Letters

Correction: U-161 not involved with the sinking of SS Ario.

(See "George Albert Knowlton served in Ario, sunk by U-Boat U-158 off Frying Pan Shoals in WW2")

sir,

I happened across your website while researching the SS Ario. This is the only ww2 wreck that has not been located in our area. I saw in your reply to Carolyn Knowlton, a reference to it being sunk by gunfire by U-161, could you tell me where you got that info?  When the crew was interviewed, they said that they were shelled by two subs, but the battle report of the U-158 does not mention another sub, I think it is highly unlikely that there was a second sub, but it is worth looking at. Any info or links would be greatly appreciated.
  
Terry Leonard                   Debby Boyce
Outrageous Diving Inc.  Discovery Diving Co., Inc.
414 Orange St.                  414 Orange St.
Beaufort, NC 28516      Beaufort, NC 28516
252-728-2265-store           252-728-2265


I was obviously wrong in writing about U-161 being involved with the sinking of SS Ario.

Here is a report about both U-Boatson the same day.

March 15, Sun.

Atlantic

United States vessels sunk:
Coast Guard lighthouse tender Acacia (WAGL-200) is shelled and sunk by German submarine U-161 south of Haiti.

Unarmed U.S. tanker Ario is torpedoed, shelled, and sunk by German submarine U-158 11 miles southwest of Cape Lookout, 34°20'N, 76°39'W. Destroyer Dupont (DD-152) rescues the 29 survivors of the 36-man crew.

My apologies, I do strive for accuracy, but am now and then shown to be fallibile.

Best wishes,
Mac. Gregory


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