Belgian Airman
Belgian Steam merchant
| Name | Belgian Airman | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 6,959 tons | ||
| Completed | 1942 - Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan, Glasgow | ||
| Owner | Belgian Government | ||
| Homeport | Antwerp | ||
| Date of attack | 14 Apr 1945 | Nationality:  Belgian | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-857 (Rudolf Premauer) | ||
| Position | 36° 09'N, 74° 05'W | ||
| Complement | 47 (1 dead and 46 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Houston - New York - Antwerp | ||
| Cargo | Sorghum in bulk and dairy feed in bags | ||
| History | Completed in February 1942 as British Empire Ballantyne for Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), later that year transferred to the Belgian Government and renamed Belgian Airman. | ||
| Notes on event | On 14 April 1945 the unescorted Belgian Airman (Master E. Cailloux) was torpedoed and sunk by U-857 about 70 miles northeast of Cape Hatteras. One man was killed of the 41 crew members and six gunners on board. The survivors were picked up by the American Liberty ship Harold A. Jordan. It is also possible that U-879 (Manchen) torpedoed this ship, but both U-boats were lost during April 1945 in that area and this success can not be definitely assigned to one of the boats. | ||
| On board | We have details of 47 people who were on board. | ||
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