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Casualty Info
Home Town Atlanta, CA
Last Address San Diego, CA
Casualty Date Oct 24, 1944
Cause MIA-Died in Captivity
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Philippines
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Manila American Cemetery - Taguig City, Philippines
Wall/Plot Coordinates (cenotaph)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Benjamin Autrey was a member of the crew of the submarine tender U.S.S. CANOPUS (AS-9), serving in the Philippine Islands. After the ship was severely damaged on December 29, 1941, and subsequently scuttled to prevent the vessel from falling into enemy hands, he and his surviving comrades joined the ground forces in defense of Bataan and Corregidor. He was subsequently captured and interned as a Prisoner of War. He died when a U.S. Submarine torpedoed the Japanese ARISAN MARU on October 24, 1944.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 2677697
The information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.
Philippine Islands Campaign (1941-42)/Japanese air attacks on US vessels in Cavite
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
December / 1941
Description Japanese air attack on USS PEARY (DD-226), USS SEADRAGON (SS-194),USS SEALION (SS-195),USS BITTERN (AM-36)in Cavite, Philippines
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
December / 1941
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories On 7 December 1941, Canopus, aging but able, lay at Cavite Navy Yard, as tender to Submarine Squadron 20. In the days that followed, her men worked day and night to repair ships damaged in the daily air raids as well as to keep her brood of submarines at sea. With the Army falling back on Manila, Canopus sailed to Mariveles Bay at the tip of Bataan on Christmas Day. On 29 December 1941 she received her first direct bomb hit. A 500 pound armor piercing bomb penetrated all decks and exploded on the propeller shaft housing. Six sailors were killed mostly from scalding and fires started in the engine rooms and magazines. The six men were buried at sea at 1735 hours in Mariveles Bay at the tip of Bataan. On 1 January 1942 she received a decond direct bomb hit. This time a fragmentation bomb which exploded near the top of the towering smokestack resulting in substantial damage to the ship and injuries to 16 men of the gun crews.
