U-66 Block Island Report on Survivors



	U.S.S. BLOCK ISLAND
	CVE21/A16-2 0F10/On.

	0018
	18 May 1944

	S E C R E T

	From:	The Commander Task Group 21.11 (Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Block Island).
	To:	The Commander in Chief, United States Fleet.
	Via:	The Commander Fleet Air, Norfolk.

	Subject:	Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.

	Reference:	(a) ALLANT 241740 of July 1943.
		(b) VCNO conf. ltr. Op-16-F-9, A16-2(4), serial 01227316 of 19 May 1942.

	Enclosures:	(A) List of Prisoners Captured.
		(B) Injured Prisoners. Medical Officer's Report on.
		(C) Prisoners aboard the BLOCK ISLAND, Group Photographs of.

	1. This report represents known facts and conclusions concerning the thirty-six survivors from a German submarine, believed to have been U-66, sunk by coordinated action of this task group on 6 May 1944. The narrative of the action leading up to the taking of the prisoners is presented in some detail so as to obviate the necessity on the part of the Office of Naval Intelligence of referring to operational reports which contain extraneous matter.

	2. This task group, comprised of U.S.S. BLOCK ISLAND and Destroyer Escort Division Sixty (4 Destroyer Escorts) moved into the area about five hundred miles west of the Cape Verde Islands on 1 May 1944 and for 10 days thereafter was in almost daily contact with a submarine believed to be a refueler which had been attacked earlier somewhat to the northwestward by the CROATAN group. Meanwhile COMINCH submarine estimates indicated another U-boat moving almost due north into the area from the South Atlantic, ostensibly planning a rendezvous with the refueler. On the morning of 5 May, or possibly earlier, this northbound cruiser entered the field of BLOCK ISLAND's anti-submarine patrol, which was being maintained on a 24-hour basis. The last apparent contact with the alleged refueler had been at 0530 GCT on 5 May in latitude 15⁰ 46' North, longitude 32⁰ 15' West. (All times hereafter are GCT).

	3. The task group was cruising on the evening of 5 May at a point about 60 miles north of this contact, with planes in the air covering an area of 125 miles radius. At 2150 the task group's course was

	1.



	CVE21/A16-2	0F10/On.

	0018
	S E C R E T	18 May 1944

	Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.
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	changed from 000⁰(T), zig-zagging, to 180⁰(T), without zig-zagging. The ship's radar control was making complete sweeps of the screen with its' SG radar when the operator, at 2222, suddenly picked up a strong blip, approximately the same size as that of the escort vessels, but fluctuating a little, bearing 300⁰(T) (off the starboard quarter) 5,000 yards. The ship made an emergency turn to 120⁰, putting on flank speed of 18.5 knots. The BUCKLEY was detached from the screen to investigate the contact, which it was never able to pick up itself either on radar or by sound contact. Planes were brought into orbit over the area where the BUCKLEY continued to search. At 0008, one of the pilots thought he had something momentarily on his screen, in the vicinity, but could not be sure.

	No further traces of the enemy whatever were observed until 0330, when Lieutenant (jg) Jimmie J. Sellars, A-V(N), picked up a definite blip bearing 330⁰T, twenty miles from the BUCKLEY. Lieutenant (jg) Sellars was flying a TBM1-c, which had been adapted for all night 12-14 hour) patrol operations by removing all the armament, including even its machine guns, to enable it to carry extra gasoline tanks. Thus the pilot found himself sitting over a surfaced submarine with no weapon to attack. No other armed planes were nearer than 75 miles. Immediately upon receipt of the report, the BLOCK ISLAND, which by then was eight miles away, continuing on Point Option with regular aircraft operations, instructed the plane to direct the BUCKLEY in to attack, preparing at the same time to launch "killer" planes. The "killer" planes, which got off at 0334, arrived on the scene after the BUCKLEY and sub had closed and were thus unable to take part in the engagement. Lieutenant (jg) Sellars, over his submarine, observed it maneuvering violently on the surface, at times circling, sometimes making sharp evasive turns, as if the German thought the plane was a high altitude bomber. When the BUCKLEY came within range of Sellars' radar, he was able to direct it in accurately.

	4. Excerpts from the BUCKLEY's action report on the engagement are herewith presented:
	Upon receiving the report of sighting, "Speed was increased to flank (23.5 knots) and ship headed for contact on information given by plane. During the ensuing forty-five minutes, plane continued to give a steady stream of useful information on the actions of the submarine. The night was brilliantly moonlit, with the moon at about 25⁰ high to the west. Radar contact on SL radar was made at 14,000 yards, bearing 335⁰T, at 0345. General quarters was sounded at 0346, it being then apparent that the sub was closer than originally supposed. BUCKLEY altered course to 340⁰T.

	2.



	CVE21/A16-2	0F10/On.

	0018
	S E C R E T	18 May 1944

	Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.
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	"Flank speed was maintained, and it was decided to approach the sub as nearly as possible up the path of the moon. . . It was also decided to withhold fire until the last possible minute on the chance that the sub might think BUCKLEY was the other sub due at the rendezvous. The first indication that sub had sighted BUCKLEY came when the sub fired three red flares which were apparently a recognition signal, at 0408. BUCKLEY did not reply. (These are evaluated by CTG 21.11 as 20mm shells which were fired about that time at the plane, to which the pilot replied with his .45 automatic pistol, the only weapon in the plane!).

