PBA Galleries

Typed letter, signed "Edgar." 22 lines, on letterhead of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Framed along with a copy of a newspaper article about the saboteurs, and a porcupine emblem they had carved while aboard the submarine. Overall 49x59 cm (20x23"), matted & framed under glass.

J. Edgar Hoover relates that "When I saw you the other day, I believe I told you that the group of saboteurs who landed on Long Island from a German submarine had carved out, while on the submarine en route to the United States, miniature porcupines from aluminum. The reason that they selected the porcupine to be carved was because the submarine which they came on was named the 'Porcupine.' I am enclosing herewith two of these miniature porcupines, as I thought the President and you might like to have one each as a souvenir of this incident." Four saboteurs landed on Long Island, and four more in Florida. Two of the surrendered, and gave information to the FBI which led to the capture of the other six. The two informants were given lengthy prison sentences (commuted by Harry Truman in 1948) - the other six were executed.