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Old 09-13-13, 12:21 PM   #12
Rockin Robbins
Navy Seal
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: DeLand, FL
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Sometimes severity isn't related to duration. I submit this evidence from the sailors involved for your consideration. Welcome to the cruise from hell!
Quote:
STILL REMEMBER THIS USS FLYING FISH?
On August 28, 1942, Flying Fish (Donaho) hit a battleship of the Kongo class. While setting up to fire at one of the escorts, a plane dropped a bomb close to Flying fish, forcing her deep, while the escorts delivered a devastating depth charge attack. Two hours later Flying Fish returned to periscope depth. While Donaho was scanning the horizon a nervous torpedoman in the after torpedo room accidentally fired a fish from No.7 tube with the outer door closed. For the following two days the crew worked to release the torpedo, finally being able to pull it back inside the ATR. Donaho then proceeded to the Truk area where he was attacked and seriously damaged by a patrol boat. On Sept. 4 he closed another patrol boat on the surface. It opened fire with a three-inch gun. Donaho cleared the bridge, then closed to 600 yards and fired a torpedo, which missed. As Flying Fish dove, she took a terrific down angle. Two Destroyers joined in the attack, dropping a total of 54 depth charges. Flying Fish, severely damaged, went to 350 feet. In order to maintain depth, Donaho had to hold the boat at an 18-degree up angle. The ordeal was over in four and a half-hours as the Flying Fish survived one of the worst depth charging of the war.
And I'm tragically informed that the numbers of US Submarine Vets of WWII are so low now that there will be no more conventions, no more Polaris newsletters, no more "Remember This?" columns. Likely there are no Flying Fish sailors to "Still Remember This." And those who never returned have been joined by those who lived to return on their eternal patrol.
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