Sunken World War II Ships Off Florida's Coast-- Part 1

From the July 31, 2011, Palm Beach (Fl) Post "Divers to examine safety of sunken WWII ships off Florida's coast" by Eliot Kleinberg.

On February 22, 1942, crewmember Frank Leonard Terry went to the stern of the SS W.D. Anderson for coffee.  A torpedo slammed into the engine room.  The 500-foot, 10,277 tons oil tanker was heading north, 12 miles off Jupiter, Florida.  The first months of 1942 were prime time for German U-boats operating off the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States.

The Anderson was completely on fire in seconds according to the U-boats commander, Fritz Poske.  He fired off a second torpedo which also struck its target.

Terry was now in the oily water where he bobbed for hours.  It was cold and soon he couldn't feel his legs, thinking that maybe sharks had bitten them off.  He was the only survivor and recalled, "It was my first trip to Florida.  I didn't like the experience."

More to Come.  --GreGen