Mike T.

I believe the following random statements to be true:


This was the sub captured off of Africa on June 5, 1944 with the express intent of obtaining codes and an Enigma machine, which the captors did. The guy who ordered the operation apparently was raked over the coals as a result because the Allies already the codes and an Enigma and the capture of the sub could have ruined everything if the Germans started over. There was one German killed during the operation.


The sub (I think it was U-501) had spent much of the war in the drydock as a result of aerial bombings. At one point in its career, the crew became demoralized when its previous skipped committed suicide in the middle of a depth-charge attack. The boarding crew who captured it did get some Lugers but were required to turn them in for security reasons.


The sub is neat to visit in Chicago, although someone just told me they were going to be closing it down for awhile. It must have been fun to drive it up the St. Lawrence Seaway and then move it across land to the museum.


I don't have the address, but somewhere on the internet is a very extensive website which gives the detailed history of each and every German U-Boat in WW2.