	"At range 4,000 yards, the submarine came into full view silhouetted against the moon. BUCKLEY, still at 23 knots, came left with standard rudder to course 260⁰T, bringing sub dead ahead. Just after the turn personnel aft reported a torpedo wake passing down the starboard side. At 0419, course was altered right to 290⁰T to keep the sub in the moon and to avoid torpedoes. All guns were loaded at this time. The sub opened fire first with machine guns.

	"The next few minutes witnesses fast action, as follows: 0420 - order given on BUCKLEY to commence firing. Range 2,100 yards. The very first salvo from 3" guns scored a direct hit on the sub's forecastle just forward of the conning tower. Possibly this salvo put the sub's deck gun out of action. Rapid fire followed from all guns that would bear, including 20mm, 40mm, and 3".

	"0422 - Ceased fire. Sub was getting out of moon wake to the north and lookouts reported a torpedo wake on starboard bow. Rudder was put over right full, fire from sub's machine-guns was considerable at this time, but very high, the tracers consistently passing over the heads of personnel on the bridge.

	"0422 - Resumed fire. Range 1,500 yards. Sub was again directly up-moon at this time, fire from all guns was very rapid and accurate. 20mm shells could be seen bursting and spattering on the sub's conning tower, and all fire from sub ceased, except for intermittent short bursts. Sub maneuvering rapidly at about 19 knots, apparently in an effort to open range, but making no attempt to dive. Plane T-21 of the U.S.S. BLOCK ISLAND, directly overhead contributed valuable and accurate spotting information by (high frequency) voice radio. Throughout this period range was closing rapidly. A fire was started in the sub's bridge by the intense gun fire and this burned with increasing intensity until snuffed out by a direct 3-inch hit.

	3.



	CVE21/A16-2	0F10/On.

	0018
	S E C R E T	18 May 1944

	Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.
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	"0427 - Sub close aboard (ten yards) to starboard. Raked from end to end by machine gun fire (20mm and 40mm).

	"0428 - BUCKLEY, alongside sub, gives hard right rudder. Rides up on forecastle of sub and stays there. Men begin swarming out of submarine and up on BUCKLEY's forecastle with their hands up. Machine gun, tommy gun, and rifle fire knocks off several before ships company realize U-boats crew is surrendering. (There were several hand-to-hand engagements at this moment. One boarder fell over the side as the climax of a fist fight with a pharmacist's mate. Another was brained by a gunner with an empty shell case). BUCKLEY suffers only casualty of engagement when man bruises fist knocking one of the enemy over the side.

	"0430 - BUCKLEY stops all engines and backs off, to avoid boarding by too many of enemy. Sub draws ahead rapidly to port, maintaining speed of about 18 knots.

	"0431 - All engines ahead full. Machine gun, small arms, and 3-inch hit rain on sub's topside. BUCKLEY again closes range. All engines ahead flank.

	"0435 - Sub, still making about 18 knots, intentionally or out of control, veers sharply toward BUCKLEY, now alongside at distance of twenty-five yards. Buckley stops starboard engine and gives right full rudder to swing stern clear and protect shafting. Sub strikes BUCKLEY glancing blow and bow of sub rides under BUCKLEY's forward engine room. Sub slowly rolls over to 60⁰ angle. Man on deck of sub attempting to man gun disintegrates when hit by four 40mm shells. Torpedomen throw two hand grenades, one of which drops through the sub's conning tower hatch before exploding. 20mm continue raking fire. Sub slowly draws aft on starboard side with bow under BUCKLEY, scraping along starboard side.

	"0436 - Sub clears and passes astern, still making about 15 knots. Sub disappears under surface of water at this speed with conning tower and forward hatches open and fire blazing from them, apparently completely abandoned and out of control. Entire action lasted 16 minutes.

	"0439 - Deep underwater explosion heard, followed by several smaller explosions. Plane dropped sonobuoy on position. Indications negative. BUCKLEY starts sound gear. No contact.

	"For the next three hours BUCKLEY steamed at slow speed through the area, picking up a total of thirty-six survivors, including four officers. Several large oil slicks were present."

	4.



	CVE21/A16-2	0F10/On.

	0018
	S E C R E T	18 May 1944

	Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.
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	5. That the doomed U-boat got off HF transmissions to Control, first when the plane was sighted overhead and later while she was under attack and sinking, is seen in the sequence of HF bearings taken by the shore-based network and by the BLOCK ISLAND as well. Reference is made to Cominch dispatches 060456 and 060514. As recorded by the BLOCK ISLAND, DAQ picked up a 6 group B-bar transmission on 4790 kc at 0321, (one minute after Sellars sighted the submarine). With the enemy then seventy-six miles away, the transmission was reported as just on the border line between sky wave and ground wave, and no bearing could be established. A transmission recorded by COMINCH at 0328 was missed by the ship, but a third, at 0340, a repetition of an Enigma, gave a bearing of 317⁰T, which was directly on the established position of the submarine. At 0422, two minutes after the BUCKLEY had opened fire on the U-boat, DAQ again recorded a transmission, bearing 306⁰T, this time a three group B-bar and still on 4790 kc. Thus it may be assumed that German Control got notice not only of the plane sighting but of the actual coordinated attack as well.

	6. About six hours after the submarine was sunk, two other escorts from the task group, searching the area, made strong sound contact only fourteen miles from the scene of the sinking, southeast. Several attacks were delivered with forward firing projectors, from which three positive results were observed. However, further possible contacts were made with the submarine during the next few days, apparently moving very slowly northward beneath the surface, never at greater speed than three knots. Then, although the area was saturated day and night with plane coverage, all traces ceased, so that the second submarine is tentatively evaluated by TG 21.11 as sunk. This was probably the refueler, with whom the subject submarine was attempting a rendezvous.

