1942 — Mar 22, American tanker Muskogee sunk by U-Boat, northeast of Bermuda –all 34

–34 Find A Grave. “SS Muskogee (L)…34 memorials.” Accessed 3-7-2021.
–34 Mullins. “Three Forks History: Doomed crew of oil tanker Muskogee…memorial.” 10-10-2015.
–34 uboat.net. Ships hit by U-boats. “Muskogee.” Accessed 3-7-2021.

Narrative Information

Mullins: At the beginning of World War II “….America did have a robust Merchant Marine…and this included the oil tanker Muskogee. It carried crude oil in the Atlantic and had a crew of 34.

“In the first months of 1942, German U-boats prowled the Atlantic waters along the U.S. coast. Their ability to pick off ships in America’s merchant fleet was alarming. Hundreds of boats were destroyed in only a matter of months.

“This included the Muskogee. The tanker was carrying a full load of crude oil from Venezuela to Nova Scotia. On March 22, 1942, it was torpedoed by the German submarine U-123 south of Bermuda. The tanker exploded and the spilling crude set the sea on fire. Most of the crew was killed instantly.

“It took less than 20 minutes for the Muskogee to slip completely under water. The Germans took photos of the sinking ship to document another successful kill. The photos would be used for propaganda back home.

“Years later this close-up photo would serve as the inspiration for a memorial sculpture to honor the Merchant Marine, especially those sailors who had lost their lives at sea. The haunting depiction of the men calling for help provides a stirring memorial.

“This sculpture of the Muskogee’s crew is located in Battery Park in New York City. It was dedicated in 1991 and has been viewed by hundreds of people as they make their way to visit the Statue of Liberty.” (Mullins, Jonita. “Three Forks History: Doomed crew of oil tanker Muskogee inspired memorial.” Muskogee Phoenix. 10-10-2015.)

uboat.net: Muskogee
“Name Muskogee
Type Steam tanker
Tonnage 7,034 tons
….
Owner Marine Transport Lines Inc., New York
Homeport Wilmington
Date of attack 22 Mar 1942
Nationality American
Fate Sunk by U-123…
Position 37° 21’N, 61° 50’W – Grid CB 8314
Complement 34 (34 dead – no survivors)
…
Route Caripito, Venezuela (13 Mar) – Trinidad – Halifax
Cargo 67,265 barrels of heavy crude oil
History Completed in May 1913 as German Triton for Deutsch-Amerikanische Petroleum
GmbH, Hamburg. 1914 renamed Muskogee for Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey,
New York.
Notes on event: At 17.56 hours on 22 March 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Muskogee (Master William W. Betts) was hit by one torpedo from U-123 in the engine room and sank by the stern within 16 minutes about 335 miles north-northeast of Bermuda. The ship had been missed by a first…torpedo from a stern tube at 17.06 hours. Ten survivors managed to climb on two rafts and were questioned by…[sub Captain] and also photographed before the U-boat left the area. However, none of the seven officers and 27 crewmen survived.”

Uboat.net. “Aboard Muskogee when hit on 22 Mar 1942.”

Baker, Valentine Vincent 35 Ordinary Seaman of Manoa, PA
Betts, William Wright 39 Master of Wycombe, PA
Blanchette, Claude Duval 30 Second Mate of Beaumont, TX
Buzzell, Hollis Leroy 33 Able Seaman of Saugus, MA
Carson, Walter William 40 Able Seaman of Evansville, AR
Chesley, Clifford Elton 26 Radio Operator of Lynn, MA
Creagh, Arthur Burton 46 Able Seaman of NYC, NY
Diaz, Carlos 49 Utilityman of Norfolk, VA
Dobrzinewsky, Anthony 48 Fireman/Watertender of South Boston, MA
Donnellan, Thomas Vincent 30 Able Seaman of Clifton, NJ
Duarte, John Carlota 36 Messman of East Boston, MA
Finucane, Morgan John 33 Chief Mate of Somerset, MA
Foster, Nathaniel Debnam Jr. 29 Third Mate of Belfast ME
Galloway, Herbert Ariail 47 Oiler of Latta, SC
Gay, Frank Roger 59 3rd Assistant Engineer of Arlington Heights, MA
Hakala, William John 41 Messman of Rockport, MA
Hampton, William Buford 36 Chief Engineer of Staten Island, NY
Hansen, Anton Juul 48 First Assistant Engineer of Baltimore, MD
Haskins, Edward Henry 66 Pumpman of West Newton, MA
Kaplan, Abe 49 Steward of New York City, NY
Lawrence, Hazen March 32 Wiper of New Bedford, MA
Marques, Lee Ordinary Seaman of Chicago, IL
Murray, John 39 Able Seaman of Somerville, NJ
Nillson, Gunner Oiler
Nunez, Andres S. 49 Fireman/Watertender wife lived in New York, NY
Ojeda, Ramon 21 Able Seaman of San Juan, Puerto Rico
Oksen, Robert Carlton 28 Wiper wife lived in Baltimore, MD
Pilitsis, Levanios Demetrius 47 Boatswain (Bosun) of Salonika Greece
Robins, Bernard Dowing 43 Second Assistant of Birds Nest, VA
Sanquiche, Vicente 36 Fireman/Watertender of Humacao, Puerto Rico
Schrobe, Anton Nestore 64 Messman of Whitestone, NY
Sellan, Luis 38 Second Cook of New York City, NY
Sousa, Anthony Grace 36 Able Seaman of Gloucester, MA
Tavares, Manuel 45 Chief Cook of New Bedford, MA

Sources

Find A Grave. “SS Muskogee (L)…34 memorials.” Created by Patricia O’Neal. Accessed 3-7-2021 at: https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/215226?page=1#sr-75873798

Mullins, Jonita. “Three Forks History: Doomed crew of oil tanker Muskogee inspired memorial.” Muskogee Phoenix. 10-10-2015. Accessed 3-7-2021 at: https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/three-forks-history-doomed-crew-of-oil-tanker-muskogee-inspired-memorial/article_03c112e0-1f53-57a2-9f07-80db1b61460d.html

Uboat.net. “Aboard Muskogee when hit on 22 Mar 1942.” Accessed 3-7-2021 at: https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship1464.html

uboat.net. Ships hit by U-boats. “Muskogee.” Accessed 3-7-2021 at:
https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1464.html