DD154/A16-2                                                                                                             rek  
 
Serial 007
 
 
DESTROYER DIVISION SIXTY
 
 
U.S.S. ELLIS (154) FLAGSHIP
 
  S-E-C-R-E-T  
                                                                                                     %  Postmaster,  
                                                                                                             New York, N.Y.,  
                                                                                                                 October 19, 1942.  
     
 
From: The Commanding Officer.
To: The Office of Naval Intelligence, Navy Department.
Via: The Commandant, N.O.B., Trinidad, B.W.I.
   
Subject: Machon, Francis;  German prisoner-of-war - Information obtained from.
   
Reference: (a)  OpNav Conf. Serial No. 0901116 of December 5, 1941.
   
Enclosure: (A)  Information given by subject man.
 
     
          1.        Subject named man, a survivor from the German submarine No. 47986, was picked up at sea, Latitude 7-52 N, Longitude 56-05 W, at 0532 (Queen) on 12 October, 1942.  He was in army aircraft life float marked 99th Bombing Squadron.  The Commanding Officer had previous information that a survivor was adrift in such a float, but did not know that he had not been picked up.  The prisoner made no attempt to conceal his identity.  The aluminum paddle recovered with the life raft had his name etched on the blade.  
 
 
          2.        In view of the prisoner's apparent elated loquaciousness at time of rescue, probably due to starvation, he was questioned at some length as indicated in enclosure (A).  The interrogation was not conducted in a formal manner but through the medium of the prisoner's guards, who were either German or Polish interpreters.  
     
          3.        As prisoner's vitality returned, it became apparent that he was becoming more and more security conscious.  His immediate concern upon being rescued was whether or not he would be executed as he had been told that the United States took no prisoners of war.  One contradiction gained from the prisoner was that he had escaped from U-boat at a depth of 60 meters, but later he said that the depth gauge dials graduation on submarine were only marked o 50 meters and that graduation beyond that depth was only known to officers.  He also stated that although he was a radio operator he did not know frequencies employed as only officers adjusted radio apparatus.  It is apparent that the prisoner is beginning to feel he may have talked too much and on several occasions he has inquired if his family will be informed of his whereabouts.  It is believed that he considers that his family would be better off not to know of his capture.  
     
     
 
- 1 -
 
     
     

 

 
 
 
 
 
U.S.S. ELLIS (154)
 
 
DD154/A16-2                                                                                                             rek
 
 
Serial 007                                                                                 October 19, 1942.
 
 
 
 
S-E-C-R-E-T
  
 
 
 
Subject: Machon, Francis;  German prisoner-of-war - Information obtained from.
 
 
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        4.        The interrogation of the prisoner, conducted by Ensign G.M. Hudyma, U.S.N.R.; Gryzan, Leo Carl, GM2c, U.S.N.R.; Florentz, Arthur Louis, SF3c, U.S.N.R.; and Lulay, Henery John, F3c, U.S.N., was made in general conformance with reference (a).
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                 
 
 
                                                                                                        L.R. LAMPMAN
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
U.S.S. ELLIS (154)
 
 
 
 
PRISONER OF GERMAN SUBMARINE #47986.
 
 
 
 
1.  MACHON.
 
 
 
 
2.  Francis (in German - Franz; in Polish - Francissek).
 
 
 
 
3.  Second Class Signalman.
 
 
 
 
4.  Service Number:  U.N. 8138/41S.
 
 
 
 
5.  Identification disc lost by prisoner.
 
 
 
 
Place of birth:  Katowice, Poland.
 
 
Date of birth:  March 18, 1918.
 
 
Citizenship:  Polish by birth (became German citizen after 3 years under German Reign).
 
 
Educational background:  6 years of German schooling.
 
 
                                       2 years of Polish Night School.
 
 
Occupation prior to entry into military service:  Streetcar Conductor
 
 
Father's name:  John                 Address:  Katowice.
 
