Co. F 262nd Regiment Bonnymam [M], Sanders, Coleman W. Pvt. SS Lopoldville was a 11,509 GRT passenger liner of the Compagnie Belge Maritime du Congo. I 264th Regiment Buffalo, Sansone, Richard F. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Whitehall [M], McVety, Robert L. Pvt. Co. B 264th Regiment Wellington [M], Garcia, Paul M. Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Tulsa [R], Foster, William S. D. Pfc. S.S. Leopoldville Disaster of 12-24-1944. Co. C 264th Regiment Valley View [M], Borovich, Dan Pvt. Co. C 264th Regiment New England, Hendrickson, Chester B. T. Sgt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Jamestown [M], Carlson, Clarence H. Pfc. Co. E 262nd Regiment Monroe [M], Warring, Hugh N. Pfc. Co. K 264th Regiment Flintstone [M], Berigtold, Raymond E. Pfc. KAY, THOMAS (23), Gunlayer, SS Leopoldville, Royal Navy, 01/07/1921 ~ 26/03/2002, Survived the sinking of the Muncaster Castle and later when the Leopoldville was sunk. Co. F 262nd Regiment Lake Forest [M], Papineau, George J. Cpl. Co. E 262nd Regiment Kansas City [M], Davis, Raymond Pfc. Unknown City: Unknown Publisher, 1997. . This Belgian passenger liner converted to troopship. Co. B 264th Regiment Trinidad, Reeder, Harold P. Pvt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Pass Christian [M], Baker, Elmer A. Sgt. A 'Leopoldville' survivor recalls sinking on Christmas Eve 1944 Kermit Kirk, left, and his best friend, Clarence Napier, both from Lee County, Va., were aboard the Leopoldville. Hdq. Co. F 262nd Regiment Philadelphia [M], English, Thomas J., Jr. Pfc. Co. Co. K 262nd Regiment Mansfield, Forman, Gerald Pvt. Co. A 264th Regiment Park, Brady, Douglas F. Pvt. Co. L 262nd Regiment Franklin, Williams, Heiskell M. Pfc. Co. C 264th Regiment Indianapolis [F], Truelock, Ralph A. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Crested Butte, McGee, Everett L. Pvt. Med. The incident is considered to be the largest military. Hdq. Co. K 264th Regiment Minersville [M], Reed, Seth W. T/5. He is pictured with his wife Velma and son Jim. The 96-year-old World War II veteran takes center stage in a new, one-hour documentary airing at 7 p.m. Nov. 8 on WHRO. Co. I 264th Regiment NYC, Rodies, Heinz G. Pfc. Co. A 264th Regiment Walnutport [M], Gilbert, Harold Pfc. Few US soldiers understood the abandon ship instructions given in Flemish. Co. B 264th Regiment Philadelphia [M], Kuchta, Frank J. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Silver Creek [R], Damsky, Daniel S. Pfc. Co. A 264th Regiment Whitehall, Peters, Howard C. Pvt. Co. L 262nd Regiment Jersey City [M], Howland, Edward T. Pfc. Co. E 262nd Regiment Houston [M], Contreras, Gregorio V. Pfc. 2000. I 262nd Regiment West Caldwell [M], House, Russell S. S. Sgt. Co. E 262nd Regiment Jerome, Poupard, Wilmer C. T/4. Co. H 262nd Regiment Valliant [M], Chew, Floyd E. Pfc. [6] There was an insufficient number of life jackets,[1] and few troops participated in the poorly supervised lifeboat drill as Lopoldville sailed from Southampton at 09:00 24 December as part of convoy WEP-3 across the English Channel to Cherbourg. Co. E 262nd Regiment Somerville [M], Luckman, Thomas Pfc. Sgt. Co. A 264th Regiment York [R], Drivick, Joseph J. Sgt. [3], She was built for the Compagnie Maritime Belge as the fifth to bear the name Lopoldville and initially served on the route between Belgium and its African colony, the Belgian Congo. Co. C 264th Regiment Danbury, ONeil, Grant P. Pfc. 262nd Regiment Kingstree, Hentz, James E. S. Sgt. Co. E 262nd Regiment Lakewood [M], Bailey, William C. Pvt. I 262nd Regiment Houston [F], Horne, Albert C. