861.857/9–1344
The Ambassador of the Soviet Union (Gromyko) to the Secretary of State
On August 28, 1944 at 7 a.m. local time the Soviet tanker Emba, displacement 14800 tons, which was proceeding from Vladivostok to United States ports at 51°06,5′ northern latitude and 157°18,5′ eastern longitude (six miles from the eastern coast of the southern part of Kamchatka) was suddenly attacked by a plane. As a result of the attack a Red Navyman was killed and the senior radio-operator wounded as well as serious damage was inflicted to the vessel.
In view of the fact that the attack on the tanker Emba was made under cover of a fog and the plane quickly disappeared, a precise determination of the distinguishing marks was not possible. However, a stabilizer from an aviation bomb and several large caliber bullets which were found after the attack by the plane on deck of the tanker give ground to believe, that the plane which attacked the tanker Emba belongs to the United States Army Air Force. This is also affirmed by the testimony of the interned on August 28, 1944 near Petropavlovsk on Kamchatka commander of an American plane, John Armour Dingel, who stated that on August 28, 1944 he attacked a vessel which he detected in the fog in the region of Shumushu and Paramushiro Islands (Kurile Islands).
Informing you of the above I ask you, Mr. Secretary, to bring the aforesaid to the attention of the United States Government for conducting an investigation and application of necessary measures so that the guilty should bear strict responsibility and the inflicted damages be compensated to the families of the killed and wounded Soviet sailors,8
- The Secretary of State informed the Soviet Embassy on October 17 that this incident “has been referred to the appropriate authorities of this Government for investigation”, and that “Upon the receipt of a report regarding the results of the inquiry, a further reply will be addressed to the Soviet Embassy.” (861.857/9–1344). For the reply dated January 3, 1945, see p. 1031.↩