U-505 In the US Navy

This article was written by Naval Historian Air Commodore Derek Waller, an authority on the fate of German U-boats after the war. The administrator is very thankful that he agreed to share his research on this website.

U-505 in the US Navy - 1944 to 1954

(From Capture - to Disposal - to Display)

Introduction

In June 1944 the US Navy captured the Type IXC U-Boat, U-505, in the Atlantic off the west coast of Africa. It was then taken to Bermuda where, in great secrecy, it was held for the remainder of the war. After VE Day, a US Navy Press Release on 16 May 1945 gave the American public their first indication of the capture and on 20 May U-505 left Bermuda for Philadelphia, where it arrived on 23 May to take part in the first of two War Bond tours of the US East Coast and Caribbean ports on behalf of the US Treasury Department.

USS Pillsbury's boarding party approaches U-505, 4 June 1944

By January 1946 it was back at the Boston Naval Base awaiting a decision about its final disposal as a gunnery or torpedo target. However, thanks to the intervention of Admiral Daniel Gallery, USN, who had been involved in U-505’s capture, the U-Boat was eventually saved from its intended fate and, after protracted negotiations, it was moved to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) in 1954 where it was renovated, and where it remains to this day as an historic exhibit.

The purpose of this paper is to describe U-505’s time in the US Navy from its capture in June 1944 and its move to Philadelphia in May 1945 until it was handed-over to the MSI in May 1954.

Capture in 1944

U-505 was captured by the US Navy after being forced to the surface 150 miles off the west coast of Africa, to the west of Cape Blanco, on 4 June 1944 by a US Navy escort carrier task group. It was then towed, with a US Navy crew, first by the aircraft carrier USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60), and then by the tug USS Abnaki (ATF-96) to US Navy Operating Base at Port Royal Bay in Bermuda for technical examination. Because of the security imperative to create the illusion that it had been sunk rather than captured, U-505 was temporarily renamed as USS Nemo, and it was kept in Bermuda for the remainder of the war.

USS Abnaki (ATF-96) takes the U-505 in tow, 7 June 1944

After its arrival in Bermuda on 19 June 1944, one of the first actions of the US Navy was to remove its torpedoes (which included two acoustic homing versions) and to transfer them urgently to the US for inspection and testing. U-505 was then dry docked for a hull inspection and the repair of the damage that had occurred during its capture. Fortuitously there was no significant damage to the hull, and thus the US Navy was able return it to the water with an American crew for trials. Under control of the US Navy’s Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), the trials were supervised very closely by the intelligence and engineering staffs because of the need to learn as much as possible about the Type IXC U-Boat’s technology and operational capability.

U-505 in 1945

On 16 May 1945, just a week after VE Day, a US Navy Press Release told the American people the story of the capture of U-505 for the very first time, and two days later the US Treasury Department announced that, with the co-operation of the US Navy, the U-Boat was to be exhibited in six north-eastern seaboard cities in order to boost the sales of War Bonds.

The itinerary for the War Bond Tour had been agreed by Cominch on 17 May, although the dates were changed on 18 May to allow for the initial movement of U-505 from Bermuda to Philadelphia. Then, on 20 May, ComSubLant advised that:

“Upon arrival U-505 at Philadelphia about 22 May, ComSubRon 7 [will] assume operational and administrative control of U-505 until further notice”.

Thus U-505 was released by the ONI and sailed on 20 May from Bermuda to Philadelphia, arriving at the latter on 23 May for the start of its exhibition tour. Indeed, after that, and because of the great success of the first tour and the interest that U-505’s capture had evoked, the U-Boat later took part in a second much longer War and Victory Bond tour of the US East Coast and Caribbean ports in order to raise funds for the war against Japan - see full details at Annex A.

For the first short tour to the north-east coast ports, as well as the transit from Bermuda, the patrol craft PCE-846 (re-named USS Eunice in February 1956) was the escort vessel for the initial part (until it arrived in New York), and the destroyer escort USS Otter (DE-210) then took over as the escort vessel for the remainder of the tour (from New York until its return to New London in early July). As to the tour itself, with a US Navy crew, U-505 visited Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Baltimore, Washington and Norfolk, spending about 5 days in each. It was open to the public in Philadelphia from 23 to 27 May, in New York from 28 May until 5 June, in Boston from 7 to 12 June, in Baltimore from 15 to 21 June, in Washington from 23 to 28 June and in Norfolk from 30 June to 5 July, before returning to the US Navy Submarine Base at New London, Connecticut on 7 July - see Deck Log extracts at Annex B.

