CHIEF MATE LOUIS EUGENE RAYNER

DOB/DOD: September 22, 1882 (Stony Brook, NY) – February 3, 1943; 60 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Sarah E. Mitchell [born in England] (1886-1978) on July 15, 1909, in Bridgeport, CT
CHILDREN: Two daughters, Frances L. Rayner Johnson (1910-2000) and Ann G. (1918-1966). Two sons, Gilbert L. (1914-1992) and Kenneth E. (1923-2011).
LOCAL ADDRESS: New Canaan
SERVICE NUMBER: Z-008507

FAMILY: Born to Clarence H. (1856-1919) and Arabella F. Hubbell Rayner (1855-1914). Two brothers, Archie H. (1888-1972) and Norman C. (1893-1971).

Photo from FindAGrave.com

CIRCUMSTANCES: At 0452 hours on 3 February 1943, U-223 fired five single torpedoes at the three ships in convoy SG-19 about 150 miles west of Cape Farewell. One of the first torpedoes hit the Dorchester, and the other torpedoes missed her and the Norwegian steam merchants Biscaya and Lutz.

The Dorchester (Master Hans Jorgen Danielsen) was struck on the starboard side in the machinery spaces. The explosion stopped the engines, and the vessel swung to starboard, losing way. Six blasts from the whistle indicated to the rest of the convoy that the Dorchester was hit. Her complement of seven officers, 123 crewmen, 23 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in, and four 20mm guns), and 751 troops and civilian passengers began to abandon ship three minutes after the hit. Three of the 14 lifeboats had been damaged by the explosion, the crew managed only to launch two more overcrowded boats, and 33 men left with rafts, but many men evidently did not realize the seriousness of the situation, stayed aboard, and went down with the ship, which sank 30 minutes later. USCGC Escanaba (WPG 77) and USCGC Comanche (WPG 76) began rescuing survivors within minutes. Rescue swimmers in rubber suits from USS Escanaba jumped into the icy water with lines tied about them to pull incapacitated men out of the water. She picked up 81 survivors from the water and rafts and 51 from one lifeboat. USS Comanche picked up 41 survivors from another lifeboat and 56 from rafts and the water. Hundreds of floating bodies or wreckage frozen were checked for signs of life. The survivors were landed at Narsarssuak later the same day. 675 lives were lost: the master, three officers, 98 crewmen, 15 armed guards, and 558 troops and passengers. The following were saved: three officers, 25 crewmen, 44 civilian workers, three Danish citizens, twelve armed guards, seven US Coast Guard personnel, and 135 US Army personnel.

Photo from uboat.net

The fate of U-223

Sunk on March 30, 1944, in the Mediterranean Sea north-east of Palermo, in position 38.48N, 14.10E, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Laforey and HMS Tumult and the British escort destroyers HMS Hambledon and HMS Blencathra. 23 dead and 27 survivors. [uboat.net]

From The Norwalk Hour on February 25, 1943

DARIEN MAN REPORTED LOST
Commander Louis Rayner, 69, Was With Coast Guard; Previously Saved In Torpedoing

Commander Louis Eugene Rayner, 59, U. S. Coast Guard, a resident of Hoyt Street, Darien, for the past two years, is “presumed lost” as the result of naval action, according to a telegram received yesterday by his wife, Mrs. Sarah Ellen Rayner. The telegram was sent by Vice Admiral R. R. Waesche, commander of the U. S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C.

The telegram said in part:

“The Navy deeply regrets to inform you that your husband, Louis Eugene Rayner, is missing and presumed lost following action in the performance of his duties in the service of his country. The Coast Guard appreciates your great anxiety and will furnish you further information promptly when received.”

Commander Rayner, who was the chief officer of his ship, left on January 19th on an overseas trip. He was formerly captain of a ship in the Merchant Marines. On August 27, 1942, his vessel, carrying 692 passengers, was torpedoed and sunk in the North Atlantic. But only 12 persons were lost. Captain Rayner was in the water for five hours before he was picked up by a patrol boat and taken to a Nova Scotia port. He had been a member of the Merchant Marines for

40 years. Last fall, he was commissioned as a commander in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Commander and Mrs. Rayner resided in Stamford for a number of years, but moved to Darien two years ago. There are four children, Mrs. Harry Johnson, Weston; Gilbert Louis Rayner,

Old Stamford Road, New Canaan; Corporal Kenneth Eugene Rayner, who is serving in the armed forces overseas, and Miss Ann Goddard Rayner, who lives with her mother.

