The Third War Patrol

The Third War Patrol 04 Apr - 29 May 1944

Commenced on April 4, 1944 with Legendary Frank Walker as her Captain and Lieutenant William J. Ruhe serving as her Executive Officer. She sailed for the South China Sea on a very special mission that was to after many years since the end of World War II place her in the History books. This Special Mission was to support the guerrillas, in the Philippines. They were ordered to rendezvous with Colonel Salvador Abcede (Guerrilla Commander) on Negros Oriental Island, Philippines . At the meeting place they were to drop off supplies and pick up some refugees.

This Excerpt is taken From the Inside Flap of the Previous Mentioned book “The Rescue” by Steven Smith

By 1944, forty Americans–missionaries, escaped POWs, and sugar planters–had endured nearly three years of hell while hiding from the Japanese in the mountains of the central Philippines. They had moved frequently from one primitive hideout to the next, always in danger, subsisting on what little the locals could spare. They had seen friends and family captured, even murdered. And their faith in God, their country, and themselves had been stretched to the breaking point.

Then word came that MacArthur was sending a submarine, the Crevalle, to save them. The refugees confronted what they hoped would be their final trial: a hundred-mile trek south to meet the sub, a trek that would take them through dense jungle and trackless swamps with the Japanese an ever-present threat and the knowledge that one false step could result in tragedy.

But the refugees had no idea their dramatic rescue was just a cover for a mission of great strategic importance.

As MacArthur and Nimitz pushed the Japanese back, island by island, they put to flight Admiral Koga Mineichi, Yamamotos successor and the commander of Japans powerful Combined Fleet. Koga carried with him the detailed plans for the imperial navy’s long-planned "decisive battle" at sea. But his plane crashed and the plans washed up on a Philippine beach. Thanks to the courage of two fishermen, the secret papers soon found their way to an extraordinary American guerrilla leader, who then risked everything to get them to the rendezvous with the Crevalle.

But would the Crevalle reach the plans and the refugees before the Japanese caught wind of the scheme? The Crevalle and her heroic crew would first have to sail through enemy-infested waters to reach the island. And even if they made it, would the sub successfully pick up its precious cargo, then survive the 1,500-mile journey to Australia and freedom?

The Crevalle Ward Room for the famous Third War Patrol

   A submarine sailing list is a very important document and without it we would not have an accurate listing of who was on a boat if it was lost at sea. During WWII “52” United States Submarines were lost at sea or as we like to say are on Eternal Patrol.

     Just recently the USS San Juan SSN 751 did not radio its whereabouts at the time that it should have and it triggered a well rehearsed action at the Squadron Unit in Groton, CT. By using the sailing list all of the relatives were notified that the boat was overdue and an assemblage of dependents took place.

    I was at Squadron New London for many years and luckily did not experience that kind of drill. Happily the boat just missed a radio check and was never in any danger and she embarrassingly returned unscathed to The Sub Base in New London, CT.

    Today’s sailing list contains a lot more information than the list from the Crevalle Third World War II Patrol but essentially that is the purpose of it. Submarine sailing is still a dangerous business and any of us that have been involved will attest to the near misses we have experienced in the so called peacetime Navy.

    As you read this sailing list I found the diversity of the crew fascinating as to where everyone came from. It ranges from Dorchester, MA to Canada and one of the crew married an Australian Shella.

The Third War Patrol Sailing List & Next of Kin

Commissioned Officers

Lieutenant-Commander Francis D. Walker Jr. 75075, United States Navy (USN)

            Wife:   Amy Lynn Walker, 27 Jewett Dr. Wyoming, Ohio

Lieutenant William J. Ruhe, 82800 USN

            Wife:   Carolyn Elizabeth Ruhe, 74 Ascan Ave. Forest Hill, NY

Lieutenant (jg) George Morin, 103749 United States Naval Reserve (USNR)

