Funeral in the sea of sailor Julius T. Petrella, Radioman 3\c from Spencer of the US Coast Guard (USCGC Spencer).
Julius T. Petrella died from wounds sustained by friendly fire from armed HX-233 merchant ships of the maritime convoy at the time of the Spencer attack on the U-175 submarine of Nazi Kriegsmarine.
Julius T. Petrella was the only dead American sailor in the U-175 drowning episode. 24 American sailors were injured. They were all aboard the Spencer.
In the Julius Petrella photo: in the center on the left – the commander of the “Spencer” Harold S. Berdine gives a speech); in the center to the right is the commander of the HX-233 maritime convoy Paul R. Heineman.
In the background of Julius Petrella funeral are the ships of the HX-233 maritime convoy.
Location: Atlantic
Photo date: April 18, 1943
Author photo: Jack January