European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 15, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse A Page 4cover Story v from the cover Small discovered the tank in the Channel in 1971, which sparked his interest in exercise Tiger and his ambition to bring recognition to its participants. Obtaining permission from the us. Government to Pur Chase the Lank raising it 65 feet from the Bottom of the Channel and getting approval from local govern mint officials to install it permanently at Tor Cross took Quot an awful lot of Money an awful lot of years and an awful lot of tears Quot Small said. Ekstam said veterans were grateful for the me Morial particularly since . Officials covered up facts about the exercise both during and after world War ii. He said veterans still Felt exercise Tiger was not receiving the attention it deserved. Quot the people that made those decisions to keep. The incident secret did what they thought was the right thing Quot said maj. Gen. John Hendrix Deputy chief of staff operations for the . Army in Europe who was one of about 200 people who attended the service. A a All of us who serve now Are very proud of All the people who served Here. This was the Start of the Victory in rear . David Morris Deputy commander in chief of the Navy in Europe attended a memorial service after Tor Cross at St. James the great Church in Slapton. . Veterans arid residents who were evacuated from Slapton arid surrounding villages during the War so that the area could be used to train troops also attended the second service which was amplified for 100 other people who stood in the Church Yard. Survivors of exercise Tiger and those who take an interest in the incident share a Bond forged by years of government secrecy about the maricuver., survivors and rescuers were ordered never to discuss the matter and the us. And British governments denied for a Long time that the incident happened. Ekstam said. Only through tenacious digging by individuals in Britain and the United states and the release of official records through inc . Freedom of information act were facts of the disaster made Public exercise Tiger was the first buildup practice a. A amps Dave Didlo Back to remember Andre Ajas foreground and de incr slain both survivors of exercise Tiger. Tic Uver for a Day to be staged at Slapton Sands a Beach South of Tor Cross that resembled Utah Beach in Normandy. The Convoy was loaded with equipment and . Army and Navy personnel including 45 men who were privy to a Day times and locations. The ships were 15 Miles Southwest of Wey Mouth when they were ambushed at 2 . On april 28, 1944, by nine German a boats based at Cherbourg in occupied Northern France. List 531 was hit by two torpedoes and Sank. List 507 and list 289 each was hit by a single torpedo. List 507 had to be abandoned and list 289 was crippled. According to some reports 749 servicemen died either from injuries sustained during the attack itself drowning or hypothermia. Other reports estimate that closer to 900 people died. Nonfatal injuries were caused by crossfire from list 496. Military records show that the Convoy was escorted by the British Corvette has Azalea and Ini Dally also by the old world War i destroyer has scimitar. However scimitar was rammed accidentally by one of the lists on the evening of april 27 and returned to port in Plymouth leaving the Convoy without cover. Because of errors in reporting the need for a replacement the has Saladin destroyer Wasny to dispatched until 1 30 . On april 28, too late to help the Convoy. The a boats were first detected by the British Royal Navy at Midnight on the night in question. The has Azalea was warned by radio about the sightings but the Corvette never received the pcs Sage because a delay Iri the distribution of radio signals left the Convoy tuned to the wrong frequency. After the attack the has Azalea shepherded the five Able lists Back to port and then returned to help list 289. The has Saladin rescued 129 men when it arrived sometime after 3 . And then acted As cover for list 515, whose Captain Navy it. John Doyle apparently disobeyed orders and returned his ship to the ambush site to Rescue 132 wounded men and retrieve 45 bodies. Other survivors and bodies were retrieved by the has slow. British mine sweepers also were dispatched to retrieve remaining bodies from the water. A of the deceased were Laid out on a Beach near Portland and Weymouth for identification at which time it was determined that All 45 individuals with knowledge of a Day details were accounted for. The deceased were buried at the american Mili Tail cemetery in Madingley just outside Cambridge. Some bodies were later returned to the United states at the request of their and water ale Rodman has managed to put the horrors of exercise Tiger behind him but not the memory of the men who were lost. H a eighteen of my comrades were killed that night Quot said Rodman 70. A resident of Carmichael calif., who was a Corporal technician with the 33rd chemical decontamination co 1st army engineering special brigade on the list 507. A i watching dead a bodies in the water. There was nothing you could it was very Early in the morning when Rodman was a rudely awakened Quot by a Dull thud on the Side of his boat. When he Rose he saw that his ship was on fire and he Learned that it had been hit by a torpedo. Everyone on Board was ordered to abandon ship. Quot it was just unbelievable what was going on Quot Rodman said. Quot the water was Rodman managed to climb into a Lifeboat which was designed to hold 30 people. Quot i was Busy picking up survivors As we went along Quot he said. Before Long the boat was Well Over its capacity. Quot the ones in the water were suffering from hypothermia. I was just relieved when 1 saw the British ship Rodman does t blame anyone for the blunders of exercise Tiger because Quot i think everyone in the service was trying to do their Best a he said. Nancy l. Torner Dale Rodman Richard Meredith wipes away tears during ceremony honouring shipmates killed on april 28,1944. A amps Dave Didio sunday May 15, 1994
