USNR WORLD WAR II
Seaman 2nd Class Francis J. Scharfbillig MIA/KIA
Hometown: Minnesota
Official Date of death: 09-Jan-44
Service # 6483650
Awards: Purple Heart
Master Michael Francis Barry
Mission: Transport
Ship: American Steam tanker Birmingham City
Convoy TB-1
Loss Date: 9-Jan-43
Position: 07.23N, 55.48W - Grid EO 5238 50 miles north of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana.
Cargo: General cargo, including machinery and tinplate
Fate: Sunk by U-124 (Johann Mohr)
Complement: 56 (10 dead and 46 survivors).
Notes on event
On 9 Jan, 1943, the Birmingham City served as the ship of the convoy commodore in convoy TB-1, when the Broad Arrow off the port beam was struck by two torpedoes fired by U-124 at 04.33 hours and caught fire, lit up the entire convoy. At 04.36 hours, Mohr fired another torpedo which struck the Birmingham City on the port side amidships at the #3 hatch and the ship began to blaze. The explosion blew the port lifeboats overboard, destroyed the fireroom bulkhead and caused her to sink on an even keel in three minutes about 50 miles north of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana.
The most of the nine officers, 29 crewmen and 18 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in and four .50cal guns) immediately abandoned ship as she rapidly settled. The #1 motor lifeboat capsized on launching, pitching men into the water and contributing to the drowning of several crewmen. The remaining survivors left in #3 boat or jumped overboard and swam to several rafts. The #1 boat was later righted and the men from the rafts were transferred to it. Three officers, two crewmen and five armed guards died, most from drowning. All survivors were picked up by USS PC-577 ten hours later and landed at Paramaribo.
USN Personnel associated with the Birmingham City
Walter G. Gilbertson
George R. Knightly
Harold Peterson
Francis J. Scharfbillig
Alfred Horace Young
Merchant Marine
Michael Francis Barry
Joaquin Cupeiro
Harry M. McGoldrick
Eibert C. Parker
Louis W. Pinchasik
Wirtner W. Ward
Seaman 2nd Class Francis J. Scharfbillig MIA/KIA
Hometown: Minnesota
Official Date of death: 09-Jan-44
Service # 6483650
Awards: Purple Heart
Master Michael Francis Barry
Mission: Transport
Ship: American Steam tanker Birmingham City
Convoy TB-1
Loss Date: 9-Jan-43
Position: 07.23N, 55.48W - Grid EO 5238 50 miles north of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana.
Cargo: General cargo, including machinery and tinplate
Fate: Sunk by U-124 (Johann Mohr)
Complement: 56 (10 dead and 46 survivors).
Notes on event
On 9 Jan, 1943, the Birmingham City served as the ship of the convoy commodore in convoy TB-1, when the Broad Arrow off the port beam was struck by two torpedoes fired by U-124 at 04.33 hours and caught fire, lit up the entire convoy. At 04.36 hours, Mohr fired another torpedo which struck the Birmingham City on the port side amidships at the #3 hatch and the ship began to blaze. The explosion blew the port lifeboats overboard, destroyed the fireroom bulkhead and caused her to sink on an even keel in three minutes about 50 miles north of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana.
The most of the nine officers, 29 crewmen and 18 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in and four .50cal guns) immediately abandoned ship as she rapidly settled. The #1 motor lifeboat capsized on launching, pitching men into the water and contributing to the drowning of several crewmen. The remaining survivors left in #3 boat or jumped overboard and swam to several rafts. The #1 boat was later righted and the men from the rafts were transferred to it. Three officers, two crewmen and five armed guards died, most from drowning. All survivors were picked up by USS PC-577 ten hours later and landed at Paramaribo.
USN Personnel associated with the Birmingham City
Walter G. Gilbertson
George R. Knightly
Harold Peterson
Francis J. Scharfbillig
Alfred Horace Young
Merchant Marine
Michael Francis Barry
Joaquin Cupeiro
Harry M. McGoldrick
Eibert C. Parker
Louis W. Pinchasik
Wirtner W. Ward
USNR WORLD WAR II
Seaman 2nd Class Francis J. Scharfbillig MIA/KIA
Hometown: Minnesota
Official Date of death: 09-Jan-44
Service # 6483650
Awards: Purple Heart
Master Michael Francis Barry
Mission: Transport
Ship: American Steam tanker Birmingham City
Convoy TB-1
Loss Date: 9-Jan-43
Position: 07.23N, 55.48W - Grid EO 5238 50 miles north of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana.