On 1 August 1945 the destroyer escort USS Neunzer (DE-150) sailed to New London to escort U-505 on its second (and longer) War Bond tour, this time both to the East Coast ports and to some of those in the Gulf of Mexico - see Deck Log extracts at Annex C. The first part of the tour started in New York for a month (2 August to 3 September), and then included New Haven (3 to 10 Sep) and New London (10 and 11 Sep) in Connecticut, Portland (12 to 18 Sep) in Maine, Portsmouth (18 to 24 Sep) in New Hampshire, and New Bedford (24 Sep to 1 Oct) in Massachusetts.

U-505 was back at New London on 1 October, and from there it headed south on the second part of the tour, which started on 8 October. The U-Boat was on display at the Centenary Celebrations of the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland from 9 to 14 October, and then visited Wilmington (14 to 18 Oct) in Delaware, Portsmouth (19 to 30 Oct) in Virginia, Charleston (31 Oct to 7 Nov) in South Carolina, and Savannah (7 to 13 Nov) in Georgia.

Thereafter, U-505, together with USS Neunzer, visited five ports in Florida: Jacksonville (13 to 21 Nov), Miami (22 to 30 Nov), Key West (30 Nov to 5 Dec), Tampa (6 to 12 Dec) and Pensacola (13 to 18 Dec). It also visited New Orleans (19 to 27 Dec) in Louisiana and Mobile (28 Dec to 1 Jan 46) in Alabama. After its visit to Mobile, and after the need for the sale of more War Bonds had ceased, U-505 was ordered back to New London to await a decision about its final disposal. During the transit north, it called at the US Navy Base at Key West (3 to 8 Jan) but, on 9 Jan and whilst U-505 was still at sea, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) sent a message to C-in-C Atlantic Fleet (CincLant) that he was to:

“Sail U-505 … to Naval Base Boston … for care and preservation. Place out of service and retain for explosive tests”.

After the Allied Potsdam Conference ended on 2 August 1945, it was thought that the Tripartite Naval Commission (TNC) might have jurisdiction over the fate of U-505 and, as a result, the US Navy had some early doubts about the arrangements for its disposal once the War Bond tours were over. However, the TNC had accepted that, as the U-Boat had been captured during the war (rather than surrendering at the end of the war), it was outwith the constraints of the Potsdam Agreement and did not therefore need to be considered for early disposal by sinking.

U-505 in 1946

After the two War Bond tours, and its arrival back at the Boston Naval Base on 12 January 1946, the US Navy decided that, as the investigations by intelligence and engineering officers during U-505’s time in Bermuda had made them fully familiar with the design of the Type IXC U-boats, and that as a further Type IXC/40 U-Boat (U-858) was already being refitted prior to testing, there was no further operational requirement for U-505.

The detailed US Navy policy in relation to U-505, as well as to two of the other U-Boats that had surrendered (U-530 and U-977) and which had also undertaken War Bond tours in late-1945, was set out in a memo from the US Navy’s Bureau of Ships (BuShips) to ComSubLant and the Commander of the Portsmouth Navy Yard (PNY) on 8 January 1946, which stated that:

“The U-505, U-530 and U-977 that were formerly on War Bond Tours have completed that duty and are now [sic!] berthed at the Boston Shipyard.

No further operations are expected from these submarines other than as possible targets for explosives tests.

Permission is granted to take such material and equipment as is needed for spare parts for the operating U-Boats from these submarines.

Removal of material should not be such that the submarines could not be towed to a target area and submerged in a static dive”.

After U-505 arrived at the Boston Naval Base on 12 January and had formally reported to Commander Submarine Squadron 1 on 14 January, the latter sent a message to the CNO on 15 January saying:

“U-505 … directed [to] report [to] Commandant Navy Base Boston for placing out of service at Boston Navy Shipyard. In view probable future operations required [for U-505] and prospect additional U-Boats reporting for similar disposition recommend retention all or part present experienced qualified U-Boat personnel on board”.

