Hi all, new to this site but looking for information, hope you guys will have it. I'm looking for any information about U-953. Any information about my uncle Hans Harder who served on the boat. Any information about the Liberator bomber that attacked the boat. Any information about HMCS Skeena. I do have a bit of info on all these items and some pictures too but am always happy to get anything, even repeat info. many thanks in advance.
This one has the insignia for 953 http://www.uboataces.com/ref-insignia65.shtml This one has its patrols http://www.uboat.net/boats/patrols/u953.html And here is a the Wikipedia page for it http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_submarine_U-953 Hopefully this will help BOBO Also welcome to this forum !
Welcome to the forum! I'm sure you've seen this website, but just in case you haven't: http://www.thelongestpatrol.com/u-953.html Your uncle's name shows up on the crew list.
Thanks for the welcomes and the replies. Yes, I have seen all the above mentioned sites. I have read the books: The Longest Patrol and Iron Coffins. I have some pictures of the boat and one crew photo with my uncle at the far right of the picture. There is also a photo of some crew members.(see below). Again I think the man at the back is my uncle. I'm also in the process of building a model of V11C boat and made some emblems for realism as the model doesn't mention U-953. I also had two uncles involved with the Atlantic convoys. Both on the British side. One serving on a destroyer and one in a merchant ship. I'm thinking of the scenario; Tom on the merchant man in convoy heading for Murmansk. John on the destroyer acting as escort for the convoy. Hans in U-953 trying to destroy ships in the convoy. All the above met each other after the war and had some "tales" to tell. Hans was married to my mothers sister. He was a POW after the war and was taken to a camp in Huyton, Liverpool. He was from Hamburg. He died some years ago. I think that's enough for now. Would like to know more about the Liberator if anyone knows anything??? Look forward to replies. BOBO.
View attachment 21930 Thanks for the reply CAC. Not sure what my uncle's role was, trying to find out. Think it would have been "ordinary seaman" or German equivalent. He was only young when he entered service, about 17 I think, he may have had something to do with mechanics/plumbing, pretty sure he was not officer rank. Just a pity I didn't ask all the questions before he died. He was born in Hamburg on 02 May 1922. I have some copies of the KTB's (ships log) from the boat. A copy of his birth certificate and hope to get some more memorabilia of his soon. I'm very interested in the Liberator bomber that attacked the boat, any info would be great. By the way, does anyone know what the badge/emblem is please?
It's a rank...that's all I can guess...try googling Uboat rank insignia and see if you can match it...
Thanks CAC, don't think it has any U-boat connection. Something to do with shore based personnel I think?
