LITMIR.BIZ

      MICHAEL STURMA

      THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KENTUCKY

      Publication of this volume was made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

      Copyright © 2008 by The University Press of Kentucky

      Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth, serving Bellarmine University, Berea College, Centre College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown College, Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University.

      All rights reserved.

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      12 11 10 09 08 5 4 3 2 1

      Maps by Dick Gilbreath

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Sturma, Michael, 1950-

       The USS Flier: death and survival on a World War II submarine / Michael Sturma.

       p. cm.

      Includes bibliographical references and index.

       ISBN 978-0-8131-2481-0 (hbk. : alk. paper)

      1. Flier (Submarine) 2. World War, 1939-1945—Naval operations—Submarine.

      3. World War, 1939-1945—Naval operations, American. 4. World War, 1939-1945—Campaigns—Pacific Ocean. 5. Survival after airplane accidents,

       shipwrecks, etc.—Philippines—Palawan. I. Title.

       D783.5.F56S88 2008

       940.54’510973—dc22

      2007046559

      This book is printed on acid-free recycled paper meeting the requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.

      Manufactured in the United States of America.

      Member of the Association of

      American University Presses

      To Joan Roberts

      Contents

       Acknowledgments

       Prologue

       1. The Aleutians

       2. A New Boat

       3. Midway

       4. Grounded

       5. USS Macaw

       6. Board of Investigation

       7. Resumed Patrol

       8. Fremantle

       9. Death in Thirty Seconds

       10. Cause and Effect

       11. Black Water

       12. Castaways

       13. Guerrillas

       14. Brooke's Point

       15. USS Redfin

       16. Evacuees

       17. On Board

       18. Fallout

       19. Bend of the Road

       20. Inquiry

       21. Report Incognito

       22. Back in the USA

       23. Next of Kin

       Epilogue

       Notes

       Bibliography

       Index

      Acknowledgments

      Numerous people assisted in the research for this study. Charles Hinman and Nancy Richards extended the aloha spirit at the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum at Pearl Harbor. My special thanks to Charles for his lunchtime conversations and his Web site On Eternal Patrol. I am grateful to Steve Finnigan and Wendy Gulley for their assistance at the Submarine Force Museum at Groton, Connecticut. Carol Bowers and John Waggener of the American Heritage Center at Laramie provided invaluable help both at a distance and on the spot. Kathleen Lloyd of the Naval Historical Center, P. A. Leonard from the Office of the Judge Advocate General, and Patrick Kerwin from the Library of Congress made important contributions in piecing together the USS Flier’s history.

      I was fortunate to have the logistical help of Susan Witt, Wes Witt, and Barbara Eblen during my research in the United States. Closer to home, my friend and colleague Mike Durey provided a fount of naval knowledge. Peter Marks generously guided me through the Weld Club in Western Australia. Like much of my writing, this project benefited from the support of my wife, Ying.

      I owe special thanks to Alvin E. Jacobson for sharing his memoirs and memories. I hope this book will serve as a tribute to the remarkable men of the Flier.

      Prologue

      The thirteenth proved unlucky for the USS Flier. On Sunday night, 13 August 1944, the

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