DOB/DOD: July 6, 1921 (Bridgeport, CT) – March 17, 1943; 21 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: 185 King Street, Bridgeport
SERVICE NUMBER: Z-267897
FAMILY: Born to Stephen A. “Istvan” (1884-1951) and Pauline M. Tokh Klinga (1886-1950); both born in Hungary. Two brothers, Stephen F. (1918-1998) and Edward A. (1924-1999). Five sisters, Pauline E. Klinga Cummings (1912-2003), Cornelia C. Klinga Moody Andradzki (1914-2000), Clara Klinga Nadeau (1916-1978), May Klinga Bardinelli (1927-2008), and Marion Klinga Soltis (1930-2016).
CIRCUMSTANCES: Between 0337 and 0341 hours on March 17, 1943, U-91 fired five torpedoes at convoy HX-229 about 400 miles east-southeast of Cape Farewell and observed detonations on two ships, but in fact only the SS Harry Luckenbach was hit and sunk. The Harry Luckenbach (Master Ralph McKinnon) was assigned to station #111. The ship had been so exposed that the master had nervously steamed a zigzag course out in front of the convoy until ordered to return to his station. The vessel was struck by two torpedoes on the starboard side amidships in the machinery spaces, causing her to sink within 3 minutes in the rough seas. However, some of the nine officers, 45 crew members and 26 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) abandoned ship in three lifeboats, which were first spotted by HMS Beverley (H 64) (LtCdr R.A Price, RN) and HMS Volunteer (D 71) (LtCdr G.J. Luther, RN), but not picked up. HMS Anemone (K 48) (LCDR P.G.A. King, RNR) was ordered to find the lifeboats after HMS Pennywort (K 111) (Lt O.G. Stuart, RCNVR) had come across them and could not pick up the men because she already had 108 survivors on board. But the other corvette was unable to locate the boats, and it is possible that the boats were also seen by HMS Abelia (K 184) (T/A/LtCdr F. Ardern, RNR) on her way from St. Johns to join the convoy. None of the men from the Harry Luckenbach were seen or heard from again.
The fate of U91
Sunk on 26 February 1944 in the North Atlantic west of Ireland, in position 49.45N, 26.20W, by depth charges from the British frigates HMS Affleck, HMS Gore, and HMS Gould. 36 dead and 16 survivors.
Memorialized on the Bridgeport (CT) War Memorial, 989 Broad Street, Bridgeport, CT
