SS Santa Elena
 

Hello all. I could use some help with researching the sinking of the SS Santa Elena. I'm interested in this event because my Grandfather was on the ship.
So far I know that SS Santa Elena was part of Convoy KMF 25A. On November 6,1943 at 18:00 9 bombers and 16 torpedo planes attacked near Cape Bougaroun.
My Questions are:
What Squadron was involved
Where was the squadrons base
What kind of plane

I would appreciate any help trying to dig up my Grandfather's past.

Re: SS Santa Elena
 

KMF25A was attacked by a mixture of He 111s and Ju 88s from I & III Gruppe/Kampfgeschwader 26 (I & III/KG 26), Do 217s of III/KG 100 and He 177s of II/KG 40 using a mixture of bombs, torpedoes and Hs 293 guided missiles. They sank the US destroyer Beatty, damaged the destroyer Tillman and sank the Santa Elena and Marnix van St Aldegonde. Do contact me by PM if you would like to know more

Re: SS Santa Elena
 

I have searched our files and can find nothing about Luftwaffe operations against this specific convoy.
At the time, the bases used were:
I./KG 26 at Istres.
III./KG 26 at Montpelier.
III./KG 100 at /Istres.
II./KG 40 unknown location.

While this is not Luftwaffe related, here is some associated ship data from:

“The Allied Convoy System 1939-1945 Its Organization, Defense and Operation” by Arnold Hague; Vanwell Publications. December 2000. ISBN 1551250330.

Santa Elena: 9135 tons GRT, American registry, carrying 1965 troops and nurses, with convoy KMF 25A when sunk by aircraft on November 6, 1943 with 4 fatalities.

Convoy KMF 25A: departed the Clyde/Scotland on 27 October 1943 with 23 vessels excluding escorts, arrived at Alexandria 11 November 1943.


We hope this is of some help.

LdZ
DGS

Re: SS Santa Elena
 

For details of the ships, it's worth looking at http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/kmf/index.html

Re: SS Santa Elena
 

II/KG 40 was based at Bordeaux but they would have moved forward; they did use Montpellier later that month as a stepping off airfield

Re: SS Santa Elena
 

Thank you all for the help.
My Grandpa was a medic on board the SS Santa Elena. Growing up he never talked about anything WWII related and I'm just now finding out about his contribution to the war. He has past away some years ago now.
As a modeler I'm interested in building the SS Santa Elena and the Bomber that took credit for its sinking.
Again thanks for the help.<S>

Re: SS Santa Elena
 

Hello, I just found this site and find it very interesting.
I was in convoy KMF25A aboard the SS Hawaiian Shipper.
I was in the Navy gun crew
When we were attacked on November 6, 1943 we shot down a JU 88
Our ship was not damaged but a torpedo crossed our stern by about 10 meters. Our destination was Palermo where we boarded troops and returned to Gourock.
A report of the attack was made by the Navy Lieutenant in charge of the gun crew and is available from the National Archives
I was 17 years old then and 87 now.
Sorry that I could not answer your questions about the air planes.

Re: SS Santa Elena
 

was your grandfather a medic working on board the ship or one of the medical people being transported to Italy with the troops on board? My mother Lieutenant N/S Audrey Auger was also on board. She was a nurse with No. 14 General Hospital from Montreal. She worked in the #5 casualty clearing station. Like your grandpa, she never talked about her experience during the war and I only pieced her story together from her military records after her death. Any additional information on the Santa Elena would be appreciated.

Re: SS Santa Elena
 

For HPilot
Howard: I cannot reply to your PM so my response would be I have no more specific information on shipping but if you send me your email address, I will make contact

Re: SS Santa Elena
 

Chris
Give me an email at hp3128@gmail.com
Howard