Zenon B. Lukosius

Zenon B. Lukosius (August 24, 1918 – August 12, 2006) was an American World War II veteran who was a member of the U.S. Navy crew that captured the German submarine U-505, in 1944. This was the first time that the US Navy had captured an enemy ship since the nineteenth century. More importantly the Americans captured a code book that enabled Allied forces to more frequently pinpoint other German vessels.

Zenon B. Lukosius
Born(1918-08-24)August 24, 1918
Chicago, Illinois
DiedAugust 12, 2006(2006-08-12) (aged 87)
Harvey, Illinois
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUS Navy
Years of service1941–1945
RankChief Motor Machinist's Mate[1]
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsSilver Star

Early life

Lukosius was born on August 24, 1918, and he was raised in Chicago. He was of Lithuanian descent. His father was killed in an accident when he was 14 years old, and he dropped out of school to help support his mother. Later, he enlisted in the Navy during World War II, and became a U.S. Navy ship mechanic aboard the USS Pillsbury.[2][3]

Capturing the U-505
U-505 captured by the U.S. Navy

On June 4, 1944, Lukosius and eight other men were assigned to Task Group 22.3, which was to board and secure the U-505 submarine. Six of the nine men sent, including Lukosius, survived.[4]

When the crew descended to capture the submarine, fleeing German crew members had opened a valve in the control room in an attempt to sink the boat before the Americans could salvage it. It was suspected to contain booby-traps that might scuttle it or impede its capture. There were however, no such traps and the Americans managed to close the valve that was allowing water to enter.[2][4] This was the first time that the U.S. Navy had captured an enemy ship, since the nineteenth century. More importantly, the Americans found a code book which filled a gap in Allied cryptographers' understanding of German communications: a special code for geographic positions.[5]

For the successful capture of the submarine, Lukosius received the Silver Star.[2]

Later life

After the war, Lukosius and his wife, Dorothy, settled in South Holland, Illinois.[2] He worked in construction for 37 years, working on projects such as the McCormick Place in Chicago.[3] Lukosius also helped Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry raise $35 million to build an exhibition space for the U-505 submarine, which opened in 2005. His Silver Star medal is also an artifact held by the museum.[2]

Lukosius died on August 12, 2006, at the age of 87.[2]

References
  1. "Zenon Lukosius Collection". Veterans History Project. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  2. William Mullen, "Zenon Lukosius: 1918–2006, Unassuming Hero in WWII U-boat Capture", Chicago Tribune, Aug. 15, 2006.
  3. Adele L. Mackanos, "Zenon Lukosius known for his heroic effort to capture U-505 ", NWI Times, Nov. 11, 2006.
  4. "U-505 Submarine". Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago). Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  5. "Capture of U-505 on 4 June 1944". Naval Historical Centre. Retrieved September 19, 2014.

Further reading
  • Gallery, Daniel V. Twenty Million Tons Under the Sea. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 2001. ISBN 1-55750-806-2 OCLC 45243260
  • Gallery, Daniel V. U-505. New York: Warner Books, 1967. ISBN 0-446-32012-9 OCLC 51212661
  • Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago). The Story of the U-505. Chicago: Museum of Science and Industry, 1973. OCLC 9240361
  • Savas, Theodore P. Hunt and Kill: U-505 and the U-Boat War in the Atlantic. New York: Savas Beatie, 2004. ISBN 1-932714-01-4 OCLC 56403008
  • Wise, James E. U-505: The Final Journey. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 2005. ISBN 1-59114-967-3 OCLC 58422815
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