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SS BUSHRANGER
Home Port: Panama, R.P.
Company: Alcoa SS Co.
Master: Martin Strandley (Lost) U.S. citizen
Built: Sunderland, England 1922
Gross Tons: 4536
Dimensions: 377' x 53' x 24'
Former Names: (a) STAKESBY: (b) STARCK:
(MARIA THORDEN)
The coal burning freighter, SS BUSHRANGER, was seized by the U.S. while
under the Danish flag on June 6, 1941 under an Executive Order.
The SS BUSHRANGER was torpedoed by the German U-107 (Harald Gelhaus) in
position 20-20 N./81-30 W. at 2030 EWT on May 31, 1942 while en route from
a port in Dutch Guiana to Key West for orders via St. Thomas, with a full
cargo of Bauxite. The ship was unescorted although there was a Naval (U.S.)
Armed Guard aboard.
The BUSHRANGER had left New York with a full load of general cargo for
South American ports. She left St. Thomas on May 26th. The date leaving New
York was April 6, 1942.
On board was a complement of 44 men, 37 merchant crew and 6 U.S. Navy Armed
Guard. Seventeen (17) merchant crew were lost, 11 of them were American
citizens. No Navy men were lost.
No boats were launched due to the rapid sinking of the ship. Four rafts
were cut loose. Crew members jumped overboard and got aboard the four
rafts. Six of them clung to a floating vegetable bin which had floated
free. These six eventually climbed on a raft on which was the Chief Mate.
This raft was picked up June 7th by a U.S. Navy Catalina and the survivors
taken to Kingston, Jamaica.
The four rafts stayed together for three days but on the 4th day, the raft
in charge of the Chief Mate disappeared. The other 3 rafts containing 19
survivors were picked up by the USCG NIKE on June 12 in position 21-00
N./83-30 W. and taken to Key West.
Survivors on these three rafts reported that on June 5th at 0200 EWT during
good visibility, a large plane circled three times, dropped a flare and
then disappeared to the west.
The periscope of the sub was first sighted at 1040 EWT but it disappeared.
At 1655 EWT, the tracks of two torpedoes were seen crossing the starboard
bow close to the ship. At this time the Master commenced zigzagging and
sent out three SOS warnings but received no answer.
The U-107 (Fritz) was sunk on August 18, 1944 west of La Rochelle by RAF
Squadron 201. Position 46-46 N./3-39 W. There were no survivors.
AMERICAN MERCHANT SEAMEN LOST
CODY, William Fireman
CONNON, John Thomas A.B.
DYKSTRA, Henry O.S.
HOOPER, Fred Bosun Hawthorne, CA
KACHULIS, Peter Coal Passer
MAXWELL, John A. Chief Engr. Brooklyn, NY
MENDEZ, Francisco Messman
PRESTO, Geacome A.B.
STRANDLEY, Martin Master
TIERNEY, Martin Oiler
VERNON, Robert Louis Chief Steward
FOREIGN SEAMEN LOST
COLTON, S.H. 3rd Mate British
de ROSELA, Manuel Fireman Portuguese
GUSTIN, Rene 1st Engr. Belgian
FRENCH, R. Oiler Canadian
MITHUS, Einar Oiler Norwegian
SCOTT, James 2nd Mate British
AMERICAN MERCHANT SEAMEN SURVIVORS
CERKO, Anthony Messman
CIERPIESS, Anthony W. O.S.
COSTELLO, Eugene Coal Passer
COVELL, Daniel J. A.B.
ERICSON, Harry Fireman
MILLER, Vincent F. Messman
POKORNY, Joseph 2nd Cook
SCHEUERMAN, J. Dean A.B.
TILLBERG, Joseph T. (40) Coal Passer
U.S. NAVAL ARMED GUARD SURVIVORS
McKEON, William F. A.S.
---------------------------------------X
MONARD, Philip F. A.S.
SMITH, Euzema, Jr. A.S.
STANTON, Oliver A.S.
TYNDALL, Edward A.S.
WILDER, Arthur B. Cox.
Unfortunately, the crew list does not show the addresses of those listed.
The crew list for this ship was of poor quality, making it very difficult
to decipher the names. This was common with most Panamanian flag ships
during WWII.
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