	7. In the natural confusion attendant upon being boarded before dawn by fifteen or more Nazis, having to get them under control while finishing off a still active submarine, and picking up the remainder of the survivors, it appears that the BUCKLEY's crew had a chance to make a start toward getting souvenirs. However, order was soon restored. The prisoners were separated by rank: officers, petty officers, and enlisted men. All personnel effects were confiscated: the BUCKLEY's crew was required to yield up the articles that had been taken from the prisoners. Emergency treatment was given to the several wounded men. (See enclosure "B" - Injured Prisoners, Medical Officer's Report on.) That afternoon the somewhat battered BUCKLEY was given a royal welcome upon rejoining the TG, and came alongside the BLOCK ISLAND to deliver the prisoners and gear. The transfer of thirty-one of the survivors had been effected when the tactical situation required that the BUCKLEY cast off. The remaining five men were brought aboard the ship the next day, 7 May 1944.

	5.



	CVE21/A16-2	0F10/On.

	0018
	S E C R E T	18 May 1944

	Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.
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	8. In all, there were four officers, ten warrant officers and petty officers, and twenty-two enlisted men. They were kept segregated in these three groups, on the U.S.S. BLOCK ISLAND. The officers were questioned immediately. They did not care to volunteer any useful information other than personal data, and were not pressed for it. They were questioned individually, of course, and only after questioning were they allowed to speak with one another. They were placed in the compartment in officers' country which usually contains the officers' barber shop, a compartment which has on two other occasions accommodated a group of four German U-boat officers. They were kept under constant guard throughout the cruise, had their meals brought to them from the wardroom, and so did not even get to see the wardroom at all. They were allowed out of their room only to go to sickbay (when summoned), to be taken up to the well deck for exercise once daily as a group, and to go (under guard) to the adjacent head. Their treatment might be best summed up in the statement "they were left alone." They expressed the desire to visit the wounded in sick-bay, giving assurance that they would not talk to them. This was politely denied them, and they took it in a perfectly satisfactory manner. In general it can be said that they were dignified, aloof, but congenial in response when addressed, as well as duly grateful for such small favors as being given a pinochle deck with which to while away the hours. Of the four, OberLeutnant Herbig was the most talkative. On one occasion, alone with the prisoner of war officer in sick bay, he gave useful information which is presented later in this report.

	The petty officers and enlisted men can be described simultaneously. They were congenial, not arrogant, submitted to all commands with good speed, and all remarked about the excellent way in which they were being treated. They were not, as a matter of fact, treated with undue friendliness, but apparently the matter of fact treatment, without hatred or malice, and the ample food from the crew's mess where they ate after the crew at each mealtime, impressed them. One or two of them were particularly talkative and showed definite prospects of being useful in revealing further information. They are described elsewhere in this report. They were kept in two different groups in adjoining rooms, with a guard in between to keep them separated. They were allowed out of those rooms only to go to the head, to sickbay (when called) for a haircut, and once each day for exercise on the well-deck, in segregated groups. They were also sent, in separate groups, back and forth to the mess hall for meals. Their treatment, too, can be best described by saying that they were "left alone." Guards were instructed not to converse with them. None of the ship's company was allowed access to any of the prisoners, except the ship's intelligence officer and the prisoner of war officer. They were given cigarettes, as were the officers, and harmless games.

	6.



	CVE21/A16-2	0F10/On.

	0018
	S E C R E T	18 May 1944

	Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.
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	All prisoners showed definite signs of improved health after they had a few days of rest and good food with a little fresh air. Their vitamin deficiency had led to skin eruptions in many cases. Their beards were well-grown. They looked sallow and tired, when they came aboard, and can perhaps best be described as looking like the very antithesis of the rugged, virile "supermen" with which one is given to understand Germany is now populated.

	9. In general, the questioning of prisoners was conducted as follows: They were first asked their name, rank or rating, age, service number, next of kin, and home address. These data were written on cards in their presence. Then they were asked if they wanted to tell of their experiences in escaping from the U-boat and being picked up by the destroyer. Occasionally a remark was interjected, but they were never pressed for information they did not care to give. Some of their accounts were fairly detailed. Some were asked in various manners to confirm the name of the U-boat and the captain's name. Some did, most didn't. Here, too, they were not pressed. As usual, it was found much more beneficial to give ample tim to that small minority who were talkative, and to pass over the others rather perfunctorily, once it was seen that they did not care to talk.

	There follows a resume of the more significant evidence as assembled by Lieutenant Roy L. Swift, prisoner-of-war officer, from the prisoners' testimony during interviews, from their personal effects, papers, and letters. This is presented in order to indicate to the Office of Naval Intelligence the ground that was covered in the necessary preliminary interviews. It is to be stressed that the task group commander has not accepted this evidence as final. Irrelevant. trivial, as well as obviously exaggerated or distorted claims are not here presented. However, such statements are filed in the prisoners' individual dockets for evaluation by the Office of Naval Intelligence.

	10. The conclusion that the submarine was U-66 is supported by pictures and papers taken off the prisoner Hermann Hartmann, Obermachinenmaat, as well as independently derived testimony from other prisoners. Hartmann, probably a veteran of several cruises, had with him a collection of official photographs, all in one set, showing (a) the U-boat docking, with part of its crew on review, (b) the former Captain, just decorated with the Cross, but in rumpled working uniform and flowing beard, passing in review with a Naval Captain before a company of officers in a shipyard, and (c) petty officers from the ship being entertained in sumptuous surroundings at

	7.

