Allied Warships

Dragonet (SS-293)

Submarine of the Balao class


USS Dragonet as completed.

NavyThe US Navy
TypeSubmarine
ClassBalao 
Pennant293 
Built byCramp Shipbuilding Co. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) 
Ordered24 Dec 1941 
Laid down26 Apr 1942 
Launched18 Apr 1943 
Commissioned6 Mar 1944 
End service14 Apr 1946 
History

Decommissioned 14 April 1946.
Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet.
Stricken 1 June 1961.
Sunk by explosive tests on 17 September 1961.

 

Commands listed for USS Dragonet (293)

Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.

CommanderFromTo
1T/Cdr. Jack Hayden Lewis, USN6 Apr 194425 Jun 1945
2T/Lt.Cdr. Gerald Guy Hinman, USN25 Jun 194527 Aug 1945

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Notable events involving Dragonet include:


The page dealing with the wartime history of USS Dragonet was created in July 2023.

[No deck logs of this submarine are currently available to us so therefore some details, particularly regarding trials and exercises, might be missing on this page.]

24 Mar 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) departed Philadelphia for New London, Connecticut. She was escorted until New York by USS SC-1020 (Lt. R. Rentfro, USNR).

25 Mar 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) arrived at New London, Connecticut from Philadelphia.

6 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted a deep submergence trial during which she was escorted by USS Force (Lt. P.F. McLaughlin, USNR)

8 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) departed New London, Connecticut for the Portsmouth Navy Yard, New Hampshire where she is to participate in special trials (depth charge trials) for the Bureau of Ships. She arrived at Portsmouth the following day.

14 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

15 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

16 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

17 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

19 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

20 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

21 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

22 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

23 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

24 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

25 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

27 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

28 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

29 Apr 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

2 May 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

3 May 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. J.O. Cavanaugh, USN).

9 May 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. W.P. Baron, USN).

10 May 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. W.P. Baron, USN).

11 May 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. W.P. Baron, USN).

12 May 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. W.P. Baron, USN).

13 May 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. W.P. Baron, USN).

27 May 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. W.P. Baron, USN).

1 Jun 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. W.P. Baron, USN).

4 Jun 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. W.P. Baron, USN).

5 Jun 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. W.P. Baron, USN).

9 Jun 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. W.P. Baron, USN).

10 Jun 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. W.P. Baron, USN).

12 Jun 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted special depth charge trials with USS Chewick (T/Lt. W.P. Baron, USN).

10 Aug 1944
From 10 to 21 August 1944, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted post repair trials, deep submergence trials and special trials for the Bureau of Ordnance off Portsmouth.

11 Aug 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted a deep dive trial off Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

22 Aug 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) departed Portsmouth, New Hampshire for the Naval Torpedo Station at Newport, Rhode Island where torpedo discharge trials were to be carried out. She arrived at Newport later the same day.

25 Aug 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) departed Newport, Rhode Island and arrived at New London, Connecticut. An exercises programme was to be carried out in Long Island Sound until 2 September 1944.

5 Sep 1944
The submarines USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN), departed New London for the Panama Canal Zone via Key West. She had a layover at New York during the night of 5/6 September before continuing her passage together with USS Sea Cat (T/Cdr. R.R. McGregor, USN). The destroyer USS Bainbridge (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Hitchins, USNR) joined as escort.

9 Sep 1944
The submarines USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN), USS Sea Cat (T/Cdr. R.R. McGregor, USN) and their escort, the destroyer USS Bainbridge (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Hitchins, USNR), arrived at Key West from New London via New York.

10 Sep 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) departed Key West for the Panama Canal Zone.

She was to proceed to the following positions;
A) 22°17'N, 84°20'W at 1254Q/11.
B) 21°40'N, 85°20'W at 1559Q/11.
C) 21°40'N, 83°30'W at 0104Q/12.
D) 16°18'N, 80°45'W at 0146Q/13.
E) 10°00'N, 80°45'W at 0651Q/14
F) 09°38'N, 79°55'W at 1100Q/14.

