Sharkhunters First Annual Convention, "Patrol in Key Largo 1987" had many U-Boat veterans including Hans-Georg Hess, Kurt Baberg, Gerd Thäter, Hans Göbeler, Waldemar Triebel and Georg Högel.

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"Patrol in Paradise"     Key Largo 1987

This was our first ever SHARKHUNTERS "Patrol" and it was designed to bring Members together from both sides of the Atlantic in fellowship, and to meet in a beautiful setting away from the snow. And so Key Largo in the breathtaking Florida Keys was chosen. At that time, there were only 250 Members in SHARKHUNTERS.....50 came to this initial 'Patrol'.


The Captains at our 'Patrol"                  Captain Gerd Thäter, Skipper of U-466 and U-3506, chats with
Kurt Baberg, U-618                               Georg Högel, radioman from U-30 and U-110 while we all relax
Cap. Slate, owner of Atlantis Divers         on one of the sightseeing boats from Atlantis Dive Shop.
Harry Cooper, Sharkhunters President
Gerd Thäter, Skipper of U-466 & U-3506
Hans-Georg Hess, Skipper of U-995

Eleven U-Boat veterans were with us, including three Skippers. We just relaxed in the warm Florida sun, got suntans and made new friends.



The U-Bootfahrer at our "Patrol"                                Kay and Harry Cooper enjoying the sun



The "TODAY" television show had a news crew on hand,          Back on the con again! Captain Hans-Georg
and here they interview SHARKHUNTERS President,               Hess, Skipper of U-995, has the con on
Harry Cooper some three miles off the Florida coast.               our sightseeing boat while Gerd Thäter,
                                                                                               Skipper of U-446, watches.

This was out first ever "Patrol" and it was meant to bring our Members together from both sides of the Atlantic, and to show that "Yesterday's Enemies" really are "Today's Friends". To that end, SHARKHUNTERS has planned and operated dozens of "Patrols" in the US, Germany and many other countries, bringing former enemies and friends alike together in beautiful and historic places.

It was at this initial "Patrol" that Captain Hans-Georg Hess (Knights Cross) suggested that next year, we must all come to Germany, to visit old Europe. A wonderful idea - and we did.

We hope to see you on one of our "Patrols" in the near future.

CLICK HERE for details on the videotape of this "Patrol".

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