This proposal was agreed by the CNO on 18 January, and action on U-505 was therefore put on temporary hold. However, on 10 April 1946 the CNO directed Com Subron 1 to:

“Place U-505 out of service. As soon as practicable tow U-505 … to Naval Shipyard Portsmouth NH for removal main storage batteries. Upon completion removal and when advised by ComNavShipyard Portsmouth, tow U-505 … to Boston for continued retention for explosive tests. Personnel allocated U-505 by CNO on 18 January hereby assigned to U-977”.

Thus, pending its disposal, U-505 was decommissioned and retained in its role as a source of spares for the other U-Boats in US Navy service whilst awaiting disposal as either a gunnery or torpedo target. But, in order to allow it to be stripped of equipment and spares for spares whilst awaiting a formal disposal decision, an action that had been completed by the end of September 1946, U-505 remained at PNY after its transfer there on 3 May 1946.

U-505 - 1947 to 1954

The U-Boat’s proposed fate then came to the attention of Admiral Gallery, who had commanded USS Guadalcanal when U-505 was captured. The Admiral, who came from Chicago, and who was by then one of the Assistant Chiefs of Naval Operations, wrote to Mr Frank Hecht, the President of the Illinois State Council of the Navy League of the United States on 13 January 1947 asking if the Council would be interested in sponsoring a proposal to have U-505 transferred permanently to the City of Chicago. Mr Hecht replied to Admiral Gallery on 10 February 1947, thanking him for his “most interesting communication” and saying that:

“I quite agree with you on the desirability of going ahead with your idea”

and that

“I am passing it on to one of our Directors asking him to explore the question and present it at the [next] Directors’ Meeting”.

The proposal was then explored with various organisations in Chicago, specifically the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI). The Museum had for a long time had an ambition to display a submarine, and so the possible acquisition of U-505 was an attractive idea. It was not, however, until late September 1947 that the project began to move forward, which was fortuitous, as the US Navy was then making specific plans to dispose of several surplus U-Boats in torpedo tests off New England in November 1947.

RADM Daniel Gallery - 28 January 1947

Admiral Gallery knew of the proposed disposal plans, and thus he used his brother, John Gallery, who was a priest in Chicago, as a go-between to determine if there had been any progress in relation to his January proposal. By that time, Major Lenox R Lohr, US Army (Rtd), the MSI Director, had become involved and had met with Mr E R Henning, who was a New York-based member of the Mechanical Engineers Society, as well as being a retired US Navy Captain. John Gallery thus met Major Lohr on 26 September to discuss whether or not the MSI was interested in the U-505 project.

The answer was affirmative, and the next key event was a visit to the US Navy Department in Washington on the morning of 6 October 1947 by Mr Henning, the purpose of which was to:

“make inquiries regarding the possibility of bringing the ex-German U-505 to the lagoon of the Museum”.

The same day, Mr Henning had lunch with Lenox Lohr, and the former’s follow-up letter makes the subject of their debate very clear:

“From the policy angle there appears to be no objection. Indeed, it was indicated by the officers concerned in this field that they thought the idea had much to commend it, particularly from the standpoint of naval publicity. The submarine was scheduled for sinking but recently this was countermanded for further study of its disposition. Some tentative consideration has been given to placing it at Annapolis”.

Mr Henning advised Lenox Lohr that there did not appear to be any insurmountable obstacles from a technical point of view, though he did say that:

“cost will be a big obstacle”.

He also advised that:

“The boat has been cannibalised to some degree for parts for other German submarines”.

and that:

“With this preliminary inquiry indicating no substantial policy or technical objections, a formal request to the Secretary of the Navy would appear in order promptly [and] the Navy League in Chicago might be a help”.

As a result of this lunchtime meeting, the afternoon of 6 October saw a telegram being sent jointly by Lenox Lohr and the Chicago Navy League’s President (Mr Frank Hecht) to the Secretary of the Navy (John L Sullivan) and the Chief of Naval Operations (Admiral Chester W Nimitz), saying:

“We understand German submarine U-505 captured June 4, 1944 …is to be destroyed. We feel this craft should be preserved as a monument to the spirit of the USN and [an] inspiration to youth of our nation. The Navy League joins with the Museum of Science and Industry in requesting the USN to install this submarine at the Museum for pubic display”.

Encouragingly, Admiral Chester Nimitz responded with a message on 7 October, saying:

“Your message to the Chief of Naval Operations quoting your telegram to SECNAV regarding preservation of the captured German submarine U-505 as an historic relic has been received. Your interest in this matter which is now under study is appreciated and it is hoped that it may be found practicable to carry out your suggestions”.