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Northvale [M], De Prima, Frank T/5. Co. E 264th Regiment Munger, Tait, Robert P. Pfc. Co. C 264th Regiment Kokomo, Buell, Edwin D., III Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Concord [M], Boleyn, Floyd P. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Tyrone [M], Hayes, Albert T. Pfc. Det. I 262nd Regiment Belle Vernon [M], Makowski, Stanley E. Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Stockton [M], Goodwin, James D. Pfc. Co. L 262nd Regiment Bakersfield [M], Godoy, Arthur C. Pfc. Co. L 262nd Regiment Cullman [M], Waldrop, Roy A. Pfc. Co. L 262nd Regiment Rogersville [M], Anderson, Marvin C. Pvt. Co. The scrambling nets were hanging down the Lopoldville's port side and the US soldiers were coming down on to our upper deck. Co. K 262nd Regiment [R] Julian, Wright, John D. Sgt. Robert McKee, 66th "Panther" Division, 262 Infantry, Company K - survivor of the sinking of the S.S. Leopoldville off the coast of France by a German U-boat. Co. L 262nd Regiment Brooklyn, NYC [M], Wolf, Henry H. Pfc. Co. K 264th Regiment Regent [M], Gentz, Herbert I. Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Cleveland [M], Cleelan, Robert W. Pvt. Co. H 262nd Regiment Prophetstown [M], Duhasek, William R. Sgt. Co. E 262nd Regiment Dorchester [M], Dockler, Paul A. Pfc. Co. E 262nd Regiment Moxee [M], Adkins, Amon Pfc. Co. 3rd Battalion 262nd Regiment Abbott, Melson, Paul A. T. Sgt. Co. K 262nd Regiment Clarinda [R], Parry, Charles W. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Lakewood [M], McGlone, Eugene A. S. Sgt. In 1998 the History Channel broadcast the documentary film Cover Up: The Sinking of the SS Lopoldville which included interviews with numerous survivors of the sinking of the ship from the 66th Infantry Division and sailors from the US Navy who attempted to save them by pulling them out of the water. Pfc. Co. H 262nd Regiment Burbank [M], Lester, Steven T. Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Roxbury, Bouffard, Joseph C. Pfc. . Co. I 264th Regiment Delta, Green, Cecil C. Pvt. I 262nd Regiment Tinton [M], Lottes, Clarence E. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Brooklyn, NYC [M], Klosterman, William A., Jr. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Bay Springs [M], Moncrief, Clifton Pfc. Co. K 264th Regiment Pocahontas [M], Swanson, Charles E., Jr. Pfc. Co. Co. F 262nd Regiment Philadelphia [M], King, Charles R. Pvt. Co. Co. A 264th Regiment [M], McCormick, Robert L. Pfc. [7] Belated efforts by ships including USSPC-1225 rescued some survivors.[8]. Co. C 264th Regiment Ferndale [M], Shaver, Glen B. Pfc. Co. L 262nd Regiment Bessemer [M], Stewart, Roger H. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Dunkirk [M], Paci, Vincent Pvt. Co. L 262nd Regiment Milwaukee [M], Grant, Irving Pvt. I 262nd Regiment Mcdonald [R], Borovich, Sam Pvt. Co. Co. L 262nd Regiment [F], Williamson, Clyde J. Pfc. Advertising poster for cruises aboard the SS Leopoldville At 9 am on December 24 th, they finally set sail. Co. F 262nd Regiment Providence [M], Berry, Leonard E. Sgt. Co. K 262nd Regiment Lenoir, Rogers, Robert A. