On This Day In History - Chapter 3

Since it's the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day invasion here's a true story about the Peninsula's connection to the invasion.

If you're familiar with Door and Kewaunee County's rich maritime history you probably already know that northeast Wisconsin ship builders supplied the war effort with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships, submarines and cargo vessels.

The very first Allied vessel that was sunk on the morning of D-Day was a submarine chaser, Patrol Craft-1261.

PC-1261 was laid down on November 20, 1942 by the Leathem D. Smith Shipbuilding Company in Sturgeon Bay, WI.  Launched on February 28, 1943 she was commissioned in May 1943 and sailed to Europe to participate in the Normandy landings.

4:30 AM, June 6th 1944 found PC-1261 and PC-1176 guiding the first waves of landing craft. As they approached within range of German shore gun batteries PC-1261 quickly became a primary target.  Several shells struck the water bracketing the ship.  

It was apparent to Navigation Officer Lieutenant Halsey Barrett that the situation was perilous. However, maneuvering out of fire would threaten the entire landing operation, so the order was given to hold position.  Moments later, the ship was rocked with an explosion as a 5-inch shell had landed amidships, tearing a hole straight through into the engine room, killing an estimated half the crew and crippling the vessel in an instant. 

“That’s it! Tell the Admiral we’re sinking…” was Captain Rency Sewell’s response. 

After several minutes attempting to rescue those they could from within the flooding compartments, the order was given to abandon ship with survivors picked up from the water by returning landing craft.  

The crew of PC-1176 had to watch in horror as their sister ship sank, unable to come to her aid. The remaining Sub chaser spent the next five hours guiding the combined forces to shore.  PC-1176 dodged enemy artillery while returning fire from her own 3-inch, 50 Caliber deck gun.  

Utah Beach would ultimately be secured with relatively little loss of life, thanks in no small part to the service of two small sub chasers built in Sturgeon Bay, WI.  

Learn more about the story here.