The Blimp vs. U-Boat Battle

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In one of several incidents involving German U-Boats off Florida's coast, U.S. Navy Blimp K-74 was sunk.

Photo Credit: Florida State Archives

A U.S. Navy blimp was protecting two merchant ships when it engaged with a German U-Boat off Islamorada.

On July 18, 1943, the U.S. Navy Blimp K-74 engaged the German submarine U-134 off Islamorada in the Florida Keys. The K-74 was patrolling the Florida Straits for enemy submarines, protecting two merchant ships behind it. It carried a crew of 10, commanded by Lieutenant Nelson Grills.

At 11:30 p.m., the crew spotted U-134. Grills began an attack on the German vessel at 11:50. While machine guns from the blimp strafed the submarine, German deck guns scored several hits on the U.S. airship, damaging its engines.

The crew spent the night near their blimp, which sank the following morning.

The Americans sent distress signals and attempted to bomb the sub, but the bombs remained stuck in their rack. Within five minutes the blimp slowly fell to the sea and settled into the water. The crew spent the night near their blimp, which sank the following morning. The men were rescued by the U.S.S. Dahlgren, but not before Petty Officer Isadore Stessel was attacked and killed by a shark.

The U-134, its main ballast and a diving tanks damaged, was ordered to France for repairs but was sunk enroute. Grills and another crewmember received the Purple Heart for wounds, and the lieutenant later received the Distinguished Flying Cross.