80 years ago today, on April 10th, 1942, the SS Gulf America was attacked by Uboat 123. The aerial assault was ineffective at first, as the B-25s dropped bombs randomly but could not locate U-123, which had cruised south after the attack. Then a search plane southeast of St. Augustine dropped a parachute flare which rendered U-123 visible, forcing it to dive suddenly. That evening, the chase ended off of Jacksonville Beach, the SS Gulfamerica was stricken and began to sink. An unexpected respite allowed for emergency repairs, enabling U-123 to escape, inching its way out to deep water, and eventually back to Lorient in occupied France, allowing the crew to stay alive. The Gulf America remained adrift for days, not slipping beneath the waves entirely until April 16th off Jacksonville Beach. The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum’s research institution, the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP), is aware of the wreck site and has relocated the wreckage and recorded ...