A Quiet Night Turns to Chaos
On July 24, 1943, John E. Gregory Sr. and his wife, Lorena, sat on their porch in Kure Beach, North Carolina. The coastline was dark due to blackout regulations, meant to protect merchant ships from German U-Boats. Suddenly, a spotlight from the ocean lit up their home, scanning left and right. Seconds later, they heard artillery fire before the light disappeared.
Eyewitnesses and Military Denials
The next morning, neighbors reported seeing the same strange light and hearing the blasts. John Sr. approached a military officer to report the incident, but was told, “Nothing happened. You didn’t see anything.” Despite this, many locals believed they had witnessed a German submarine attack.
A Possible Target?
Historians speculate that if the attack happened, the likely target was the Ethyl-Dow plant, which produced vital components for aviation fuel. Some workers at the plant claimed to have heard shells whistling overhead, though no direct hits were recorded.
The Debate Continues
Official records show only one German U-Boat, U-190, in the area, but its logs do not confirm an attack. Some experts believe a lone submarine may have fired on the coast, while skeptics dismiss the incident as a wartime myth. The mystery remains unsolved.
On a July night in 1943, John and Lorena Gregory sat on their porch in Kure Beach, North Carolina, when a blinding spotlight from the ocean illuminated their home. Moments later, artillery fire echoed through the night. The next morning, neighbors confirmed they had seen the same… pic.twitter.com/q21OG1LUMh
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