1942 — Apr 03, US freighter Otho sunk by U-boat ~200M east of Cape Henry, VA –31-32

–32 Helgason. Ships hit by U-boats. “Otho – American Steam merchant.”
–22 crew (6 officers, 16 crewmen)
— 5 armed guards
— 4 passengers
–31 American Merchant Marine at War. U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged on Eastcoast of U.S…
–23 crew
— 5 armed guards
— 3 passengers

Narrative Information

American Merchant Marine at War:
“Date Ship Type Cause Result Location Deaths
04/03/42 Otho Freighter Torpedo Sunk Eastcoast Crew 23; AG5; Passengers 3.”

Helgason: “
“Name Otho
“Type Steam merchant
“Tonnage 4,839 tons
“Completed 1920 – Todd Drydock & Construction Corp., Tacoma WA
“Owner American-West African Line Inc., New York
“Homeport New York
“Date of attack 3 Apr 1942
“Nationality American
“Fate Sunk by U-754 (Hans Oestermann)
“Position 36° 25’N, 72° 22’W – Grid CA 8618
“Complement 53 (32 dead and 21 survivors).
“Route Takoradi, Gold Coast – Philadelphia
“Cargo 4400 tons of manganese ore, 1300 tons of palm oil and 750 tons of tin
….
“Notes on event At 11.49 hours on 3 April 1942 the unescorted Otho (Master John Makkinje) was hit by one torpedo from U-754 about 200 miles east of Cape Henry, Virginia, while proceeding on a non-evasive course at 9.5 knots. The torpedo struck on the starboard side amidships directly below the stack at the bulkhead between the #3 tank and the engine room. The explosion severely damaged the vessel and caused her to sink after twelve minutes.
Most of the ten officers, 26 crewmen, ten armed guards and seven passengers abandoned ship within five minutes in three boats and a raft. Three officers, nine crewmen, one armed guard and three passengers were picked up by the American patrol yacht USS Zircon (PY 16) and landed at Cape May on 8 April. On 25 April, one crewman and five armed guards were picked up from a raft by the Norwegian motor tanker Gallia (Master Reidar Henriksen) about 150 miles west of Bermuda and landed in Halifax. When they were found, the survivors were too exhausted to move so that two men from the tanker had to jump overboard in order to help them. One of the armed guards died one hour after being picked up. The remaining survivors were never found, in all the master, six officers, 16 crewmen, five armed guards and four passengers were lost.”

Note: u-boat.net includes information on 49 of those onboard, which can be accessed at:
https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship1497.html

Fatalities

1. Cenon Abrug, 62 Fireman/Watertender New York, NY
2. George Bailey, 37 Oiler New York, NY
3. John Joseph Brennan Ensign (USNR)
4. Otto Charles Cerabone, 39 Junior 3rd Asst. Engineer
5. James Eustachio Correa, 46 Messman Brooklyn, NY
6. Bernard Kenneth De Dominicis, 29 Radio Operator
7. Edward Lee Efird, 22 (USNR) Seaman Second Class
8. Clement Daniel Fishburne Jr, 41 Able Seaman Charlottesville, VA
9. Alex Harald Lindstrom, 54 Boatswain
10. Victor Otero Luaces, 37 Oiler New York, NY
11. Osman George Madison, 46 Cook New York, NY
12. John Makkinje, 49 Master Brooklyn, NY
13. Joseph Augustus Manns, 50 Messman Brooklyn, NY
14. John Donaldson McFadyen, 32 Able Seaman
15. Otto Karl Ortleb, 41 Fireman/Watertender Tampa, FL
16. Henry Proctor, 40 Messman New York, NY
17. William George Richardson, 41 Chief Engineer Woodside, NY
18. Julio Rodriquez, 57 Fireman/Watertender Brooklyn, NY
19. Manuel Rodriquez, 43 Oiler Brooklyn, NY
20. Hiram Alton Scarborough, 23 Seaman 2nd Class Dublin, GA
21. Fred Emil Schaper, 57 1st Assistant Engineer New York, NY
22. James Edward Seymour, 53 Able Seaman Brooklyn, NY
23. S. B. Shotts, 20 (USN) Seaman 2nd Class
24. Arthur Covell Smith, 38 Chief Mate Springfield Gardens, NY
25. George Frederick Webb, 53 Steward Miami, FL
26. Carl Andrew Weiant Jr., 26 Ensign (USN) Died shortly after rescue.
27. Fred Busbee Williams, 45 Junior Third Mate Swansea, SC
28. Albert Stanley Winter, 41 2nd Asst. Engineer Brooklyn, NY

Survivors

1. John F. Augustine Messboy
2. Philip Westerly Babcock Jr. Third Mate
3. Harold Joseph Bohnen Passenger
4. Torsten Carlson Able Seaman
5. Malin Derrickson Ordinary Seaman
6. Alric Jackson Edwards 3rd Assistant Engineer
7. Dallas Edward Farmer Seaman Second Class
8. Paul Rupert Fisher Coxswain
9. Carl Oscar Hansen Carpenter
10. Robert William Hilcken Seaman Second Class
11. Robert Vincent L’Hommedieu Passenger
12. Edward Thomas Magruder Passenger
13. Roland Valmore Mominee Ordinary Seaman
14. Ascielo M. Perez Ordinary Seaman
15. Carl Foch Roberts Ordinary Seaman
16. Rufus Bascom Roller Seaman Second Class
17. James Lee Tigner Able Seaman
18. Cristobal Velasquez Ordinary Seaman
19. Parke Milburn Ward Second Mate
20. Will B. Wiley Seaman Second Class (USN)
21. Stanley Anthony Zelinski Wiper

Sources

American Merchant Marine at War. U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged on Eastcoast of U.S, and Gulf of Mexico During World War II Eastcoast of U.S. (175 ships).

Helgason, Gudmundur. Ships hit by U-boats. “Otho – American Steam merchant.” Accessed 4-17-2021 at: https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1497.html