Enlargement of Obermachinenmaat Hermann Hartmann's photograph of U-66 docking

CVE21/A16-2

0F10/On.

0018

S E C R E T

18 May 1944

Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.

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an official reception. Another personal portrait, addressed to Hartmann, reads "In grateful appreciation, from (_________) Markworf, Kapitan-Leutnant and Commanding Officer, "U-66, 1-9-43."

The reconstruction, acknowledged in part by prisoners, is that U-66 returned on September 1, 1943, from a long and successful cruise (see below), when the crew was feted, the Captain decorated and detached. Kapitan-Leutnant Markworf was succeeded by one Kapitan-Leutnant Seehausen, about whom nothing has been learned except that he lived in Aachen.

The interviewing officers had a 11 X 14 enlargement copied from the small photograph of the sub in harbor. When this blow-up was shown to Wolf Loch, Sanitätsmaat, who speaks the best English among the prisoners, he first affected no interest. Then when he recognized men among the group on deck, he showed real consternation, asking, "Where did you get this picture?" He was allowed to believe it was already in the ship's files. He pointed out several among the men, adding that it appeared to be a group of the "technicians." The man with the large beard in the extreme left of the picture he said was lost when the sub was sunk. Two other prisoners volunteered, independent of leading questions, that the insignia appearing on the conning tower was a lion's head with a diamond shaped border. This device, which one said had its origin in a World War I tradition and denoted the "Eppkorps," may have been painted over when Markworf was transferred, for some asserted there was no insignia on the conning tower during the last cruise.

11. The smug security-consciousness of the prisoners contrasts remarkably with the revealing material which they carried in their pockets. A typewritten sheet of paper, of the nature that might have been prepared as a memento, and which was turned over to the intelligence officers by the BUCKLEY without identification as to its original owner, gives the entire history of U-66. This seems valid, for it compares very closely with the record of her sister ship, "U-67" of the series 64-68, as presented in ONI 250-G, Serial No. 16.

The paper, written in German, reads as follows:

	"In the West, 29 September 1943.
Undertakings of "U-66"
1.	Undertaking from August 28, 1941 until September 9, 1941
2.	Undertaking from December 25, 1941 until February 2, 1942

CVE21/A16-2

0F10/On.

0018

S E C R E T

18 May 1944

Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.

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3.	Undertaking from March 21, 1942 until May 25, 1942
4.	Undertaking from June 24, 1942 until September 29, 1942
5.	Undertaking from November 8, 1942 until November 11, 1942
6.	Undertaking from January 6, 1943 until March 24, 1943
7.	Undertaking from April 27, 1943 until September 1, 1943."

Then there is an official typewritten memo, "In the West, 1 November 1943," addressed to U-66, giving instructions for the exchange of water flasks, signed by a supply petty officer attached to the Flotilla, at the naval yards in Lorient. Thus it may be construed that about November 1 the U-boat had either returned to Lorient from another short cruise, or was preparing to depart that base after a long overhaul. That her home port was Lorient was freely volunteered by several prisoners.

Little valid information on previous cruises was picked up. Of very doubtful value are the statements allegedly made by the officers in Braggadocio to a mess attendant that (a) in March 1943 the U-boat had fired torpedoes at the U.S.S. CORE five hundred miles off the coast of France; (b) that it had once hit the U.S.S. Ranger, off the coast of Africa; (c) that it had sunk two transports in the North Atlantic. The possible worth of any of these items is weakened by such accompanying statements as: (a) that the U-boat was of 380 tons, and was No. 13; (b) that No. 14 was nearby; and that (c) that home port was St. Nazaire.

The prisoner Harry Schöneck, Obergefreiter, likewise offered extravagant statements which may nevertheless have had some truth. He asserted that U-66 had sunk a total of "over thirty" ships, mostly merchantmen, though he claimed two English destroyers. The only names of merchantmen he gave were the "ST. MARGARET", of 4,300 tons, and the "SILVER MARBLE." It is noted that neither of these vessels appears in ONI 209. Possibly the latter name refers to the "SILVER MAPLE."

12. Certain of the survivors asserted that U-66 left Lorient on her last cruise "about the middle of March" or "toward the last of March." However, the long beards sported by the mature members of the crew, plus the extreme vitamin deficiency from which nearly all were suffering (especially evidenced by the dead-white, loosening fingernails) would indicate that almost certainly they had been out longer than six weeks. The only direct testimony in support of this is that of Harry Schöneck, who was hospitalized aboard the BLOCK ISLAND, his heel having been shot off during the engagement. Schöneck, in conversation with the pharmacist's mate Horen, asserted that his ship put to sea February 18, 1944. Qualifying the



	CVE21/A16-2	0F10/On.

	0018
	S E C R E T	18 May 1944

	Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.
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	validity of that assertion is his accompanying remark that it "goes to port for its supplies and does not get them from another submarine." Nevertheless, several days later, when asking to be put in the sunshine, he said, "I've not been in the sun for one hundred days," a claim given strength by his and his comrades' extreme pallor. The vitamin deficiency might have been averted had it not been for a self-confessed blunder by the medical corpsman, Wolf Loch. He told ruefully of having been issued before departure, "a very large box of vitamin pills, which from its size appeared surely to be large enough. It was my first cruise. Stupidly I did not read the invoice. When it came time to use the pills, I found the box was mainly packing, or insulation, with only a small bottle of vitamin pills. They lasted only a week. Oh, how dumb I felt - - -and our Captain: he said, "How could you have done such a thing?" It was reported that Loch once stated, in the ship's sick bay, that these pills had been issued "during the eighth week" at sea.