THIRD ENGINEER JOSEPH EPHRAM PROVENCAL

DOB/DOD: January 18, 1903 (Worcester, MA) – February 23, 1945; 42 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Marie L. Provencher (1909-1991)
LOCAL ADDRESS: Danielson
SERVICE NUMBER: Z-317391

FAMILY: Born to Gedeon (1871-1945) and Alice Coulombe Provençal (1875-1956). Three brothers, Arthur J. (1897-1971), Wilfred J. “Gilbert” (1905-1974), and Hector C. (1911-1979). One sister, Marie Emiline Yvonne Provencal O’Neill (1900-?).

CIRCUMSTANCES: The Liberty Ship SS Henry Bacon was torpedoed by German aircraft while en convoy from Murmansk, Russia to Gourock, Scotland. The ship had become separated from the convoy in a heavy gale. Four hours after receiving a radio warning about a possible air attack, German aircraft struck. Although the crew was able to down five planes, a torpedo found its mark on the starboard side. The ship went down in about an hour. Survivors were picked up by British destroyers several hours later. [navymemorial.org]

In the end, of the 86 people aboard Henry Bacon, 15 Merchant Mariners were lost, including Captain Carini, the first mate, second mate, chief engineer, the first and second assistant engineers, and the boatswain. In addition, seven of the Naval Armed Guard were lost, including the three gunners who stayed behind to defend the ship to the last, and Lieutenant (j.g.). Sippola. All 19 of the Norwegian refugees were saved thanks to the sacrifice of Henry Bacon’s crew and the Armed Guard. King Haakon of Norway honored all crewmen by awarding the Norwegian War Medal. Captain Carini was awarded the Norwegian War Cross with Swords by the king, one of only two U.S. citizens to receive it. Carini was also awarded the Mariner’s Medal (a Purple Heart Medal equivalent) by the U.S. War Shipping Administration. [history.navy.mil]

COOK WILLIAM WALTER POPE

NOTE: Born Walter Wilfred Pope
DOB/DOD: February 1, 1899 (Versailles, CT) – April 30, 1942; 43 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: Versailles
SERVICE NUMBER: Z-081955

FAMILY: Born to James (1852-1919) and Louisa M. LaFlame Pope (1870-); both born in Canada. Two sisters, Mary L. Pope Redding (1890-1945) and Dora M. Pope Sullivan (1896-1962).

CIRCUMSTANCES: The American ST Federal was torpedoed on April 30, 1942, by the German U-boat U-507. The vessel was en route from Tampa, Florida, to Nanes, Cuba, in ballast. Five men lost their lives in the sinking, while twenty-eight were rescued. [minnehallen.no]

The fate of U-507

Sunk on January 13, 1943, in the South Atlantic north-west of Fortaleza, Brazil, in position 01.38S, 39.52W, by depth charges from a US Catalina aircraft (VP-83 USN/P-10). 54 dead (all hands lost). [uboat.net]

WIPER CLARENCE FOSTER PECK

DOB/DOD: January 10, 1904 (Greenwich, CT) – May 26, 1942; 38 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: Greenwich
SERVICE NUMBER: Z-232107

FAMILY: Born to Wortley H. (1860-1929) and Emma A. McTarry Peck (1861-). Four brothers, Charles D. (1886-1953), Stanley L. (1890-1976), Lester V. (1893-1943), Wortley E. (1896-1935), Harold K. (1903-1972), and Ralph H. (1908-1960). One sister, Mildred R. Peck Hendry (1897-1926).

