10 YEARS AGO in our KTB

KTB #25 we looked further into the book ‘JAPAN’S SECRET WAR’ by ROBERT WILCOX (25-1984). CAPTAIN MERTEN (23-+-1984) gave some comments on U-Boats numbers, on the rise of Hitler to power & he said that he was looking forward to reading my article, ‘PIRATES IN UNCLE SAM’S NAVY’, about the U.S. Navy’s “Q” ship project. JIM VIZIGIAN (29-1984) was seeking information about 4 very special U-Boats he saw in Portsmouth (USA) at the end of the war - and he could find no information and no files on them at all! We reported that REINHARD HARDEGEN (102-LIFE-1985) served two patrols as Commander in Training on U-124 under WILHELM SCHULZ (162-+-1986). We profiled the TYPE IX-D2 U-Boats, the extended TYPE IX-C which were used for long range supply missions and spy drops.

KTB #25 was just 6 pages long, done on an old typewriter. The entire contents of KTB #25 would require perhaps two pages of today’s computer set KTB Magazine. That means we are able to pack 18 TIMES as much information in each issue than we did ten years ago; but Membership cost has risen only fifteen bucks.

5 YEARS AGO in our KTB

KTB #71 announced another SHARKHUNTERS COFFEE Meetings; this one at the MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY in Chicago. They have always been exceptionally good to us at this fantastic museum. We were seeking additional information on U-864 -we STILL would like further information on this mystery boat. We began a series on the voyage of the I.J.N. submarine I-8 from the far east to Brest in France. We announced the THIRD REUNION of the crews of HMS WALKER and U-99.

Every few years, the crew of U-99 meets with the crew of HMS WALKER, the ship which sank them on St. Patrick’s Day 1941. The Skipper of HMS WALKER, Donald MacIntyre later returned the binoculars he took from OTTO KRETSCHMER (122-LIFE-1985), Skipper of U-99 on that historic day. We announced our first SHARKHUNTERS SCUBA trip; to the island of Roatan where we were guests of TYLL SASS (526-1988) - it was great!

KTB #71 was only 24 pages long and done on an old typewriter. This KTB is 40 pages long - how we have grown, thanks to you; our Members. What will the future bring?