Similarly, John Sullivan, the Secretary of the Navy, wrote to both to both Lenox Lohr and Frank Hecht on 23 October 1947 saying that U-505 had been removed from the list of U-Boats to be destroyed in November. However, he also stressed that any financial implications of the transfer of U-505 to the MSI would have to be met by organisations and groups in the Chicago area.

Following this, Lenox Lohr wrote to Admiral Gallery on 21 November 1947 concerning the costings and possible funding arrangements, as well as asking if the Admiral could find anyone who might be interested in sponsoring the project and backing it financially. He also asked:

“to be assured that the Navy will keep open their offer during the period necessary to investigate the possibility of securing a sponsor”

The Admiral’s reply on 24 November 1947, and written on official CNO-headed paper, stated that:

“A move is being started here which I believe will result in the Navy reconditioning and delivering the U-505 to Chicago. It is too early to say definitely to say that this will be done, but so far it looks promising. In the meantime, you can be assured that the Navy will hold the offer of the U-505 open for you”.

Although the US Navy was now aware of the MSI’s interest in acquiring U-505 as an exhibit, there were still serious problems concerning the financing of the project. The MSI and all the interested groups in Chicago were keen that the US Navy should pay the costs but, despite Admiral Gallery’s informal optimism, the US Navy was equally determined not to do so. In essence, therefore, the project became stalled and, in the meantime, U-505 remained in the Navy Yard at Portsmouth, tied up to a jetty; rusting and neglected.

Thus began the second major delay in the U-505/MSI project, a characteristic that was to be repeated over the next six years. Chicago was unwilling to take the project forward without a clear view of the funding sources, but was loath to begin arranging the latter until formal transfer arrangements had been made by the US Navy. On the other hand, despite Admiral Gallery’s suggestions to the contrary, the US Navy had no intention of funding the project, and therefore awaited Chicago’s proposals. Stalemate ensued.

By the end of 1949 it was clear that the US Navy was losing patience, and U-505 was once more formally included in a list of ships to be struck from the inventory and then used either for target practice or sold for scrap. Fortuitously, John F Floberg, who took up his new appointment as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Air) on 5 December 1949, was also the US Navy’s Controller, and as such he was responsible for signing-off the orders for the scrapping of obsolete equipment and vessels. He noted that U-505 was due for disposal and, in view of the U-Boat’s history, decided to advise Admiral Gallery of its pending demise.

Thus Admiral Gallery, who was still a serving officer, but who was nevertheless doing a great deal of lobbying behind the scenes, for which he was later informally admonished, once again became aware of the situation and decided to take action. This time he brought the situation to the attention of Alderman Clarence Wagner, who was a powerful and influential member of Chicago City Council.

As a result, Alderman Wagner initiated a motion on 20 January 1950 which asked the City Council to make a formal request to the Secretary of the Navy:

“to present U-505 to the City of Chicago for the purpose of installing this vessel as a permanent exhibit [at the MSI]”.

However, no formal action flowed from this initiative, though the Chicago Daily Tribune published an article about the project on 8 March 1950, concluding that U-505 would make a worthy trophy for the City.

In retrospect, it seems that Alderman Wagner’s action in early 1950 was simply designed to indicate to the US Navy in general, and to John Floberg in particular, that there was still local public interest in the project. Thus, whilst, as a result of John Floberg’s personal involvement (and no doubt Admiral Gallery’s behind the scenes), the US Navy kept the disposal of U-505 on hold, there was still no resolution of the funding problems. Indeed, it was to be another three years (March 1953) before any further serious action was initiated in Chicago to bring the project to fruition.

By early 1953, U-505 was the sole remaining U-Boat at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, and it was in a very poor state. There was therefore pressure in the US Navy to dispose of the vessel, and the public debate was re-opened by a dramatic headline in the Chicago Daily Tribute which, on 8 March 1953, declared:

“City Told: Act or Lose U-Boat as War Trophy”

This was based on advice from Admiral Gallery on the previous day that Portsmouth Navy Yard needed the space that was being occupied by U-505 and that, although the US Navy had promised to make the U-Boat available to Chicago, its patience was wearing thin. Unless something positive was done, it was likely that U-505 would be sold for scrap.

