Read the current issue of The Piper - Escort Carrier Sailors & Airmen

24 Pages·2014·3.13 MB·English

December 2014 ESCORT CARRIER SAILORS & AIRMEN ASSN. Non-profit
Newsletter of the ESCORT CARRIER SAILORS & AIRMEN ASSOCIATION, INC. 1317 Malmgren Court U.S. Postage
Norfolk, VA 23502 PAID
Norfolk, VA
Permit #360
ECSAA
has a new address
1215 N. Military Highway #128, Norfolk VA 23502
The CVE PIPER is published BOARD John W. Smith (Pauline)
Anthony Looney, President (Cindy) USS Salamaua CVE-96
quarterly by the ESCORT CARRIER SAILOR &
1203 Greenway Drive 5921 Winwood Dr., # 106
OF
AIRMEN ASSOCIATION, INC. Allen, TX 75020 Johnston, Iowa, 50131
And is mailed by non-profit Veterans Permit from Phone: [phone] (cell) Home Phone: [phone]
GOVERNORS
Phone: [phone] (home) Fax: [phone]
Norfolk, Virginia
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Term 2016 Term 2017
Send MEMBERSHIP DUES
to:
ECSAA Membership (Attn: Dave Ryan) (Art) Wayne Lowe, Vice President Bob Evans, Treasurer (Janet)
(Joan) USS Sangamon CVE-26
1215 N. Military Highway #128
USS Corregidor CVE 58 1649 Glenhill Lane
Norfolk, VA 23502 5 Longbow Court Lewisville, TX 75077-2728
E-mail: [email protected] St. Louis MO 63114 Phone: [phone]
Home Phone: [phone] Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected] Term 2015
Send DONATIONS to:
Term 2017
Bob Evans, Treasurer
1215 N. Military Highway #128
Norfolk, VA 23502 George Manik, Conventions/Memorials Oscar (Clay) Hathaway III
(Barbara) Secretary
817-798-2369
USS Sangamon CVE-26 USS Casablanca
50 North Island Drive 1310 W. 115th
Send items for CHANGE OF ADDRESS, Bayville, NJ 08721 Jenks, OK 74037
PUBLICATION, TAPS, Home Phone: [phone] Phone [phone]
C-Phone: [phone] Email: [email protected]
REUNIONS to:
Fax: [phone] Term 2015
Member Services Email: [email protected]
1215 N. Military Highway #128 Term 2015 Committees:
Norfolk, VA 23502
Membership and Marketing
757-477-2354
Convention Committee Chair - David Ryan Memorial/Donations
Email: [email protected]
George and Barbara Manik Email: [email protected] Bob Evans
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
CVE PIPER SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Member Recruiting
When submitting your articles please: Merchandise Committee Dawn Magerkurth Member Services
• Limit your articles to no more than 2000 Art Lowe Email: [email protected] Joyce Wilson
words Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Walter Smith
• Check spelling, punctuation and subject
Email: [email protected]
matter. (Editor reserves editing rights)
• Determine the Headline for your story and
Author.
LEGAL CONSEQUENCES
Some members are sending clippings from ESCORT CARRIER SAILORS & AIRMEN ASSOCIATION MEMORIAL DONATION
newspapers, magazines and books, with a (BONDED) TREASURER, BOB EVANS, 1215 N MILITARY HWY #128,
NORFOLK, VA 23502 INCORPORATED IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF
request that we print them in the CVE Piper.
VIRGINIA, IRS CLASSIFICATION 501-19 I.D. Number 54-1599146
You must get written permission from the

source of the article (writer, publisher, photog-
Donor First Name __________________________________________________________________
rapher, etc.) Before we can legally reprint these
articles or pictures.
Donor Last Name _________________________________________________________________
We have been advised that this written permis-
sion must be in our possession in case of a law
Address __________________________________________________________________________
suite which can have substantial penalties for
our Association.
