In Feb., 1942 the French ocean liner SS Normandie was being converted into the troop ship USS Lafayette in New York harbor. On Feb. 9, a fire broke out and the ship was badly damaged. Although, officially proclaimed an accident, the Office of Naval Intelligence suspected sabotage. Questioning of port employees turned up nothing as the workers were tight-lipped in dealing with the government. Charles “Lucky” Luciano was spending 30-50 years in prison for a conviction for compulsory prostitution. He offered to put in a good word with the workers, all of whom had their jobs through the Mafia. He also promised there would be no strikes. A deal was apparently worked out. There were no more strikes and no more acts of sabotage. When it was apparent that the Anglo-Americans would be invading Sicily in 1943, Luciano offered to parachute behind enemy lines and organize Sicilian cooperation with the invaders. This offer was turned down, but Luciano did put the invaders in contact with Sicilians who helped with Operation Husky. They provided maps, for instance. None of this was officially admitted to, but six months after the war ended, Luciano’s prison sentence was commuted on Jan. 3, 1946 and he was deported to Sicily. I’m sure he told his friends he was a real American hero.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborations_between_the_United_States_government_and_Italian_Mafia
The Greatest War Stories Never Told pp. 158-159
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