            Wife: Hope Elizabeth Morin, Wyoming, RI

Lieutenant (jg) Howard J. Blind, 108587 USNR

            Father: Howard J. Blind, 723 So. Wolcott Street, Casper, Wyoming

Lieutenant (jg) Thomas W. E. Bowdler, 161435 USNR

            Wife: Doris Evelyn Bowdler, 214 Foch Street Ellwood City, PA

Lieutenant (jg) Walter F. Mazzone, 185916, USNR

            Father: Frank A. Mazzone, 162 Race Street San Jose, CA

Ensign Richard E. Bowe, 282877, USN

            Mother: Clara Bowe, South Woodslee, Ontario, Canada

Ensign Howard E. Geer Jr., 229122, USNR

            Mother: Dorothy H. Geer, 24409 90^th Avenue Bellerose, NY

Chief Petty Officers

George Charles Doyle, 223-25-70, Chief Motor Machinist's Mate (CMoMM) (AA) USN

            Mother: Mabel Doyle, 1781 West 8th Street Brooklyn, NY

James Hampton Howard, 359-86-56, Chief Torpedomans Mate (CTM) (AA) USN

            Father:    W. A. Howard, 131 Sequin Street, San Antonio, TX

Pomeroy Lee Jr., 214-95-20, Chief Motor Machinist's Mate USN

            Father:     Pomeroy Lee Sr., 9 Burbury Lane, Great neck, NY

Fred Loos, 382-12-37, Chief Pharmacists Mate CPhM (AA) USN

            Father:     Louis L. Loos, 1487 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

Gerald Clifton Mc Lees, 341-89-91, Chief Electricians Mate (CEM) (AA) USN

            Wife:       Theresa M. Mc Lees, 24 Woodbury Avenue, Portsmouth, NH

Fredrick Sutter Jr., 228-32-64, Chief Gunners Mate (CGH) (AA) USN

            Wife:       Mary King Sutter, P.O. 1058 Cristobal, Canal Zone

Joe Richard Thies, 355-82-21 CEM (PA) USN

            Mother:   Pearl Thies, 4251/2 West Main Street, Oklahoma City, OK

James Edgar Westmorland, 406-11-37, Chief Commissary Mate (AA) USN

            Mother:   Clyde Westmoreland, 496 North Avenue, NE Atlanta, GA

Enlisted Members of the Crew

ANDERSON, Herbert Carl, 382-10-11, Motor Machinist's Mate 2^nd Class (MoMM2c) USN

            Mother:    Bertha Anderson, 18742 Sherman Way, Reseda, CA

BARNES, Frank, 201-73-26, Motor Machinist's Mate First Class (MoMM1c) USN

            Wife:      Mary F. Barnes, 168 Austin Avenue, Portsmouth, NH

BIEHL, Henry Tudor, 628-44-89, Radar Technician First Class (RT1c) USNR

            Mother:     Elva May Biehl, Belleville, KS

BOWER, Albert Francis, 724-64-02, Radar Technician Second Class (RT2c) USNR

            Father:       A. E. Bower, 221 South Monroe, Mason City, IA

BUNN, Clifford Robert, 359-83-61, MoMM1c USNR

            Mother:     Ida S. Anderson, 323 Cherry Street Baytown, TX

CHAMBERS, Wayne Marvin, 321-28-74, MoMM1c USN

            Wife:         Dorothy G. Chambers Primghar, IA

CROWLEY, Joseph Dennis, 243-79-76, Torpedomans Mate First Class (TM1c) USN

            Wife:      Margaret A. Crowley, 1519 North Robinson Street, Philadelphia, PA

CURRAN, William John, 650-75-09, Motor Machinist's Mate Third Class, USNR

            Mother:     Janet Curran, 840 Spruce Street, Shamokin, PA

DAVIS, Wymon, 846-33-82, Stewards Mate First Class (StM1c) USNR

            Mother:   Victoria Davis, Route 1 Box 49, Natchez, LA

DEMPSTER, Albert Joseph, 223-63-82, Yeoman First Class (Y1c) USN

            Mother:      Adelaide Dempster, 940 Quinton Ave, Trenton, NJ

DUCHARME, Armand Napoleon, 212-69-39, Electricians Mate First Class (EM1c)