City ______________________________________ St ______________ Zip __________________
ERROR AVOIDANCE
Ship or Squadron you served on _____________________________________________________
Many past submissions to the CVE Piper were
hand written, and some were difficult to read by
Memorial Donations are Tax Deductible under ECSAA’s IRS Classification 501C-19
our printers who are not familiar with
Escort Carrier names and Navy terminology.
Check Number_____________________ Amount $________________ Date ____________________
The publisher had to guess. As a result, the
editor received numerous letters pointing out
The mission of ECSAA is to ensure that “The Greatest Generation is Never Forgotten”. With your
the errors.
support, the Association is able to create and place memorials in museums across the country, build
All future letters submitted for publishing must
stronger programs to preserve this critical chapter of heroism in the defense of freedom, and produce
be typed or clearly printed, This may cause
the annual convention. Please be generous!
problems for some of you, but it will improve
the quality of the Piper.
My 11-year old grandson Hunter Ritchie rides a large yellow school bus home
Each time I arrive home from an ECSAA Conven- each day. For months his bus driver has been simply an old man who quietly
tion I feel like I am coming off a natural “high”. drove the bus to his stop each day. On Tuesday, November 11 as Hunter board-
Emotions run deep as veterans re-unite each year, ed the bus he noticed a message the driver had posted in observance of Veterans
and children accompanying these veterans sense Day. As my grandson found his seat behind the driver and reflected, he saw
somewhat of the camaraderie. I always leave our the driver in a total different light. He was not simply his old person bus driver
conventions with experiences I could not have but someone who had sacrificed for his freedom to attend school. Through that
otherwise known as a normal tourist. Each day be- experience both he and his younger brother Blake relayed to their Nana of their
ing associated with members of “The Greatest Generation” is a true blessing and appreciation for our Veterans.
privilege not taken lightly.
I urge you veterans to find ways to communicate your military experience, either
I want my grandchildren to be more knowledgeable in the legacy and contribu- orally or written. No amount of school lectures, books read, or watching televi-
tions of our fathers and grandfathers. It has been easier for my generation to sion can replace personal experiences of family members. Many of my genera-
accompany our parent veterans to ECSAA conventions, but more difficult for tion, including Tom Brokaw acknowledge that their perspective of WWII and
grandchildren and great-grandchildren to become involved. Everywhere, exter- the Korean War comes from personal interviews. History takes on much more
nal influences are vying for our children and grandchildren’s time – I just want relevance listening to family members who have “been there and done that”.
to be sure in the hubbub of today’s society they remember the sacrifices of their
forefathers as they protected our freedoms. Finally, as we near the Christmas Season, I’m not forgetting our servicemen and
women overseas ever-vigilant in the oversight of our freedoms. What a commit-
Veteran’s Day was observed November 11th. I swelled with patriotism as I ment these folks make – leaving their families and putting their lives on the line
saw numerous Facebook posts of children providing pictures of their fathers daily as we enjoy the holidays with our friends and loved ones here in America.
in military uniform acknowledging their military service. Many children and
grandchildren phoned family members Tuesday thanking them for their service, God Bless –
realizing aging veterans will not always be with us.
Anthony Looney
CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION
Presented to
Walter M. Smith
With deep appreciation, respect and the
gratitude of the Escort Carrier Sailors and
Airmen Association membership for his time
and talents in the success of the 2014 ECSAA
Convention in Norfolk, Virginia
ECSAA Convention 2014 was a grand old building with wondrous history. The Chaplain was
Walter Smith Lt. Commander Diane Lantz. She gave a moving short sermon of
2014 Committee Chairman and Coordinator interesting subject matter. The bell rang for 97 sailors who sailed into
the sunset this past year.
The Board of Governors of ECSAA can take a bow for their We re-boarded the buses and traveled to Breezy Point
design of our Convention at the Crowne Plaza Virginia Beach Hotel, Officers Club for a marvelous buffet lunch. Then on to a historical
October 18 -22, 2014. All of them comprise the Convention Commit- tour of downtown Norfolk and environs. Masterful city renovations
tee. We heard many rave comments from members. We are pleased now mark the City of Norfolk, and it is beautiful. It was less than
that you were pleased. attractive, as I recall, when boarding my first carrier from this base.
