The steam tanker " S.S. Allan Jackson " was a World War II Liberty ship built by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Alameda California, and completed in January, 1921.

         It was built for the Pan American Petroleum & Transport Co. Inc., Los Angeles California and was first named the " Crampton Anderson ".   In 1931 it was renamed the " S.S. Allan Jackson " for the company owner and in 1935 it was sold to the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, New York.

         On January 18, 1942, while enroute from Cartagena, Colombia to New York City, the unescorted and unarmed " Allan Jackson " was hit by " TWO " torpedos fired by German U-boat # U-66 about 60 miles east-northeast of Diamond Shoals, North Carolina.

         The first torpedo hit the starboard side forward of the bridge in the forward tank and the second hit the starboard side aft of the deckhouse between #2 and #3 tanks and broke the ship in two about 25 feet forward of the midship house.   This caused both parts of the burning tanker to sink within 10 minutes with a loss of " 22 " of her complement of " 35 ".

         The " Allan Jackson " has the distinction, if you could call it that, of being the first tanker to be sunk off the North Carolina Coast in an area that would become known in World War II as " TORPEDO ALLEY ".   By the war's end, more than " 70 Ships " were sunk by German U-boats in these waters.

         German U-Boat U-66 damaged " 2 " merchant ships and " 2 " warships, and also sank " 33 " ships during World War II.   German U-Boat U-66 was finally also sank on May 6, 1944 in the Atlantic Ocean west of the Cape Verde Islands by the U.S.S. Block Island ( CVE-21 ) by depth charges, gunfire and also being rammed by a Grumman TBF Avenger and a Grumman Wildcat/Martlet who served on the U.S.S. Block Island with VC-55.

The ship Master / Captain of the " S.S. Allan Jackson " was :

" Felix Walter Kretchmer "

The husband of Ida Kretchmer who resided in Richmond, New York
He was seriously injured during the sinking.

         The following below list was created in the memory of those who " Gave Their All " on the " S.S. Allan Jackson ".

         There are personal " Online Memorials " for each of these honored men that were created for them by using the " Find A Grave Website ".   On the " Majority " of the online memorials you will see a small biography for each soldier which may include:

Parent's, Grandparent's & Sibling's Names,
where & when they were born,
where they grew up,
when & where they enlisted in the service,
the military unit they were part of,
" AND "
where and how they actually died during the war !

If you see one without a biography, picture, or you have more information on them please send me an Email at

russpickde@comcast.net - ( or by clicking here )

I'll update their records as quickly as possible .....

MM     =  Awarded the " Mariner's Medal "
               ( Awarded for being wounded, Missing or Killed In Action )

MM *   =  Awarded the " Combat Bar ( Ribbon ) "
               ( Awarded to those who served under combat conditions )

MM **  =  Awarded the " Combat Star "
                ( Awarded to those who are forced to abandon ship when attacked or damaged )

PMM   =  Awarded the " Mariner's Prisoner of War Medal "
               ( Awarded to Mariner's held as prisoners of war during World War II )

PH      =  Awarded the " Purple Heart "
               ( Awarded to soldiers & sailors for being Wounded and/or Killed in action )

Other Medals  =  Such as Good Conduct Medals, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medals, American Defense Service Medals, etc. " Are Not " included in this listing.

  =  Picture of person shown on online memorial.

  =  Picture of tombstone shown on online memorial.

An " n/a " in the " Photo, Awards, or Notes Area " means that they are not available for that Mariner, Soldier or Sailor .....

Cenotaph  =  A memorial stone only  ~  " OR "  ~  Remains not recovered  ~  " OR "  ~  Interred somewhere unknown.