She was escorted by USS SC-646 (Ens. H.J. Ulrey, USNR) until point C.

15 Sep 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) arrived at Balboa, Panama Canal Zone from New London via Key West. From 16 to 20 September 1944 an exercise programme was carried out in the Gulf of Panama.

24 Sep 1944
After some more training exercises, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN), departed Balboa, Panama Canal Zone for Pearl Harbour.

9 Oct 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) arrived at Pearl Harbor from the Panama Canal Zone. At Pearl Harbour she was first taken in hand for voyage repairs and some alterations before an exercise programme was started.

15 Oct 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour.

16 Oct 1944
During 16/17 October 1944, the submarines USS Skipjack (T/Cdr. R.S. Andrews, USN), USS Swordfish (T/Cdr. K.E. Montross, USN), USS Albacore (T/Lt.Cdr. H.R. Rimmer, USN), USS Peto (T/Cdr. R.H. Caldwell, Jr., USN), USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) all conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour. These included night exercises. Also participating in these exercises were the destroyer minelayer USS Ramsay (Lt. R.R. Pollard, Jr., USNR) and the destroyer escorts USS Connolly (Lt.Cdr. W.A. Collier, USNR) and USS Hemminger (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Bodler, USNR)

22 Oct 1944
During 22/23 October 1944, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour. These included night exercises.

24 Oct 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour.

27 Oct 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour.

1 Nov 1944
Around 1530VW/1, the submarines USS Finback (T/Cdr. R.R. Williams, Jr., USN) and USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) departed from Pearl Harbor their 11th and 1st war patrols respectively. They were to proceed to Midway to top off with fuel and from their proceed to their patrol area which were off the Bonin Island and off the Kurile Islands respectively. On their departure from Pearl Harbour they were escorted until around 1900VW by the patrol vessel USS PC-483 (Lt. R.W. Anderson, USNR).

1 Nov 1944
[No daily noon position are mentioned in the patrol report of the 1st war patrol of USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN), therefore no map can be displayed.]

5 Nov 1944
Around 0930Y/5, the submarines USS Finback (T/Cdr. R.R. Williams, Jr., USN) and USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) arrived at Midway from Pearl Harbour. They were then both taken in hand for some voyage repairs.

6 Nov 1944
At 1527Y/6, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) departed Midway for her patrol area.

At 1835Y/6, she made a trim dive to 100 feet. A leaky joint in the air conditioning circulating water line developed which was beyond the capacity of the ship to repair themselves so course was set to return to Midway to effect repairs.

7 Nov 1944
At 0838Y/7, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) arrived back at Midway.

8 Nov 1944
At 0728Y/8, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) again departed Midway for her patrol area.

At 0756Y/8, the bow planes were rigged out for a test. A coupling in the exterior bow plane rigging gear shaft was carried away so again course was set to return to Midway where she arrived at 0835Y/8.

9 Nov 1944
At 0630Y/9, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) again departed Midway for her patrol area. Third time lucky as no defects developed this time.

17 Nov 1944
Around 1030I/17, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) entered her patrol area and set course to make landfall off Diana Strait.

19 Nov 1944
At 1228I/17, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) sighted two sampans crossing Kita Uruppu Suido at a range of 3000 yards. Position was 46°43'N, 151°20'E.

26 Nov 1944
At 0827I/26, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) sighted a ship in high periscope. USS Dragonet then submerged to commence an approach.

By 0921I/26, the ship had closed to 1500 yards and was now identified as the Russian tanker Sovetskaya Neft (8228 GRT, built 1929). She showed the correct markings. Photographs were taken through the periscopes after which USS Dragonet broke off the approach. Position was 47°10'N, 146°15'E.