	The prisoners were generally close-mouthed about their operations on the cruise. Roland Gaiser, Maschinengefreiter, was the most loquacious. In the course of a long, casual conversation, he dropped these remarks: "We were home bound - - - we had operated along the coast of Africa - - - so far as I know, we weren't below the equator." Certainly their entire cruise must have been in dangerous waters, for obviously none of the crew had any time on deck in daylight.

	13. The most significant known fact about U-66's recent operations is that at the time of the sinking there were on board two survivors from an English merchantman. This was first mentioned by the medical corpsman Loch, while he was still on board the BUCKLEY. When questioned by the BLOCK ISLAND's interviewing officers, he at first repudiated the story, then loosened up and talked somewhat freely. Other prisoners, including one officer, OberLeutnant Klaus Herbig, confirmed the story and added some details. None would say when they took the prisoners, but several volunteered the name of the ship, pronouncing it variously as if it might be "JEAN HOLT" or JOHN HOLD". No ship with a name resembling this had been found listed. They asserted that it was of 4,800 to 5,000 tons. No one ever definitely claimed that U-66 had sunk the ship.

	The ship's captain was one of the survivors aboard U-66. His name was pronounced by OberLeutnant Herbig as if it might be "Hyams" or "Heims", or possibly "Harms." He was described by Brode as about 40 years of age, greyhaired, heavy-set, and approximately 6 feet tall. It was believed that he had a wife and two children in Liverpool, England. The other men, described as a "Kaufman" or some kind of merchant, had been a passenger on the ship. About 38 to 40 years of age, his name was Eliot.

	10.



	CVE21/A16-2	0F10/On.

	0018
	S E C R E T	18 May 1944

	Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.
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	These men had the run of the ship, it was claimed, and lived in officers quarters. All the Germans were quick to assert that at the time of the final attack these two Englishmen were seen "with their life-jackets on." One recalled having seen them start up the conning tower ladder with three crew members, none of whom survived. The most reasonable conclusion that can be drawn is that the two Englishmen died on the bridge in the hail of fire concentrated by the BUCKLEY there, and that they went down with the ship. There appears no reason to put a more sinister interpretation on their loss.

	The sole physical evidence of their presence aboard U-66, and that is pretty remote, is a clothing tag confiscated from one of the Germans. It is printed in English, in a format that might well be British, describing the measurements of the suit of overalls to which it had been attached. The name of the manufacturer has been obliterated.

	14. The commanding officer of the BUCKLEY reported that one of the exhausted survivors, shortly after being brought aboard, spoke with much feeling of having been "harried by aircraft for several days." The testimony of such prisoners as would talk at all aboard the BLOCK ISLAND was that they had not been attacked by aircraft. Several, however, acknowledged having been aware of planes in the area for several days; one suggested that they had made a crash dive on one occasion, and two said they had heard "detonations" at a "great distance" which might have been from depth charge attacks somewhere else. Harry Schöneck, a week after having been brought aboard the BLOCK ISLAND, told an attendant that the sub was finally forced up by the foul air, and he mentioned moisture or water inside the sub.

	The interviewing officers, working on that basis that the immediate tactical significance to the task group justified the measure, put considerable effort into an attempt to establish that U-66 was awaiting rendezvous with the refueler. Although nothing definite was learned, they feel that the reaction generally encountered gave tacit admission of the fact. Officers shut up and grew sullen when the subject was broached. Most of the seamen seemed genuinely surprised at the question, but said readily that as enlisted men they "wouldn't know anyhow." Roland Gaiser, Obergefreiter, was completely unfamiliar with the term "milch kühe." It tickled his fancy so much after its connotations sank in that he lay back chuckling and murmuring the word over and over appreciatively. Only Wolf Loch, (who may be more clever than tentatively given credit for) offered any positive

	11.



	CVE21/A16-2	0F10/On.

	0018
	S E C R E T	18 May 1944

	Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.
	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

	support of the theory, and his was vague. After admitting that it was his impression that something of the sort was afoot, he hedged with his "but I'm not a military man, and really wouldn't know such things." When first brought aboard BUCKLEY, some of the survivors asked repeatedly what time it was, and appeared apprehensive that the ship was in imminent danger of being torpedoed.

	15. The question that remains quite unanswered is whether the submarine actually saw the task group earlier in the night when the radar contact was picked up by BLOCK ISLAND. Loch is reported to have bragged aboard the BUCKLEY that the submarine had been alongside the BLOCK ISLAND that evening, ready to fire a spread of torpedoes, when something happened. Pharmacist's mate Horen reported a confirmation of this story when Loch came aboard, with the elaboration that the sub crew knew the name of the carrier. All of this could have been passed to Loch by an indiscrete guard on the Buckley in the early confusion. In his later conversation with the interviewing officers Loch was entirely mute on the subject

	OberLeutnant Herbig, in a conversation conducted casually by Ensign Warren while the German officer was having his wounds dressed in sick bay, protested that it was all together impossible for the sub to have fired either at the BLOCK ISLAND or the BUCKLEY. "- - -and I ought to know, for I'm the torpedo officer. We were out of torpedoes!" (Gaiser, however, said "we had torpedoes: I don't know why we didn't use them.") And the officers once boasted to a guard that they had had the ship in their sights "Four or five times."