For those not attending, this report by your Convention Com- Our buses carried talented tour guides who knew the territory
mittee Chairman will be helpful. It stated slowly, with people arriv- and sights like the backs of their hands. Susan was the guide on our
ing by plane, bus and car from all over the country. This was Sunday, bus, and Joe drove like he knew where he was going. Sally was the
Registration Day. All were impressed with the hotel, a beautiful tour guide on the other bus, and Anthony Looney, ECSAA President,
structure being painted outside as we met inside. took care of that crowd. We had a last minute overflow of people who
wanted to go on this first tour, which forced us to take a private car
load to follow the buses.
All enjoyed this special tour arranged by Phillips Destination
Management Services. Returning to the hotel at 3:30 allowed us to
relax a bit before the planned appearance of Seven Stripe Admiral,
Good B. Guy. The Admiral was to give us a test on our knowledge
of Navy terms, but it was reported he was ill and had to return to his
quarters. What to do then??
But there was a delay until more members and guests could as-
semble. The time was comfortably spent with the annual Tripoli Auc-
Our convention Hospitality Room, Break out rooms, complimentary tion. Bill Atkinson, the Tripoli leader brought everyone into the large
breakfast buffet and banquet/dance ballroom were located conve- Hospitality Room where all were comfortable at many round tables,
niently together. We could buzz around without getting lost in a big and roaming space for Bill, the auctioneer, to do his thing. Boxes and
hotel. That paid off in numerous ways, of which you must take my sacks could hold anything from a box of matches to a shrunken head,
word for it. Even the rest rooms were right there. for this was a blind auction. Laughs galore was the result of the ever
Can you visualize the atmosphere of the place, the attitude ascending bids – given by contestants for the content of those things
and response of our members and their guests to these convention wrapped. Everyone had fun and generous funds accrued for the
conditions? My impression was, “Top of the Green”, (Navy lingo for Tripoli’s work among their group.
great). This was followed by the event in which seven stripe Admi-
After everyone settled in, found friends and shipmates of ral Good. B. Guy was to appear and give the sailors a test on their
years ago, the chatter and laughs grew as expected. We are older, but knowledge of Naval Terms, but is was reported he was ill and had to
what’s new? A step up the satisfaction ladder is what happened. return to his quarters.
On Monday morning, we gathered in the Hospitality Room for Well….we continued. The test
announcements and comp breakfast served in the overflow area. We questionnaire was distributed to about
boarded two luxury tour buses and set out for Norfolk Naval Station all there, and self-grading was accom-
(base). After going through security, a young naval tour spokesperson plished when correct answers were
( a pregnant chief petty officer) boarded divulged. As expected hullabaloo then
our bus and narrated what went by as occurred with individual interpretations
we traveled through officer and non- of the correct answers. It became an
com housing, recreation centers, stores exercise of knowledge gone wild, but it
and office buildings. Then we turned was fun. The highest grade was deter-
into the waterside dock area where gray mined for Charles Barnes, who was then
battle cruisers, destroyers and the huge crowned King Neptune. He received a
aircraft carriers were berthed. There is crown from President Anthony Looney along with a bottle of New
little doubt but what this is the biggest York Finger Lakes finest wine, a gift and his Scepter. Later his wife
naval base in the world.
We stopped at the base chapel for our Memorial Service. It continued on page 5
ECSAA Convention 2014 continued small park that was created by a group of Asian citizens of Norfolk.
asked if that made her a queen and where was her crown. I said we It was the site of an old molasses factory, and was given to them by
had not counted on that, and we both laughed. the city if they would make the area pretty and attractive. WOW!
