AS WITH ANY lengthy research project, the list of those to whom I am indebted is also long. With profound sincerity I express my appreciation, and likewise my apologies, to those who may not be listed in these acknowledgments. Their omission in no way diminishes the value of their contributions.
Because this work originated with a master’s thesis, I extend my appreciation to the members of my graduate committee at Louisiana Tech University: Dr. Philip Cook, Dr. Stephen Webre, and Dr. John Bush, chair. An additional debt of gratitude is owed to Mrs. Annette Owen, who provided much-appreciated editorial and formatting assistance, to Ms. Stephanie Robker for her help in examining the overwhelming number of MAGIC decrypts, and to Drs. Glyn Ingram, Abe Attrep, Billy Gilley (professor emeritus), John Daly, and C. Wade Meade for advice and encouragement.
It has been my good fortune to have been assisted by numerous reference and archival experts during the course of my research. Among those to whom I am deeply indebted are Dorothy Jewell and Laura Ogden and their staff at Interlibrary Services at Louisiana Tech; Jim Dolph of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum; Dr. Richard Winslow III and the staff of the Portsmouth (N.H.) Herald; Kathleen Lloyd, archivist at the navy’s Operational Archives at the Washington Navy Yard; Martha Jebb of the Portsmouth (N.H.) Athenaeum; Tom House and Roland Goodbody of Diamond Library, University of New Hampshire; Horst Bredow of the U-Boot Archiv in Germany; and Herr Döringhoff of the Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv in Freiburg, Germany. To all of these research professionals I extend my sincere appreciation.
Because of its dependence on primary archival sources, this book could not have been written without the help and services of the Textual Reference Branches of the United States National Archives and Record Administration. In addition to the numerous researchers and staff personnel, special appreciation goes to Barry Zerby and John Taylor at College Park, Maryland; Stan Tozeski at the Northeast Regional Branch in Waltham, Massachusetts; and John Celardo and Rich Gelke of the Northeast Regional Branch in New York. The rich value of the National Archives is augmented by the proficiency of these phenomenal people.
I have been fortunate to have become acquainted with several individuals who offered much-appreciated help and advice. Among these, I would like to thank Henry Bonner of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station Museum; Ms. C. L. Householder of the United States Navy Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division; David Rohnen of the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News, Virginia; Harry Cooper of Hernando, Florida; Jak Mailman Showell of Kent, England; Charles Backus of Groton, Massachusetts; Frank Jackson of Weymouth, Massachusetts; and Jane Tucker of New York. Additional help came from the men and women of the United States Navy Destroyer Escort Association and the crew members of the USS Greenfish and their spouses. Also, many thanks go to Ingo Trautzweitzwer of Hyattsville, Maryland, and Thomas and Gwyn Degner of Baltimore for their help in translation and proofing.
I wish to thank my family: Tammy and Craig Currin, Janet Parr, and my progeny Daniel the Wise and the Unsinkable Mallory Anne for their love, patience, and support. A special note of thanks goes out to Charlene and James L. Evans for their understanding and faith in what I am attempting to accomplish. Of course, I cannot adequately express the appreciation I have for my principal co-conspirator and partner in crime, Marilyn Scalia. She suffered when I suffered, laughed when I laughed, and cursed when I cursed, often longer and louder. “Thank you” does not begin to cover the depths of what I owe her. Much obliged, Spurline.
Possibly the most controversial aspect of U-234 is her consignment of uranium oxide. The presence and implications of this part of U-234’s cargo have launched heated debate that continues to this day. It is my intention to present in the appendix the available evidence and plausible theories in hope that readers will arrive at their own conclusions. I wish to express my appreciation to Geoffry Brooks of Essex, England, Philip Henshall of Cheshire, England, and Sidney Trevethan of Anchorage, Alaska, for their theories and information regarding U-234’s uranium cargo. I also wish to express my appreciation to Robert Wilcox of Sherman Oaks, California, for sharing his notes and thoughts on the matter.
In addition to the various theories and conjectures surrounding the uranium issue, I was able to rely on documentary and expert data from professionals in the field of nuclear research in Germany and Japan during World War II. Among these, I wish to thank Dr. Michael Thorwart of the Institute of Physics at the University of Augsburg in Augsburg, Germany; Dr. Helmut Rechenberg of the Max Planck Institute of Physics in Munich; Dr. Carl Friedrich von Weisäcker of Starnberg, Germany; Dr. Kigoshi Kunihiko of Gakushuin University in Tokyo; and Richard Rhodes of Madison, Connecticut. A special note of appreciation is extended to Dr. Jürgen Rohwer for meeting with me on a rainy morning at the Library for Contemporary History in Stuttgart to share his phenomenal insight and knowledge. I thank him for his patience and interest in this project. His help was invaluable in the completion of this book.
Much appreciation is extended to my editor, Mary Yates, for her patience and suffering while editing the original manuscript. The clarity of this book is a reflection of her abilities; any confusion or awkwardness is a reflection of mine. I also extend appreciation to Paul Wilderson and Randy Baldini of the Naval Institute Press in Annapolis for their support of the project and for allowing me an avenue by which to relate the true story of this often misunderstood saga.
I have reserved my final expression of appreciation for a group of remarkable men. These individuals rode U-234, in addition to other German submarines, during World War II and emerged survivors of both the war and the hazards of submarine warfare. Therefore, special appreciation is owed Erich Menzel, Heinz Schlicke, and Wolfgang Hirschfeld (U-234), Jürgen Oesten (U-61, U-106, U-861), and Thilo Bode (U-858). Additional gratitude goes to Capt. Hans-Joachim Krug, Maj. Gen. Goda Yutaka, and Rear Adm. Hirama Yoichi for sharing their vast experience. I have had the honor of corresponding with all of these gentlemen and have developed a sincere admiration and respect for them.
The personnel of U-234 embarked on an extremely dangerous mission, with limited chances of success. These are proud and honorable men who during the years 1939–45 simply performed their duty, serving their country without any vestige of political dogma. Their courage and devotion, emblematic of all veterans, regardless of nationality, constitute the guiding spirit of this book.