DOB/DOD: May 12, 1905 (New Haven, CT) – September 23, 1942; 37 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: New Haven
SERVICE NUMBER: Z-241818
FAMILY: Born to Daniel K. (1884-1951) and Margaret J. Kelly Hastings (1886-1957) [both born in Ireland]. One brother, Ronald T. (1910-1928). One sister, Anna M. Hastings Dunleavy (1908-1990).
CIRCUMSTANCES: On September 22, 1942, the unescorted MV Esso Williamsburg made its way to Reykjavik (Iceland) with a cargo of fuel oil. About 500 miles south of Greenland, German submarine U-211 spotted the tanker and fired two torpedoes; both missed. Contact was lost until early the next day. A torpedo was then fired, which hit amidships, causing an explosion and setting the ship afire. Another torpedo was fired, hitting amidships on the starboard side. The tanker broke in two, and U-211 left. On October 3rd, German submarine U-254 came across the drifting shell of the tanker, fired two torpedoes, and sank her. According to U-254, all but one lifeboat had been launched. A weak distress signal was received from one of the lifeboats, but an extensive search failed to find any of the men or lifeboats.
There were 42 Merchant Mariners and 18 US Naval Armed Guards on board; none survived.
The fate of U-211
Sunk on November 19, 1943, in the North Atlantic east of the Azores, in position 40.15N, 19.18W, by depth charges from a British Wellington aircraft (179 Sqn RAF/F). 54 dead (all hands lost). [from uboat.net]