Tom,

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON would not have been at Normandy in April-September 1943 since the invasion there didn't take place until June 1944. Information I have found shows BOOKER T. WASHINGTON departing Hampton Roads (i.e., Norfolk area) on May 14, 1943, destination Casablanca, Morocco, arriving there early June, then returning to Baltimore on June 27, 1943. This was followed by another Mediterranean voyage departing Hampton Roads July 27 to Oran, Algeria, returning to Baltimore September 14, 1943.

At the time of the Normandy invasion on June 6, 1944, BOOKER T. WASHINGTON was in transit from the Mediterranean to Hampton Roads on a still later voyage. It seems BOOKER T. WASHINGTON served primarily in the Mediterranean, not making a voyage to England until March 1945.

Ron Carlson, Webmaster
Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website
www.armed-guard.com