Hidden in Chicago lies a German U-boat seized in a secret WWII mission

U-505’s Daring Capture and Secret Journey to Chicago

On June 4, 1944, U. S. Navy ships caught German submarine U-505 off West Africa. Depth charges hit hard.

The sub came up, and its crew jumped ship. Navy men then did the brave thing – they went in.

They grabbed code books and two Enigma machines while the sub sank lower each minute. The Navy kept it all hush-hush, even towing the sub 1,700 miles to Bermuda in secret.

Ten years later, the U-505 made a new trip – 3,000 miles to Chicago where it sits today. The story of this daring grab and its long journey waits for you at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry.

Captain Gallery’s Team Hunted German Subs

Captain Daniel Gallery led Task Group 22. 3 in the Atlantic during World War II.

His group had the USS Guadalcanal aircraft carrier and five destroyer escorts that worked together to find and sink German submarines.

Gallery created new ways to hunt U-boats with his “hunter-killer” plan that many navy officers thought was too risky. His team already sank two German submarines before their famous capture.

Gallery did something unusual by training his sailors to capture a submarine instead of just blowing it up.

Sonar Found Enemy Propellers Near African Coast

On June 4, 1944, USS Chatelain’s sonar man Blaum heard the clear sound of propellers moving through water. The ship was watching about 150 miles from the coast of Rio de Oro in Western Sahara.

Captain Gallery told his ships to check out the contact. The Chatelain dropped depth charges that hit their target.

The blasts damaged U-505’s rudder and caused bad flooding in the back areas. The German submarine crew lost control and began to rise toward the surface.

German Sailors Jumped Ship Without Destroying Secret Papers

As U-505 broke through the waves, all five American ships opened fire with their deck guns. The submarine’s leader, Lieutenant Harald Lange, knew his boat couldn’t escape or fight back.

He quickly told his crew to leave the ship and jump into the ocean.

In their rush to escape, the German sailors left without getting rid of their secret equipment and codebooks. One German sailor died during the attack, and several others got hurt.

The submarine kept moving in circles with nobody at the controls.

Lieutenant David Risked His Life Boarding The Moving Sub

Lieutenant Albert David gathered seven brave sailors from the USS Pillsbury for a dangerous job. They lowered a small boat into the water and went up to the still-moving submarine.

David led his team through the top hatch while U-505 kept circling in the water. The men faced many dangers as they went inside.

They didn’t know if the sub had bombs set to blow up, and it was already filling with water. The boarding party worked in a dark, tilting submarine with no power.

Sailors Rushed To Stop The Sinking Sub

The boarding team found U-505 in bad shape. Seawater poured in through open valves, and they found bombs set to blow up the submarine.

Working fast, they closed the sea valves to stop the flooding and removed the bombs before they could explode.

The team found amazing treasures inside – two working Enigma code machines with current rotors, coordinate codes, weather codebooks, and signal manuals.

This marked the first time since the War of 1812 that the U. S. Navy caught an enemy warship at sea.

The Navy Called Their Prize “USS Nemo” For The Secret Trip

The USS Guadalcanal attached a towing cable to U-505’s front to start the risky journey back to friendly territory.

To keep the operation secret, the Navy disguised the submarine and gave it a fake American name: “USS Nemo. ” Task Group 22.3 began the hard 1,700-mile tow to Bermuda through waters still watched by German forces. The entire capture operation got the highest security rating.

If the Germans learned about the capture, they would change all their codes.

Captured Germans Became Secret Prisoners In Louisiana

The Navy took all 58 German crew members to Camp Ruston in Louisiana under tight security. These prisoners lived completely cut off from the outside world.

Camp staff kept them away from all other German POWs to stop news of their survival from spreading. The German navy told the families of U-505’s crew that their loved ones had died at sea.

The Red Cross couldn’t visit these prisoners like they did with other POWs. This unusual treatment lasted until the war ended in Europe.

Stolen Code Books Helped Beat German Subs

The Navy quickly used U-505’s secret info. They flew the Enigma machines and codebooks straight to Washington, DC for quick study.

Naval experts got key insights into German communication systems at a crucial time in the war. The captured materials helped Allied codebreakers read German navy messages during the D-Day invasion and after.

This advantage saved many Allied ships and lives by showing U-boat locations and German navy plans. The government kept the full story of U-505’s capture secret for decades after World War II.

Chicago Museum Saved The Sub From Being Shot At

After the war ended, the U. S. Navy planned to use U-505 for target practice and sink it.

Lenox Lohr, who ran Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, heard about this plan and asked the Navy to give the submarine to his museum instead.

In 1954, President Eisenhower approved the transfer, making U-505 a permanent war memorial. Chicago residents showed their support by raising $250,000 (about $2.5 million today) to pay for moving and showing the massive vessel.

Engineers Built A Special Railroad To Move A Submarine Across Chicago

Moving a 700-ton German submarine to Chicago required an amazing feat of engineering. U-505 traveled over 3,000 miles through the St. Lawrence Seaway and across all four Great Lakes to reach Chicago.

Engineers created a complex transportation plan to move the submarine from Lake Michigan to the museum. They built a special rail system with steel beams to support the massive weight.

One major challenge was crossing Lake Shore Drive, a busy Chicago highway.

Workers constructed a special underpass and rail line to move the submarine across without disrupting traffic. The entire city watched as the massive war trophy made its slow journey to its final home.

Former Enemies Reunited At The Sub’s New Home

On September 25, 1954, U-505 opened as a permanent exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry.

In a surprising twist, Lieutenant Commander Harald Lange, who had captained U-505 when it was captured, came to Chicago for the dedication ceremony.

The submarine became one of the most popular attractions at the museum, with millions of visitors exploring its cramped interior over the decades.

In 2004, the museum moved U-505 to a new $35 million underground exhibit hall to protect it from weather damage.

The climate-controlled environment helps preserve this unique war trophy for future generations to see and touch a real piece of World War II history.

Visiting Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Illinois

The Museum of Science and Industry at 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr. houses the captured German U-505 submarine with nearly 200 artifacts included in general admission.

You need a separate timed ticket for the 25-minute on-board tour ($18 adults, $14 children) featuring dramatic lighting and sound effects. Military personnel and veterans get $4 off submarine tours.

Special in-depth experiences happen on select weekend mornings for those wanting more details about this intelligence victory.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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