SS_PaulHamiltonExploding

Feb 19 2007 3:41A
U.S.S. Paul Hamilton Info




Lost at Sea as Result of Ship Sinking During World War II of the Liberty Ship SS Paul Hamilton (Hull No. 0227) off the coast of Algiers, North Africa on 20 Apr 1944
The Liberty Ship SS Paul Hamilton was hit by bombs launched from a German Junker JU-88 aircraft causing it to explode with great violance and it sank immediately. This occurred approximately 30 miles off the Coast of Cape Bengut, Algiers, in the Mediterranean Sea. (1)
The sinking of the SS Paul Hamilton became one of the most costly Liberty Ship disaster, in terms of human life, in all of World War II. The ship was making her fifth voyage, as part of a huge Convoy UGS-38, when she was attacked by 23 German JU-88 dive-bombers near sunset on 20 April 1944.
In addition to her load of U.S. Army Air Corps personnel, she carried a cargo of high explosives and bombs. The German JU-88s dive-bombers came in low and the men on the bridge of the British tanker, Athelchie, watched as it went by. The gunners aboard the Athelchie set the JU-88 on fire, but the aircraft had launched its torpedo less than 150 feet from the SS Paul Hamilton. Immediately after the torpedo hit the Hamilton, a violent explosion threw debris and dense black smoke high in the air. When the smoke cleared, there was no sign of the ship.