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Casualty Info
Home Town Taylor, PA
Last Address Taylor, PA
Casualty Date Nov 07, 1944
Cause KIA-Body Not Recovered
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial - Honolulu, Hawaii
Wall/Plot Coordinates Court 2 (cenotaph)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
The USS Albacore (SS-218) began a patrol on October 24, 1944, and refueled at Midway Island on October 28th. There was no further contact with the boat after that date. Japanese records report a submarine exploding as the result of contact with a mine on November 7, 1944 and the Albacore was presumed lost on December 21st 1944. Electricians Mate Second Class Weisenfluh was officially declared dead on December 13, 1945.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 6515297
Submarine war patrols: USS Albacore (SS-218) - 8th through 11th
Presidential Unit Citation
The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Presidential Unit CItation to the United States Ship Albacore (SS 218) for service as set forth in the following citation:
For extrodianary heroism in action against enemy Japanese shipping and combatant units during her Second War Patrol in the New Guinea Area from November 11 to December 30, 1942; her Third War Patrol in the Admiralty Islands from January 20 to March 11, 1943; her Eigth War Patrol north of the Bismark Archipelago from December 26,1943 to Febuary 22,1944; her Ninth War Patrol west of the Marianas from May 29 to July 16, 1944. By agressive and tenacious area coverage, the USS Albacore made contact on a speeding major enemy task force and, defying numerous destroyers and hostile aircraft which screened the valuable Fleet units on every quarter and the inevitable countermeasures, pressed home her attack. Brilliantly maneuvering between the menacing escorts to reach the center of the powerful enemy group, the Albacore, despite a last minute breakdown of vital fire control equipment, launched her torpedoes and demolished a 29,800 ton aircraft carrier. Skillfully evading severe counterattacks, this gallant fighting ship returned to inflict further crippling blows against the enemy by sinking seven ships, including a light cruiser and two destroyers, for a total of nearly 50,000 tons. The courage and steadfast devotion to duty of the Albacore's valiant officers and men reflected in this outstanding combat record and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
For the President
James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy
The information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.
Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign (1944)/Battle of Philippine Sea
From Month/Year
June / 1944
To Month/Year
June / 1944
Description The Battle of the Philippine Sea (June 19–20, 1944) was a major naval battle of World War II that eliminated the Imperial Japanese Navy's ability to conduct large-scale carrier actions. It took place during the United States' amphibious invasion of the Mariana Islands during the Pacific War. The battle was the last of five major "carrier-versus-carrier" engagements between American and Japanese naval forces, and pitted elements of the United States Navy's Fifth Fleet against ships and aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Mobile Fleet and nearby island garrisons.
The aerial part of the battle was nicknamed the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot by American aviators for the severely disproportional loss ratio inflicted upon Japanese aircraft by American pilots and anti-aircraft gunners. During a debriefing after the first two air battles a pilot from USS Lexington remarked "Why, hell, it was just like an old-time turkey shoot down home!" The outcome is generally attributed to American improvements in pilot and crew training and tactics, technology (including the top-secret anti-aircraft proximity fuze), and ship and aircraft design. Although at the time the battle appeared to be a missed opportunity to destroy the Japanese fleet, the Imperial Japanese Navy had lost the bulk of its carrier air strength and would never recover. During the course of the battle, American submarines torpedoed and sank two of the largest Japanese fleet carriers taking part in the battle.
This was the largest carrier-to-carrier battle in history.
