Destroyer/Escort C.O.A.C. Sept. 1942

[Amron]

On 9/26/42 the Commanding Officer Atlantic Coast (COAC) in Halifax sent out a general message re distress signals from a lifeboat (Esso Williamsburg, WTKJ). A destroyer acknowledged the message, was in the vicinity, and contacted the lifeboat. I have the content of the transmissions, but not the name of the destroyer that used the code name "Abner" when transmitting to the lifeboat.
Destroyer acknowledged to "SO escort" that she was searching for the lifeboat. Does anyone know where COAC Halifax archives are maintained? Many thanks for any help you can give me!

[wclearihue]

On 9/26/42 the Commanding Officer Atlantic Coast (COAC) in Halifax sent out a general message re distress signals from a lifeboat (Esso Williamsburg, WTKJ). A destroyer acknowledged the message, was in the vicinity, and contacted the lifeboat. I have the content of the transmissions, but not the name of the destroyer that used the code name "Abner" when transmitting to the lifeboat.
Destroyer acknowledged to "SO escort" that she was searching for the lifeboat. Does anyone know where COAC Halifax archives are maintained? Many thanks for any help you can give me!

Verbal C/S using Abner were;
FORT ERIE (Frigate) - Abner W
PENETANG (Frigate) - Abner V

[Pat in Halifax]

I remember reading the story about Williamsburg a couple years ago and for some reason the name of the Canadian vessel escapes me. My 'notes' are all at work but I will check and get back to this on Monday.

[Pusser509]

Verbal C/S using Abner were;
FORT ERIE (Frigate) - Abner W
PENETANG (Frigate) - Abner V

As both of these ships were commissioned in 1944, I think we can rule them out. The call sign Abner must have been assigned to an earlier vessel.

[Matelot]

There was a discussion on Mercantile Marine Forum site about this subject. Might help in tracking things down

http://www.mercantilemarine.org/showthread.php?t=1132

Mentions Skeena and Saguenay as being possibles, as they were at sea at the time.

[Pat in Halifax]

I am at work and taking a break (Shhhh...) This is the entry I have for 24 Sep 42. Unfortunately, I assume I got this info early on in my 'researching' days and all it has as a ref. is "Reader's Digest":
24th 1942-The 11,000 ton US motor tanker Esso Williamsburg is sunk in the mid-Atlantic by U-211. Though radio contact is obtained between the merchantman’s survivors and St. John’s, Newfoundland, HMCS Skeena, the nearest available rescue asset is unable to pinpoint the distress signal’s origin. After 24 hours of intense searching, Skeena is forced to head for St. John’s. Williamsburg’s crew becomes another in the long list of casualties in the Battle of the Atlantic.