            Mother:     Mrs. D. B. MacIntyre 3 East Allen Street, Winooski, VT

ELLIOTT, Walter James, 243-83-12, Fire Control Second Class (FC2c) USN

            Mother:    Dorothy Elliott, RD#3, Meshoppen, PA

ENRIGHT, George Francis Jr., 300-53-89, Torpedomans Mate Third Class (TM3c) USN

            Father:      G. F. Enright Sr., 4737 Gladys Avenue, Chicago, IL

FOX, Earl George, 648-03-32, Signalman Second Class (SM2c) USNR

            Mother:     Mrs. Helen Fox, 605 South 4^th Street, Norfolk, NB

FOX, Ernest Klmer, 614-15-46, Firemen First Class (F1c) USNR

            Wife:         Ruth Fox, 1325 Brown Street, Akron, OH

FREEMAN, Edgar Allen, 644-78-82, TM2c USNR

            Mother:     Mrs. C. L. Freeman, Box.31, Pineville, LA

FRITCHEN, William Louis, 305-44-42, GM3c, USNR

            Mother:     Mrs. Jens Dyhe, 1313 Herriek Ave., Racine, WI

GAINES, Robert Earl, 665-040-01, MoMM3c, USNR

            Father:       Mr. E. E. Gaines, Box 580, Auburn, WA

GRAHAM, Ivan Hugh, 860-71-18, F1c, (SV), USN

            Father:       Mr. Edward D. Graham, 308 S. Shiawassee St., Owasso, MI

GREGORY, Willie Edward, 835-95-90, StM2c, USNR

            Mother:     Nana Gregory, Lake Lacresse, VA

HARDMAN, Lee Earl, 615-56-43, S1c, USNR

            Father:       Earl Hardman, 21081 Avalon Drive, Rocker River, OH

HEAGY, Robert Louis, 409-93-76, MoMM1c, USNR

            Wife:         Lillian E. Heagy, 85 Great Eastern Highway, Victoria Park, Australia

HILDERBRAND, Charles Frederick, 634-45-04, EM3c USNR

            Mother:     Mrs. Sally Hilderbrand, 741 Breckenridge Ave. Louis, KY

HOWIE, Robert Charles, 262-98-38, MOMM3c, USN

            Father:      Harry L. Howie, Box 165 Laurnburgh, NC

INGRAM, Fred, 393-37-70, SM1c, USN

            Mother:     Martha Jane Ingram, RR#1, Jakins, GA

JANDL, Edward Paul, 329-18-82, QM3c, USN

            Wife:        Mrs. E. P. Jandl, 1362 Danforth Street, St. Paul, MI

JENIGEN, Albert Joseph, 651-81-62, S1c, USNR

            Father:      Albert Jenigen, 824 4^th Ave. Bristol, PA

JESTER, Halbert Maurice, 291-54-24, TM1c, USN

            Wife:        Ester M. Jester, 2136 California Street Apt 3, San Francisco, CA

JOHNSON, Ronald Gordon, 269-18-81, GM3c USN

            Mother:    Mrs. A. C. Sheppard, Route C, griffin, GA

KALLINSKY, Lewis, 826-58-59, SC3c, USNR

            Father:      Maurice Kallinsky, 2311 Whittier Ave. Baltimore, MD

KEANE, Edward Francis, 224-86-81, TM3c USN

            Mother:    Edna Keane, 761 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn, NY

