April 1, 1943
CONFIEDENTIAL
Cadet File No: 43-3567
USNR File No: 182172
From: Cadet-Midshipman Philip D. Becker, Third Class, (D-2), USMMCC
To: Supervisor, U.S Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via: District Merchant Marine Cadet Instructor, New York
Subject: SS CITIES SERVICE MISSOURI– loss of
1. Subject vessel was a part of a convoy of sixteen ships, escorted by two P.C. boats, a corvette and a converted yacht, and sailed from New York on March 4, 1943. The convoy consisted of tankers and cargo ships, the former bound for Aruba and the Latter bound for Cuba. The voyage was uneventful until Windward Passage the convoy was chased by submarines most of the night. Eight emergency turns were executed and no ship was hit. In the morning the convoy was changed, three cargo ships going into Guantanamo Bay and three more tankers joining us, leaving the number of vessels still at sixteen and the escort changing to two destroyers patrolling the head of the convoy and two P.C vessels, one on each flank. Our rear was unguarded.
(continued)
Copies made 28
Distribution only as follows:
1. Capt. Edward Macauley, USN (Ret’d) 15. Comdr. Paul S. Maguire, USNR
2. Mr. Tolfair Knight 16. Lt. J. Kelly, USMS
3. Capt. J. H. Tomb 17. Lt. Comdr. H. A. Burch, USNR
4. Comdr. R. M. Sheaf, USNR 18. Lt. Comdr. C. L. Mosher, USNR
5. Comdr. H. A. Andrews, USNR 19. Mr. J. C. Outler, WSA
6. Comdr. A. O. Brady, USNR 20. Mr. Frank Rusk, WSA
7. Lt. Comdr. H. R. McPhee, USNR 21. Mr. S. D. Schell, WSA
8. Comdr. B. M. Dodson, USNR 22. Lt. Stanton H. Delaplane, USMS
9. Capt. Giles C. Stadman, USNR 23. Lt. Stephen Manning, USMS
10. Lt. Comdr. E. S. Hochuli, USNR 24. Lt. M. Breece, USNR
11. Lt. Comdr. J. Powers, USNR 25. Comdr. T. C. Conwell, USN
12. Capt. Felix Johnson, USN 26. Capt. R. R. McNulty, USNR
13. Comdr. J. J. Tunney, USNR 27. Comdr. W. B. Tucker, USNR
14. Lt. F. Rissenoerg, USMS 28. Comdr. C. B. Lindley, USNR
2. On the morning of March 13, 1943 at about 0500, zone plus 5, 180 miles from Aruba, subject vessel was struck by a torpedo. The writer awoke when it struck dressed and proceeded immediately to his boat station at #2 life boat. The torpedo hit on the starboard bow. Headway was lost immediately. One of the destroyers came back and asked if the vessel had been torpedoes, then it left. At 0505 a Datoh ship ahead of us was hit, burst in flames and sank. The Captain then asked the crew if they wanted to abandon the ship or try to keep her afloat and make port. They replied that they would stay by her. For the next 45 minutes the writer worked with the first mate opening valves and pumping water into the stern and pumping out the bow. The vessel carried water ballast and no cargo.
3. At 0550 all that the writer could do had been done and he went aft for a cup of coffee. At 0555, while sitting in the Officers’ Mess, a second torpedo struck. This time in the engine room, on the port side and under the crew’s forecastle. The writer proceeded to his boat station forward and heard the gun crew firing at the submarine, which had surfaced on our port side. The command to lower boats was given, and the shit was abandoned. The ship sank at 0700 and at 0900 survivors were picked up by one of the destroyers and taken to Curacao, then flown to Aruba and given passage back to New York on the SS Sea Way, where the writer is now waiting to be paid and assigned to another ship.
Signed (Philip D. Becker)
Cadet- Midshipman Philip D. Becker, Third Class, (D-2), USMMCC
FIRST ENDORSEMENT April 1, 1943
From: District Merchant Marine Cadet Instructor
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
- Forwarded
B. M. Dodson
Signed (C.P. Jensen)
C. P. Jensen
By direction