As a result, a whole variety of actions were initiated. The City Council debated and approved Alderman Wagner’s original 1950 resolution on 11 March, the Mayor of Chicago, Martin Kennelly, became involved and, after a meeting between him and John Floberg on 1 April 1953, John Floberg wrote to the Mayor on 7 April 1953 saying:

“The Navy will cooperate in every practical way to help bring the U-505 to Chicago. Please tell your Committee that it can count on my official and personal cooperation. I earnestly hope that Chicago will be able under your leadership and that of your Committee to preserve this combat trophy in the Naval District which furnished the Navy one third of its personnel in World War Two”.

Though there were still hopes and aspirations to the contrary, it was at last beginning to be understood that the US Navy was not prepared to fund the transfer of U-505 from Portsmouth to Chicago, and that a major fund-raising drive was necessary. The latter was therefore initiated on 3 April 1953, but even then there were dissenting voices.

For instance, an article in the Chicago American on 22 April 1953 offered the pessimistic view that:

“[U-505], a museum piece, lies at an East Coast dock but to get it Chicagoans will have to act fast. It’s nearing the time for it to be sold for scrap or sunk at sea”.

“Had the city taken action when the boat was first offered to Chicago as a war memorial in 1948, the cost would have been much less. In fairly good condition then and with all its original equipment aboard, the vessel is now a stripped and neglected rusted hulk. Navy officials fear to move U-505 too far or to experiment with her diving tanks because of the possibility of it sinking or capsizing.”

“The Navy Department has thus far refused to allot any money for the upkeep of the vessel. There are no plans at present to dry-dock her and Navy men fear such an operation might result in her destruction”.

The question of funding was also raised in a letter in late April 1953 from the Secretary of the Navy, Francis Matthews, to the City Council, which provided details of the estimated costs that would be involved in preparing U-505 for towing from Portsmouth Navy Yard to Chicago.

There then followed a series of high-level exchanges of letters, as well as discussions, between the US Navy and the City of Chicago, in which the Senator for Illinois, Everett M Dirksen, as well as two Chiefs of Naval Operations, Admirals William Fechteler and Robert Carney, as well as Vice Admiral Roscoe Good, the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Logistics), became personally involved in the proposal to transfer U-505 from the US Navy to the MSI. Perhaps the most important of these was the letter from the Under Secretary of the Navy, Charles S Thomas, to Senator Dirksen on 1 June 1953 which - in relation to the proposed transfer - said that:

“Transfers of this nature [concerning captured vessels] are covered by Public Law. The law stipulates in part that no expense shall result to the United States as a consequence of such transfer. The Mayor of the City of Chicago has been informed that the Department of the Navy is willing to transfer the U-505 to the City of Chicago in accordance with the law”.

and that:

“The most difficult obstacle in the way of transferring the U-505 to the City of Chicago is funding. Funds are not currently available to the Navy for the specific purpose of repairing the U-505 for tow”.

This was followed, on 12 June 1953, by a formal application by the President of the MSI to Admiral Carney, the Chief of Naval Operations, stating that:

“The Museum of Science and Industry hereby applies for the ex-German submarine U-505 under the terms of Public Law 649 of the 79th Congress”.

that:

“The proposed use [is to] establish [U-505] as a permanent memorial in Chicago to the Americans who lost their lives at sea in World War II”.

that:

“The Museum agrees that the U-505 will be maintained at no expense to the United States in accordance with the terms of Public Law”.

and that:

“A committee has been formed … to raise the money to prepare the U-505 for towing, to tow it to Chicago, and to prepare it as an exhibit”.

Thus the sparring was over at last, the US Navy fully intended to transfer title to U-505 to Chicago as long as all preparations had been duly performed, and as long as Chicago accepted that the funding of the project was its responsibility. The fund raising and the planning for U-505’s move were now put on a serious basis, interest in the project rose, money and offers of help were received from a whole variety of sources and, although there were still a number of delays for legal, sponsorship and financial reasons, the Secretary of the Navy, Robert B Anderson, personally signed the transfer of title of U-505 from the US Navy to the MSI on 9 March 1954.

U-505’s last day in US Navy custody was 14 May 1954 when two US Navy tugs towed the U-Boat down the Piscatauqua River from the Portsmouth Navy Yard to a buoy in the harbour at Kittery, Maine. The following day U-505 started its journey to Chicago under tow by the civilian tug Pauline L Moran.

