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David Lovell Rideout

Birth
Wisconsin, USA
Death
9 Jan 1943 (aged 32–33)
At Sea
Burial
Buried or Lost at Sea. Specifically: Mr. Rideout was on the SS Louise Lykes when the ship was torpedoed and sunk by U-384 Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Parents: Frances Roberta (DUNN) and William Lovell RIDEOUT
Siblings: Ruth, Ann, Mathew, Helen, Jean

Mr. Rideout began his career as a seaman when he was about 24 years old. According to an Crew List, dated Apr 1942, Mr. Rideout was 31 years old, 6'2" tall and weighed 177 pounds.
~~~.~~~.~~~.~~~.~~~.~~~.~~~.~~~
U.S.Merchant Marine
Service No: Z 210557
Award: Mariners Medal
Address of Record: Madison, Wisconsin

Able Seaman DAVID L. RIDEOUT was on the American merchant ship SS Louise Lykes as it left New York on January 2, 1943. With a cargo of war supplies and ammunition bound for Belfast, Northern Ireland, the freighter was sailing without convoy or escort. The ship was armed, however, with one 4-inch, two 3-inch and eight 20mm guns and a 34-man crew of Navy Armed Guards to man them.

On Jan 9th, about 500 nautical miles south-southeast of Iceland, German submarine U-384 was spotted just below the surface of the water. Navy gunners immediately opened fire, their shots straddling the sub but not directly hitting it. Unfortunately, U-384 had already fired off four torpedoes from a distance of 2000 yards, and when two hit there was an explosion so great that the sub had to make a crash dive to avoid being hit by fiery debris. When it surfaced about five minutes later, the only thing floating on the water was debris, the ship had virtually disappeared.

There were 51 Merchant Mariners, 34 US Navy Armed Guards, and possibly 10-20 members of the US Army Signal Corps on board. None survived.
Parents: Frances Roberta (DUNN) and William Lovell RIDEOUT
Siblings: Ruth, Ann, Mathew, Helen, Jean

Mr. Rideout began his career as a seaman when he was about 24 years old. According to an Crew List, dated Apr 1942, Mr. Rideout was 31 years old, 6'2" tall and weighed 177 pounds.
~~~.~~~.~~~.~~~.~~~.~~~.~~~.~~~
U.S.Merchant Marine
Service No: Z 210557
Award: Mariners Medal
Address of Record: Madison, Wisconsin

Able Seaman DAVID L. RIDEOUT was on the American merchant ship SS Louise Lykes as it left New York on January 2, 1943. With a cargo of war supplies and ammunition bound for Belfast, Northern Ireland, the freighter was sailing without convoy or escort. The ship was armed, however, with one 4-inch, two 3-inch and eight 20mm guns and a 34-man crew of Navy Armed Guards to man them.

On Jan 9th, about 500 nautical miles south-southeast of Iceland, German submarine U-384 was spotted just below the surface of the water. Navy gunners immediately opened fire, their shots straddling the sub but not directly hitting it. Unfortunately, U-384 had already fired off four torpedoes from a distance of 2000 yards, and when two hit there was an explosion so great that the sub had to make a crash dive to avoid being hit by fiery debris. When it surfaced about five minutes later, the only thing floating on the water was debris, the ship had virtually disappeared.

There were 51 Merchant Mariners, 34 US Navy Armed Guards, and possibly 10-20 members of the US Army Signal Corps on board. None survived.


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