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Casualty Info
Home Town Sulphur Springs, TX
Last Address Friday, TX
Casualty Date Jun 18, 1945
Cause KIA-Body Not Recovered
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Sea of Japan
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial - Honolulu, Hawaii
Wall/Plot Coordinates Court 5 (cenotaph)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
USS Bonefish (SS-223) was on a war patrol in the Sea of Japan with two other submarines. Her last communication was during a rendezvous on June 18th. Captured Japanese records indicate that a Japanese vessel was sunk on June 19th and that during an intense counterattack a submarine was sunk with all hands. It is presumed that this was the Bonefish. Electricians Mate First Class Browning was officially declared dead 15 July 1946.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 3604883
Submarine war patrols:
USS Triton (SS-201) - 2nd
USS Grayling (SS-209) - 2nd through 5th; 7th
USS Tuna (SS-203) - 8th
USS Bluefish (SS-222) - 1st and 2nd
USS Rasher (SS-269) - 2nd and 3rd
USS Puffer (SS-268) - 5th
USS Bonefish (SS-223) - 6th through 8th
Navy Unit Commendation
For outstanding heroism in action during the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth War Patrols in enemy Japanese-controlled areas of the Pacific. Harassed continually and several times bombed by watchful and aggressive enemy aircraft, the USS Bonefish boldly penetrated the most forward combat areas to effect wide coverage of her assigned sectors and strike fiercely at important Japanese surface targets. Consistently ready for combat under the superb handling of her gallant officers and men, she defied heavy escort screens; she developed her contacts with determined aggressiveness and launched gunfire and torpedo attacks despite the severest hostile countermeasures to sink or damage many ships vital to the enemy's continued persecution of the war. In addition to her valiant combat achievements, the Bonefish rendered splendid lifeguard services during air strikes against hostile territory, effecting the rescue of two friendly pilots. Her outstanding record of success under the hazards and difficulties of prolonged patrols reflects the highest credit upon the Bonefish, her courageous, fighting ship's company and the United States Naval Service.
THe information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.
USS Bonefish (SS-223), was a Gato class submarine:
The namesake of the USS Bonefish (SS-223) is a fish of the Florida Keys and southern California. The bonefish has bright silvery sides with faint dark stripes and often reaches a weight of about fifteen pounds.
. Keel Laid, 25 June 1942, at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.
Launched, 7 March 1943
Commissioned, USS Bonefish (SS-223), 31 May 1943
Final Disposition: SUNK - JUNE 18, 1945 while on 8th patrol, by Japanese warship, in Toyama Wan, west coast of Honshu, all hands lost.
Bonefish received five Navy Unit Commendations and seven battle stars during World War II.
Commanding Officers:
CDR Thomas Wesley Hogan 05/31/1943 - 06/13/1944
CDR Lawrence Lott Edge 06/13/1944 - 06/18/1945
Executive Officers:
LCDR Guy Edward O'Neil 05/31/1943 - 01/12/1944
LT Leon Stuart Eubanks 01/12/1944 - 08/27/1944
LT/LCDR Frasier Sinclair Knight 08/27/1944 - 06/18/1945
Chief of the Boat (COB):
TMC Eugene Freaner, 05/31/1943 - 01/12/1944
MoMMC G. M. Fuller 01/12/1944 - 06/18/1945
Specifications:
Radio call sign: Nan - Baker - King - Fox
Displacement:
Surfaced: 1,526 tons
Submerged: 2,424 tons
Length 311' 9"
Beam 27' 3"
Draft 15' 3"
Speed:
Surfaced 20.25 kts
Submerged 8.75 kts
Complement 6 Officers 54 Enlisted
Operating Depth, 300 ft
Submerged Endurance, 48 hrs at 2 kts
Patrol Endurance 75 days
Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10 kts
Armament:
Ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft
24 torpedoes
One 3"/50 deck gun
Two .50 cal. machine guns
Two .30 cal. machine guns
Propulsion, diesel electric reduction gear with four General Motors main generator engines, HP 5400, Four General Electric main motors, HP 2740, two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin propellers.
Fuel Capacity, 97,140 gals.