KEEFE, James Henry, 603-08-37, TM3c, USNR

            Wife:        Sara C. Keefe, 2324 North Washington Blvd. Arlington, VA

LANGFELDT, Maurice Edward, 648-37-61, TM2c, USNR

            Wife:        Eleanor Langfeldt, Olivet, SD % Albert BJ

LARSEN, James Louis, 203-60-37, MoMM3c, USNR

            Wife:       Mrs. J. L. Larsen, 19 Taunton Street Wrentham, MA

LENATZ, John Joseph, 305-53-57, TM3c, USN

            Mother:   Mrs. Helen Lenatz, 67 East Thomas Street, Ironwood, MI

LLANO, Lewis Clemente, 382-18-92, MoMM2c, USN

            Mother: Mrs. Laura Palmer, 715 W Mountain View Road, Altadena,

LOCKTOV, Leon, 376-27-13, TM2c, USN

            Sister: Ruth Locktov, 1327 Lincoln Street, Berkley CA

MAILLE, John Francis, 856-60-85, MoMM3c, USNR

            Wife:      Mrs. J. F. Maille, West Beach Street, Jefferson, OH

MC GOWAN, Francis Thomas Jr., 632-65-95 TM2c USNR

            Mother: Sue Mc Gowan, 4427 Clayton Ave. Los Angles, CA

MINKLEY, Earnest Lamar, 551-92-31, TM2c, USNR

            Mother: Mrs. C. Minkley, Mount Dora, FL

MULLEN, Joseph George, 224-12-15, RM1c, USN

            Wife:      Dorothy Mullen, 160 Allen Ave. Waban, MA

MUNYAN, Curtis Augustus, 238-81-59, EM3c, USN

            Mother: Mrs. I. C. Munyan, 17 Milford Street, Binghamton, NY

NIEMCZYK, Joseph Norman, 651-22-63, TM2c, USNR

            Mother   Mrs. Natalie A. miles, 201 North 3^rd Street Reading, PA

PACE, Vincent Mark, 666-35-13, TM2c, USNR

            Wife:      Marie Pace, 248 Conway Street Greenfield, MA

PITTS, Louis Franklin, 405-80-38, RM1c, USN

            Mother: Addis M. Pitts, 1929 Seddon Road, Richmond, VA

RENNEKE, Wyman John, 328-83-39, EM1c, USN

            Father:    John Wyman Rnneke, Le Sueur, MI, RR#4

RICKSECKER, Guy “M”, 337-34-03. MOMM1c, USN

            Mother: Dyca Scott, Hartville, MO

RORABACK, Gilbert Little, 666-56-35, TM3c, USNR

            Mother: Gladys M. Roraback, Sheffield, MA

SCHWARZ, Robert Franklin, 872-58-05, EM3c, USNR

            Wife:      Doris G. Schwarz, 7208 Zephyr Place, Maplewood, MO

SCISCO, Clayton Sterling, 224-13-10, MoMM3c, USNR

            Father:    Leon D. Scisco, 51 Woodland, Ave. Youngstown, OH

SINCLAIR, Joe Milton Jr. 837-10-67, F2c, USNR

            Father:    J. M. Sinclair, 4159 Buena Vista, Dallas, TX

SINGER, Jack William, 224-77-09, EM3c USN

            Guardian: Mrs. Helen Burchi, 732 22^nd Street, Union City, NJ

SNELLINGS, Earl Mason, 286-06-74, QM1c, USN

            Mother:   Manie J. Snellings, Falmouth, VA

STEINERT, Herbert Alvin, 611-89-14, RM3c, USNR

            Wife:   Shirley Steinert, 3123 West Argyle Street, Chicago, IL

STOKES, Frank Howard, 709-30-10, SO3c, USNR

            Father:   William MacLean, 176-18 130^th Ave., Springfield, NY

STUTZMAN, Gerald Wilbert, 614-09-31, RM2c, USNR

            Mother: Mrs. Susie Stutzman, Seward, NB

TACKETT, William “NV”, 360-32-30, MoMM2c, USN

            Mother:   Hattie Tackett, Kennard, TX Star Route 4

TEDOLDI, Charles Everett, 202-42-44, EM2c USN

            Mother:   Mary Tedoldi, 52 Dickens Street, Dorchester, MA

TOMLIN, George Lawrence, 724-58-38, EM2c, USNR

            Father:     Mr. Ralph Tomlin, 217-West High Street, Mason City, IL

TRUMAN, Horice Lynn, 356-31-74, MM1c, USN

            Wife:      Betty J. Truman, RFD#1, Groton, CT

WIESNIWSKI, Francis Walter, 234-40-24, MoMM3c, USN

            Mother:    Mrs. Hattie Kozlowski, Cobley Road, Corfie, NY

WILLIAMS, George Findlay, 201-69-16, EM1c, USN

            Wife:       Margaret K Williams, Nurses Home, Wentworth Hosp. Dover, NH

YEAGER, Robert Lee, 614-74-93, MoMM2c, USNR

            Mother:   Mrs. W. L. Yeager, South School Street, Orwell, OH

YOCUM. Edward Cope, 650-17-87, EM2c, USNR

            Mother:   Mary Yocum, 306 West King Street Shippensburg, PA

                                                                            Submitted by W. J. Ruhe

    Before Crevalle deployed on her third patrol a magnificent thing happened, an officer that was on the USS Puffer SS268 transferred on to the boat. He is Retired Captain Walter F. Mazzone. At the time he was a LT (jg) who had experienced one of the worst nightmares on board the Puffer as it was hounded by Japanese Patrol Boats and continuously depth charged and submerged for over 35 hrs.  See the ordeal of the USS Puffer

    In transit to Negros Island, CREVALLE was patrolling in the South China Sea, and her first contact was gained on the night of 15 April 1944. After tracking the target for some time, it was discovered that it was only a small Japanese patrol boat. It was thought to be prudent and avoid any action on this not worth sinking vessel. An attack would have given the patrol craft time to radio CREVALLE’S position to its big brothers and sisters who were undoubtedly close by. Avoiding action took place immediately.

    While patrolling the approaches to Balabo Strait in the vicinity of Brunei on 25 April 1944, in waters off Northwest Borneo CREVALLE encountered a large freighter, with two small sea trucks (large boats) in a column astern of the larger vessel. There was also one small escort accompanying this miniature convoy that was hugging the coast. The seas were flat calm and the attack was held off until that enemy group had reached deeper water of 25 to 30 fathoms (150 to 180 feet). A full broadside of six torpedoes was unleashed from the bow tubes at the freighter and two of the fish solidly hit the ship. The freighter was observed to immediately break in two and rapidly sink as the smaller boats rushed for the shallow coastal water. The rest of the day was spent avoiding the escort and dodging search plains. The aircraft dropped several bombs, but none caused any damage, as they were well wide of their mark. Late that afternoon, a six-ship convoy plus several escorts were sighted entering Marudu Bay, Malaysia .