Cargo: General cargo, including machinery and tinplate
Fate: Sunk by U-124 (Johann Mohr)
Complement: 56 (10 dead and 46 survivors).
Notes on event
On 9 Jan, 1943, the Birmingham City served as the ship of the convoy commodore in convoy TB-1, when the Broad Arrow off the port beam was struck by two torpedoes fired by U-124 at 04.33 hours and caught fire, lit up the entire convoy. At 04.36 hours, Mohr fired another torpedo which struck the Birmingham City on the port side amidships at the #3 hatch and the ship began to blaze. The explosion blew the port lifeboats overboard, destroyed the fireroom bulkhead and caused her to sink on an even keel in three minutes about 50 miles north of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana.
The most of the nine officers, 29 crewmen and 18 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in and four .50cal guns) immediately abandoned ship as she rapidly settled. The #1 motor lifeboat capsized on launching, pitching men into the water and contributing to the drowning of several crewmen. The remaining survivors left in #3 boat or jumped overboard and swam to several rafts. The #1 boat was later righted and the men from the rafts were transferred to it. Three officers, two crewmen and five armed guards died, most from drowning. All survivors were picked up by USS PC-577 ten hours later and landed at Paramaribo.
USN Personnel associated with the Birmingham City
Walter G. Gilbertson
George R. Knightly
Harold Peterson
Francis J. Scharfbillig
Alfred Horace Young
Merchant Marine
Michael Francis Barry
Joaquin Cupeiro
Harry M. McGoldrick
Eibert C. Parker
Louis W. Pinchasik
Wirtner W. Ward
Seaman 2nd Class Francis J. Scharfbillig MIA/KIA
Hometown: Minnesota
Official Date of death: 09-Jan-44
Service # 6483650
Awards: Purple Heart
Master Michael Francis Barry
Mission: Transport
Ship: American Steam tanker Birmingham City
Convoy TB-1
Loss Date: 9-Jan-43
Position: 07.23N, 55.48W - Grid EO 5238 50 miles north of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana.
Cargo: General cargo, including machinery and tinplate
Fate: Sunk by U-124 (Johann Mohr)
Complement: 56 (10 dead and 46 survivors).
Notes on event
On 9 Jan, 1943, the Birmingham City served as the ship of the convoy commodore in convoy TB-1, when the Broad Arrow off the port beam was struck by two torpedoes fired by U-124 at 04.33 hours and caught fire, lit up the entire convoy. At 04.36 hours, Mohr fired another torpedo which struck the Birmingham City on the port side amidships at the #3 hatch and the ship began to blaze. The explosion blew the port lifeboats overboard, destroyed the fireroom bulkhead and caused her to sink on an even keel in three minutes about 50 miles north of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana.
The most of the nine officers, 29 crewmen and 18 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in and four .50cal guns) immediately abandoned ship as she rapidly settled. The #1 motor lifeboat capsized on launching, pitching men into the water and contributing to the drowning of several crewmen. The remaining survivors left in #3 boat or jumped overboard and swam to several rafts. The #1 boat was later righted and the men from the rafts were transferred to it. Three officers, two crewmen and five armed guards died, most from drowning. All survivors were picked up by USS PC-577 ten hours later and landed at Paramaribo.
USN Personnel associated with the Birmingham City
Walter G. Gilbertson
George R. Knightly
Harold Peterson
Francis J. Scharfbillig
Alfred Horace Young
Merchant Marine
Michael Francis Barry
Joaquin Cupeiro
Harry M. McGoldrick
Eibert C. Parker
Louis W. Pinchasik
Wirtner W. Ward
Family Members
Parents
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Records on Ancestry
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1930 United States Federal Census
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1940 United States Federal Census
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U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
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U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S., Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949
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U.S., World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas
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