Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

On November 26, 1946, Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά sailed from Bakar, carrying 785 passengers, in winter weather conditions and rough seas that made it impossible to depart.
She was supplied with engine oil and food, in the presence of Yugoslav authorities, who had been aware that Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά had been in Yugoslav waters fro several days.
Fritz Leibreich cites the Yugoslav authorites were aware that the ship had been in Yugoslav waters from October 19, 1946, when she entered Split harbor, and authorities provided a pilot to take her to Novi, via Rigavenitsa and Zara.
Edmund Rosianu cites Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά sailed from Trieste.
She charted a two-week voyage south through the Greek Isles in an attempt to evade the British and seek shelter from the stormy seas, through the Strait of Otranto and into the Ionian Sea Ιόνιο Πέλαγος.
John Svoronos Γιάννης Σβορώνος served as Captain aboard Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.
Dimitris Galon cites: "The Captain of The Ship was Achasachofolos (a Greek)."
5 Greek crew members served aboard Rafah רפיח MV Αθηνά.
Gad Lasker served as Palyam Commander מפקד aboard Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.
Abraham Lichovsky served as Gidoni גדעוני aboard Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.
Yossi Hamburger Harel, David Baumgarten, Zvi Taitel, Reuven Hirsch served as Palyam Escorts aboard Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.

John Svoronos Γιάννης Σβορώνος served as Captain aboard Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.

Gad Lasker served as Palyam Commander מפקד aboard Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.

David Baumgarten and Tzvi Taitel served as Palyam פלי"ם Escorts מלווים aboard Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.

On November 26, 1946, Ruth Glasberg sailed for Palestine on Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.

On November 26, 1946, Marius sailed for Palestine on Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.

On November 26, 1946, Benyamin Komer sailed for Palestine on Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.

On November 26, 1946, Shlomo Reichmann, age 10 days, sailed for Palestine on Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.

On November 26, 1948, Rafi Tadmor, age 12 years, sailed on Rafiah רפיח, with an Aliyat haNoar group

On November 26, 1946, Peppy Weisberg sailed for Palestine on Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.

On November 26, 1946, Tsili Yankowitz, age 22 years, sailed on Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.

On December 6, 1946, Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά called on Αστυπάλαια Αστροπαλιά Astypalea Stamplia.

On December 7, 1946, Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά rounded the southern tip of Peloponese Πελοπόννησος, to the north of Crete Κρήτη, and arrived off Syrna Σύρνα Island in the Dodecanese Δωδεκάνησα, were she was scheduled to meet a boat that would take off some of the ship's foreign crew.
Avraham Lichovsky cited Rafiah MV Αθηνά's destination was Kamila Island, just north of the tip of Crete Κρήτη, where she was to meet up with Gavriella.

On December 8, 1946, Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά entered the large, but not well-protected, bay of Agiou Soassin, seeking shelter until the storm abated.
Gad Lasker ordered Captain John Svoronos Γιάννης Σβορώνος to anchor in a cove.
While attempting to anchor, Rafiah MV Αθηνά hit rocks in Agiou Soassin Bay, off the south shore of Syrna Σύρνα Island, and took on water. roughly at 36°20'N 26°42'E - WGS84)
Edmund Rosianu cites Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά hit the rocks and began sinking on December 7, 1946, at 4:00PM.
The passengers jumped into the freezing cold water, with 6-7 meter waves, and climbed to shore using ropes; 45 minutes later, Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά sank.
Eight Maapilim died:
*Yosef Greenberg (14)
* Peppy Weisberg (16)
* Tsili Yankowitz (22)
* Nachum David Futterman (28)
* Dora Katz (28)
* Shelly (last name unknown – 14);
* Etti (last name and age unknown)
* an unidentified passenger.
Edmund Rosianu cites twenty people were killed. They were buried on Syrna Σύρνα island.

On December 8, 1946, as Rafiah רפיח Αθηνά sank, Avraham Lichovsky threw the radio equipment to shore, and set up a makeshift antenna and re-established communication with the Gidoni גדעוני, wireless radio operator network.
He transmited a call for help, which was received by Mossad leAliyah Bet, which contacted the Royal Navy.

