US Barb and Capn Lucky Flucky

She-Wolf · 08-14-12, 02:03 PM

anyone know about the daring exploits of this chap in the war? I ask because someone has just sent me an e-mail about him and his plucky crew blowing up a train...

Sailor Steve · 08-14-12, 02:24 PM

The "Galloping ghost of the China coast"?

Start here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_B._Fluckey

Then you might want to check out the books by him:
http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Below-...eugene+fluckey

And about him:
http://www.amazon.com/Galloping-Ghos...eugene+fluckey

And if you're feeling rich you can by a print signed by the man himself:
http://www.usni.org/store/historical...st-china-coast

Armistead · 08-14-12, 02:26 PM

Most of us are fully aware of this ego driven maniac...

You can easily do a such online or go buy the book "Thunder Below"

No doubt he was brave, but many question was he foolish, but it seems he had plenty of luck to mitigate his often viewed recklessness.

For instance, in one of his attacks in shallow water along the China coast, a lookout spotted a mine floating right by the sub. The area was mined, he pulled off a heck of an attack, but if not for a few yards, the Barb probably would've hit the mine and blown up. If that had happened, he would've been considered an idiot.

She-Wolf · 08-14-12, 03:10 PM

Oh, I have heard of the 'Galloping Ghost' I think - one of the mods mentions him doesn't it? - didn't realise it was the same person. The article sent to me makes him out to be a very caring skipper, but I had never heard of him, or the US Barb. I kinda guessed you folks would know about him

I'm goin' down · 08-14-12, 11:48 PM

why is my boat named the barbarinna?

Someone once posted his log entries in the forum. They described his crew landing party go ashore in Japan and blowing up a train. One of the landing party members was a cook. The Barb's battle flag has a train on it.

She-Wolf · 08-15-12, 04:05 AM

Indeed, I have a pic of it (boat and flag, complete with chuffa train).
I think I am inclined to agree with those who view his behaviour as leaning on the rash side in respect of the train blow-up; taking his sub into such shallow waters, surfaced and in full view of the nearby sentry tower ( albeit it was dark), risking the lives of his crew for what - glory and a big bang? He was indeed 'lucky'. Sort of thing you might read in a Boys Own comic I s'pose. I would like to think that if it were me, my crew would rate higher than derring-do.

TorpX · 08-15-12, 04:43 AM

I guess I have a somewhat different view of his exploits. While risky to be sure, I don't think most of his operations were that much more hazardous than 'normal' sub ops. Going from memory, I think his night surface attack on a Japanese anchorage was his most dangerous attack. If I had been in his place I would probably have stayed in deep water, but I won't ridicule his decision. It was a matter of going where the ships were, or staying safe and letting them go. I give him credit for figuring out what the IJN was doing, and knowing what he had to do to block them. Certainly, there were captains who didn't make surface/shallow water attacks. I expect most of them didn't sink many ships, though.

Thinking about some of the Allied and Axis operations in WW II, like the Doolittle Raid, the Anzio landings, or Operation Market Garden, Fluckey's raids seem like examples of prudent sobriety.

08-14-12, 02:03 PM	#1
She-Wolf Watchdog Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hampshire UK Posts: 971 Downloads: 152 Uploads: 0	US Barb and Capn Lucky Flucky anyone know about the daring exploits of this chap in the war? I ask because someone has just sent me an e-mail about him and his plucky crew blowing up a train... __________________

08-14-12, 02:24 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	The "Galloping ghost of the China coast"? Start here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_B._Fluckey Then you might want to check out the books by him: http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Below-...eugene+fluckey And about him: http://www.amazon.com/Galloping-Ghos...eugene+fluckey And if you're feeling rich you can by a print signed by the man himself: http://www.usni.org/store/historical...st-china-coast __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

08-14-12, 03:10 PM	#4
She-Wolf Watchdog Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hampshire UK Posts: 971 Downloads: 152 Uploads: 0	Oh, I have heard of the 'Galloping Ghost' I think - one of the mods mentions him doesn't it? - didn't realise it was the same person. The article sent to me makes him out to be a very caring skipper, but I had never heard of him, or the US Barb. I kinda guessed you folks would know about him __________________

08-14-12, 11:48 PM	#5
I'm goin' down Ocean Warrior Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Notify command we have entered the Grass Sea Posts: 2,822 Downloads: 813 Uploads: 0	why is my boat named the barbarinna? Someone once posted his log entries in the forum. They described his crew landing party go ashore in Japan and blowing up a train. One of the landing party members was a cook. The Barb's battle flag has a train on it. Last edited by I'm goin' down; 08-15-12 at 07:16 AM.

08-15-12, 04:05 AM	#6
She-Wolf Watchdog Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hampshire UK Posts: 971 Downloads: 152 Uploads: 0	Indeed, I have a pic of it (boat and flag, complete with chuffa train). I think I am inclined to agree with those who view his behaviour as leaning on the rash side in respect of the train blow-up; taking his sub into such shallow waters, surfaced and in full view of the nearby sentry tower ( albeit it was dark), risking the lives of his crew for what - glory and a big bang? He was indeed 'lucky'. Sort of thing you might read in a Boys Own comic I s'pose. I would like to think that if it were me, my crew would rate higher than derring-do. __________________

08-14-12, 02:26 PM	#3
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	Most of us are fully aware of this ego driven maniac... You can easily do a such online or go buy the book "Thunder Below" No doubt he was brave, but many question was he foolish, but it seems he had plenty of luck to mitigate his often viewed recklessness. For instance, in one of his attacks in shallow water along the China coast, a lookout spotted a mine floating right by the sub. The area was mined, he pulled off a heck of an attack, but if not for a few yards, the Barb probably would've hit the mine and blown up. If that had happened, he would've been considered an idiot.

08-15-12, 04:43 AM	#7
TorpX Silent Hunter Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 3,975 Downloads: 153 Uploads: 11	I guess I have a somewhat different view of his exploits. While risky to be sure, I don't think most of his operations were that much more hazardous than 'normal' sub ops. Going from memory, I think his night surface attack on a Japanese anchorage was his most dangerous attack. If I had been in his place I would probably have stayed in deep water, but I won't ridicule his decision. It was a matter of going where the ships were, or staying safe and letting them go. I give him credit for figuring out what the IJN was doing, and knowing what he had to do to block them. Certainly, there were captains who didn't make surface/shallow water attacks. I expect most of them didn't sink many ships, though. Thinking about some of the Allied and Axis operations in WW II, like the Doolittle Raid, the Anzio landings, or Operation Market Garden, Fluckey's raids seem like examples of prudent sobriety.