Both Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush were Did they ever. We walked through landscaped vistas of Asian trees,
invited to attend our Convention. The correspondence was displayed shrubs, flowers, pools of water, fountains and waterfalls. In the mid-
on easels in the overflow area. Both declined attendance for stated dle was a colorful pagoda housing a restaurant and tourist items. It
reasons, but were gracious in their comments, and wished us well. was worth the stop, located at waterfront where distant ship unload-
We visited, told stories (real and imagined) met new shipmates ing cranes were visible.
and their wives and guests. We had parties in breakout rooms and Soon we arrived at Nauti-
generally socialized as the important part of the occasion. A good cus buildings housing museums
start was made, and it continued for the next three day period. and the huge battleship, Wiscon-
On Tuesday morning, the second bus tour was planned for sce- sin. Here is the Hampton Roads
nic areas and the Nauticus Naval Museum and Battleship Wisconsin. Museum where our new display
Shortly after the breakfast period a bit of concern occurred when the of the capture of the German
wife of a member became ill and the EMC was called. They prompt- submarine, U-505, is positioned
ly took her and her husband to a nearby hospital. President Looney in its own sectional room. I heard
went with them in the ambulance to make sure they had support from several say, “That display looks
our group. They missed the tour that followed. The cause was not so real it is breathtaking…not like a ship model sitting on a table.”
determined and she returned all right. It is the most outstanding naval display in the museum. Governor
Then we started for the ocean shore George Manik is our Memorial & Artifact Chair who worked with
not far from the hotel. Lighthouses were the model builder for several years on the model, then with Bob
visited and several walked hundreds of Wagner planning and producing the strikingly beautiful large chal-
steps to the top of one. I stopped to chat lenge coin minted for ECSAA. It was given to each convention regis-
with Jim and Freda Otto, who were en- trant. It alone made an impression on everyone.
joying the warm sunshine outside their Many boarded the Wisconsin, tied up by the museum. It too
bus. I asked if they were enjoying things is a museum, owned by the City of Norfolk. We were amazed at the
so far. Freda said, “Yes, we are really size of her 16 inch guns, inside areas opened for visitors, and the vol-
having a good time.” I asked if I could unteer docents who helped us and answered questions. What a treat
quote her for the PIPER. She gave per- for our eyes, ears and feelings.
mission – so there you have it. We drove to a big shopping mall where lunch on our own
We stopped at a famous shore-side could be had in numerous restaurants and fast food places. Then we
location. It had monuments and statues boarded the buses again and were taken back to familiar territory at
and a walkway uphill over a jungle of sand dune vegetation to the top the hotel, ready for more fun or relaxation. Visiting was a vital part
where we could look out over the Atlantic Ocean and see dolphins of our Association target.
jump, and ships in the distance. Wednesday (our last day) was busy and important. The
On we went to upscale hotels and condos in a long line of ECSAA Business Meeting started at 9AM in the Hospitality Room,
colorful structures. And between two hotels, Susan yelled, “LOOK! set up theater style. President Looney presided and led the Pledge of
There he is!” Yep! There he was…King Neptune, Nauticus Rex, in Allegiance to the Flag, then called upon Charlie Howse for the invo-
all his splendor. It was a statue of detailed creation. (But he wasn’t as cation. The President welcomed all and set the ground rules for the
handsome as our King Neptune). meeting. After his comments, each Governor gave his report. Then
On the buses rolled David Ryan, Membership Committee Chairman, revealed his devel-
into historical Norfolk opment of a new computerized membership control system. It is an
neighborhoods that dated astounding application of who, what, where and many other things
back to cobblestone streets necessary to direct an accurate and current record of who belongs
made from ballast stone in ECSAA. He said this system will allow us to grow, rather than
of sailing days hundreds shrink, by contacting candidate or membership eligible for our ranks
of years ago. Buildings of as a Navy-related Association. He will supervise a new campaign to
striking architecture pa- enroll all CVEs and their crews.
raded by as Joe negotiated The members present heard much important news, where we
narrow streets in a huge stand now, and where we intent to go in the future.
bus. We stopped at a special Continued on page 6
ECSAA Convention 2014 continued When we entered the ballroom, the banquet set up resembled
the elegance of a State dinner for the King of a visiting country. Ev-
Exciting things are before us. The booming voice of Henry Young eryone found their places as pre-planned, keeping groups together as
closed the meeting with a sailor’s prayer, asking future cooperative best we could. The food was excellent, the service professional, the
involvement, led by our Maker. environs attractive.
