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On February 2, 1942 the tanker W. L. Steed was sunk by the U-103 about 125 miles east southeast of New Jersey. The tanker which was carrying over 65,000 barrels of crude oil was hit on the starboard side forward of the bridge, the oil began to burn but was quickly extinguished by the heavy seas. All thirty-eight men were able to abandon the ship before the U-103 shelled her and sent her to the bottom with a final torpedo. Now in four small boats in the middle of a snowstorm the survivors had little chance of living through the ordeal. The first boat was found by the HMS Alcantara F-88 on Feb. 4, two of the five men in the boat were dead, the survivors were put ashore at Halifax on Feb. 7. The second boat was found by the British steamer Hartlepool on Feb. 6, this boat contained thirteen frozen bodies and two men barely alive, one of them, the chief mate, died in Halifax on Feb. 9. The third boat was found by the Raby Castle, it had drifted 233 miles out into the Atlantic, fourteen men had taken to this boat when the Steed was sunk but only one was still alive, he lived only another three days. The last boat is thought to have been found, drifting empty on Feb. 19 by the Poza Rica. |
© 2008 Michael W. Pocock MaritimeQuest.com |
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| The launch of the W. L. Steed in 1918.
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Roll of Honor |
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In memory of those who lost their lives in W. L. Steed "Their names are etched into history as American Patriots" |
Name |
Rank / Rate |
Notes |
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Andrade, Oliveira |
Cook |
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Arroyo, Jose C. |
Able Seaman |
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Bone, Ralph A. |
F/W |
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Bornheimer, Ernest G. |
Chief Engineer |
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Boyhan, John F. |
Ordinary Seaman |
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Bryant, Waldo E. |
Able Seaman |
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Burkholder, Raymond |
Able Seaman |
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Burrell, William R. |
1st Engineer |
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Carlo, John |
F/W
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Chandler, Arthur L. |
Ordinary Seaman |
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Choate, Edison E. |
Messman |
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Christiansen, Walter M. |
Chief Engineer |
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Elder, Robert |
Storekeeper |
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Erdos, James |
Ordinary Seaman |
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Ezell, Cecil A. |
3rd Mate |
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Field, David A. |
Wiper |
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Grant, James D. |
Machinist |
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Hawkins, Ernest N. |
Messman |
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Kyle, Robert T. |
Oiler |
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Levet, Jack |
3rd Engineer |
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Maihoit Jr., Elmer E. |
2nd Engineer |
Died Feb. 15 in Raby Castle |
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McAvenia, Harold G. |
Master |
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Nilsson, Einar A. |
Chief Mate |
Died Feb. 9 at Halifax |
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Santosuosso, Joseph |
Messman |
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Shelton, Ezra W. |
Oiler |
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Siltz, Francis E. |
Radio Officer |
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Smith, Leonard |
Wiper |
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Volkert, Earl R. |
Cook |
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Wagner, Francis J. |
Messman |
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Wahter, Constantine |
Able Seaman |
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Zenos, George |
Storekeeper |
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The names of three brave men are missing from this list, if you have any information on them please email the webmaster. |
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