Sinking of U-66
1944: May 6: Sinking of German U-boat, U-66
U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Buckley (DE-51) was damaged when she intentionally rammed German (Type IXC) U-boat, U-66, which had been harassed by TBM "Avenger" and F4F "Wildcat" aircraft from Composite Squadron Fifty-Five (VC-55) from USS Block Island (CVE-21) about 390 miles west of Cape Verdes. Echoing the close-quarter battles of sail, Buckley's crew employed small arms, hand-grenades, fists, and even a coffee mug. The German submarine sank as a result of the multi-faced pounding. Previously, U-66 sank 37 Allied merchant ships, including eight American. On August 7, 1943, U-66 and U-117 were attacked by Composite Squadron One (VC-1).
Image: 80-G-49305: Lieutenant Commander Brent Able, CO of USS Buckley (DE-51), receiving the Navy Cross, May 6, 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.