The Business Meeting was adjourned and the Board of Gover- The Shrine Khedive Notables Dance band of 20 musicians
nors went into their third meeting at this convention. with male and female vocalists made the evening special. The dance
Our crowd gath- floor soon filled. Music
ered at 6:00PM in the was the Big Band Sound
Hospitality Room, of the 40s, 50s and 60s.
ready for Captain Jeff Davis, the band di-
Rinehart Wilke IV, rector, led off with An-
the guest speaker. He chors Aweigh, followed
is the Chief of Staff, by a medley of all service
and Commander of the songs.
Theodore Roosevelt We had raffles at
Carrier Strike Group break time. The cash bar
12, a carrier we saw had good traffic. People
close at hand on our laughed, some sang, oth-
first bus tour. It carries over 6,000 crew and is longer than three foot- ers danced, but everyone
ball fields, end to end. It’s BIG!! smiled. We met Joyce Wilson and Charlie Howse of the PIPER staff
The meeting began with an honorary presentation for George there. King Neptune was there. The ECSAA President and Board of
and Barbara Governors were there. It was a glorious end to an exciting conven-
Manik who have tion.
led convention At stage front during the dance was a kitty litter tub with a
arrangements for sign on it, “FOR THE KIDS!” This Shrine orchestra was obtained at
years. While that a very conservative price. They did us a favor. We responded with a
was going on, I favor for them – donations in the amount of almost $400.00 for the
was waiting at Shrine Hospitals that do so much for kids with burns and pediatric
the front doors of operations of all kinds at little or no cost to the families. Our mem-
the hotel, for our bers dropped generous donations in the tub – for the kids.
guest speaker was Captain Wilke and his party had to leave early because a
nowhere in sight. phone text from his daughter reported a younger daughter had fallen,
He was contacted bumped her head and couldn’t stop crying. They had to leave before
by cell phone and said he, his dad, and wife were pulling into the the dance started. It was reported later that all was okay. But Rhino
hotel now. (They were delayed by heavy traffic). (his flying call sign) was having a great time with us, and said he
The short delay only heightened crowd concern, I am sure, for enjoyed our company a lot and hated to leave. He fit in with our ship-
when the Captain entered the room in his dress uniform, it seemed a mates.
big sigh was heard. Introduction of Captain Wilke was my pleasure. After the smoke cleared and the dust settled, we had a chance
His dad and I are old friends. to reflect upon our work. The work involves the mission of ECSAA:
The coincidence played an important role in convincing a very busy
flag officer to spend a few hours with we ancient mariners. 1. To maintain the historic preservation of the legacy of the
Captain Wilke spoke as sailor to sailor. He leveled with us on what escort carriers.
he does, and how he does it. He answered our questions by roving 2. To enjoy the activities and comradeship of the annual meet-
up and down the center aisle with a wireless microphone. He told ing.
us things we could never imagine, most of which we barely could 3. To receive The PIPER publication.
appreciate. He let it be known that his ship, and other of his battle
group, could handle anything they ran into. We became aware of the These things guide our course, plotted through our By-Laws. We
tremendous power and persuasive force these vessels possess if any move forward with dedicated intent. These things were explained at
other force intended to mix it up. He was a tremendous hit for our the Business Meeting, Wednesday morning.
convention, and stayed for the banquet. Continued on page 7
ECSAA Convention 2014 continued
Member with the most guests: Charlie Howse, Norfolk, VA
My personal feelings following the adjournment was that of gratitude
for a wonderful and successful 2014 convention. You must have had Ship with most attending: Tripoli CVE 64
a good time, for we heard that a lot.