	16. The principal explanation offered by the prisoners for the sub's electing to stay on the surface and run and fight was that it would have been unwise to submerge with a plane overhead and a destroyer so close.

	Roland Gaiser offered the following confused statements: (a) "We couldn't have made a crash dive with the destroyer only 3,000 meters away" (b) "If we could have dived successfully, we would have. Either it was too late or there was something wrong with the diving apparatus. The Captain undoubtedly had his reasons;" (c) "A direct hit had injured the Diesels."

	17. From the following testimony by Walter Drehwek, Matrosen Obergefreiter, it would appear that conditions were normal when he reported to the bridge for lookout duty a short time before the plane sighting. Drehwek was eager to tell his story, launching into it volubly as an adventure that had made a great impression on him. It will be noticed that it checks very closely with BUCKLEY's action report:

	12.



	CVE21/A16-2	0F10/On.

	0018
	S E C R E T	18 May 1944

	Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.
	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

	The Captain was not on the bridge. It was a clear, calm moonlit night, with good visibility. Drehwek had relieved the watch as forward lookout perhaps three quarters of an hour ago, it was hard to say. He had been given no special orders. It was simply an ordinary change of watches with no special instructions. Suddenly, in looking about, he noticed an airplane approaching. He quickly reported this fact; the Captain was notified and ordered general alarm and full speed ahead. Anti-aircraft guns were manned and readied, but they were not fired at this point, for it was thought that perhaps the plane had not seen them, and firing would give away their presence. However, it soon became apparent that the plane had seen them, and it circled about, the men on the bridge of the U-boat thinking that it might be circling to make a run on the submarine. This was not the case, however, for the plane flew off.

	The U-boat did not submerge. The plane returned, "after quite some time." It circled above the U-boat, and it looked as though the pilot was going to make an attack, so they opened fire on the plane. Drehwek knew of no rockets being sent up. Suddenly, the after lookout saw the destroyer. It must have been about 3,000 meters away. (From all indications, this was their first indication of the presence of the destroyer, who presumably was in range of their listening devices long before that. Something apparently went wrong here). "We had been schooled in recognition of different types of ships. I got that as part of my training. A destroyer lies flat and low in the water, while a merchant ship is much higher. A destroyer is small, too, as ships go. I didn't see the destroyer first, for it came up in the sector covered by the after lookout, and I was forward lookout. But then I took a look at it through the glass and it certainly was a destroyer all right. I don't know why we didn't dive. He had more weapons than we did, and heavier, but I guess the Captain had his reasons. Anyway, I am just an unimportant fellow on the U-boat. I can't tell the Captain he ought to do this or that." Apparently the tactics against the plane were to maneuver violently to avoid attack, while in the case of the destroyer, the Captain wanted to outrun it on the surface if possible. So the submarine tended to keep her stern toward the destroyer. The destroyer nevertheless kept closing, and finally opened fire. According to Drehwek, the submarine returned the fire, but the submarine had received so much damage while the destroyer was still apparently a thousand meters away that already the Captain was severely wounded by a direct hit on the bridge, and a direct hit had also been scored on the base of the conning tower. The wounded Captain nevertheless thought it was worth fighting, and tried for a while, but soon the order was given to secure the guns and abandon ship. This was before the destroyer came close enough to ram. (In fact, the testimony of another prisoner, Buttgereit, confirms this. Buttgereit was already in the water, in obedience to the command "Abandon ship" before the submarine was rammed). The position of the lookout was described as being

	13.



	CVE21/A16-2	0F10/On.

	0018
	S E C R E T	18 May 1944

	Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.
	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

	atop the conning tower, protected by a more or less circular screen from shell fragments, only his head being exposed.

	According to Drehwek, the DE was first sighted on the sub's starboard quarter, the submarine then trying to put it dead astern. The DE finally came up on the port side, and rammed from port, immediately forward of the conning tower, and so close that many of them jumped across to the deck of the DE, about one to three meters, clutching the railing and not even getting wet. Some went down between the two ships, Drehwek thinks. At least in the immediate moments before the ramming, the submarine was not capable of being steered, although it still was apparently underway.

	Drehwek, who was on the bridge all the time, said that no order was given from the bridge to fire torpedoes, and, as far as he knows, none were fired.

	Shortly before the U-boat sank, Drehwek abandoned his post at last, jumping into the sea. He was recovered by the BUCKLEY later.

	18. No one professes to know exactly what was the fate of the commanding officer, Kapitan Leutnant Seehausen. Most say they never saw him during the engagement. But Drehwek's testimony indicates he did come to the bridge, only to be wounded. One man offered that his serious injuries made it impossible for him to get off the bridge so that he undoubtedly remained until destroyed by gunfire.

	19. It will be noticed that most of the survivors are engineers or machinists of various rate, radiomen, and others whose duty at general quarters would have kept below. Probably nearly all the men stationed topside were killed. Of no special interest was the story of escape given by most of the survivors.

	Monumental in its Caesarian paucity, however, is the version given by the old sea dog, Stabsobersteuermann Werner Fröhlich. "This much I will say", he proclaimed roundly. "The order came: 'Abandon ship' I jumped to the forecastle of the destroyer!"

	Wolf Loch, as well as several others, had a more harrowing experience. Loch could scarcely speak for several days because "I screamed so much, 'Help me! Help me!' as I paddled about in the water, with the destroyer passing and passing, until it seemed it would surely abandon me." Harry Schöneck, without a life jacket and with his heel mangles by a 20mm shell, stayed afloat three hours before he was recovered.