 
Mother's name:  Anna                   "                "
 
     
 
Prisoner:  Single - although has 15 month old son.
 
 
Mother of child:  Mary Munik - resides with Prisoner's parents.
 
     
  Brothers:  one, Egon Machon, 18 years old, serves on 10,000 ton Emden.  
  Sisters:  two - both married.  
          1.  Johana Pollak - husband:  Erich Pollok in German Aircorp in Sicily - has two sons - 30 years of age (Johanna).  
          2.  Efridea Machura - husband:  Richard - streetcar conductor - has one son - 27 years old (Efrie).  
          Both married sisters live in Katowice.  
     
  Prisoner has one brother in German Navy aboard cruiser Emden.  
                     one brother-in-law - Erich Pollok - German Air Force Sicily.  
                     one uncle in German Navy - serving now - has for nine years.  
  Has no relatives in any other countries except Poland.  
     
  Prisoner has no friends in United States.  
       "         "   one friend in internment camp in Brazil (from Graf Spee).  
     
  Travel:  Has been to Germany and France; France for a day - during sub school days to visit Sub Bases; Germany - visits.  
     
  Languages:  Prisoner speaks fluently and writes German and Polish, can understand Russian and Slavic.  
     
  No business experience prior to military service.  
  Prisoner first inducted into Military Service:  January, 1940 from Katowice (Poland).  
  First assigned to Pioneer Corp. on March 3, 1941.  Sent to Hamburg Germany, for Submarine Training (on request).  
     
  ENCLOSURE (A)                                               - 1 -  
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
U.S.S. ELLIS (154)
 
 
 
 
PRISONER OF GERMAN SUBMARINE #47986 (CONTINUED)
 
 
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Submarine Service:  Strict, advancement every 3 months.
 
 
Discipline:  Strict, severe.  Pay:  400 marks per month.
 
 
Clothing:  Supplied.        Food:  Poor.
 
 
 
 
MORALE AND HEALTH
 
 
 
 
        Prisoner taken from the water after ten (ten) days on a U.S. Bomber life raft adrift - Prisoner weak and grateful to be rescued - Prisoner sunburned and very thin.
 
 
        Mental condition:  exalted.
 
 
 
 
        Prisoner realizes that Axis will lose war after a period of two more years - hi own opinion.  Felt indifferent as to attitude of Nazis - would not make any definite statement for or against the Nazis Rule.
 
 
        Prisoner enjoyed his own job as signalman and radioman aboard Sub.
 
 
        Prisoner claimed under German rule, life was harder to live than under Polish rule.
 
 
        Military armed forces were not rationed as civilian population. 
 
 
        Prisoner trained (7) months for submarine duty,as signalman and radioman only - could not handle any other duties.
 
 
 
 
        Prisoner volunteered for submarine duty while with the German Army - Training for schooling received in Danzig - no sub bases here, nor were they built here.
 
 
        Submarine received only one attack - and also the last - October 2, 1942, Army bomber dropped depth charges on submarine and sank it.  Prisoner only member to escape out of sub.  Prisoner claimed no particular enemy arm is feared most.  Prisoner claimed officers very strict and never mingled with crew except in relationship or line of duty.  Shipmates of German submarine were not of same nationality, thus, they formed in groups of same nationality.
 
 
 
          Fifty men aboard submarine:  
                  Five commissioned officers.  
                  Three warrant officers.  
                  Two chief petty officers.  
                  Rest of men (40) forth, made up the complement of the submarine.  
     
          Commander Schultze - Captain of submarine - his first submarine.  Prisoner didn't know the experience the other men had with submarines.  
     
          No personnel such as Propaganda Ministry, etc., carried aboard sub.  
     
          Cruise lasted three (3) months, then followed by a one month leave - granted at Sub Base (Kiel).  
     
          Food was limited - water limited - no luxuries - bare necessities as far as food was concerned.  
     