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Ludington [M], Witucki, Marion A. S. Sgt. Unfortunately limbs were being broken when they landed on the torpedo tubes and other fixed equipment on the starboard side of the upper deck; some men fell between the two vessels and were crushed as the two vessels crashed into each other. [6] Allied forces enjoying their Christmas Eve dinner in Cherbourg failed to mobilize a rescue effort before Lopoldville sank by the stern at 20:40. 262nd Regiment Neosho [M], Tinker, Ira V. S. Sgt. Co. K 262nd Regiment Los Angeles, Mathews, Richard N. Pfc. Co. Co. Co. L 262nd Regiment Sumter, McNair, James L. Pfc. Co. E 262nd Regiment Long Lane [M], Moyer, Herbert C. T/4. Co. 3rd Battalion 262nd Regiment Milroy [M], Pispeky, Joseph Pfc. Co. Hdq. Co. Co. Co. Co. E 262nd Regiment Sevierville [M], Holmes, William K. Pfc. Earl E. Jacobs, also a York, Pennsylvania resident. Co. E 262nd Regiment Harrisburg [M], Berger, Robert Pvt. I 262nd Regiment Muses Mills [M], Hatton, Orville Pfc. Co. H 262nd Regiment Indianapolis, Rowland, Elmer D. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Ocean Springs [M], Carter, Audie L. Pvt. Co. Jack Nevin Lowry, twin brothers and 1942 graduates of Rostraver High School. Co. F 262nd Regiment Spartanburg [M], Phasey, Victor E. Lt. Col. Hdq. Co. A 264th Regiment [F], ODonnell, John H. T/5. He and other crew members battled against the conditions to try and rescue as many of the soldiers as possible. Co. Co. B 264th Regiment Rudolph [M], Moser, Richard E. Pfc. I 264th Regiment New Castle [R], Sweet, Robert C. Pfc. You can e-mail us the information here. Co. F 262nd Regiment Huntington Park [M], Young, Fred F., Jr. Sgt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Whitestone, NYC [M], Vojir, Frank W. Pfc. Co. B 264th Regiment Niles, Meyers, Donald G. S. Sgt. Hdq. Co. B 264th Regiment Lewistown [R], Dreisbach, Richard T. Pvt. Co. H 262nd Regiment Frankfort [M], Simonetti, John Pvt. Co. K 262nd Regiment Cleveland, McCall, Emmett P. Pfc. Co. E 262nd Regiment Brooklyn, NYC [M], Calabrese, Vincent R. S. Sgt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Bronx, NYC [M], Barton, Marvin J. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Flint [M], Salata, Edmund P. Pvt. Co. B 264th Regiment Gardner, Fernanndes, Martin, Jr. Pvt. Co. E 262nd Regiment North East, Myers, Harold L. Pvt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Dexter [M], Higgins, John W., Jr. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Haverhill [M], De Piero, Louis A. S. Sgt. Co. 262nd Regiment Brooklyn, NYC [M], Smith, Robert J. Pvt. Co. Co. F 262nd Regiment Hamtramck [M], Schramm, Warren C. S. Sgt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Ballouville [M], Bruschayt, Herbert W. Pfc. Hdq. Co. B 264th Regiment Osbourn, Donnelly, William O. S. Sgt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Columbus, Mobley, Lewfay B., Jr. Pfc. Co. L 262nd Regiment Highland Park, Morehouse, F.R. Co. H 262nd Regiment Foraker [M], Craig, Coy C. Sgt. Co. L 262nd Regiment Weehawken [M], Miles, Robert F. S. Sgt. Co. Co. Co. F. 262nd Regiment Croton-on-Hudson [M], Bartelena, Dante J. T. Sgt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Johnston [M], Costa, William Pfc. Co. K 262nd Regiment Peoria [M], Alvarado, Donald R. Pvt. (Later Compagnie Maritime Belge (Lloyd Royal) SA). Co. A 264th Regiment, Gorham, Donald R. S. Sgt. She was converted for use as a troopship in the Second World War, and