Boatnerd Discussion Forum

I remember reading somewhere a long time ago that smoke generators where stationed at the locks to obscure the locks in case of bombing attach.

"I do have all the discharge papers and commendation award medal and his bars for his service."

I have the same documentation for my father who was a LtCmdr. for the duration. However, when I tried to use same to obtain the award after his death, I ran into a blank wall. Even a copy of the letter and his commissioning papers had no affect. I was told there "is no record of his service".

My dad was a third mate with Hanna during the War. He was able to take a picture, in 1941, of the collapsed railroad bridge leaf with the engine in the canal above the Davis and Sabin locks. The Fred G. Harwell was in the lock at the time. I thought he said they backed out of the lock and went up another lock? No McArthur lock at the time. Which lock do you suppose?
Mike

My father made a round trip as a passenger on CSL's Noronic in 1942 and was hoping to get lots of photos of passing steamers for his collection. But all the time they were in the St. Mary's River, there were guards patrolling the open decks making sure that no cameras were being used.

My dad was a 2nd Mate with Pittsburgh Steamship/USS/GLF during WWII. The Coast Guard, to my knowledge, commissioned Captain's and deck officers to officer reserve status. He was made an Ensign and finished a LT. jg. He was given a Coast Guard uniform and a pistol, of which I never got to see. I do have all the discharge papers and commendation award medal and his bars for his service. Also a letter from then President of USS, A.H. Ferbert.

He told me when I went sailing to check out an area to the right of the downbound McArthur lock approach. He said that was a spot where they stationed anti-aircraft guns and some balloons. All done wisely at the time for the war effort to keep the steelmaking rolling.

Due to the danger of U-boat attacks on our east coast, my brother-in-law was among the troops stationed at the Soo during WWII. He was stationed aboard the Wm. H. Donner during his stay there.
He was a member of the Merchant Marines at the time but later joined the Coast Guard.

Jared wrote:That sounds a little overdone. Why was the security so tight so far from the action? Were other locks on the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi that tightly guarded?

Yes, as it turns out, it was overdone, but people didn't know that at the time and it was a natural way to react. Germany's Luftwaffe was making news (and propaganda) all over Europe, so it was natural to fear its aircraft could attack such a vital transportation link. There also was concern about sabotage. The overreaction then wasn't much different than after 9/11, when the COE put plastic panels around the locks viewing stands to prevent someone from throwing a bomb into a passing boat. Something had to be done, so ....

If anyone has ever watched the short films at the Soo put out and on by the USACE and the Visitor Center, one of the films talks about the security and the amount of troops that were stationed at the Soo during WWII. I seem to recall that at least 10,000 troops were stationed there and there were also several Forts as well one of course being Fort Brady right down below the Locks in the park, while another I think was where the current LSU school is today. Hope that my information is correct on this subject and sorry if not.

Raco Field, about 25 miles west-southwest of the Locks was rebuilt early in the war to provide a local airbase to protect the locks. But it doesn't appear that any aircraft were permanently assigned there during WW II. Later in the 1960's it did house a missile defense base.

Raco is discussed on this site, about 2/3rds if the way down the page, after the old Marquette County Airport:
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/MI/Airfields_MI_N.htm

I agree that the book "Iron Fleet" is an excellent history for this exact subject, I read it just a month or two ago and found it very interesting. As others have said, the Soo Locks were an absolutely necessary and vital piece of infrastructure that needed to be protected at all costs (be it an extreme but remotely possible direct enemy attack, or an act of sabotage by other enemy agents). As most if not all of the iron ore that was being mined in the U.S. passed through the Soo Locks, any attack or shutdown would have been disastrous for the war effort (similar to the reoccurring issue today on what would happen if the Poe Lock suffered a shutdown, but obviously the implications would have been much more severe during the war). The book does a really good job of describing just how desperate the war effort was for almost any boat that could carry ore during the war years.

They were worried that the Germans would send ships into Hudson Bay and launch an aerial attack against the locks with torpedo aircraft. The one potential most feared, apparently, was an attack by German paratroopers, who would be ferried to the area by seaplanes.

You have to remember that after Pearl Harbor, the country was scared of another surprise attack, and though it looks like overkill to us today, at that time, it was a potential life or death situation. Damage to one of the locks could have affected the supply of war material desperately needed by America's allies in Europe. The U.S. was the 'Arsenal of Democracy' as President Roosevelt stated it.

That sounds a little overdone. Why was the security so tight so far from the action? Were other locks on the St. Lawerence and the Mississippi that tightly guarded?

First of all thank you to everyone who responded. All of the information I was looking for and more was found with your help so once again thank you. The one site I was on actually has a picture of the Blimp. I also come to find out that buried deep in my book collection is the book Iron Fleet I have never read it but I will now. Once again much thanks to all.

At least during the early war years the anti-aircraft units stationed there also were equipped with barrage balloons, which were a medium-sized blimp-like gas bag tethered with steel cables to discourage low-flying aircraft.

The best book on the Soo Locks during WW2 is the book, "Iron Fleet - The Great Lakes in World War II" by George J. Joachim.

In 1939 British troops (?) were posted to the Canadian lock and the approaches. After Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, the U.S. government banned visitors from the Soo Locks. By late October 1940 anti-aircraft guns, machine guns and search-lights were positioned in the area, manned by soldiers from Fort Brady. The task of guarding the locks was assigned to members of the 702d Military Police Battalion. By February 1942, a barrage-balloon battery was stationed in the area. Eventually 7,000 troops were stationed at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. (The 702d Military Police Battalion was replaced by the 131st Infantry Regiment.

You can find your answers by Googling Soo Locks and WWII and you'll
find plenty of information. I have several CCIC crew lists during the
war years and the Coast Guard put two armed service men on each laker.
I cann't speak for every fleet nor every single trip.

That's where you need to search

Can anyone tell me about the type of security used at the locks during WW2 and what type of security it was (Military private) or other wise. Also were the crews told to look out for anything specific during this time?. Was the Seaway more heavily patrolled than say the locks themselves?. Sorry for all the questions just started thinking about this and couldn't let it go. Thanks in advance for any help.