U-505 post-1954

Though it had taken 8 long years of hard, if intermittent, lobbying, planning, work and fund raising to bring the aspirations to fruition, the movement of U-505 to Chicago proved to be a monumental and expensive undertaking. The tug began towing the U-Boat from Kittery on 15 May 1954 on its journey, which covered 3,000 miles, through 28 locks on the St. Lawrence River, and through four of the five Great Lakes.

U-505 arrived in Chicago on 26 June, and on 25 September 1954 it was dedicated as a war memorial and a permanent exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. However, when U-505 was donated to the Museum, it had been thoroughly stripped of parts during the early years that it had lain neglected alongside the dock in PNY, and still more hard work was necessary to restore and replace the missing components.

U-505 in the Chicago river in June 1954 - Photograph courtesy of Richard Cosby

In 1989, U-505, the only Type IXC U-Boat still in existence, was designated a US National Historic Landmark. However, by 2004, the U-Boat's exterior had suffered significant damage from the weather and, in April 2004, the Museum moved U-505 into a new underground location which was opened to the public on 5 June 2005.

Conclusion

U-505’s time in the US Navy was marked by a number of significant phases. First, its capture in 1944 and subsequent confinement in Bermuda until May 1945. Second, its two War Bond tours in the latter half of 1945. Third, its use as a source of spares for other in-use U-Boats in 1946 and 1947. Fourth, its long period tied-up, rusting and rotting in Portsmouth Navy Yard between late 1947 and early 1954, during which time it featured on three separate occasions on the US Navy’s proposed disposal list. And fifth, its transfer to the Chicago MSI under tow, starting on 15 May 1954.

Throughout all that time the US Navy was sympathetic to the idea of the transfer, whilst steadfastly committed to its position that no Navy funds were available for application to the project. Finally, it must be acknowledged that the US Navy’s Admiral Daniel Gallery was the prime-mover in the whole project. He had captured U-505 in the first place. He came from Chicago. He suggested the idea that U-505 should be preserved in Chicago, and he worked tirelessly throughout the whole time from 1947 to 1954, both openly and behind-the-scenes, to ensure the successful delivery of the project. Without him it would have never happened.

Arundel, W Sussex, England June 2012

Annex A: U-505 War Bond Tours - Time Lines - May 1945 to January 1946

Annex B: Extract from Deck Logs of USS PCE-846 and USS Otter DE-210

Annex C: Extract from Deck Log of USS Neunzer

Annex A

U-505 War Bond Tours

Time Lines - May 1945 to January 1946

U-505 took part in 2 separate War Bond Tours. The first between May and July 1945, and the second (in 2 parts) between August 1945 and January 1946.

U-505 underway off Delaware about May 1945

U-505’s First War Bond Tour

The patrol craft USS PCE-846 escorted U-505 on the initial part of its first War Bond tour (until it arrived in New York), and the destroyer escort USS Otter (DE-210) was the escort vessel for the remainder of the tour (from New York until its return to New London). The tour started in Philadelphia and then went to New York, Boston, Baltimore, Washington and Norfolk. The detailed itinerary was as follows:

A.	23 - 27 May	Philadelphia (Pier 19, Municipal Docks)
B.	28 May - 5 Jun	New York (Pier A, The Battery)
C.	7 - 12 Jun	Boston (Central Wharf, Atlantic Avenue)
D.	15 - 21 Jun	Baltimore (Pier 4, Pratt St)
E.	23 - 28 Jun	Washington "(Coast Guard Pier)
F.	30 Jun - 05 Jul	Norfolk (Merchants and Miners Pier)
G.	7 Jul	U-505 then returned to New London

U-505’s Second War Bond Tour

On 1 August the Destroyer Escort USS Neunzer (DE-150) sailed to New London to
escort U-505 on it's second (2-Part) War Bond tour.