on December 24, 1944, while sailing between Southampton and Cherbourg, was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-486. The Sunken Mysteries of Britain's Wartime Shipping Lanes: This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 12:43. Of these men, mostly between the ages of 18 and 21, 763 were killed. I 264th Regiment Norton [R], Long, Robert H., Jr. Pvt. Co. L 262nd Regiment Harvey [M], Marcinkowski, Arthur A. Pfc. Det. After her cargo hold was fitted with rudimentary benches, the ship completed 24 cross-Channel crossings, transporting more than 120,000 troops. Co. K 262nd Regiment St. Joseph, Price, Chester E. T. Sgt. Co. H 262nd Regiment Swayerville M], Constantine, Tony T/4. Co. F 262nd Regiment Royal Oak [M], Smrecak, James J. Pfc. Co. B 264th Regiment Canton [M], Slusser, Elmer D. Pfc. 1 talking about this. Co. C 264th Regiment East Palestine, Jones, James A. D. Pfc. Co. C 264th Regiment Piqua [M], Davis, William J. Pvt. Co. E 262nd Regiment Empire [M], Terry, James H. Pvt. Co. K 262nd Regiment Manchester [F], Miller, Douglas F., Jr. Pvt. Co. H 262nd Regiment Wilkes Barre [M], Grazier, David O. Pfc. Some men had started to jump down from a height of approximately 40 feet. Med. Det. Det. Co. E 262nd Regiment Wheelersburg [M], Weaver, Irvin J., Jr. Sgt. Co. K 262nd Regiment NYC [M], Lapinski, Stanley J. Pvt. I 262nd Regiment Grand Junction, Lowenhagen, Theodore C. T. Sgt. Co. E 262nd Regiment Moyers [M], Paden, George W. Pvt. Co. B 264th Regiment Hazel, Evans, Luther O. Pfc. Co. K 262nd Regiment Greenville [M], Chockley, Harold Y. S. Sgt. Co. Co. H 262nd Regiment Miamisburg [M], Bell, William E. Pfc. Co. H 262nd Regiment Independence [M], Marcinko, Andrew J. Pfc. Co. K 262nd Regiment Washington [R], Mosako, Alva G. Sgt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Cincinnati [M], Doughman, William O. Pvt. Hdq. Co. H 262nd Regiment San Benito [M], Garza, Alejandro L. Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Laurel Run Boro [M], Sanborn, Charles J. Pfc. Co. H 262nd Regiment Racine [M], Prueher, Franklin L. Pvt. Co. C 264th Regiment Chicago, Rose, Don T. Pfc. Co. H 262nd Regiment St. Louis [M], Tener, Ralph M. Pvt. 2d. I 262nd Regiment Kansas City [M], Benda, Leonard F. Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Hagerstown, Powell, James W. Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Lauderdale, Crenshaw, Thomas L. Pvt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Troy [M], Suder, James T. Sgt. Co. If an internal link for a specific ship led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended ship article, if one exists. We also have a detailed page on the Belgian troop transport Leopoldville. Co. A 264th Regiment Mahanoy City [F], Chambers, Robert L. Pfc. Lopoldville was in a diamond formation with four escorts; the destroyers HMSBrilliant and HMSAnthony, the frigate HMSHotham, and the French frigate Croix de Lorraine, and another troopship, Cheshire. Co. L 262nd Regiment Meridian [M], Martin, Ray E. Pfc. Co. K 264th Regiment Houston [M], Robison, Harry C. Pfc. Co. B 264th Regiment Louisville [F], Gulley, Eula T. Pfc. Co. C 264th Regiment Lewiston, Lesperance, Paul E. S. Sgt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Perry [M], Simpson, Bernard W. Pvt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Jamestown [M], Caruso, Thomas A. Pvt. 262nd Regiment Philadelphia [M], Maryan, William N. Pfc. Co. B 264th Regiment Kappel [M], Zeigler, Charles E. Sgt. She was converted for use as a troopship in the Second World War, and while sailing between Southampton and Cherbourg, was torpedoed and sunk by the U-486. For Paul Plotkin's 100th birthday, VFW Post 1617 in Derry, New Hampshire, honored its own WWII veteran with a special ceremony on June 26. Co. F 262nd Regiment Stamford [M], Viets, Paul R. Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Adamsville [M], Brown, Daniel H., Jr. Pfc. Co. Co. K 262nd Regiment Pharron [M], McKenzie, Daniel W. Pfc. Co. L 262nd Regiment Tell [M], Gilmore, Lester D. Pvt. Co. F 262nd Regiment American Falls [M], Baglio, Michael S., Jr. Sgt. Co. Co. A 264th Regiment [F], Brogden, Lee R. S. Sgt. I 262nd Regiment Delphos [M], MacMillan, Lynn L. Pfc. Co. . Co. L 262nd Regiment North Adams [M], Skinner, Charles V. Pfc. Co. K 262nd Regiment Jackson Heights, NYC [M], Malczyk, Edwin J. Pvt. Co. K 262nd Regiment Kansas City [M], Smith, C. D. S. Sgt. In July 1984, Clive Cussler of NUMA claimed to have discovered the wreck,[9] although French maritime officials claim the location of the shipwreck had always been marked on all maritime charts since its size and location present a potential hazard to navigation. Co. F 262nd Regiment Yankton [M], Pauls, Elwood G. T/5. I 264th Regiment Buffalo [F], Maksyn, Edward C. Pfc. Co. K 262nd Regiment Akron [M], De Soto, Claude Pvt. Co. Co. K 264th Regiment Lansford, Pukas, Herbert A. Pfc. Co. E 262nd Regiment Apollo [M], Debuski, Michael Pfc. Co. 2nd Battalion 262nd Regiment Charlotte, Cuskelly, Richard R. Pfc. I 262nd Regiment [M], Vonder, Mehden Robert Pfc. Co. F 262nd Regiment Newton [M], Peterson, Burton T/4. Co. F 262nd Regiment Erie [M], McDermott, Thomas J. T. Sgt. Co. 2nd Battalion 262nd Regiment Leavenworth, Samms, Lawrence L. S. Sgt. Co. H 262nd Regiment Jersey City [M], Dantinne, Harold H. Pfc. Co. L. 262nd Regiment Wyandanch [M], Russell, Kent E. Pfc. Co. K 262nd Regiment Knoxville, Henry, Glenn H. Pfc. Co. K 262nd Regiment Shreveport [F], Henderson, John M. Pvt. She had a depth of 35feet 0inches (10.67m) and a draught of 25feet 9.75inches (7.8677m). 262nd Regiment Lowell [M], Wintle, Russell E. Pfc. 262nd Regiment Philadelphia [M], Sapovchak, Nick Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Waterloo [M], Klein, John J. S. Sgt. Co. H 262nd Regiment Hebronville [M], Miscone, Joseph P. Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Chicago [M], Pollitt, Joe A. T. Sgt. Co. F 262nd Regiment Cleveland [M], Leidner, Oliver C. Pfc. [2], In 1936 two Bauer-Wach low-pressure exhaust turbines were added, each driving one of the shafts via double-reduction gearing and a Fttinger fluid coupling. 1st Lt. Co. C 264th Regiment Elizabeth [M], Cobb, Thomas A. Pfc. I 262nd Regiment Cedar Grove [M], Miller, Robert R. Pfc. As far as any threat from the German Navy, the Kriegsmarine, since the D-Day landings in June, hundreds of thousands of Allied troops had crossed the English Channel without being attacked. Co. K 262nd Regiment Crestview [R], Barwick, Eugene H. Pvt. I 264th Regiment Harrisburg [M], Molinsky, Charles Pfc. Co. L 262nd Regiment Hudson [M], Bannick, Ronald C. Pfc. I 262nd Regiment [M], Pettersen, Einar T. Pfc. Co. K 262nd Regiment Atlanta [F], Simmons, Chester B., Jr Pvt. I 264th Regiment Dallas [F], Koehler, Herbert O., Jr. Pvt. Co. H 262nd Regiment Bloomington Springs [M], Jarnagin, Charles E. Pfc.