US vet recalls U-boat hidden in Bermuda

Bernews - 

A US Navy veteran is attempting to track down other participants in one of the most highly classified missions of World War Two — the capture of a Nazi U-boat on the high seas which was then towed almost 2000 miles to Bermuda under a veil of secrecy.

Former Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Philip Kornely Jr. tells a Florida newspaper today how the Task Group 22.3 Association is still looking for members from among US Navy veterans who took part in the 1944 action — the first capture of an enemy vessel by American ships since the 19th century.

“Just send us a letter to P.O. Box 3071, Wenatchee, Washington 98807, USA” he said.

Mr. Korneley served on the USS “Pope”, a destroyer in the US Navy task group which seized the U-505 — allowing Allies to capture a prized Nazi Enigma code machine which was then used to read encrypted German messages.

The U-505 was towed to Bermuda (it is pictured above in Port Royal) and was was camouflaged and hidden here under heavy guard for the remainder of the war. The crew was held incommunicado on the island and later in the US without access to the International Red Cross until the Nazis surrendered in 1945. The subterfuge was designed to persuade German authorities the U-505 had been sunk so they would not change codes used by submarines patrolling the Atlantic — codes the Allies could break as a result of seizing the Enigma.

The United States Navy captured the German submarine U-505 on June 4, 1944 in an action in the Atlantic Ocean about 150 miles off the coast of Rio De Oro, Africa. The American force was commanded by Captain Daniel V. Gallery and comprised the aircraft carrier “Guadalcanal” and five escort vessels: “Pope”, “Pillsbury”, “Flaherty”, “Chatelain” “Jenks”.

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