.

18
. NHB/MOD, Assessments, ff. 279, 280, and notations by R. M. Coppock; Coppock to the author, “Loss of U 89 U 456 and U 753 in May 1943,” FDS 412, London, by hand, 29 May 1997. Naval Staff History,
The Development of British Naval Aviation 1919–1945,
Vol. II (London: Historical Section, Admiralty, 1956), pp. 119–120.

19
. The writer is indebted to Dr. Frederick J. Milford, formerly Vice President for Special Projects at the Battelle Memorial Institute, for sharing with him the impressive body of data that he has collected on the acoustic homing torpedo as well as the careful, balanced analysis that he has made of its use; Milford to the author, Columbus, Ohio, 19 January and 6 May 1996.

20
.
M. D. Fagen, ed., A History of Engineering and Science in the Bell System: National Service in War and Peace (1925–1975) (Murray Hill, NJ: Bell
Telephone Laboratories,
1978), p. 191. See also Mark B. Gardner, “Mine Mk. 24: World War II Acoustic Torpedo,”
Journal of the Audio Engineering Society,
Vol. 22, No. 8 (October 1974), pp. 614–626; and Frederick J. Milford, “More on Fido,”
Submarines Review
(April 1996), pp. 119–120.

21
. Frederick J. Milford to the author, 19 January 1996; Fagen, ed.,
Bell System,
pp. 191,193.

22
. Fagen, ed.,
Bell System,
p. 195.

23
. NARA, SRH-367, Operations Evaluation Group Study [hereafter OEG] No. 289, “Proctor, A Short History: The Rise and Fall of an Anti-Submarine Weapon,” 12 August 1946, p. 5.

24
. Frederick J. Milford to the author, 19 January 1997.

25
. Telephone interview with Air Commodore Jeaff Greswell, CB, CBE, DSO, DFC, R.A.F. (Ret.), Saunderton, Princess Risborough, Bucks., England, 28 October 1997. See also Price,
Aircraft versus Submarine,
pp. 133–134, where this story was told first.

26
. PRO, AIR 41/48, Peyton Ward, “The R.A.F. in the Maritime War,” Vol. IV, p. 63.

27
. Ibid. NHB/MOD, Coppock, “Loss of U 89, U 456 and U 753 in May 1943,” FES 412.

28
. NARA, RG 457, SRGN 17948.