Belgian Airman.
The Sinking of the Belgian Airman:
Originally known as Empire Ballantyne, she was built for MoWT and managed by WA Souter & Co. Ltd located in Newcastle upon Tyne. On February 14, 1942, she was transferred to the Régie de la Marine of the Belgian Government and took the name Belgian Airman. At that time she was managed by Compagnie Maritime Beige located in Antwerp.
On April 25, 1942, Belgian Airmen rescued 23 survivors from 3,841 GRT SS Modesta, which was torpedoed and sunk by U-108 at 33°40'N 63°10'W. They took the survivors to Bermuda.
The Belgian Airman was a member of a number of convoys during the war. On January 12, 1943, as a member of Convoy ON 162, she left Liverpool and arrived in New York on February 11. Their captain, Captain H.C. Birmie was the head of the convoy of ships on this voyage. On a return voyage to Liverpool from New York, she was a part of the Convoy HX 229. They departed on February 28, 1943, and arrived in Liverpool on March 15. On the way, March 4 at 1:50 PM at 44° 15N, 59° 44'W, it separated from the convoy and proceeded to Halifax, Nova Scotia to reduce the size of the convoy to 60 ships. From here it connected with Convoy HS 229A, which had left New York on March 9, 1943. Belgian Airman joined the convoy in Halifax on March 12. During this voyage, she was carrying a cargo of steel and timber. During the voyage, it struck ice and was diverse to Reykjavik, Iceland,
On April 8, 1945, the Belgian Airman left Houston headed to New York and Antwerp, Belgium. Onboard was a cargo of sorghum and dairy feed. At 8:50 AM on April 14 the unescorted Belgian Airman was about 70 miles northeast of Cape Hatteras when it was torpedoed and sunk by U-857. One crew member was killed in the attack. The forty-six survivors were rescued by the American Liberty ship Harold A. Jordan. The survivors were taken to New York.
THE SHIP'S SPECIFICS:
| Built: 1942 | Sunk: April 14, 1945 |
| Type of Vessel: Steam Merchant | Owner: Belgian Government |
| Builder: Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan, Glasgow | Power: Diesel |
| Port of registry: Antwerp | Dimensions: 432.7' x 56.3' |
| Previous Names: Empire Ballantyne |
LOCATION OF THE SINKING:
Here is the location of the sinking: 36° 09'N, 74° 05'W
LOST CREW MEMBERS :
Total Lost: 1, Survivors: 46
| Last | First | Date of Death | Position | Home | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergmans | Karel | April 14, 1945 | Donkeyman |
SURVIVING CREW MEMBERS:
A listing of the surviving crew:
| Last | First | Position | DOB | Home | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bermot | William | DEMS Gunner | |||
| Boogaerts | Emiel | Able Seaman | |||
| Brownrigg | George | DEMS Gunner | |||
| Cailloux | Ernest | Master/Captain | |||
| * Catteau | Henri | Fourth Engineer Officer | |||
| Chapman | Ernest | DEMS Gunner | |||
| Claes | Roland | Ordinary Seaman | |||
| Claeys | Frederik | Junior Fourth Engineer Officer | |||
| Cohen | Ralph | Third Radio Officer | Jan. 13, 1925 | 20 | |
| Cools | Henri | Assistant Engineer | |||
| Cupido | Issac | Galley Boy | |||
| DeWitte | David | Able Seaman | |||
| ** Delpire | George L.A. | First Radio Officer | Sept. 7, 1910 | 24 | |
| Demeersman | Pieter | Mess Room Steward | |||
| Devisser | Pieter | Donkeyman | |||
| Dua | John | Chief Engineer Officer | |||
| Flores | Johan | Wiper | |||
| Goethals | Theofiel | Carpenter | |||
| *** Hoogstege | Arent | Able Seaman | |||
| Hoyelle | Léonard | Senior Fourth Engineer Officer | |||
| Huygens | Albert | Able Seaman | |||
| Jordan | John | Second Radio Officer | |||
| Lambert | Raymond | Second Officer | |||
| Laurie | George | Able Seaman | |||
| Lemoine | Adolphe | Wiper | |||
| Loyens | Jozef | Second Cook | |||
| Lus | Robert | Able Seaman | |||
| Maes | Frans | Able Seaman | |||
| Marivoet | Jacques | Second Engineer Officer | |||
| Mintiens | Albert | Able Seaman | |||
| Neys | Willem | Mess Room Steward | |||
| Piron | Maurice | DEMS Gunner | |||
| Put | Marcel | Chief Cook | |||
| Rousel | Gaspard | Third Officer | |||
| Tacon | Alfons | DEMS Gunner | |||
| Talboom | Frans | Wiper | |||
| **** Talboom | Kamiel | Boatswain | |||
| *****Van Deert | Fernand | Chief Officer | |||
| Van Stein | Georges | DEMS Gunner | |||
| Van Vlierberghe | Paul | Mess Room Steward | |||
| Vandecasserie | Edouard | Fourth Officer | |||
| Vanlandeghem | Frans | Able Seaman | |||
| Vekemans | Petrus | Steward | |||
| Vermeersch | Philippe | Cadet |
* He was an Assistant Engineer on the Jean Jadot when it was sunk on Jan. 20, 1943, by German U-boat U-453.
** He was a Radio Officer on the Belgian Soldier when it was sunk on Aug. 3, 1942, by German U-boat U-553.
*** He was an Able Seaman on the Mokambo when it was sunk on May 1, 1943, by German U-boat U-515.
****He was an Able Seaman on the Bruxelles when it was sunk on June 9, 1942, by German U-boat U-502.
*****He was a Second Officer on the Alex van Opstal when it was sunk on Sept. 15, 1939, by German U-boat U-26 and was Second Officer on the Mercier on June 10, 1942, when it was sunk by German U-boat U-204.