Part 1 of the tour started from New London on 2 August, and U-505 made its first stop at New York, staying there for a month. It then went to New Haven, New London, Portland, Portsmouth and New Bedford before returning to New London on 1 October. The detailed itinerary was as follows:

A.	2 Aug	Departed New London, CT
B.	2 Aug - 3 Sep	New York (Pier 88)
C.	3 - 10 Sep	New Haven, CT (Bell Pier)
D.	10 - 11 Sep	New London, CT (State Pier)
E.	12 - 18 Sep	Portland, ME, (Grant Trunk Pier, US Naval Station)
F.	18 - 24 Sep	Portsmouth, NH (Navy Yard)
G.	24 Sep - 1 Oct	New Bedford, MA (State Pier)
H.	1 - 8 Oct	New London, CT (Municipal Pier)

U-505 underway off Delaware about May 1945

Part 2 of the tour started on 8 October 1945 in New London, and U-505 then traveled
down the east coast to Key West, before visiting the Gulf ports of Tampa, Pensacola,
New Orleans and Mobile. It returned via Key West, and arrived at the Boston Navy Yard
on 12 January 1946:

A.	8 Oct	Departed New London, CT
B.	9 - 14 Oct	Annapolis MD, (for US Naval Academy Centennial Celebrations)
C.	14 - 18 Oct	Wilmington, DE (Terminal Dock)
D.	19 - 30 Oct	Portsmouth, VA (Coast Guard Dock)
E.	31 Oct - 7 Nov	Charleston, SC (Clyde Mallory Lines, Pier 3)
F.	7 - 13 Nov	Savannah, GA (Gordon’s Wharf)
G.	13 - 21 Nov	Jacksonville, FL (Gibbs Gasoline Repair Dock)
H.	22 - 30 Nov	Miami, FL (Pier 3, US Navy Supply Pier)
I.	30 Nov - 5 Dec	Key West, FL (Clyde Mallory Dock)
J.	6 - 12 Dec	Tampa, FL (Clyde Mallory Dock)
K.	13 - 18 Dec	Pensacola, FL (Commandanica Dock)
L.	19 - 27 Dec	New Orleans, LA (Bienville Street Wharf)
M.	28 Dec - 1 Jan	Mobile, AL (L&N Railroad Dock)
N.	3 - 8 Jan	Key West, FL (Pier B)
O.	8 Jan	Departed Key West for New London, CT
P.	9 Jan	Destination changed (by CNO) to Boston, MA
Q.	12 January	Arrived Boston Navy Yard, MA

U-505 at the US Naval Academy October 1945

Annex B

Extracts from Deck Logs of USS PCE-846 and USS Otter DE-210

USS PCE 846 - Patrol Craft Escort

1st War Bond Tour with U-505 (Part 1)

Extracts from Deck Log

19 - 29 May 1945

19 May
00.01	Moored to Tender Pier, Naval Operating Base, Bermuda, BWI
16.10	Anchored in Port Royal Bay, Bermuda, BWI
20 May
07.03	Underway to escort US Submarine U-505 to Philadelphia
08.35	Rendezvoused with US Submarine U-505. Took departure. U-505 stationed 1500 yards astern
21 May
00.01	En-route from Bermuda to Philadelphia escorting US submarine U-505
22 May
00.01	Escorting US Submarine U-505 from Bermuda to Philadelphia
23 May
00.01	Escorting US Submarine U-505 from Bermuda to Philadelphia
00.39	Moored portside of Pier No 3, Philadelphia Navy Yard
11.39	Underway to shift berth to Pier 19
12.46	Moored to Pier 19 North in the Municipal Docks, Philadelphia
24 May
00.01	Moored to Pier 19 North in Municipal Docks, Philadelphia
25 May
00.01	Moored to Pier 19 North, Municipal Docks, Philadelphia, aft of U-505 (German submarine)
26 May
00.01	Moored to Pier 19 North, Municipal Docks, Philadelphia

00.01	Moored to Pier 19 North, Municipal Docks, Philadelphia
23.45	Underway
28 May
00.01	Underway from Philadelphia, Penn to New York escorting US Submarine U-505
16.48	En-route to Tompkinsville, Staten Is., New York
18.17	Moored to Pier 8, Tompkinsville, Staten Is., New York
19.08	Underway proceeding to Pier A, Battery, New York
20.04	Moored to Pier A at the Battery, New York City
28 May
00.01	Moored to Pier A at the Battery, New York City
06.30	Underway [without U-505 in company]

USS Otter (DE-210) - Destroyer Escort

1st War Bond Tour with U-505 (Part 2)