	14.



	CVE21/A16-2	0F10/On.

	0018
	S E C R E T	18 May 1944

	Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.
	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

	No bodies were picked up by the BUCKLEY. It was not definitely determined whether any were sighted by that ship. Planes orbiting the area all morning saw only the large oil slicks.

	20. In addition to the documents already mentioned, several other papers of probable significance were recovered. One of these is a set of scrawled lessons by Matrosengefreiter Helmut Künkel, obviously prepared as an effort toward a higher rating. The importance is that they describe the steps taken by the men in the engine-room at the time of a crash dive. Unfortunately, the validity of Künkel's observations is assailed by the notation scrawled at the bottom by his petty officer: "You must have been asleep!" another sheet bears a very crude diagram of the compartments of the submarine, while another has computations apparently relating to maneuver in changing the trim of the vessel by shifting water or oil in the tanks.

	One set of pictures is of interest because each snapshot has written across the back "Afrika!" along with a notation concerning "Bad Honburg" and various dates in 1943. Oddly, the pictures appear to have been taken in cities or country-side of Latin influence, very possibly Italy. And those persons who have been flattered by natives making the sign of the "V" in exuberant demonstration will be deflated by one of the snapshots showing a German soldier walking down a street, surrounded by Latin children gleefully giving him the "Heil" salute.

	21. All these papers and small personal effects have been filed, insofar as possible, in individual dockets for each prisoner. Each docket contains, as all, the man's photograph as taken at the moment he came aboard the BLOCK ISLAND, with a data card and any notes recorded concerning him. A number of small pieces of gear, such as gas flasks from the life jackets and rafts, flashlights, etc., were recovered. Of particular interest was a good pair of 7 X 50 binoculars of unusual design and a 7.65 mm automatic pistol of French make, with full clip of shells, both of which were taken from officers. It is understood that one German automatic was retained aboard the BUCKLEY.





	15.



	CVE21/A16-2	0F10/On.

	0018
	S E C R E T	18 May 1944

	Subject: Surviving Prisoners from U-66, Report on.
	- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

	The prisoner's clothing was thoroughly dried aboard the BLOCK ISLAND, then packed in a sea-bag which was kept under lock and key, as was all other gear.

	22. Dockets, gear, and clothing, along with one copy of this report, will be delivered to the officer representatives of the Office of Naval Intelligence, Moroccan Sea Frontier, Casablanca, F.M., at the time the prisoners are duly discharged to authorities in that command.




	F. M. HUGHES


	COPIES TO:
	Office of Naval Intelligence
	The Commander, Moroccan Sea Frontier Forces (2)
	(District Intelligence Office).

U.S.S. BLOCK ISLAND

PRISONERS FROM U-66

OFFICERS

Georg Olschewski, Oberleutnant (Ing.)
	Frau Olschewski
	Cuxhaven
	Steinmarnerstr. 62

Richard Ketelsen, Oberleutnant
	Frau Eda Ketelsen
	Flensburg
	Friesischestr 68

Klaus Herbig, Oberleutnant
	Frau Elfrieda Herbig (Mother)
	Bessin bei Altefaehr
	Auf Insel Ruegen

Ludwig Fintsch, Leutnant (Ing.)
	Sthuth Hameln a.d. Wiese
	Goethestr. 4


	COMMISSIONED WARRANT OFFICERS, WARRANT OFFICERS, AND PETTY OFFICERS

Werner Fröhlich, Stabsobersteuermann, 30		UN 184/32S
	Frau Hilda Fröhlich
	Wilhelmshaven
	EDO/Wienken 17

Walter Landvoegt, Obermachinist, 27		UN 1883/35T
	Frau Landvoegt (Wife)
	Litz-Donau
	Ringstr. 1

Karl Degener-Böning, Oberfunkmaat, 25		UN 206/38T
	Frau Eliz. Degener-Böning (Mother)
	Werl in Lippe
	Post Schötner

Georg Grölz, Maschinenmaat, 24		UN 2050/38T
	Herrn Georg Grölz (Father)
	Marburg-Lahn
	Marbacherweg, 49

Hermann Hartmann, Obermachinenmaat, 25		UN 1251/38T
	Frau Karoline Hartmann (Mother)
	Gerabronn (Württenberg)
	Rothhenburgerstr. 15

ENCLOSURE "A"

U.S.S. BLOCK ISLAND

Richard Hohn, Obersteuermann, 26		UO 513/36S
	Frau Agnes Hohn (Wife)
	Gotenhaven
	Adof Hitlerstr. 99

Wolf Loch, Sanitätsmaat (US), 27		N 2246/39K
	Lotte-Lore Loch
	Kappeln a.d. Schlei
	Lusthof 17

Franz Nirnberger, Maschinenmaat, 23		UN 7198/40T
	Frau Lisa Nirnberger (Wife)
	Linz Ansfeldden-Haid 40

Werner Pasedag, Funkmaat, 24		UO 510/40T
	Herrn Paul Pasedag
	Dock Mecklenburg
	bei Seestadt Wismark

Bernhard, Terinde, Obermaschinist, 27		UN 1046/35T
	Frau Gerda Terinde (Wife)
	Steinbeck
	Kreis Tecklenburg in Westfalon

	SEEMEN

Helmut Angerstein, Matrose		UN 1315/41T
	Wilhelm Angerstein
	Wien 18
	Schumanngasse 20

