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Kent Weekly (SS) (DBF), EMCS
to remember
Adams, William Henry, S1c.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Yuma, AZ
Last Address USS Barbel (SS-316)
Memorialized Manila American Cemetery Tablets of the Missing Manila, Philippines
Casualty Date Feb 04, 1945
Cause KIA-Body Not Recovered
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location South China Sea
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Burial At Sea, South China Sea (Oceans and Seas)
Wall/Plot Coordinates Entombed in the remains of USS Barbel (SS-316)
Military Service Number 5 650 053
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
USS Barbel (SS-316) began her fourth and last war patrol 5 January 1945.
On 3 February she reported being attacked by enemy aircraft, and no word was heard from her after that date.
Japanese records indicate that on 4 February 1945, a plane attacked a submarine in position 7° 49.5'N, 116° 47.5'E scoring one hit near the bridge with one of two bombs dropped.
It appears almost certain that this attack sank BARBEL. She was officially reported lost 16 February 1945.
Seaman 1st Class Adams was officially declared dead 19 February 1946.
Comments/Citation:
The information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.
Barbel arrived at Pearl Harbor on 21 June 1944 and commenced preparation for her first war patrol. From 15 July 1944-4 February 1945, she carried out four war patrols and is officially credited with sinking six Japanese ships totaling 15,263 tons.
Barbel departed Fremantle, Australia, on 5 January 1945 for theSouth China Sea on her fourth patrol. Late in January she was ordered to form a "wolfpack" with Perch and Gabilan and patrol the western approaches to Balabac Strait and the southern entrance toPalawan Passage. On 3 February, Barbel sent a message reporting that she had been attacked three times by enemy aircraft droppingdepth charges and would transmit further information on the following night.
Barbel was never heard from again. Japanese aviators reported an attack on a submarine off southwest Palawan on 4 February. Two bombs were dropped and one landed on the submarine near the bridge. The sub plunged, under a cloud of fire and spray. This was very likely the last engagement of Barbel. She was officially reported lost on 16 February 1945.