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Messages - stang

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World War Two / Re: Army Fire Service - Hoboken fire pics?
« on: Tuesday 15 September 09 19:28 BST (UK)  »
Marcus,
Thankyou for your reply.
I was not in AFS -I was in the Merchant Navy from 1936 to 1956 and when I left the sea I was a ships rigger for 30 years in the Thames area so my working life was 50 years with ships.
Of Hoboken - when we got clear of the jetty we grounded on the river bank opposite and were there all night.
The fire in the refinery attracted  German bombers and they dropped many bombs which destroyed some of the refinery. A few bombs exploded in the mud around my ship - it was a very uncomfortable night.
The front line was only 40 miles from there.
Like yourself I want to know more about it and hopefully to see photos of it.
So it seems I was within a mile of your grandfather 65 years ago!!
Keep researching Marcus - hopefully we will get results one day.

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World War Two / Re: Army Fire Service - Hoboken fire pics?
« on: Tuesday 15 September 09 13:50 BST (UK)  »
Hello Marcus,
I am interested in your research of your grandfather's WW2 service in Belgium.
Of the fire in Hoboken you mention 'oil depot' -could it mean oil refinery?
I was in the Merchant Navy and was at Hoboken on New Years Eve 1944 in the tanker Empire Unity.
Late evening a V2 struck a petrol storage tank and caused a huge fire.
We had to leave the jetty before the flames reached the ship.
Yours is the first time I have seen mention of Hoboken and fires.
Have you gained any more information on this incident?
Best regards
Stan

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