Former crewmember with assignment Control Room of this very vessel until we got captured in a running battle between the coast off Cape Blanco (French West Africa) and the Cape Verde Islands, on 4 June 1944 by the so-called 'Hunter-Killer' Task Force Group 22.3 GUADALCANAL, US Navy Atlantic Fleet, consisting of aircraft carrier USS GUADALCANAL and five destroyer escorts CHATELAIN, FLAHERTY, JENKS, PILLSBURY and POPE.

16 February; realized oil track medium, but enough to let enemy know that we're there. 2 days later problem dissolved.

20 February, area Azore Isles. After we passed the Azores, the Captain allowed us to smoke on the bridge, FREE BRIDGE.

22 February; we were close to Madeira.

23 February; arriving sea-area Canaries. We shut down one diesel and were running half speed in order to save fuel. These were lazy days, being out of the most dangerous area. The boat however was heating up like a furnace in the daytime. Getting relief from the heat inside the pressure hull, the off watch took advantage of every chance getting out of there and sit or even lay on the bridge. Even the first two or three hours after we submerged brought more heat inside because the cool water outside did not let the heat getting out. After 3 or 4 hours cooling off, the condensed water started dripping down on us. Our uniform was tropic - no shirts. Very soon we became a brown tan and wore only khaki shorts and on the bridge and upperdeck, pith helmets. In the night hours we watched the Southern Cross, we never before had seen it that clear. Around us it was quiet - peaceful and the War seemed far away.

But because of all that, we started getting restless and nervous. Day after day passed by in the same cycle - on watch, off watch - hearing the same old stories over again - starting to read a book. I started to improve my school English - sweat dripping on pages, getting mad about - throwing book back in closet, climbing up the ladder on the bridge - someone is telling his old story in a new version. We were already twenty one days out of Lorient - an eternity for young guys like us.

24 February; on 24 of February at 1600 the bridge watch spotted a smoke plume on BB. When we closed up there were 4 smoke plumes fast running to port. CONVOY! Airoplane circling over convoy, suddenly flying toward us. ALARM diving - rear diving plane got stuck in endposition - defect in stop switch. The rear diving plane caused a delay in surfacing.

1813 hours, up on surface. Convoy increased distance, now in 115 degrees, went on diesel high speed then 2 X high speed to get in front of convoy - we only kept in touch in a distance that we still could see the smoke plumes, so that we could maneuver out those 2 or 3 SUNDERLANDS which were covering the close area around

2023 hours; Convoy - position about 20 sea miles off. Suddenly airplane coming from west. We went on low speed and turned aside.

2118 hours, maneuvered. Another airplane out coming from direction of the convoy. This increased the distance. Diving plane is repaired.

2130 hours, we did not report contact. Reason - not knowing enough and guessing U-68 would be in a better position. Everybody was watching with close attention if we would have our first success.

2140 hours. We set up an FT and not a radiosignal not to make the enemy observation - service (B-Dienst) suspicious.

'From Loewe: Convoy - several fast running steamers DT 3480, southerly course, 15 sea miles speed, air support - got several times driven away, contact only by watching smoke plumes.'

2200 hours, smoke plumes out of sight - with 2 X AK (Ausserde Kraft/highest possible speed) after last bearing trying to follow up, possibly convoy will decrease speed for cleaning fires; unless we will not regain contact again. 2325 hours in DT 3750, ahead smoke plumes, then shadows visible - a whole lot! To all appearances they are done with cleaning fires. Smoke stops at a sudden and are increasing speed again. Unfortunately we're right behind. Trying with highest speed to get in front. Slowly we're coming up and getting ahead, running in a distance of 4 - 5 sea miles. We should have closed up nearer.

25 February 0100 hours - Southwesterly Canary Islands. All of a sudden convoy is out of vision, made a sharp turn to left, running after without success. 0815 hours, lost track. Loewe announcing 'My fault.' Every body was already in the believe this will be out first hit - - our 'Mood-Barometer' is on ZERO. We again realize the heat - we hear the diesels hammering loud again. We smelled throughout the boat what Toni our cook was cooking. @#&%, we did not make it this time

26 February 2155 hours - Receiving FT 2044/26 from B.D.U. "To Loewe and Merten; attacking area co-operation order 52-20 first line southeast. Correction 19a from 15.2 is as follows: extreme point is line between Naval Square ER 3159 and FD 3965."

27 February 0000 hours, northeasterly Cape Verde Isles. 1015 hours, submerged for testing and repairs. Result - locating where oil leak was, Diving Tank #7; lost 9.5 cubic meters dieselfuel After repair, our luck - no oil track any more.

1 March 0400 hours, west coast of Africa, operation area appearing, a few times diving for airplanes.

5 March 0800 west of Sierra Leone. 1836 hours Steamer with full freight visible in periscope, general course toward Freetown, dimmed lights, zig-zagging - not close enough for attacking. Steamer is running 12 nautical miles, fully loaded. We cannot line up an attack for not being in advantageous position.

2252 hours - FIRING 2 TORPEDOES, TUBE I AND IV!

More U-505

U-505: 1 [KTB 104]
U-505: 2 [KTB 105]
U-505: 3 [KTB 106]
U-505: 4 [KTB 107]
U-505: End [KTB 108]