This Date in History: April 15
Gunnery practice on the U-103
On April 15, 1942, the U-103 departed Lorient, France; her destination – the Gulf of Mexico. April transitioned to May without a victory, but aptly on “Cinco de Mayo” (May 5) the U-103 began a streak of nine sinkings for the month. Kapitänleutnant Werner Winter and the U-103 arrived back at Lorient on June 22, 1942 after a very successful nine weeks on patrol. On the return voyage, on June 5, the B.d.U. informed Kapitänleutnant Winter that he had been awarded the Knights Cross for his achievements. (Dönitz’s Crews: Germany’s U-Boat Sailors in World War II)
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John C. Woods surveying his latest hanging
Master Sergeant John C. Woods departed the U.S. on April 15, 1947 for another assignment to Germany and probably arrived in Germany by ship about April 22, 1947. (American Hangman: MSgt. John C. Woods, The United States Army’s Notorious Executioner in World War II and Nürnberg)