Crew tales bring U-505 to life again (Captured German sub)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | May 24, 2005 | ANDREW HERRMANN Staff Reporter

[Chi-townChief]

'After being captured "we were picked up by destroyers and brought to the carrier, where [the Americans] locked us in a cage just below the flight deck,'' recalled one. "The heat from the carrier's engines was so terrible that we lost 20 or 30 pounds during those weeks from sweating.''

In violation of the Geneva Conventions, the POWs were hidden in Louisiana and unable to contact their families, who mourned their "deaths,'' said Gill. The Allies needed Germany to think the ship was sunk because code books and devices seized from the U-505 helped intercept German orders.'

Uh oh!! Good thing Newsweek didn't get a hold of this one!!!

[Chi-townChief]

CHICAGOLAND PING

[SquirrelKing]

I knew an old fellow that was a machinist on a Destroyer that took part in the capture of the U-505. Even from his perspective in the engine room it was one of the most exciting events of his life. I dug up an old copy of Morrison's book on the Battle of the Atlantic and gave it to him. He dug out all his old photos, news clippings and unit citations for my troubles. Pretty neat.

[nmh]

That'll be next weeks highlight.

Just wait!

[pt17]

Interesting article - thanks for posting. I was there watching when they hauled the U-505 out of Lake Michigan and across the Outer Drive to set it up beside the Museum (of Science and Industry). It was a really big deal back then.

[woofer]

My most favorite pasttime while traveling for my job is the opportunity to visit museums and historical sites such as the U-505 exhibit. When I visited the display in the eighties, they had the interior decked out as if the boat had just left its home port for a combat sortie. Sausages and food cartons stuffed or hung in every available space (Like when the U-Boat in "Das Boot" left the pens in France). I was fortunate to follow this visit up in short order with another a few months later to the Silverfish exhibit in Manitowoc, WI.

With the recent memory of the German sub still fresh, I was utterly amazed at the differences in creature comforts between the German boat and a Fleet Sub of the WWII US Navy.

A side note that not many are aware of, during WWII, 42 subs were built in Manitowoc at the Manitowoc Lake Boat shipyard and sailed down Lake Michigan, to the Cal-Sag Canal, to the Illinois River, to the Mississippi at Alton, IL and out to war at New Orleans.

[GreyFriar]

Thank you for the post.

I fondly remember school trips from my small northern Indiana elementary school in the late 50's to the Museum of Science and Industry. My favorite exhibits were the U-505 and looking at the Spitfire and Stuka hanging over the model railroad display in the main entry hall. I'm glad to hear that the U-505 will be properly housed and kept from rusting away.

[Sax]

Daniel V. Gallery wrote a lighthearted book about his time in the military that covered the U-505 event in great detail.

Short little paperback - a small slice military history with a good amount of humor, "Clear the Decks." I recommended it to a friend for a quick read a couple of years ago. I think it was $10 on Amazon.

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Glad to see it's back.

[RayChuang88]

With the recent memory of the German sub still fresh, I was utterly amazed at the differences in creature comforts between the German boat and a Fleet Sub of the WWII US Navy.

However, even US Navy subs of the era still had crewmen sweating like crazy due to the fact they lacked air conditioning systems and also the fact many of them operated in the tropical Pacific. It wasn't until the arrival of nuclear power and modern electrical systems on diesel-electric subs that crews could actually work in a sweat-free environment.

[TheRightGuy]

Interesting article - thanks for posting. I was there watching when they hauled the U-505 out of Lake Michigan and across the Outer Drive to set it up beside the Museum (of Science and Industry). It was a really big deal back then.

I was there, too! One of many fond memories of time spent with my grand-dad. He was a true southsider, living right on the lake at 73rd and Southshore Drive, and loved all things Chicago. He died several years later in '58.

[MinuteGal]

If you plan on a trip to Chicago, be sure to go through this sub. Although it has some length, I was struck by how tiny and cramped the interior compartments were. Amazing. It was like being in a lipstick tube. Metal all around closing in on you.

One can not help but feel sorry for the men cramped in this horrible, frightening, primitive piece of machinery. Enemy or not, they had guts. But you have to see it for yourself to understand.

Forget all the romantic visions of the well-groomed Robert Mitchum or Curt Jurgens whirling around, eyes glued to a periscope. War is hell, and so was das boot.

Leni

[Valin]

I took the tour of U-505 a couple of years ago. The thing that struck me was how cramped it was inside.

[Valin]

Foxhole ping



Sorry if I missed anyone

[Agent Smith]

My recollection is that the allies already possesed the German Navy code books at the time of U-505's capture. And that the capture of U-505 was actually counter productive to the allied cause from an intelligence perspective.

[Soaring Feather]

Thanks for the ping.


Good read.

[SAMWolf]

Visted the U-505 many a time while growing up in Chicago.

Thanks for the pig.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

ping

[pt17]

I was there, too! One of many fond memories of time spent with my grand-dad. He was a true southsider, living right on the lake at 73rd and Southshore Drive, and loved all things Chicago.

Back then I lived in a small downstate (IL) town but spent summers with a cousin on south side (near 138th and Halsted). We used to practically live in the museum. Could never get enough of it, especially the sub and model train exhibit.

[sionnsar]

My favorite exhibits were the U-505 and looking at the Spitfire and Stuka hanging over the model railroad display in the main entry hall. I'm glad to hear that the U-505 will be properly housed and kept from rusting away.

Me too. Visited ca. 1964, 1967, and 2003.