DOB/DOD: March 27, 1903 (Brooklyn, New York) – March 3, 1942; 38 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unknown
LOCAL ADDRESS: Bridgeport
SERVICE NUMBER: Unknown
FAMILY: Born to Joseph A. (1873-1963) and Margaret M. Scheuerle Cerabone (1879-1953). Two brothers, Louis A. (1898-1946) and Victor J. (1911-1966). One sister, Rose M. Cerabone Rush (1908-2003).
CIRCUMSTANCES: The steam tanker SS Otho was built and completed in 1920 by the Todd Drydock & Construction Corp., Tacoma, Washington, for the American-West African Line Inc., New York.
On April 3, 1942, the unescorted Otho was enroute from Takoradi, Gold Coast, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a cargo of 4400 tons of manganese ore, 1300 tons of palm oil, and 750 tons of tin and a crew of 53 (10 officers, 26 merchant mariners, 10 U.S. Navy Armed Guards, and 7 passengers).
They were hit by a torpedo fired by German Submarine U-754 approximately 200 miles east of Cape Henry, Virginia. The torpedo struck on the starboard side amidship, directly below the stack at the bulkhead between the #3 tank and the engine room. The explosion severely damaged the vessel and caused her to sink after twelve minutes. The Master, six officers, 16 crewmen, five armed guards, and four passengers were lost. The ship Master/Captain of the SS Otho was John Makkinje, who was lost in this sinking. [from russpickett.com]
The fate of U-754
The U-754 was sunk on July 31, 1942, in the North Atlantic south of Nova Scotia, in position 43.02N, 64.52W, by depth charges of a Canadian Hudson aircraft (113 Sqn RCAF/625). 43 dead (all hands lost).