KINGS

POINT

LINKS

 

USMMA
2nd Company
KPESA
LOGBOOK

Welcome aboard, you are visitor

LAWRENCE D. McLAUGHLIN 

    Cadet Lawrence D. McLaughlin was aboard the SS Timothy Pickering when he died.  The ship was a liberty ship anchored at Avola, Sicily.  The ship was carrying general cargo and British troops.  At 1040 GCT, the ship was attacked by Stuka divebombers, on July 14, 1943.  One bomb struck forward of #4 hold, penetrated the deck, and exploded in the engine room and #4 deep tank.  The cargo of ammunition blew up and fire broke out amidships.  There was a huge hole in the hull on the starboard side of hold #4, and the deck around hatch #4 was destroyed.  There was no time to launch boats or rafts.  22 crewmembers, 8 Navy Armed Guard, and 126 British troops died in the bombing.