    The following morning the enemy convoy began to sortie from the bay. Just as an attempt to close in on them was made a Japanese destroyer interfered with CREVALLE'S movements. A quick decision was formed to remove the destroyer as an obstacle but its erratic zigzagging maneuvers prevented the attainment of a good firing position. The attack on the destroyer was broken off. A two-day search for the convoy was hampered by the presence of enemy planes, which occasionally but ineffectively dropped bombs in CREVALLE'S vicinity.

    On 3 may 1944, while patrolling submerged, an approach was attempted on a two-ship group that was traveling in a column. Although high speed submerged running was resorted to, the boat could not close the range and only a chancy long-range torpedo shot could be attempted. Accordingly it was decided to make an end around run on the surface at dark and attack from a radar submerged position out in front of the targets. Three targets were now picked up at the attack point as the ships approached. Although hampered by severe rain squalls the approach was initiated and salvos of four torpedoes were fired from the stern tubes at the vessels. The sound gear recorded two solid hits and one contact disappeared from the scope, but because of the driving rain nothing could be visually confirmed.

   CREVALLE then surfaced and made a second end around on the convoy, during which a tremendous explosion was heard and one of the two remaining radar pips disappeared from the screen. As CREVALLE was still on the surface she approached the remaining target and fired four of her bow tubes. The first three torpedoes missed forward of the vessel and the fourth hooked to the right running erratically. Further attempts to down the target were thwarted by the vessel escaping to the shoal water close to the coast were a suspected mine field was thought to be located.

    Late the next afternoon, a six-ship convoy with an air screen was sighted but it was probably alerted to the presence of a submarine because of the earlier action and it remained in the shoal water. CREVALLE made an unsuccessful attempt to contact it off Balembangan Island , North Borneo (today’s country of Sabah) but could not get close enough to warrant an attack.

    Aside from that the hunting became slow. Walker and his company of men were pondering if all the big ones had migrated elsewhere because of their tenacity off Balembangan Island, when suddenly eight merchant ships and several destroyers were sighted on the morning of 6 May 1944. The convoy was tracked off Balembangan Island in about 150 feet of water when through the periscope the crew spotted the biggest tanker they had ever seen steaming down the pike. It was the eighth and last ship of the convoy. From Captain Walker's description it was determined that this tallied with intelligence reports of a two stack factory whale ship that the Japanese had converted into a super tanker . This mammoth ship would be their primary target.

    CREVALLE'S crew went into action. Attempting to maneuver into a favorable attack position on the large ship their plans were being constantly changed because of the shallow water, numerous aggressively maneuvering escorts, air cover and glassy seas. As the situation cleared, four torpedoes were launched at the converted whale factory ship and two of the fish hit solidly amidships.

    The torpedoes certainly did not miss their mark. The tanker was full of explosive vitality as a bottle of nitroglycerin. The force of the explosion almost flattened the men in the sub's conning tower. The jolt must have been felt in Brunei, some distance to the southward. Certainly it registered on the graph in oil headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. For, on 6 May 1944, crashing to the bottom of the South China Sea went NISSHIN MARU (the newer renamed vessel was the ship that ramed the Greenpeace protestors after the War), at 16,801 tons. CREVALLE had downed the largest oil tanker (and, incidentally, the third largest merchant vessel) sunk by submarines thus far in the Pacific War.

    The escorting planes following along the torpedo tracts dropped two bombs and CREVALLE began evasive tactics although the water was only about 30 fathoms (180 feet) in depth. The counterattack by the Japanese escorts was vicious and continuous. It lasted for thirty minutes with numerous depth charges that caused a considerable amount of damage to valves and fittings. Even with the drain pump running at full bore emptying the boats bilge's she was taking on a lot of sea water. It was decided to bottom the submarine and she settled down at 174 feet on the ocean floor. All running machinery was secured, except for the lighting generator and low speed operation of the drain pump to keep ahead of the flooding. At about 10 o'clock it was discovered that the Japanese were successfully dragging grappling hooks down the side of the boat. CREVALLE got underway immediately and as stealthily as possible, pulled clear without the Japanese suspecting the movement of the submarine. The boat during this action endured a total of 61 near at hand exploding depth charges. A tired but undaunted crew initiated emergency repairs and the boat steamed ahead to its rendezvous with history.

On the 11th of May 1944 CREVALLE surfaced off Negros Island,   See the story of The Rescue and the End of the Third Patrol