User:Bellhalla/SS Joseph V. Connolly

SS Joseph V. Connolly was a Liberty ship built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. She was named for Joseph V. Connolly, the late president of King Features and International News Service. After the war she was assigned to the U.S. Army as USAT Jospeh V. Connolly and converted to repatriate the remains of American casualties of the war, becoming the first ship to bring back war dead from Europe. In January 1947, caught fire, was abandoned, and sank in the North Atlantic.

Funeral ship
On 12 January 1948

In January 1948 USAT General R. E. Callan responded to a distress signal from Army Transport Joseph V. Connolly which was burning at 39.8°N, -54.61667°W, some 890 nmi east of New York. Freighters SS Union Victory and Black Diamond each picked up a lifeboat, while General R. E. Callan picked up the remaining two boats. The Army transport stayed with the burning hulk of Joseph V. Connolly until being relieved by Army ocean-going tug LT-788. General R. E. Callan was ordered to Halifax with the survivors. All 46 hands from Joseph V. Connolly were saved by the three ships, while the ship itself was lost.

Fire and sinking
USCG history of USCGC Bibb (WPG-31)