Ships Represented by Crew Numbers: 22
Convention Spot Notes • Tripoli CVE 64
Attendance – 145 • Corregidor CVE 58
• Attu CVE CVE 102
Registration Table Ladies – Cindy Looney, Janet Evans and Joan • Hollandia CVE 97
Lowe • Manila Bay CVE 61
• Bogue CVE 9
ECSAA Governors Attending – President Anthony Looney, Art • Prince William CVE 19
Lowe, Bob Evans, George Manik, Walter Smith (Absent but not for- • Sangamon CVE 26
gotten: John Smith) • Santee CVE 29
• Sicily CVE 118
First Registering for the Convention: Wilfred and Pat Landry • Kula Gulf CVE 108
(Tyngsboro, MA) • Casablanca CVE 55
• Puget Sound CVE 113
Member Traveling Farthest: Henry and Larry • Salerno Bay CVE 110
Young – Sacramento CA, who traveled 10 • Sargent Bay CVE 83
miles more than Robert McClung – Sacra- • Tulagi CVE 72
mento, CA • Saidor CVE 117
• Fenshaw Bay CVE 70
Oldest Attending: Sam Henderson (94) • Makin Island CVE 93
Humphry, AR • Gilbert Islands CVE 107
• Nehenta Bay CVE 74
King Neptune: Charles Barnes – Palm • Rendova CVE 114
Mr. Henderson
Harbor, FL
Will you assist ECSAA in their membership drive? If you have any names
of shipmates who you think might be interested in joining our Escort Carrier Sailor & Airmen
Please note that the
Association, please submit them. The Membership Committee will be happy to contact them.
ECSAA address was
ECSAA Membership Shipmate: _________________________________
Attn: Dave Ryan changed effective
1215 N. Military Highway #128 Ship: _____________________________________
Norfolk VA 23502 November 1
[email protected] Address: ___________________________________

City: ______________________________________

1215 N. Military Hwy
State:_____________________Zip: _____________

#128
Email: ___________________________________
Norfolk VA 23502
Telephone: _______________________________
Your name: _______________________________________
Phone #:______________________ Email: _______________________________________
Do you know someone who would
Name of Person Requesting Card:_____________________________________________
benefit from getting a
Name Card is to Be Mailed to: _______________________________________________
“Hi - Thinking of You Card” from
Address_________________________________________________________________
ECSAA?
City_____________________________________State___________Zip_____________
Ship Served Aboard or Squadron:____________________________________________
Just fill out the form and mail it to:
Birthday (Month and Day, Year Not Necessary)_________________________________ Joyce Wilson
1215 N. Military Hwy. #128
Email: _________________________________________________________________ Norfolk VA 23502
Kind of Card Requested: (Thinking of you, Birthday) ____________________________
or email information to:
_______________________________________________________________________
[email protected]
(Please put ECSAA Card Request in Subject Line)
Watch your mailing labels.
DECEASED
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membership renewal date is on
Address________________________________________________________________
the mailing label on the front
City & State_______________________________________________Zip____________
page of the Piper?
Ship___________________________________________________________________
Squadron____________________________________Date of Death__________________
Did you notice if your mailing
Survivors Name___________________________________________________________
label was yellow this month?
___Continue sending “CVE Piper” ___Discontinue sending “CVE Piper” If so, this means that your
membership dues are
Please send to: ECSAA, Attn: Joyce Wilson, 1215 N. Military Hwy. #128, Norfolk VA 23502
delinquent and this will be the
Current Reunion Notice
last issue of the PIPER you will
Please list the following:
receive until dues become
Ship or Association: _______________________________________________________________
current.
Dates of Reunion: ________________________________________________________________
Where: _________________________________________________________________________
ECSAA depends on your dues
Contact: ________________________________________________________________________
to print and mail the PIPER so
Address: ________________________________________________________________________
please stay current.
