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.
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]