CIRCUMSTANCES: About 1100 hours on May 26, 1942, the unescorted and unarmed Carrabulle (Master Norris T. Ela) was stopped by U-106 in the Gulf of Mexico by a signal from a siren and a shot across her bow. The U-boat began firing shells at the bridge and the superstructure on the starboard side, while the radio operator was still sending distress signals. The crew of eight officers and 32 men, with the exception of the radio operator, left the ship in two lifeboats. One boat held 24 men, including the master and the first mate. At the moment this boat reached the water, a torpedo struck just below the waterline on the port side and blew the boat to pieces. Only two men survived, who were later picked up by the other lifeboat together with the radio operator. Some survivors later claimed that Rasch asked if all the men had gotten clear of the ship. Receiving a negative answer, he reportedly laughed and fired the torpedo at 1134 hours. The tanker sank stern first at 1230 hours. Three officers and 15 men were picked up by the American steam merchant Thompson Lykes 15 hours after the attack and were taken to New Orleans, Louisiana. [From uboat.net]

Photo from uboat.net

The fate of U-106

Sunk on August 2, 1943, in the North Atlantic north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 46.35N, 11.55W, by depth charges from a British and an Australian Sunderland aircraft (228 Sqn RAF/N & 461 Sqn RAAF/M). 22 dead and 36 survivors. [From uboat.net]

ABLE SEAMAN ALEXANDER PANKO

DOB/DOD: February 29, 1920 (New Haven, CT) – July 9, 1943; 23 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: North Branford
SERVICE NUMBER: Z-380200

FAMILY: Born to Martin V. (1885-1971) and Katherine Chigir Panko (1895-1978) [both born in Poland]. Three sisters, Florence P. Panko Hart (1916-2013), Anna J. Panko Mulvey (1929-), and Olga (1932-). Two brothers, Victor (1918-2001) and Mitchell (1925-1945).

CIRCUMSTANCES: The SS Samuel Heintzelman was built by California Shipbuilding Corporation. Her keel was laid on August 27, 1942. She was launched on September 30, 1942, and delivered on October 20, 1942. Built for the War Shipping Administration, she was operated under the management of Coastwise Steamship Co. She was torpedoed and sunk in the Indian Ocean (9°00′S 81°00′E) by U-511 on 9 July 1943 while on a voyage from Charleston. On July 9, 1943, the unescorted Samuel Heintzelman (Master Johann W.G. Wilkie) was torpedoed and sunk by U-511 in the Indian Ocean. The U-boat dived after firing torpedoes and did not observe the results, but they heard underwater explosions and found no trace of the ship after surfacing, only debris floating in the water and lying on deck. All eight officers, 34 crewmen, 27 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in, and eight 20mm guns), and six passengers on board were lost.

The SS Samuel Heintzelman was reported missing after being seen the last time in 20°S/103°E on July 4, and it was first believed that she had been sunk by a Japanese surface raider. On September 30, wreckage from the ship was found off Minni Minni village, Maldive Islands, and two empty lifeboats had been spotted the day before. [uboat.net]

The fate of U-511

Handed over to Japan on September 16, 1943, at Kure as a donation from Germany to the Emperor, and became the Japanese submarine RO-500.

Surrendered at Maizuru in August 1945. Scuttled in the Gulf of Maizuru by the US Navy on April 30, 1946. [uboat.net]

COOK WILLIAM ALBERT NOVACK

DOB/DOD: January 9, 1914 (Naugatuck, CT) – September 19, 1942; 28 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: Hartford
SERVICE NUMBER: Z-069392

FAMILY: Born to Anthony Novack (1887-1930) and Tophila “Tillie Macutha Clouser (1889-1945). Two sisters, Ella Novack Dwonkus (1909-1982) and Ann Mary Novack Gelinas (1921-2006). One brother, Stanley Novack (1911-1931).

From The Hartford Courant on January 11, 1943

CIRCUMSTANCES: The MS Wichita was an American merchant ship built in 1921 for the US Shipping Board. Originally steam-powered (SS), it was converted to diesel propulsion (MV) in 1929. After entering WWII, the ship was equipped with four .50-cal guns and one 4-inch gun mounted at the stern, and a US Navy Armed Guard crew was routinely assigned to the ship.

In New Orleans, on or about May 30, 1942, William Novack signed on the MS Wichita as a Cook. He was 28 years old. On September 1, 1942, after four months and several different ports, Mr. Novack was on board as the Wichita left Takoradi (now part of Ghana) with a load of general cargo. They were finally heading west, bound for St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and then New York.

On the morning of September 19th, the unescorted ship was spotted about 300 miles east of Barbados by German submarine U-516. The freighter was sailing a zigzag course at a speed of about 11 knots when U-156 attacked, firing two torpedoes. Neither hit. The submarine repositioned itself and fired another torpedo, this one hitting between the foremast and the bridge, causing the MS Wichita to sink in less than a minute. According to U-516’s logbook, the sub surfaced and searched the area but found no survivors or lifeboats.

