The Harrowing Rescue of Citizen Sailors Patrolling the Atlantic for Nazi U-Boats

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On December 3, 1942, the Eastern Seaboard was gripped by a severe winter storm, wreaking havoc on maritime activities. Amidst crashing waves and powerful winds, distress signals poured in from multiple vessels. One such craft, a 71-foot schooner named the Nordlys, struggled against 60-foot swells, while another sailboat, the Abenaki, found itself adrift after losing its tiller. A vessel known as the Tradition transmitted a poignant message, hinting it could be its final communication: “This may be our last transmission.”

These boats should not have been at sea in such dire conditions. However, for the crews of the Coastal Picket Force, a collection of privately operated vessels commissioned for wartime patrols, the threat of German U-boats meant they had little choice. This eclectic fleet, ranging from elegant yachts to well-worn fishing boats, was comprised of amateur sailors who were mobilized to help safeguard American waters from Maine to Florida. Their primary mission was to detect and report enemy submarines, which had been actively sinking countless Allied ships.

The capabilities of these mariners were modest—they wielded only basic weaponry and were ill-equipped for the harsh realities of a North Atlantic winter. Many of these boats, often used for leisurely pleasure sailing or fishing, were not designed for the severe meteorological conditions they faced, including a defining storm which was described by those who survived as both blizzard and hurricane.

Among the beleaguered crafts caught in this storm was a 57-foot sailboat named the Zaida. For hours, its crew of nine battled the elements, trying to maintain control as the storm ravaged their vessel and pushed it far off its intended course. As gusts intensified, the mainmast threatened to buckle under the strain, while waves relentlessly filled the boat’s cabin with water.

Captain Curtis Arnall, a professional actor by trade, led his crew in assessing their dire situation. Their options were grim; they could attempt to navigate westward into the storm or attempt to ride out the tempest by lowering their sails. Soon, nature made the decision for them, as a violent gust shattered the rigging, sending water crashing through the cabin and terrifying the crew.

In the chaos, some crew members were injured. Fisherman James Watson suffered broken ribs, and Joe Choate, a former banker, was struck on the head, bleeding profusely. With injuries sustained, the crew banded together to bail water out of the Zaida, using whatever they could find, including pots and pans, to prevent the boat from sinking.

As they took stock of their predicament, they found the Zaida had sustained significant damage: one mast had been lost entirely, and the vessel was lacking vital equipment. The radio remained functional only sporadically due to drained batteries, but they managed to reach a B-25 bomber that had been scouring the area for ships in distress. The bomber relayed their location, though no nearby rescue boat was available to assist.

The search for the Zaida evolved into one of the most extensive maritime operations in Navy history, with military aircraft dispatched to scan the waters without success. By December 8, the Navy reported diminishing hopes for the sailboat’s survival.

With World War II still fresh for the United States, the nation was struggling to counter the severe losses inflicted by German U-boats sinking vessels up and down the coast. German submarine warfare had rendered many American merchant vessels vulnerable, with entire cargo ships falling prey to enemy strikes. The psychological impact on the nation was profound, leading the War Department to suppress information about vessel losses to avoid panic.

Meanwhile, the civilian sailors, resolute in their efforts, took inspiration from British successes at Dunkirk, where civilian vessels had played a critical role. The Navy ultimately established the Coastal Picket Force, comprising an array of civilian-owned vessels engaged in the perilous task of anti-submarine patrols and rescue operations. While initially hesitant to put private citizens in danger, the growing toll of U-boat attacks forced military officials to reconsider their stance, resulting in the formation of this unconventional armada.

The Picket Force consisted of an eclectic mix of vessels, manned by crews that hailed from diverse walks of life, ranging from students and artists to experienced sailors and former government officials. This loose affiliation of volunteer sailors, often referred to derisively by some in the Navy, came to be known as the Hooligan Navy, an affectionate nod to their amateur status. Yet throughout this ragtag fleet, was an undeniable craft and fervor, encapsulated in the unique insignia of a pirate-themed Donald Duck created by Walt Disney.

Aboard the Zaida, the varied, yet skilled crew included people from different backgrounds, all of whom shared a determination to protect their waters. After leaving port on November 27, they patrolled their assigned sector, maintaining a vigilant watch for U-boats and preparing for rescue missions in the event of attacks on Allied ships.

As the storm unleashed its Fury, the crew’s experience was put to the test. They found themselves caught not only in dreadful weather but also in a battle of wits with an unseen enemy that lingered beneath the waves. Despite facing cruel sea conditions, they endured, shaping a narrative of resilience that would be tested in the days that followed.

Eventually, help arrived in the form of a Canadian destroyer, the HMCS Caldwell, but conditions at sea rendered rescue difficult. The vessel attempted to attach a tow line, but the treacherous waves thwarted their efforts. Disappointment followed, and soon the crew of the Zaida was back in isolation, battling the elements while struggling to maintain their spirits. They resorted to resourcefulness, creating makeshift solutions as they endeavored to survive the storm as it raged around them.

In a remarkable turn of events, a brief respite allowed the crew to work together, patching their sail and rigging the remaining mast for a tentative journey toward land. When they managed to re-establish a communication line, it sparked skepticism among the crew, as they perceived their captain’s optimistic radio report as overly casual amidst the harsh realities of their situation.

As they weathered the passage of days, the crew’s strength waned. Assigned tasks became increasingly fraught, food supplies dwindled, and frustrations mounted. Tensions boiled over in quiet but palpable ways, highlighting the psychological strain of their prolonged ordeal.

Days later, just as hope seemed to recede, the crew spotted a small Allied ship nearby. But their relief was short-lived when it became apparent that the larger vessels could not approach safely without potentially endangering the Zaida. Ultimately, the convoy passed by without able to offer any help.

The crew’s collective spirit was tested as they drifted in isolation, battling constant anxiety and hunger while yearning for rescue. Yet, just when it seemed desperation would take hold, a blimp appeared overhead, signaling the promise of salvation. The Zaida crew expressed their jubilation upon receiving emergency supplies dropped down to them, a sign that help was truly on the way.

The ensuing rescue was a breathtaking conclusion to their ordeal. The crew of the Coast Guard patrol boat welcomed the exhausted sailors aboard, providing them with food and warmth just in time for the approaching Christmas. When the men finally reached shore in Ocracoke, North Carolina, they were greeted with overwhelming gratitude and relief from their families, their resilience throughout the harrowing ordeal a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to endure against the odds.

In the aftermath of their remarkable survival, the Navy improved its maritime patrol strategies, while the threat of German U-boats diminished. Although the Coastal Picket Force faced a reduction in active vessels, the contributions of these civilian sailors remain a significant, albeit lesser-known, narrative of World War II history.

Years later, as the Zaida remains afloat and continues to tell its story, the crew members have lived on, with many maintaining a deep connection to the sea. Their tale endures as a powerful reminder of courage and determination in the face of adversity.

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