Church, Ray William, MoMM1c

Fallen

Service Photo

Service Details

Last Rank
Petty Officer First Class

Last Primary NEC
MO-0000-Motor Machinist/Oiler

Last Rating/NEC Group
Motor Machinistmate/Oiler

Primary Unit
1944-1945, MO-0000, USS Bullhead (SS-332)

Service Years
1940 - 1945

Last Photo

Personal Details

Home State

Nebraska

Year of Birth
1919

This Military Service Page was created/owned by Sheila Rae Myers, HM3 to remember Church, Ray William, MoMM1c.

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Casualty Info

Home Town Fremont, NE	Last Address Fremont, NE

Casualty Date Aug 06, 1945
Cause Hostile-Body Not Recovered	Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Pacific Ocean	Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Manila American Cemetery and Memorial - Manila, Philippines	Wall/Plot Coordinates (cenotaph)

Official Badges

Unofficial Badges

Additional Information

Last Known Activity

USS Bullhead (SS-332) began her third and final patrol on 31 July 1945. The last contact with the boat was on 2 August. Post war Japanese records show that a plane depth charged and presumably sunk an American Submarine on 6 August, the same day the Atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Motor Machinist's Mate First Class Church was listed as Missing in Action and officially declared dead 23 August 1946.

Comments/Citation

Service number: 3166940

Submarine war patrols:
USS Plunger (SS-179) - 6th through 8th
USS Pogy (SS-266) - 4th through 6th
USS Bullhead (SS-332) - 1st through 3rd

Navy Unit Commendation
For outstanding heroism in action against enemy Japanese shipping and combatant units, during her Fifth War Patrol in the East China Sea Area, from January 15 to March 8, 1944, and her Sixth War Patrol souteast of Japan, from April 7 to May 29, 1944. Aggressive and determined in covering her assigned areas, the USS Pogy pressed home vigorous attacks in the face of the enemy's violent countermeasures; and although sustaining wounds under the smashing force of enemy depth charges, she launched her torpedoes with devastaing speed and skill, sinking eight vessels, including a Mutusuki Class Destroyer and a Fleet Type Submarine for a total of nearly 45,000 tons and severely damaging two other ships totalling approximately 14,000 tons. The Pogy's outstanding record in combat exemplifies the skill and fearless devotion to duty of her officers and men and reflects the highest credit upon herself and the United States Naval Service.

The information contained in this profile was compiled from various internet sources.

Photo Album (More...)

USS Bullhead (SS-332...

USS Pogy (SS-266)

USS Plunger (SS-179)

USS Pennsylvania (BB...

USS Bullhead (SS-331)
Start Year 1945	End Year 1945
Description USS Bullhead (SS-332), a Balao-class submarine, was the very last US Navy ship sunk by enemy action during World War II, probably on the same day that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. She was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the bullhead (any large-headed fish, especially the catfish, miller's thumb, and sculpin). Her keel was laid down by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 16 July 1944 sponsored by Mrs. Howard R. Doyle, and commissioned 4 December 1944 with Commander W. T. Griffith in command. On 31 July 1945 Bullhead left Fremantle to commence her third war patrol. Her orders were to patrol in a "wolfpack" with Capitaine (SS-336) and Puffer (SS-268) in the Java Sea until 5 September and then head for Subic Bay in the Philippines. Bullhead reported on 6 August that she had passed through Lombok Strait. That was the last word received from Bullhead. On 12 August, Capitaine, planning to arrive on 13 August, ordered Bullhead to take position the following day in a scouting line with Capitaine and Puffer. Receiving no reply, Capitaine reported on 15 August, "Have been unable to contact Bullhead by any means since arriving in area." Since the British submarines HMS Taciturn and Thorough, were in the same general area as Bullhead, and Cod (SS-224) and Chub (SS-329) passed through in transit at various times, it is difficult to determine precisely which of the many Japanese anti-submarine attacks was the one that sank Bullhead. However, one occurred on 6 August 1945, when an Imperial Japanese Army Air Force 73Fcs's Mitsubishi Ki-51 attacked with depth charges. It claimed two direct hits, and for ten minutes thereafter, there was a great amount of gushing oil and air bubbles rising in the water. Since the position given is very near the Bali coast, it is presumed that the proximity of mountain peaks shortened Bullhead's radar range and prevented her receiving a warning of the plane's approach. 84 men were lost while serving on USS Bullhead during her service.