  ENCLOSURE (A)                                               - 2 -  
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
U.S.S. ELLIS (154)
 
 
 
 
PRISONER OF GERMAN SUBMARINE #47986 (CONTINUED)
 
 
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Torpedoes carried - Twenty (20).  Range unknown to prisoner.
 
 
Steam and electric drive - kind of explosive unknown to prisoner. 
 
 
Type detonator - Prisoner didn't know.
 
 
This is the only information the prisoner claimed to have as far as torpedoes were concerned.
 
 
 
 
Radio - submerged radio reception not as good as on surface.
 
 
 
 
Prisoner claimed submarine had radio equipment for locating surface craft, also, surface listening device for planes.
 
 
 
 
Two surface craft guns and 5 (5) A.A. Guns carried - size unknown to prisoner.
 
 
 
 
During prisoners service on German submarine they had machinery trouble which they repaired at sea off the coast of Florida (15 miles from coast).
 
 
 
 
Six (6) men were on lookout watch at one time and two at periscopes when at periscope depth.
 
 
 
 
According to prisoner submarines operated singly.
 
 
 
 
Convoys located by hunting down.
  
 
Submarine lungs provided for crew - three escape hatches present on this particular submarine.
 
 
 
  Sinkings are reported to German Admiralty and Admiralty verifies as to ship sunk by radio.  
     
  Enemy intentions:  
          Commerce shipping.  
          Very little opposition expected.  
     
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
     
          Commander Schultze, his first submarine, according to prisoner was very ambitious and had tendency to take great chances.  Prisoner claimed, on October 2, 1942, the submarine surfaced between 1300 and 1330.  At approximately 1430, the U.S. Army bomber was sighted about five (5) kilometers, flying very low to the surface of the water.  German submarine tried to crash dive but was hit by two depth charges before it could dive sufficiently.  Prisoner claims he got his lung out and at fifty (50) meters had his lung on and decided to leave submarine through escape hatch.  Claimed other members of the crew didn't have enough time to get their lungs, and were affected by the chlorine gas discharged from battery.  
     
  ENCLOSURE (A)                                              - 3 -  
     
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
U.S.S. ELLIS (154)
 
 
 
 
PRISONER OF GERMAN SUBMARINE #47986 (CONTINUED)
 
 
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Prisoner claimed he was wedged in the escape hatch with another member of the crew, but, managed to get through - the other member failed to come through.
 
 
 
 
        Once on the surface, the prisoner discarded the lung and swam around for two hours, the U.S. Army bomber dropped him the rubber raft, and by signaling the plane, received a thermos jug of water.  The water lasted for six days.  On the eighth day, it rained and he managed to have fresh water again.  Food while adrift - the prisoner captured three sea gulls.  October 9, 1942, at 2200 sighted German submarine (surfaced), but, could not attract the submarine's attention.
 
 
 
 
        Prisoner was eager to talk the first day, October 12, 1942, but information given out not very accurate - contradicted himself many times.  Prisoner marveled at disposition of crew and was very grateful for rations given him.
 
 
 
 
        Prisoner claims he saw Japanese cruiser with a number of Japanese submarines in Lorient, France in December, 1941.  This was during the prisoner's training period when his group was taken to inspect the sub bases on the French coast.
 
 
 
 
        Submarine was built in Hamburg; left Hamburg on December 29, 1941 on shakedown cruise - cruised through the Kiel Canal, along Denmark to Norway to the Shetland Islands and up to Iceland.  Prisoner claimed the submarine as between 80 and 82 meters long and weighed at least 750 tons.  The submarine could be supplied for a cruise of four (4) months, although the submarine left Kiel Canal, August 5, 1942 and was to stay along the East Atlantic Coastline for a duration of three (3) months.
 
 
 
 
        Prisoner stated this submarine sank the S.S. Patrick Henry (U.S.) off the Dominican and reported the sinking to the German Admiralty.
 
 
 
     
     
     
 
ENCLOSURE (A)