There were 40 Merchant Mariners and 10 US Navy Armed Guards on board; none survived.

Photo from uboat.net

The fate of U-516

Surrendered at Loch Eriboll, Scotland, on May 14, 1945. Later transferred to Lisahally. During Operation Deadlight, was sunk on January 2, 1946, in position 56.06N, 09.00W. [uboat.net]

ABLE SEAMAN WILLIAM PATRICK NORRIS

DOB/DOD: September 24, 1906 (Bridgeport, CT) – July 25, 1944; 37 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: Bridgeport
SERVICE NUMBER: Z-389812

FAMILY: Born to Jeremiah (1864-1929) and Amelia A. Gibbons Norris (1868-1918). Five sisters, Mary A. Norris O’Connor (1890-1959), Catherine Norris Downes (1892-1977), Helen Norris Culley (1895-1964), Mildred A. Norris McCormack (1900-1979), and Anne M. Norris Jones (1903-1973). Two brothers, John W. (1892-1972) and Frank J. (1897-1929).

CIRCUMSTANCES: At 0212 hours on July 25, 1944, the unescorted Robin Goodfellow (Master Bjarne Bjornsgaard) was torpedoed and sunk by U-862 in the South Atlantic. The British motor merchant Priam received a distress signal, but none of the eight officers, 33 crewmen, and 28 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in, and five 20mm guns) survived. [uboat.net]

Photo from uboat.net

The fate of U-862

The Japanese submarine I-502 (ex. U-862) surrendered at Singapore in August 1945. On February 15, 1946, was towed into the Straits of Malacca, off Singapore, by HM Tug Growler and scuttled there (alongside I-501 / U-181) by the frigate HMS Loch Lomand. [uboat.net]

FIRST ENGINEER THOMAS MUIRHEAD, JR.

DOB/DOD: July 3, 1880 (Dallas, TX) – December 7, 1941; 61 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Theresa D. Wheeler [born in Canada] (1881-1946) on June 3, 1907, in Multnomah, Oregon
CHILDREN: One daughter, Georgia L. Muirhead Garner (1911-?).
LOCAL ADDRESS: Bridgeport
SERVICE NUMBER: Unknown

FAMILY: Born to Thomas J. Sr. (1849-1925) and Amanda Crow Muirhead (1847-1900). Three brothers, William (1885-1959), Robert (1887-1971), and John (1890-1952). Two sisters, Janet I. Muirhead Parrish Wilhams (1877-1947) and Margaret Muirhead Newman (1882-1928).

From Seaman’s Protection application

CIRCUMSTANCES: The SS Cynthia Olson was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-26 while en route to Honolulu, Hawaii, with a cargo of Army supplies. An SOS heard by a shore station stating they were under attack by a surfaced submarine was the last ever heard from this ship. This was the first American-flag merchant vessel sunk by a Japanese submarine on December 7, 1941. [navymemorial.org]

From navymemorial.org
This photograph is a photograph taken by Saburo Hayashi, crew of the Japanese submarine I-26.

The fate of Japanese submarine I-26

On October 27, 1944, I-26 was ordered to an area east of Lamon Bay, but she never acknowledged the order. When 6th Fleet headquarters issued an order on November 7, 1944, for submarines in the Leyte area to return to their home bases, I-26 did not respond. On November 21, 1944, the Imperial Japanese Navy declared I-26 to be presumed lost with all 105 hands east of Leyte. The Japanese removed her from the Navy list on 10 March 1945. [combinedfleet.com]

The cause of the loss of I-26 is controversial. Some historians have concluded that she sank in a diving accident. Others believe it more likely that she was sunk when she attacked the escort aircraft carrier USS Petrof Bay during the night of October 25-26, 1944, in the aftermath of the Battle off Samar, and that the destroyer escorts USS Coolbaugh and USS Richard M. Rowell of Petrof Bay′s screen sank her, most likely by a Hedgehog barrage from Richard M. Rowell early on October 26, 1944, at 09°45′N 126°45′E. [combinedfleet.com]

MESSMAN LOUIS JOSEPH MISINONILE

DOB/DOD: September 2, 1919 (East Boston, MA) – December 2, 1943; 24 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: 248 Pleasant View Avenue, Bridgeport
SERVICE NUMBER: Z-375236

FAMILY: Born to Andrew G. (1890-1968) and Rosa “Rose” Lombardo Misinonile (1900-1980) [both born in Italy]. One brother, Raymond (1924-2014). Four sisters, Rose Misinonile Donofrio (1918-2000), Connie T. Misinonile Nettles (1921-2020), Marie A. “May” Misinonile Sego (1925-2020), and Margarita L. Misinonile Serena (1942-).

