The forgotten Arctic convoy 1943

[Howard Weinert]

A cover sent from Lenox, Michigan to Lt. (jg) William Walter Luitje [1906-1996], United States Naval Reserve, Receiving Station, South Brooklyn. Postmarked Lenox (7.6.43) and U. S. Navy (9.6). With handstamp reading THIS COMMUNICATION RECEIVED TO DISTRICT POSTAL CENSOR BY US NAVAL AUTHORITIES, and Russian censor mark applied in Arkhangelsk. The American and Russian censors opened and resealed opposite ends of the envelope. Luitje was commanding the naval armed guard on a cargo ship which was part of Arctic convoy JW53. The convoy left Scotland on 15 February 1943 and arrived in Murmansk on 27 February. Due to a shortage of destroyer escorts, a return convoy could not be formed so the ships were sent to Molotovsk (now Severodvinsk) in the Dvina River delta near Arkhangelsk where they waited for 8 months. Finally on 1 November convoy RA54A sailed from Murmansk, arriving in Scotland on 14 November. Luitje served in the Navy from 1942 to 1946 and attained the rank of Lt. Commander.

Inside the envelope was a carbon copy of a letter written by Luitje in 1965 explaining the situation.

Will post images separately because of the size limit.

[Howard Weinert]

back of envelope

[Howard Weinert]

1965 letter extract

[Chris Grimshaw]

Hi Howard

All one can say on this one, "Its a Cracker."

Chris

[Tony Walker]

Howard - I thoroughly enjoy your posts which are fascinating.

Russia is obviously a collecting interest for you from early days, pre WW1 until more modern times.  I have put together a small collection of the Royal Naval Air Service Armoured Car Squadrons mail (yes I know, sounds contrary), particularly when a Division under the command of Locker Lampson fought in Russia in WW1.  I was wondering whether you had any of this material?

Cheers
Tony Walker

[Michael Dobbs]

Howard

A cover with a fascinating story - with documentation to back it up.  Wonderful.

Thank you, Mike  :)