Account and Crew List of Our Grandfather’s Boat The Ben and Josephine Which Was Sunk By A German Sub June 3, 1942

Ben and Josephine

American Motor fishing vessel

Name	Ben and Josephine
Type:	Motor fishing vessel
Tonnage	102 tons
Completed	1941 – Thomaston ME
Homeport	Gloucester
Date of attack	3 Jun 1942	Nationality:      American
Fate	Sunk by U-432 (Heinz-Otto Schultze)
Position	43° 07’N, 66° 51’W – Grid BA 9976
Complement	8 (0 dead and 8 survivors).
Convoy
Route	Gloucester MA – Sea Island NS
Cargo	none
History
Notes on event	At 21.00 hours on 3 June 1942, two unarmed fishing vessels, the Aeolus and Ben and Josephine (Master Guiseppe Ciaramitaro), were stopped by U-432 while they were engaged in fishing (distance between the vessels was 4 miles) about 170 miles east by south of Thatchers Island. Schultze allowed the crews to leave their ships safely, before they were shelled and sunk.At 21.00 hours, the Ben and Josephine was shelled with 45 shells, caught fire and sank after 30 minutes, then U-432 shelled and sank the Aeolus. The crew of two officers and six men made their way back in dories with the six survivors of the other fishing vessel and landed at Mount Desert Coast Guard Light Station 36 hours after the attack.

Ben and Josephine
American motor fishing vessel

This is a listing of people associated with this ship.
We also have a detailed page on the American motor fishing vessel Ben and Josephine.

Aboard Ben and Josephine when hit on 3 Jun 1942
You can click on any of the names for possible additional information


Name
Age
Rank
Served on


Ciaramitaro, Guiseppe, Merchant Marine
27
Master
Ben and Josephine


Frontiero, Peter, Merchant Marine
27
Sailor
Ben and Josephine


Frontiero, Sam, Merchant Marine
45
Engineer
Ben and Josephine


Frontiero, Tony, Merchant Marine
35
Cook
Ben and Josephine


Mahoney, William, Merchant Marine
49
Sailor
Ben and Josephine


Montagnino, Dominic, Merchant Marine
27
Sailor
Ben and Josephine


Orlando, Sam, Merchant Marine
23
Sailor
Ben and Josephine


Sheaves, James A., Merchant Marine
42
Sailor
Ben and Josephine