Shlomo Reichman's father wrapped him in a blanket and yelled to people who had already jumped onto the rocks, to catch him as he threw him onto the rocks.
Shlomo Reichman cites: "A young woman of about 18 years of age saw the blanket and wanted to get it. Her first attempt was unsuccessful, but in her second attempt she succeeded in retrieving the blanket – still unaware that I – a newborn – was inside. After she opened it and found me inside she began to yell to those on the ship not to throw infants overboard."
Her first attempt was unsuccessful, but in her second attempt she succeeded in retrieving the blanket, unaware that a newborn was inside.
After she opened it and found Shlomo inside, and she began to yell to those on the ship not to throw infants overboard.
The young women took care of Shlomo for three days when she couldn’t find his parents.
"My savior and I only met 56 years later in the first reunion marking the 55the anniversary of the sinking of the Rafiah. This young women indeed saved my life, and took care of me for three days when she couldn’t find my parents."
Shlomo's uncle, age 14 years at the time, recognized him, and his mother was found on another part of the island.

On December 8, 1946, the Greek corvette, HHMS Themistocles A/T Θεμιστοκλῆς (Ex HMS Branham), was dispatched to Syrna Σύρνα, with relief supplies and 20 policemen.
Edmund Rosianu cites Golda Meir received the SOS and spoke with a high-level English official to search for Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.
An RAF reconnaissance aircraft from Cyprus Κύπρος alerted by radio, was tasked to sweep the area and drop emergency supplies.

On December 8, 1946, 22:40PM, HMS Providence received a signal from the Commander-in- Chief Mediterranean, ordering her to raise steam and proceed, without further orders and at best speed, to Syrna Σύρνα Island at 36°20'N 26°40'E.
At 23:30PM, she cleared Haifa.

On December 9-10, 1946, the British minesweeper HMS Providence, working with HMS Chevron, HHMS Themistocles A/T Θεμιστοκλῆς (Ex HMS Branham) and HHMS Aegean Αιγαίο (Ex HMS Lauderdale) rescued the survivors of Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά.
HMS Chevron transported the passengers to Crete Κρήτη.
At dawn, December 11,1946, HMS Providence arrived at Souda Σούδα, and transferred 256 survivor, to a LST (Tank Landing Ship).
Edmund Rosianu cites British soldiers escorted the survivors aboard the British ship, HMS Independence.
The survivors were then transhipped to the detention camps on Cyprus Κύπρος, and finally released in 1948.
Dimitris Galon cites: The crew of the vessel, consisting of Greek sailors, were taken aboard the destroyer, HHMS Themistocles A/T Θεμιστοκλῆς.
Able Seaman Alan Green cites: "On 14 December Providence was involved in rendering assistance to Jewish immigrants after their ship had been wrecked on the Greek island of Syrna."
Able Seaman Alan Green cites: "for eight hours through 1000 miles of electrical storms, wind and rain, three Halifax bombers today dropped five tons of food, clothes and medical supplies to 800 Jewish illegal immigrants stranded on the Greek island of Syrina since their 'hell ship' went down amid rocks and boiling surf on Sunday.
As the tired crews landed their planes here (Aqir, Palestine) after their hazardous mercy flight, a fourth Halifax climbed away over the sea with more relief supplies, and the destroyer Chevron and the minesweeper Providence set out from Haifa to make a 'combined operation' rescue attempt."
Ninian Stewart cites "With Providence pitching and rolling heavily, each survivor had to be secured by a line and hauled onboard, and the women, clinging to their bundles, showed considerable pluck and fortitude.However, when her whaler first brought survivors alongside they panicked, became out of control, rushed to get aboard the 'sweeper' and capsized the boat, leaving two crew, sixmen and seven women in the water."

Shlomo Reichman and his uncle were taken by a Greek ship to Alexandria,and the British didn't catch them.
Four months later, they arrived in Haifa, and were transferred to Atlit internment camp.

Shlomo Reichman cites: "The men were sent to an internment camp on Cyprus – including my father. The women and children and the injured were sent to a hospital on Rhodes. The rabbi of the local Jewish community took me and my uncle under his care and took care of us until my mother recovered."

To utilize their nautical training to uncover details of an event in Zionist history, graduates of the Mevo’ot Yam מבואות ים maritime school, near Michmoret מכמורת, sailed for Syrna Σύρνα, to locate the wreck of Rafiah רפיח.
Shalom Gutman, one of the participants, cites: “We looked for a way to connect 100 years of Zionism with the four years of nautical education. We hope to bring back some historical artifacts. We will erect a monument there for the victims of the sinking.”
Shlomo Reichman worked with the students throughout the year, and accompanied them on the expedition, hoping to "learn what happened there, who caught him and saved him, and how he got to Israel."

In 1998, divers explored the wreck of Rafiah רפיח MV Αθηνά, took photos and filmed the wreck for Amos Carmeli´s film, Regaim shel Hessed o Gehinom.