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: ![]() |
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. |
American motor fishing vessel
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Aboard Ben and Josephine when hit on 3 Jun 1942
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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