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At 1350I/26, a freighter was sighted coming out of a rain squall at a range of 4 miles. USS Dragonet submerged and commenced an approach. Position was 46°56'N, 145°45'E.

At 1423I/26, the freighter disappeared into a snow squall. Dragonet then surfaced and commenced an end around.

At 1540I/26, Dragonet submerged ahead of the target. Visibility was very poor due to intermittend snow squalls. The target was on a steady course at 6 knots in heavy seas.

By 1600I/26, the range had decreased to 1200 yards and the target was identified as Russian which showed the prescribed markings and lights. Pictures were then taken from a range of 1500 yards and it was thought the ship was the Lunacharskiy (6085 GRT, built 1920).

At 1615I/26, USS Dragonet surfaced and resumed her patrol.

27 Nov 1944
Around 1057I/27, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) sighted the mast of a vessel bearing 248°T and picked up screw on the same bearing. Changed course and commenced a submerged approach. Position was 46°37'N, 146°09'E.

At 1124I/27, the target was identified as a small sampan. The approach was broken off and USS Dragonet resumed her patrol.

28 Nov 1944
At 0330I/28, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) sighted a white light bearing 008°T. Commenced tracking. Position was 46°49'N, 146°17'E.

At 0359I/28, radar contact was obtained on the target.

At 0422I/28, range had decreased to 4000 yards and the target was identified as a Russian freighter carrying proper identification and running lights. Broke off the approach and resumed patrol.

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At 1317I/28, smoke was sighted on the horizon bearing 330°T. Commenced tracking with high periscope. Position was 46°49'N, 146°17'E.

At 1453I/28, the ship was identified as a medium seized freighter with three smaller vessels in company. Commenced an end around.

At 1627I/28, USS Dragonet arrived in a position ahead of the target group. Commenced approach. Sunset had been at 1530I/28.

At 1717I/28, lights of the target were seen.

At 1807I/28, range had closed to 2500 to 3500 yards from the group which were identified as a Russian freighter with three trawlers. These were probably a floating cannery and tenders. The freighter was thought to be the Skala (6600 GRT, built 1920). USS Dragonet then resumed patrol.

9 Dec 1944
At 1758I/9, in position 51°20'N, 155°30'E, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) sighted the loom of a vessels light bearing 330°(T) at a range of about 15 miles. Started to close on all four engines.

At 1842I/9, USS Dragonet made out Russian identification lights and broke off the pursuit.

10 Dec 1944
At 2200I/10, in position 51°56'N, 156°03'E, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) sighted the identifying lights of a Russian ship bearing 110°(T). Started to close in investigate.

At 2210I/10, the range was 8000 yards and a positive identification could be made.

At 2226I/10, USS Dragonet resumed patrol the the westward of Kamchatka.

15 Dec 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) is damaged when she runs aground south of Matsuwa Island, Kuriles. As a result of the damage sustained she is forced to terminate her patrol.

0717I/15, in position 47°57'5"N, 153°08'5"E, when 6 miles to the south of Matsuwa Island and returning to 100 feet from 63 feet after periscope observation. While at 70 feet, on course 090°(T), speed 2 knots, with 2° dive angle a slight jar was felt and the submarine broached to 58 feet. This was thought to have been caused by an aircraft bomb. Negative tank was flooded and speed was increased to gain depth. Rigged for depth charge attack. Hung at 90 feet with 20° dive angle, heavy grinding sounds forward and repeated jars, realized that we had run aground. The forward torpedo room reported flooding. Collision quarters and abandoned forward room. Blew all main ballast tanks and put pressure on compartment salvage air to forward room. Forward room was reported completely flooded. The submarine rose to 65 feet with very large dive angle and then began to sink again. As we were afraid the stern would get clear of the water and be sighted from Matsuwa, ordered all main ballast tanks flooded. Settled at 92 feet with 16° dive angle and pounding badly. Great concern was felt for the heavy pounding and grinding sounds that continued. It was considered essential to get off before the submarine started breaking up.

