Built in Oakland, California in 1921 the 6,940 ton tanker M. F. Elliott was en route to Venezuela to pick up a shipment of oil when she was torpedoed by U-502 about 150 miles northwest of Trinidad. The ship sank within a few minuets leaving most of the crew in the oil filled water. The lifeboats all capsized and were useless so the crew got on a few rafts which had floated free of the sinking ship.

Two men were taken aboard the U-502 and questioned, and became unwilling passengers when the boat had to crash dive to avoid attack by a U. S. Navy PBY. The aircraft had been signaled by the Elliott shortly after the torpedoes struck and came on the scene shortly afterwards.

The men on the U-502 were released a few hours later and placed on a raft. Five days later they were rescued by SS Santa Maria. The others were picked up the following morning by USS Tarbell DD-142. Sadly thirteen men lost their lives either killed by the explosions or drowning before rescue.