Correspondence regarding the Sunken Ford Freighter "East Indian," 1942

Summary

The United States government requisitioned the Ford Motor Company's ocean-going freighter East Indian for wartime service. Newly fitted with anti-submarine and anti-aircraft guns, the freighter left for the Indian Ocean in May 1942. As the East Indian returned to America, the ship was sunk by a German U-boat. Four lifeboats with survivors were lost, but crew members on a fifth were rescued after being adrift nearly two weeks.

The United States government requisitioned the Ford Motor Company's ocean-going freighter East Indian for wartime service. Newly fitted with anti-submarine and anti-aircraft guns, the freighter left for the Indian Ocean in May 1942. As the East Indian returned to America, the ship was sunk by a German U-boat. Four lifeboats with survivors were lost, but crew members on a fifth were rescued after being adrift nearly two weeks.

Artifact

Letter (Correspondence)

Date Made

25 November 1942 - 11 January 1943

Subject Date

25 November 1942 - 11 January 1943

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

64.167.748.4

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Printing (Process)
Handwriting

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 7.125 in  (page 1 )

Width: 8.375 in  (page 1)

Height: 10.5 in  (page 2)

Width: 8.44 in  (page 2)

Height: 7.75 in  (page 3-4)

Width: 5 in  (page 3-4)

Height: 5 in  (page 5)

Width: 8 in  (page 5)

Height: 9.875 in  (page 6-8)

Width: 6.44 in  (page 6-8)

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