Photo from FindAGrave.com

CIRCUMSTANCES: The John L. Motley was named for John Lothrop Motley (1814-1877), a historian and diplomat. Motley served as Minister to Austria from 1861 to 1867, and Minister to Great Britain from 1869 to 1870.

The SS John L. Motley was in the port at Bari, Italy, waiting to, or already unloading, its cargo of ammunition. Also in port that day was the SS John Harvey, which was loaded with a secret cargo: 2,000 M47A1 mustard gas bombs, each of which held 60-70 pounds of sulfur mustard.

The Port was attacked by 105 German Junkers Ju 88 bombers of Luftflotte 2. The bombers achieved surprise and bombed shipping and personnel operating in support of the Allied Italian Campaign.

The SS John L. Motley was destroyed, along with 27 other ships in what has become known as the “Bari Port Disaster,” in a huge explosion which caused the liquid sulfur mustard on the SS John Harvey to spill into the water, mixing with oil from the sunken ships, and a cloud of sulfur mustard vapor to blow over the city.

It is believed that nearly all crewmen of the SS John L. Motley perished in the sinking. The rescuers were prevented from knowing the danger they faced until a M47A1 bomb fragment was later retrieved from the wreckage.

The ship Master / Captain of the ” SS John L. Motley ” was Constantine Tsimenis. He resided in New York City, New York, before the war. Constantine was lost in this sinking.

Memorialized on the Bridgeport (CT) World War II Memorial, 989 Broad Street, Bridgeport, CT

Photos from HMdb.org and contributor Michael Herrick

Buried in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Piazzale Amerigo 1, 00048 Nettuno RM, Italy, Section D, Plot 15, Grave 37

Photo from FindAGrave.com

FIRST ENGINEER LLOYD JAMES MILLER

DOB/DOD: November 3, 1895 (Plainfield, CT) – January 9, 1943; 47 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married to Alice M. (1907-?)
CHILDREN: One son, Lloyd J. Jr. (1927-2000)
LOCAL ADDRESS: Peckhams Street, Sterling
PRIOR MILITARY SERVICE: U.S. Navy, April 30, 1917, until discharge on October 13, 1919
SERVICE NUMBER: Z-111268

FAMILY: Born to James G. (1869-1916) and Hattie A. Sherman Miller (1870-1940). One brother, Harry S. (1903-1963).

Photo from Seaman’s Certificate of Citizenship

CIRCUMSTANCES: Aboard the American merchant ship SS Louise Lykes as it left New York on January 2, 1943. With a cargo of war supplies and ammunition bound for Belfast, Northern Ireland, the freighter was sailing without convoy or escort. The ship was armed, however, with one 4-inch, two 3-inch, and eight 20mm guns and a 34-man crew of Navy Armed Guards to man them.

On January 9th, about 500 nautical miles south-southeast of Iceland, German submarine U-384 was spotted just below the surface of the water. Navy gunners immediately opened fire, their shots straddling the sub but not directly hitting it. Unfortunately, U-384 had already fired off four torpedoes from a distance of 2000 yards, and when two hit, there was an explosion so great that the sub had to make a crash dive to avoid being hit by fiery debris. When it surfaced about five minutes later, the only thing floating on the water was debris; the ship had virtually disappeared.

There were 51 Merchant Mariners, 34 US Navy Armed Guards, and possibly 10-20 members of the US Army Signal Corps on board. None survived.

The fate of U-384

Sunk at 1745hrs on March 19, 1943, in the North Atlantic west of Ireland, in position 54.18N, 26.15W, by depth charges from a British Fortress aircraft (206 Sqn RAF/B). 47 dead (all hands lost). [FDS/NHB, June 1975].