ID=58078 Name: Tank, Willi

[Ian Jewison]

I guess this is a mistake made by the clerk?

According to the Wehrpaß of Willi Tank, he was with 11 U-Flottille, which U-476 was not part of. This is the boat he is recorded as being part of the crew at the time of his death on 25.5.1944.

However, U-990 which saved 21 of the crew of U-476 was with 11 U-Flottille, but was also sunk on 25.5.1944.

Both boats served with 5 U-Flottille from 28.7.1943:

U-476 transferred to 3 U-Flottille on 1.4.1944
U-990 transferred to 11 U-Flottille on 1.1.1944

The Wehrpaß shows he was with 11 U-Flottille from 13.4.44 which if he was aboard U-990 it was in Bergen from 12.4.44. U-476 was still in Kiel on that date.

Hope this does not confuse 

Regards,
Ian

[Ian Jewison]

Added a photo of Herr Tank for the crew listings

[Hubertus]

Many Thanks Ian,

You right Willi Tank was on U-990, will change for next update.

U-990+ VIIC. 4. Unternehmung unter Kapitänleutnant Hubert Nordheimer, lief am 22.05.1944 von Bergen aus. Das Boot befand sich auf der Fahrt nach Narvik und sollte anschließend im Nordmeer operieren. Nach dem es am 24.05.1944 eine Rettungsaktion für U-476. durchgeführt hatte und die Überlebenden aufgenommen hatte, wurde U 990 von einem  Flugzeug versenkt. U 990 konnte auf 4 Unternehmungen 1 Zerstörer mit 1.920 ts versenken.  (Reports Willi was on U-476 are incorrect Wehrpaß shows he was with 11 U-Flottille from 13.4.44 which if he was aboard U-990 it was in Bergen from 12.4.44. U-476 was still in Kiel on that date. Thanks Ian Jewison)

Cheers Herb. 

[Ian Jewison]

Many Thanks Ian,

You right Willi Tank was on U-990, will change for next update.

U-990+ VIIC. 4. Unternehmung unter Kapitänleutnant Hubert Nordheimer, lief am 22.05.1944 von Bergen aus. Das Boot befand sich auf der Fahrt nach Narvik und sollte anschließend im Nordmeer operieren. Nach dem es am 24.05.1944 eine Rettungsaktion für U-476. durchgeführt hatte und die Überlebenden aufgenommen hatte, wurde U 990 von einem  Flugzeug versenkt. U 990 konnte auf 4 Unternehmungen 1 Zerstörer mit 1.920 ts versenken.  (Reports Willi was on U-476 are incorrect Wehrpaß shows he was with 11 U-Flottille from 13.4.44 which if he was aboard U-990 it was in Bergen from 12.4.44. U-476 was still in Kiel on that date. Thanks Ian Jewison)

Cheers Herb. 

That's the thing Herb, was he or is it a mistake?

/Ian

[Fanny]

Hello Ian,
I found the following about U 476 (see attachment).Willi Tank was a crew member on U 476.
When the boat was lost on May 25, 1944, 33 people lost their lives. Willi Tank is among the dead.

Greetings Fanny
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/Besatzungsliste_U_476
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/U_476

[Ian Jewison]

Hello Ian,
I found the following about U 476 (see attachment).Willi Tank was a crew member on U 476.
When the boat was lost on May 25, 1944, 33 people lost their lives. Willi Tank is among the dead.

Greetings Fanny
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/Besatzungsliste_U_476
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/U_476

Thanks Fanny,

I am aware of this, however it does not explain why his Wehrpaß says he was with 11 U-Flottille...... that is the confusion as it should say 3 U-Flottille in that case.

Hence the confusion.

Regards,
Ian

[Fanny]

Hello Ian,
U 476 belonged to the 3rd U-boat flotilla, that's correct.
The last base until the loss of U 476 was Bergen (11th U-boat flotilla).
The relatives of the fallen U-boatmen from U 476 had to be informed, survivors of U 476 were assigned to other boats. It is also interesting that if you read the military records of Commander Otto Niethmann, it says: from May 26th, 1944 to July 00th, 1944
at the disposal of the 11th U-boat flotilla, Bergen (see appendix)!
Greetings Fanny  http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/Otto_Niethmann

[Ian Jewison]

Hello Ian,
U 476 belonged to the 3rd U-boat flotilla, that's correct.
The last base until the loss of U 476 was Bergen (11th U-boat flotilla).
The relatives of the fallen U-boatmen from U 476 had to be informed, survivors of U 476 were assigned to other boats. It is also interesting that if you read the military records of Commander Otto Niethmann, it says: from May 26th, 1944 to July 00th, 1944
at the disposal of the 11th U-boat flotilla, Bergen (see appendix)!
Greetings Fanny  http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/Otto_Niethmann

Thank you that makes sense.

However he was U-476 (3 U-Flotte) and transferred to U-990 (11 U-Flotte) as he was one of the survivors..... as I thought Tank was but then lost his life aboard U-990.

/Ian

[t-geronimo]

Many thanks Ian, the photo is online!