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Send to: ECSAA, Attn: Joyce Wilson, 1215 N. Military Hwy. #128, Norfolk VA 23502
Email: [email protected]
U-505 & ADMIRAL TROSINO lege of sitting with Admiral Trosino at a luncheon table and converse
By J. Robert Wagner with him about his wartime experience. Upon making sonar contact
with the submarine the USS Chatelain was too close to set up to drop
One of the best examples of heroics and teamwork occurred depth charges and instead fired their Hedgehogs at the submerged
during the capture of the U-505 German submarine by an German submarine. An airborne FM-2 Wildcat from the Guadalcanal
anti-submarine task force. Small CVE and CVL carriers were first CVE-60 made a visual contact with the submerged submarine and
successful in protecting large ship convoys crossing the Atlantic dur- fired its machine guns into the water to mark the sub’s position. The
ing WWII. They filled the gap when crossing the large expanse of Chatelain now knowing the exact position of the submarine made
the Atlantic by having their own aircraft search for submarines over another attack using more powerful depth charges. A large oil slick
a large area when land based patrol aircraft had to turn back to the appeared on the surface and the pilot in the Wildcat above stated on
mainland when their onboard fuel reached a critical state. the radio that you struck oil and the sub is surfacing.
Submarines at this time could operate on the surface with their die- With the engines still running and the rudder damaged and
sel engines but when submerged had to rely only on their batteries locked into position, the sub began to circle on the ocean surface.
for power. Thus, submarine captains had to assure that they spent The American Task Group desired to make an attempt to capture the
considerable time on the surface to maintain a full battery charge so submarine. Therefore only small arms fire from the Task Group and
that they could dive to avoid detection, lie in wait or set up to make a aircraft above was directed at the submarine. Incorrectly believing
torpedo run on a ship or convoy. It wasn’t long before it was that their boat was in more serious condition than it was and about to
realized that not only could a CVE carrier with aircraft aloft and a sink, the German submarine captain gave the order to abandon ship.
few destroyers protect a task force, but they became excellent subma- A limited attempt was made to open valves, remove seawater caps
rine hunter-killer platforms. Airborne aircraft were very use and set some detonation charges to scuttle the submarine. But be-
ful for covering large areas of the ocean to spot submarines on the cause the sub’s crew abandoned ship so quickly the botched attempt
surface when recharging their batteries or by observing a periscope’s to scuttle the submarine was not completed successfully due to the
wake when the sub was submerged. swift action of the Task Group’s boarding parties .
“Atlantic antisubmarine operations were of extreme The Pillsbury was the first to launch a boarding party with
importance to the U.S. Navy, which in March 1943 added aircraft Lieutenant (jg) Albert David1 in charge to gather documents, code
carriers to its arsenal of weapons deployed against U-boats”2. In an books and anything else of significance. It was hoped that they could
October 1944 10th Fleet memo Admiral Low stated “It is important also take measures to disable explosive charges and close valves
to note that the CVE support groups accounted for about 60% of all intended to scuttle the submarine. In the meantime some of the other
U-boats sunk by U.S. forces in the Atlantic and Mediterranean during ships began picking up survivors. On two occasions when the Pills-
the six months April through September 1944” 3,4. The CVE groups bury came alongside the submarine, the bow plains punctured the
should especially be noted for their success in the Battle of the At- hull of the Pillsbury and with some compartments flooded, she pulled
lantic. As one example the Block Island CVE-21 sank seven U-boats away to tend to her own flooding problems. The carrier Guadalcanal
but on the night of 29 May 1944, she was torpedoed by U-549 and then launched a second whale boat boarding party with Commander
the Block Island became the only CVE lost in the Atlantic during the Trosino in charge since he had remarkable engineering skills and
war3. would provide excellent guidance in trying to save the U-505 subma-
To combat the devastating effect of German Wolf Packs or rine.
