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World War II U.S. Submarine Lifeguard Missions
The U.S. Silent Service in WWII
( Pacific Theater 1941 - 1945 )
Special operations conducted by U.S. submarines in the Pacific to
rescue downed American and Allied pilots and aviators
| Lifeguard duty was a
vital service that US submarines performed during World War II, and
they did so spectacularly - having plucked 520 downed U.S. airmen
from the Pacific Ocean waters, often under heavy enemy fire. Former
US President George Bush Sr., was rescued by the USS Finback after
being shot down while he was on an air strike mission over the Bonin
Islands during WW II. There was certainly a sense of confidence
among American pilots and airmen knowing that if shot down, the odds
of their survival increased dramatically because of the submarines
assigned to fish them out of the drink. This sentiment was echoed in
an article by Ernie Pyle entitled EVEN IF YOU WERE SHOT DOWN IN
TOKYO HARBOR THE NAVY WOULD BE IN TO GET YOU OUT! |
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Number of Airmen Rescued |
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Submarine |
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1 |
Archerfish; Argonaut II; Bang;
Hackleback; Haddock; Hammerhead; Harder; Jack; Kraken; Plunger;
Quillback; Rock; Saury; Sea Dog; Sealion II; Snook; Spikefish;
Steelhead; Tilefish; Trigger; Trutta |
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2 |
Bonefish; Charr; Guardfish;
Hardhead; Perch; Sawfish; Sea Robin; Seawolf; Shark II;
Silversides; Tench |
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3 |
Batfish; Bowfin; Bullhead; Cero;
Chub; Searaven; Sturgeon; Tunny |
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4 |
Bergall; Blueback; Kingfish;
Threadfin |
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5 |
Bream; Dragonet; Finback; Jallao;
Plaice; Razorback; Stingray; |
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6 |
Aspro; Blackfish; Cabrilla;
Icefish; Sea Owl; Skate |
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7 |
Balao; Cobia; Grouper; Pomfret;
Spearfish |
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8 |
Gar; Sterlet |
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9 |
Bluefish; Pipefish; Springer; Toro |
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10 |
Pogy; Ronquil; Tinosa; Trepang |
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11 |
Sea Fox |
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12 |
Peto; Pintado; Sailfish;
Scabbardfish |
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13 |
Gato; Queenfish |
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15 |
Sea Devil; Whale |
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16 |
Mingo |
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17 |
Gabilan; Guavina |
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21 |
Ray |
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22 |
Tang |
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31 |
Tigrone |
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For more info about US
Submarine Lifeguard activities in WWII,
check out the
Submarine Lifeguard Memorial website.
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