Kurt Brode, Gefreiter, 19		UN 31269/42
	Herrn Ewald Brode
	Krosigk-Uber-Halle (Saale)

Leonard Burian, Matrosengefr., 22		UO 12307/42S
	Stephan Burian
	Oberhausen-Osterfeld
	Rheinland

Fritz Buttgereit, Maschinengefr., 20		UO 55529/42T
	Frau Erna Buttgereit (Mother)
	Mühlhausen in Thüringen
	Untere Ratsstrasse 4

Walter Drehwek, Matrosenobergefr., 21		UN 29251/41S
	Frau Franziska Hacheney (Mother)
	Bechum-Langendreer
	Brinkstrasse 4

U.S.S. BLOCK ISLAND

Kurt Fickel, Matrosenobergefr., 21		UO 11513/41S
	Herrin Martin Fickel
	Brockau bei Aue
	Sachsen

Roland Gaiser, Machinengefr., 20		UN 20496/41T
	Herrn Willi Gaiser
	Mannheim-Baden
	Langstr. 89

Willi Hahner, Mashinenobergefr., 20		UN 2237/41T
	Fraulein Rosa Hahner
	Petersberg 51
	Fulaland-Urhessen

Heinrich Haller, Matrosenobergefr., 21		UO 17113/40S
	Heinrich Haller
	Darmstadt-Eberstadt
	Heidelbergerstr. 75

Hans Hoffmann, Maschinengefr., 19		UN 15390/42T
	Konrad Hoffmann
	Frankenberg Eder
	Kegelberg 7
	Hessen

Helmut Illing, Obergefr.,		UN 14307/40S
	Herrn Fritz Illing
	Remscheid Fürbergerland 34

Anton Klaus, Obergefr., 21		UN 11385/41T
	Herrn Anton Klaus
	Neheim-Hüsten I.
	Westfalen

Horst Koch, Maschinenobergefr., 23		UN 11393/41
	Frau Lisa Koch
	Leipzig
	Johannesplatz 13

Helmut Künkel, Matrosengefr., 21		UN 7253/41S
	Herrn Oskar Künkel
	Rukla Thuringen
	Bermberg 15

Heinz Lehmann, Maschinenobergefr., 21		UN 4998/42T
	Herrn Paul Lehmann
	See Krs. Rothenburg o/L
	Schlesien

U.S.S. BLOCK ISLAND

Helmut Löser, Maschinenobergefr., 22		UN 17722/41T
	Herrn Alfred Löser
	Rothschönberg 13
	Sachsen
	Bezirk Dresden

Gottlieb Melmuka, Gefr., 19		UN 44450/42
	Frau Elizabeth Melmuka (Mother)
	Recklinghausen 06
	Karl - Petersstr. 33

Vinzenz Nosch, Matrosenobergefr., 22		UO 8789/41S
	Frau Anna Nosch
	Graz
	Winerstrasse 227
	Steiermark

Helmut Rautenberg, Maschinengefr., 19		UO 35159/42T
	Freidrich Rautenberg
	Dortmund 1. Westfalen
	Münsterstr. 103

Günter Schmidt, Maschinenobergefr., 20		UN 18089/41T
	Oskar Schmidt
	Zella-Mehlis/ Thr.
	Hans Maikowskystr. 18

Harry Schöneck, Obergefreiter, 21		UO 14235/41T
	Herrn Franz Schöneck
	Leegebruck-Velten (Mark)
	Muhre 38

Herbert Täuscher, Matrosen 2nd, 20		UN 11914/42T
	Herrn Otto Täuscher
	Zwenckau b. Leipzig



	U.S.S. BLOCK ISLAND



	U.S.S. BLOCK ISLAND

	From:	The Senior Medical Officer.
	To:	The Commanding Officer.

	Subject:	Report of physical condition of German survivors brought aboard 6 May 1944.

	1. The general physical condition of these men was poor and indicated that they had been at sea for a considerable period of time on an inadequate diet. Vitamin deficiency was specifically indicated by soft spongy gums that bled on light touch, reddened smooth tongues, and red mucous membranes of throats. Many of them had numerous boils, pustular skin eruptions, and several had marked acne indurata involving the skin of their bodies, necks, and extremities. Their skin as a whole was very white and pale, even in brunette individuals, indicating absence of exposure to sunlight. The skeletal musculature of most of these men was soft and flabby. Their abdomens were thin walled and protruding in a good many instances. However, in a few instances, members of this group appeared in good physical condition, suggesting unusual endurance or that they had not been at sea as long as other members of the crew. It is estimated from the length of their hair and beards, that they had not shaved in some eight to ten weeks. A high percentage of these men ran a fever of about one degree during the first two days aboard. This temperature elevation was thought to be due to exposure and exhaustion.

	2. One man was found to have Gonorrheal Urethritis.

	3. Eleven men were treated for shrapnel and bullet wounds. Some of these men has scores of small metallic fragments buried in their skins and subcutaneous tissues; none entered body cavities. All wounds were considered relatively minor and only temporarily incapacitating, except one. SCHÖNECK, Harry, Gefreiter, was struck in left heel by a forceful, penetrating, missile, probably a machine gun slug. His heel cord (tendon of Achilles) was completely divided, the ankle bone (Astragulus) was shattered, and a considerable portion of the soft tissue of his heel was carried away. His general condition is poor, due to a rather severe anemia, no doubt due to loss of blood while in the water. This wound shows a mild infection. His condition is not considered serious.


	J. L. CUSTER


	ENCLOSURE "B"