USS Bowfin (SS-287) - Patrol 9

Operation Barney
29 May 1945 to 4 July 1945

USS Bowfin traveled from Guam to the Sea of Japan, then to Midway and finally, to Pearl Harbor. (Prior to departure for her ninth patrol, VADM Lockwood once again rode on board Bowfin for a day of training. Bowfin also rescued another downed fighter pilot. FADM Chester Nimitz came on board and presented CDR Tyree with the Navy Cross, which was earned for Bowfin's seventh patrol.)

On 29 May 1945, USS Bowfin departed Guam and headed for the Sea of Japan -- "the Emperor's backyard" -- which she and the other "Hellcat" submarines would enter through the heavily-mined Tsushima Strait. They would be using the new FM Sonar mine detecting equipment which had been recently installed on each of the boats. The sonar emitted an ominous, bell-like tone whenever it came within 300 feet of a mine. Reportedly, Bowfin's crew could hear the sound of a mine cable scraping along the side of the boat's hull during the transit.

Once safely through the strait and into the Sea of Japan, Bowfin proceeded to her assigned patrol area, off the eastern coast of Korea. On 2 June, the group searched for survivors of a downed B-29. USS Tinosa (SS-283) eventually rescued the group. Initially, only two ship contacts were made, and both times Bowfin scored a kill. On 11 June she found a cargo ship, sailing unescorted, and fired four torpedoes, one of which hit. The ship was the 1,898-ton Shinyo Maru and it sank in only three minutes. Two days later Bowfin torpedoed and sank the Akiura Maru, a small, 887-ton freighter.

Several harbors were entered for investigation, but were found empty. On 18 June, Bowfin was the target of uncomfortably accurate gunfire and submerged to escape. On 20 June, a submerged six-torpedo attack on a convoy of three enemy ships in very shallow water failed as a result of poor visibility and attack positions, and the necessity to avoid Bowfin's own fourth torpedo, which seemed to be circling back.

On 24 June, the Hellcats rendezvoused in preparation for the wolfpack's exit from the Sea of Japan. One of the submarines, USS Bonefish (SS-223), did not appear. The remaining eight boats made a daring but successful high-speed surface run out of the Sea of Japan through the narrow and heavily-patrolled La Perouse Strait.

On 24 June, the Hellcats rendezvoused in preparation for the wolfpack's exit from the Sea of Japan. One of the submarines, USS Bonefish (SS-223), did not appear. The remaining eight boats made a daring but successful high-speed surface run out of the Sea of Japan through the narrow and heavily-patrolled La Perouse Strait.

4 July, a triumphant USS Bowfin pulled into Pearl Harbor, having completed an historic patrol that, in the words of Commander, Subron Ten, "... will live long in the annals of submarine warfare." VADM Lockwood awarded each of the Hellcats' crew members with a certificate enrolling them as members of the "distinguished order of Mighty Mine Dodgers" for their success in transiting what he called "the most dangerous of war waters."

USS Bowfin's ninth patrol had been a life or death situation in more ways than one. An aerial photographer, Marshall LaCour, who now resides in Washington, was chosen to film Bowfin’s ninth patrol. Mr. LaCour recalls drawing straws in a pool of photographers to decide which submarine each person would be assigned to. Finally, it was down to only two submarines: Bowfin and Bonefish. However, it was then decided that the more experienced photographer would go aboard Bowfin, the more highly decorated submarine. If Mr. LaCour had been assigned to Bonefish, he would not be here today to tell his story. USS Bonefish, one of the nine submarines to participate in this dangerous mission, was the only submarine that did not return safely from the Sea of Japan.

USS Bowfin was underway for 8,559 miles during her ninth patrol. Commanding Officer Tyree and higher authorities believed Bowfin sank 6,300 tons (two vessels). The post-war Joint Army-Navy Assessment Committee (JANAC) credited USS Bowfin with sinking only 2,785 tons (two vessels). CDR Tyree was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of his second Navy Cross.