Thirty-six U.S. submarine chasers were assigned to serve on the Otranto Barrage, to block passage of U-boats into the Mediterranean Sea.
The Greek island Corfu was selected as an ideal location for a U.S. subchaser base. A small bay on the eastern side of the island offered excellent shelter, and convenient proximity to the barrage line.
When the chasers arrived in Corfu, there was no base - just undeveloped land covered with olive groves, and a few huts. The chaser crews soon set about the task of building base camp, and dubbed their new base American Bay. American Bay was located several miles from the city of Corfu, relatively remote from other military installations, but close enough to be convenient.
This is a selection of photos from the chasers at Corfu, showing the boats, the base, and the city. All photographs from the G.S. Dole Collection, unless marked otherwise.
