The Roughnecks of Sherwood Forest

U.S. oil tanker Pennsylvania Sun was torpedoed by U-571 on July, 15, 1942, about 125 miles west of Key West, Florida.
(Source)

The other day, Don asked the question -

Well, here at The Chant we certainly do civilian WWII stories. This might be the first and, to be quite honest, I have been remiss in not posting any "civilian" WWII stories. Why is "civilian" in quotes you might ask?

Well, the sailors who manned the merchant fleet, the guys like Lex's Dad who manned the freighters and tankers plying the convoy routes in World War II were not members of the armed forces. The folks in Britain who suffered under the Luftwaffe's onslaught and saw their homes and businesses destroyed, who saw their relatives and families die were, for the most part, civilians. The same can be said for the innocents in all of the countries invaded by the Nazis and the Empire of Japan. They suffered and died, yet wore no uniforms, carried no weapons.

Their stoicism and heroism under fire is perhaps more noteworthy as they could not fight back, at least not directly. Going to work at their normal, everyday jobs though, did support the fighting men and women who took the fight to the enemy.

The chap at the front, with his rifle and uniform, needs those folks behind the lines to do his job of destroying the enemy. Without the "civilians," the fellow at the pointy end wouldn't last long.

That being said, Don's comment led me to this story. A fascinating read. Lest you think that this small town in Nottinghamshire would be a safe gig, far behind the lines, not really subject to Luftwaffe bombing raids, well sure. But work in the oil fields is hazardous without a world war raging around you, ask any roughneck -

By January of 1944, the American oilmen were credited with 94 completions and 76 producing oil wells. But not without cost. While working Rig No. 148, derrickhand Herman Douthit was killed when he fell from a drilling mast. Douthit was buried with full military honors at the Cambridge American Cemetery. (From the article)

Oil drove the war machines of all the countries involved in the war. It's why Japan headed south, it's why we bombed Ploesti, it's why the Pennsylvania Sun was torpedoed. Without oil the planes don't fly, the ships don't steam, and the tanks don't move.

Oil, a big deal now, a big deal then.

As for those fellows on that torpedoed tanker in the opening photo -

Pennsylvania Sun was traveling from Port Arthur, Texas to Belfast, with 107,500 barrels of Navy fuel oil on 15 July 1942. At 7:49 am, the U-571 fired one torpedo at the unescorted Pennsylvania Sun while the ship was steaming on a zigzag course at 14 knots 125 miles West of Key West, Florida in the Gulf of Mexico (24°05′N 83°42′W). The torpedo struck amidships on the port side between tanks number 5 and 6. The torpedo also blew away the port wing of the bridge, killing quartermaster James B. Mortimer and able seaman John C. Riley. The ship's cargo ignited and the ship quickly became an inferno.

The master of Pennsylvania Sun, Frederick Lyall steered for five minutes southeast at full speed and then ordered the engines to be stopped while a distress signal was sent. The ship's remaining nine officers, 33 crewmen and 17 armed guards abandoned ship in three lifeboats, rowed away and put out sea anchors to wait for a rescue vessel. They were picked up by USS Dahlgren after three and one-half hours and taken to Key West the same day. There were 57 survivors of which several crew and Armed Guard were injured, two crew were lost.

The next evening, the ship's master, three officers and the crew of USS Willet returned to Pennsylvania Sun, when a patrol aircraft reported that the ship was still afloat and the fire had abated. They extinguished the remaining flames and towed her to Key West, where temporary repairs were made and the bodies of the 2 deceased crew members were removed from the ship and buried at their home towns. The tanker steamed under her own power with her crew to Chester, Pennsylvania and returned to service after the permanent repairs were completed in 1943. (Source)

Truly amazes me that she didn't sink, but was repaired and returned to service.

I'm thinking I need to do some reading up on the Murmansk convoys. Those guys put it all on the line to succor an ally who would probably never acknowledge the value of those efforts, those sacrifices. At least not while Communism held sway in that benighted land.

So yes Don, we do civilian stories of World War II. Most definitely.

A salute to the "Oil Patch Warriors" of Sherwood Forest!

Oklahoma sculptor Jay O’Meilia’s Oil Patch Warrior monument to Lloyd Noble’s Sherwood Forest roughnecks. Dedicated in 2001 at Ardmore’s Memorial Square. An identical statue stands in Nottinghamshire, England, near where the Oklahomans performed their historic service to the cause of freedom.
(Source)

Hat tip to Don McCollor!