Empire Airman
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| Name | Empire Airman | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 6.586 tons | ||
| Completed | 1915 - Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, Trieste | ||
| Owner | Mark Whitwell & Son Ltd, Bristol | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 22 Sep, 1940 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke) | ||
| Position | 54N, 18W - Grid AL 6551 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 37 (33 dead and 4 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | HX-72 | ||
| Route | Wabana, Conception Bay - Halifax - Cardiff | ||
| Cargo | Iron ore | ||
| History | Built as Italian Teodo for Italian Government (Ministry of Transport). 1924 renamed Barbana for Ministry of Marine, Italy and 1926 renamed Barbana G. for Società Anonima Co-operativa di Navigazione Garibaldi, Genoa. On 10 Jun, 1940, the Barbana G. was taken as prize at sea off Leith and taken to Methil. She was renamed Empire Airman by Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). | ||
| Notes on loss | At 00.22 hours on 22 Sep, 1940, the Empire Airman (Master John Brown Raine) in convoy HX-72 was torpedoed and damaged by U-100 about 340 miles west of Bloody Foreland. The ship was taken in tow but sank on 23 September in 55°11N/15°07W. 33 crew members were lost. The master and three crew members were picked up by HMS La Malouine (K 46) (LtCdr R.W. Keymer, RN) and landed at Greenock. | ||
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