As you read in KTB #157 last month, we are now reporting on the apparent appalling lack of security connected with this priceless piece of history, the submarine U-505, at this really fine museum. Over the past few years, service, security and just plain caring about quality appears to have taken a nosedive.

In KTB #157 last month, we reported that the cover of the sea strainer had been stolen and since it was secured (?) with a steel chain and a padlock, it would have been impossible for a casual tourist to just grab it. Someone had to have plenty of time to cut through the steel chain - or they had a key. Any other possibilities?

The Commissioning Plaque is gone! When U-505, as with most U-boats, was commissioned, a bronze plaque was attached to the front of the periscope shears in the Zentralle (central control room). This plaque included the name of the shipyard that built the boat, the hull number (not the U-number) and various other bits of information. It was about one foot square and it was attached to the periscope shears with rivets. It is also missing from U-505 and has been for a couple years.

Since it was attached with rivets, it is also highly unlikely that some casual tourist coming through the submarine just grabbed it. This had to have been drilled or chiseled loose from the periscope shears, wouldn’t you think? In either case, one would think there would be a lot of noise, & that this operation took quite some time.

So who stole the cover of the sea strainer? And who stole the commissioning plaque from the Zentralle? When the TITANIC artifacts were on display at this museum a couple years ago, one of the artifacts was stolen from an exhibit case. We are told that the museum quickly conducted polygraph examinations of various personnel in the museum and quickly caught the thief, someone working in the museum. Again we asked the museum if they did the same kind of testing on key personnel in connection with the loss of the sea strainer cover and the commissioning plaque - and again, there was no reply from the museum.

One must really wonder why they would not look diligently for the person who stole these priceless artifacts, as they did for that off the TITANIC. Again, the museum did not reply. If this bothers you and if you would like some action, perhaps you might write to:

Mayor Richard M. Daley
City Hall
121 No. LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60606

And ask for an investigation.