Hello,
Greetings from Capt. Otis and the crew of U-73
It is now one minute after mdnight (00:01) Jan. 1, 1941
We are somewhere off the west coast of Ireland and we shipped out of
Brest on Christmas day at 17:00.
So the crew got to spend Christmas Eve. and most of the day with their
families. I was told that there was a Christmas tree in the galley but
this is our second patrol aboard U-73 and I have'nt been able to find the
galley yet.
Now that I think of it, none of our crew have a Mess Steward Qualification.
I wont bore you with all of the merchants that we have sunk.
It's going to be more interesting when they get deck guns.
We did'nt drink the two cases of beer under my bunk to celebrate the
new years. We are saving them for when Rosevelt surrenders.
Last night, we came across a freighter flying the German flag so we pulled
along side hoping for a radio message or the signalman to flash his
light at us but we got nothing so we went on our way.
Before leaving Brest, we took on a new crew member.
A young Flak Gunner named Hans Beckler.
He looks too young to be in the navy. Probably lied about his age.
But he proved himself on Dec 28th when we were surfaced so that
some of the crew could go fishing and others could hang out their laundry
to dry.
Out of nowhere, four Hurricanes came diving out of the sky at us.
Hans shot down the first one and left two of them leaving smoke trails.
The fourth one circled awhile and then disappeared.
Anyways... I hope that 1941 is a good year for all of you and perhaps
when this war is over, we can get together in Munich for a stein of bier.
Capt. Otis