Extracts from Deck Log

5 June - 7 July 1945

5 June
00.01	Moored to Pier 26, North River, New York City
07.00	Relieved PCE 846 as escort of U-505
23.06	Underway out of Hudson River to escort U-505
6 June
00.01	En-route from New York to Boston, Mass in company with U-505
20.32	Moored to Central Wharf, Boston, MA
13 June
05.53	Underway from Central Wharf, Boston, Mass en-route to Baltimore, MD
12.29	U-505 on station 1500 yards astern
14 June
00.01	Underway from Boston, Mass en-route to Baltimore, MD escorting U-505
19.57	Moored to Pier 4, Baltimore, MD
22 June
05.05	Underway from Pier 4, Baltimore Md. En-route to Washington, DC in company with U-505
18.35	Moored to US Coast Guard Pier, Washington, DC. U-505 in vicinity
29 June
15.16	Underway from Coast Guard Pier, Washington, DC to escort U-505
19.18	Moored to Merchants and Miner’s Transportation Co Pier, Norfolk, VA
5 July
17.47	Underway from Merchants and Miner’s Transportation Co Pier, Norfolk, VA to New London, Ct in company with U-505
7 July
00.01	Underway from Norfolk, Va to New London, CT in company with U-505
05.44	Entering Block Island Sound Channel
07.28	All engines stopped. Escort duty completed with U-505

Annex C

USS Neunzer (DE-150) - Destroyer Escort

2nd War Bond Tour with U-505

Extracts from Deck Log

1 August 1945 to 12 January 1946

1 Aug	New London, CT
2 Aug	Departed New London [with U-505 in company]
2 Aug	Moored, Pier 92, North River, New York
3 Sep	Departed New York, passage to New Haven, CT
3 Sep	Moored, Bell Pier, New Haven, CT
10 Sep	Departed New Haven, passage to New London, CT
10 Sep	Moored, State Pier, New London, CT
11 Sep	Departed New London, passage to Portland, ME
12 Sep	Moored, Grant Trunk Pier, Naval Station, Portland, ME
18 Sep	Departed Portland, passage to Portsmouth, NH
18 Sep	Moored, Pier 5, Berth 4, Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH
24 Sep	Departed Portsmouth, passage to New Bedford, MA
24 Sep	Moored, State Pier, New Bedford, MA
1 Oct	Departed New Bedford, passage to New London, CT
1 Oct	Moored, State Pier, New London, CT
8 Oct	Departed New London, passage to Annapolis, MD
9 Oct	Moored, Santee Pier, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
14 Oct	Departed Annapolis, passage to Wilmington, DE
14 Oct	Moored, Maine Terminal Dock, Wilmington, DE
18 Oct	Depart Wilmington, passage to Portsmouth, VA
19 Oct	Moored, Coast Guard Dock, Portsmouth, VA
30 Oct	Depart Portsmouth, passage to Charleston, SC
31 Oct	Moored, Clyde Mallory Lines Pier 3, Charleston, SC
7 Nov	Departed Charleston, passage to Savannah, GA
7 Nov	Moored, Atlantic Coast Line Dock, Savannah, GA
13 Nov	Departed Savannah, passage to Jacksonville, FL
13 Nov	Moored, Gibbs Gasoline Repair Dock, Jacksonville, FL
21 Nov	Departed Jacksonville, passage to Miami, FL
22 Nov	Moored, Pier 3, US Navy Supply Pier, Miami, FL
30 Nov	Departed Miami, passage to Key West, FL
30 Nov	Moored, Clyde Mallory Dock, Key West, FL
5 Dec	Departed Key West, passage to Tampa, FL
6 Dec	Moored, Clyde Mallory Dock, Tampa, FL
12 Dec	Departed Tampa, passage to Pensacola, FL
13 Dec	Moored, Commandancia Dock, Pensacola, FL
18 Dec	Departed Pensacola, passage to New Orleans, LA
19 Dec	Moored, Bienville Street Wharf, New Orleans, LA
27 Dec	Departed New Orleans, passage to Mobile, AL
28 Dec	Moored, L&N Railroad Dock, Mobile, AL
1 Jan 46	Departed Mobile, passage to Key West, FL
3 Jan	Moored, Pier B, Key West, FL
8 Jan	Departed Key West, passage to New London, CT
9 Jan	Destination changed to Boston, MA
12 Jan	Moored, Pier 6, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA

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Dan Gallery's Article	TG 22.3 Destroyer Escorts	TG 22.3 Awards
U-505 in the US Navy	Contact Us	Links
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