On June 4, 1944, USS Pillsbury (DE 133), part of a “hunter killer group,” disabled German submarine U-505 with depth charges off the coast of Western Sahara. Pillsbury’s skipper, Lt. (j.g.) Albert David then led a boarding party to capture the enemy boat. The capture’s significance was twofold. It removed an enemy threat from the Atlantic just prior to D-Day and produced invaluable intelligence—including a top-secret Enigma cipher. It additionally represented the first U.S. naval capture of an enemy vessel since the War of 1812.

The action began around 11 am when sonar operators of Task Group 22.3, an anti-submarine force consisting of seven ships including the Pillsbury, identified a U-boat maneuvering to attack the group’s escort carrier. The destroyers launched depth charges and hedgehogs, which crippled the submarine and forced it to the surface. After small arms fire swept the boat’s deck, Lt. David, along with eight other men of the Pillsbury boarded the boat to secure it. While the German crew had already abandoned the submarine or been killed, the situation was still extremely dangerous.  German naval protocol was to scuttle the ship (intentionally sink it) with explosives so it did not fall into enemy hands.

Pillsbury’s boarding party quickly moved through the ship disarming scuttle charges and securing valuable intelligence including an Enigma cipher machine with up-to-date codebooks. The Task Group towed the captured U-Boat to Bermuda and then eventually to the U.S. where its capture went public following Germany’s surrender in May 1945. U-505 eventually made its way to Chicago and is currently on display at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Lt. David died on September 17, 1945. The following month, his widow was presented his Medal of Honor for leading the boarding party which captured U-505. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California (Sec. OFF, Site 125-A).


Vice Admiral Carpender presenting Mrs. Albert David with her late husband’s Medal of Honor. (Journal Times, 11 November 1945)

Lt. David receives the Navy Cross with his wife for capturing U-505. (Wisconsin State Journal, 6 June 1945)

Crew of the Pillsbury securing a tow line to bring the submarine back to Bermuda. (USN Photo) 

The eight other crew members who made up Lt. David’s initial border party. (USN Photo)

Pillsbury’s boarding party approaching U-505. (USN Photo

Captain Daniel V. Gallery, Jr., USN and Lieutenant (j.g.) Albert L. David (right), (USN Photo)

Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy, page 172. Albert L. David was awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity on 4 June 1944, when he led a boarding party from USS Pillsbury (DE-133) to capture the German submarine U-505 after it had been forced to the surface. Though the submarine could have sunk or blown up at any time during the operation, David directed initial salvage efforts and ensured it was kept afloat. This was the first capture of an enemy warship on the high seas since 1815. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

ALBERT LEROY DAVID

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