AVG...WAHOO was NOT on the surface. Interviews with surviving members of the Japanese Naval Air and surface units which sank WAHOO told Bryan MacKinnan <Morton's Grand Nephew>...the sub was SUBMERGED nearing the surface. She was caught coming up to periscope depth to take a quick peek which sadly turned out to be fatal.

No one will ever know WHY Morton took WAHOO out in daylight or why she left her patrol area early. It IS possible that she was out of torpedoes and was leaving. It was not only Morton who was tired. It is possible the entire crew was exhausted after a demanding patrol deep inside the Sea of Japan. Again...the oil slick that was spotted by th Seiran Attack Plane was lube oil from the propeller shafts and the amount on the surface would come from a small water glass. Not much but enough to prove fatal to the boat with an alert enemy watching for ANY sign of the expected boat.

Also...you are misquoting Sterling. At FIRST <and under Cdr Kennedy> Dick O'Kane WAS a martinet plus he was under a lot of strain because the skipper was not delegating ANY responsibilities to the exec or other officers. They ALL were frustrated with Kennedy. Under Morton...O'Kane's stature and role was expanded because Morton instisted that everything be run through O'Kane <which was proper>. After the first attack <conducted by O'Kane on the scope> which sank <at the time> a destroyer in Wewak Harbor...the others noticed a change in O'Kane. He was cool and calm under fire...in total control and command. He may have run "hot and cold" in his emotions with the crew...but he WAS the consummate proffesional when it came to fighting his boat...both WAHOO and TANG. His passion, zeal, drive...call it what you will forced his crew to accept and sustain his passion. He and Morton taught all the others HOW to do it and sadly in both cases...they suffered for it. Morton by his death on 11 OCtober 1943 and O'Kane with the punishment the Japanese captors inflicted upon him in prison.

Shell
USN RET

Don't know what source you are getting your info from,but EVERY source I've read says the Wahoo was on the surface when the Japanese first spotted her.

Same here. But as history would have it, we will never really know for sure. I suspect we are going on several different accounts and these accounts gotten from the Japanese. From what I read, not all Japanese records were steller.

Maybe at first found submerged and attacked. Evaded and surface later for the final blow? Thus far I can only acertain she is on the bottom. How she got there and the scenerio that played out we can not be 100% sure on.

You have not been listening. My source is Bryan MacKinnan who is the Grand Nephew of Cdr Morton. He has personally interviewed participants of WAHOO's attackers and it is THEY who told him and SHOWED HIM with diagrams and other materials. That plus the evidence from WAHOO herself. She was submerged with her periscopes raised coming up for a quick look. She never made it to the surface except for the momentary breaching caused by an aerial bomb that exploded beneath her.

I met with Bryan in Tokyo where he lives and works when I was there in October 2001.


Shell
USN RET

That locks it up for me:yep:. When you are interviewing participants in the attack...rock solid evidence.:up: History books change and usually for the better.

Another link is the one Bryan runs: www.usswahoo.org and once there scroll down to THE WAHOO: HER LIFE AND TIMES. There you will find the information you seek...time line, photos, maps and interviews.

Shell
USN RET

I hate to pound a dead horse, but can anybody who has the Wahoo tell me where and when they got it?

I'm still trying to get it w/o success.

Trying mid-late 42 out of Pearl...

Excellant report and thanks my cynicism of the flyboys is withdrawn
that from the description sounds like a Textbook perfect drop on
a sub at Peridepth.

Wahoo
 

Hey Shell,

I am going to Pearl Harbor 11Oct 2007 for the solemn 64th anniversary
to be held on the USS Bowfin.
Are you going also?

It should be quite a tear jerker, as the USS Wahoo has a special place in
history and with me.

I have been invited as a guest of Bryan MacKinnon as well as from the BOWFIN Staff <my wife and I are Charter Life Members>. It all depends on my schedule both at work and the planning of my upcoming tour with the Mantovani Orchestra.

When we were stationed at Pearl, my wife and I both reenlisted onboard the Bowfin in the Control Room. I worked on the boat for two years in my off duty times.

Shell

wahoo
 

[quote=mrbassbone][quote=wahoo]Hey Shell,

Thats a good question, I forgot to ask, do they need to get you an 'invite'
to be at this ceremony?

Wahoo Ceremony 11Oct 2007
 

I just got back from Hawaii and Pearl Harbor, attended the Official
Wahoo ceremony.
It was a week to remember
We all went on the tours Arizona, Uss Missouri, and the new air museum.
Then Thursday 11Oct we went to the Bowfin sub museum, where they unveiled a model of the USS Wahoo, I was then lucky to get a first hand
guided tour from Jim Allen, a sailor on the Wahoo's first 3patrols. We then
boarded the USS Bowfin sub and he showed me what he did on the Wahoo.
We then attended the ceremony in front of the Bowfin, The Admiral spoke first, then they had the 'wreath' ceremony, the ringing of the bell was next,
they named the sailors in alphabetical order, and if a family member was there, they got to ring the bell, if not the chief rang it for the lost sailor,
we then had a prayer, and the 21gun salute , and then taps.
There was not a dry eye there, and mine were like a faucet.
The most moving ceremony I have ever been to.
I got to meet everyone there, including Doug and Edwina Morton, the son and daughter of the famous Mush Morton.
Jim Okane, the son of the famous Dick Okane.
Jim Allen and his wife, one of the remaining sailors who actually was on board the Wahoo for the first 3patrols.
A week to remember:sunny: :sunny: :sunny:

I am jealous. Work/family did not permit me to attend, but I would have loved to. I kept up to date via the blog of the Warfish.com admin and just reading the text of the Admiral's speech caused me to tear up. It sounds like it was a fitting memorial for such a heroic crew.

Thank you for the report from there.

Chuck

Interesting story. Thanks for posting. It makes me appreciate even more what that generation did for us.


And the black text you're using now doesn't show up too well on the default theme which has a dark grey background. :rotfl:

Honollulu Advertiser Newspaper
 

I just found that the Honolulu Advertiser was there taking pictures, and I am
in one of them!!! In back of Doug Morton and Edwina Morton, son and daughter
of the famous Mush Morton.......
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar.../ln/wahoo.html


:up: :up:

My 15 minutes of fame!!!!!