lone enemy submarines operating in shipping lanes, the U.S. Navy Upon entering the submarine and sizing up the various prob-
dispatched Hunter-Killer Task Group 22.3 consisting of the CVE lems at hand Trosino utilized his excellent engineering skills to direct
carrier Guadalcanal and five destroyer escorts Chatelain, Flaherty, his men what to do to plug leaks, deactivate explosive charges or cor-
Jenks, Pope and Pillsbury on 15 May 1944 from Norfolk, Virginia rect other numerous problems. One key problem was to get the bilge
to a search area off the coast of Rio de Oro1. On 4 June 1944 upon pumps working to vacate the internal seawater. The engines were
running low on fuel, the Task Group was forced to discontinue their disconnected from the propeller shaft and then with the submarine
intended search direction and head for port. However within just a under tow, the propellers were able to rotate and enable the genera-
few minutes of changing course the Task Group made sonar contact tors that were connected to the shaft to rotate and generate electric-
on an unidentified target. According to Admiral Earl Trosino it was ity to operate the bilge pumps and supply lighting to do any neces-
at this point that the Task Group teamed together and coordinated sary maintenance. Of particular help was a Polish conscript that was
their efforts to bring the U-505 German Submarine to the surface and forced by the Germans to be a crewman aboard the submarine. He
eventually capture the sub. Admiral Trosino participated in Memo- had extensive operational knowledge of the submarine and was
rial Day ceremonies in the Norristown, PA area on many occasions
and frequently served as guest speaker at this event or at veteran club
lunches or dinners. Following one of the ceremonies I had the privi- Continued on page 10
U-505 & ADMIRAL TROSINO continued Trosino passed away in 2002 at the age of 95. We will all miss Admi-
of considerable help in giving advice to Trosino and other men from ral Trosino for in addition to his assistance in capturing the U-505, he
the boarding party to stabilize the submarine. Trosino became friends was polite, an interesting individual and often participated in ceremo-
with the Polish crewman and maintained contact with him even upon nies remembering our deceased Veterans. “Lieutenant (jg) David's
his return to Poland after the war. part in saving the abandoned submarine earned the Medal of Honor;
If you tour the U-505 submarine in Chicago one can see a metal cap Torpedoman's Mate Third Class Arthur W. Knispel and Radioman
on the deck in the passageway near the radio room that the Germans Second Class Stanley E. Wdowiak each received the Navy Cross; and
removed from an 8 inch pipe in an attempt to scuttle the submarine. Commander Trosino received the Legion of Merit1”
This cap was located by the American boarding party and reinstalled In 2009 the USS Sicily CVE-118 held a joint reunion in conjunction
on the gushing sea water pipe. I asked Admiral Trosino how the with VMF-214, VMF-323, VS-931 and VS-20 squadrons in Chicago
boarding party ever found the cap under the water that was flood- and the following pictures of the U-505 submarine were taken at that
ing the submarine. He informed me that the aft end of the sub was time.
lower in the water than the forward part of the sub since the seawater 1 German Submarine U-505, Wikipedia.
tended to fill the aft end of the sub. Because the cap that was lying on 2 On Our Scope, Richard G. Latture, Naval History, December 2013.
the internal deck was not submerged below water, the cap was clearly 3 The Navy’s Escort Carrier Offensive, Jeffery G. Barlow, Naval
visible and this made it possible to reinstall it on the pipe which was History, December 2013
spewing seawater. Once stabilized, the U-505 submarine was towed 4. Memorandum from VADM Low to ADM King, 58 October 1944
to Bermuda and hidden from the public The German crew was qui-
etly and secretly interned in the United States so that Germany would Note: J. Robert Wagner is the author of “VS-931 Antisubmarine
not have any notion that the submarine, crew, codebooks and Enigma Squadron”, a true story about the tactics and hazards of a CVE carrier
code machine had been captured and compromised. Such knowledge based squadron searching for enemy submarines during the Korean
would permit the Germans to change their codes and thereby disrupt War.
the future ability for destroying other German submarines.
Longitudinal view of the U-505 submarine
Photograph of
Vice Admiral Earl Trosino
at the Memorial Day service 28 May 2001
held at St. Patrick’s
cemetery, Norristown PA Propeller, dive plane, and rudder of the U-505 submarine
More photos on Page 11