At 0732I/15, it was reported that water was receding in the forward torpedo room.

At 0735I/15, the forward main ballast tank group and safety tank were blown. Angle began to level off and the submarine rose slowly so then the after main ballast group was blown.

At 0738I/15, USS Dragonet surfaced under the eyes of the Japanese shore installations on Matsuwa. Started to clear the area on all four engines at best speed. Course was set to return to Midway.

18 Dec 1944
At 1555L/18, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) made rendezvous with the armed yacht USS Beryl (Lt.(jg) L.C. Radtke, USNR) which was on a weather reporting station to the north of Midway. To escort the damaged submarine to Midway the patrol vessel USS PC-570 (Lt. A.F. Medbery, USNR) had been sent out but she failed to make rendezvous with the damaged submarine.

20 Dec 1944
At 0831Y/20, the damaged USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) ended her 1st war patrol at Midway. At Midway emergency repairs were made in the floating dock ARD-1 for which she was docked later on the same day, but she was ordered to proceed to the Mare Island Navy Yard to make full repairs.

23 Dec 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) is undocked.

She departed Midway for Pearl Harbour later the same day around 1511Y/23.

26 Dec 1944
Around 1530X/26, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN), which was on passage from Midway to Pearl Harbour, and USS Haddo (T/Lt.Cdr. F.C. Lynch, Jr., USN), which was on passage to Pearl Harbour from a patrol off the Philippines to Pearl Harbour via Saipan, joined company.

27 Dec 1944
At 0620W/27, the submarines USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN), which was on passage from Midway to Pearl Harbour, and USS Haddo (T/Lt.Cdr. F.C. Lynch, Jr., USN) which is on passage to Pearl Harbour from a patrol off the Philippines to Pearl Harbour via Saipan, were joined by the patrol vessel USS PC-603 (Lt. S. Powel, Jr., USNR) which was to escort them into Pearl Harbour.

But before they could do so they were to be joined by the submarine USS Gar (T/Lt.Cdr. M. Ferrara, USN) which is on passage to Pearl Harbour from a patrol off the Philippines to Pearl Harbour via Saipan. She joined at 0812W/27 after which the submarines and their escort proceeded to Pearl Harbour arriving around 1115W/27.

29 Dec 1944
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) departed Pearl Harbour for the Mare Island Navy Yard.

4 Jan 1945
USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) arrived at the Mare Island Navy Yard from Pearl Harbour.

26 Mar 1945
With her repairs, modifications and post refit trials completed, USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN), departed the Mare Island Navy Yard for Pearl Harbour.

2 Apr 1945
USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) arrived at Pearl Harbor from the Mare Island Navy Yard. At Pearl Harbour she was taken in hand for voyage repairs and some more alterations by the submarine tender USS Bushnell (T/Capt. H.C. Fish, USN).

7 Apr 1945
USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour.

9 Apr 1945
During 9/10 April 1945, USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) and USS Spikefish (T/Lt.Cdr. R.R. Managhan, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour with USS Pruitt (Lt. D.B. Harby, USNR) and USS Staff (Lt. W.A. Upton, USNR). These included night exercises.

12 Apr 1945
USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour.

13 Apr 1945
USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour.

14 Apr 1945
USS Ray (T/Cdr. W.T. Kinsella, USN), USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) and USS Spikefish (T/Lt.Cdr. R.R. Managhan, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour with USS Pruitt (Lt. D.B. Harby, USNR) and USS Harold C. Thomas (Lt. G. Cheshire, Jr., USNR).

15 Apr 1945
USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour.

19 Apr 1945
Around 1335VW/19, USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) and USS Spikefish (T/Lt.Cdr. R.R. Managhan, USN) departed from Pearl Harbor for their 2nd war patrol and 3rd war patrols respectively. Before proceeding to their patrol areas were to call at Guam for voyage repairs and to top off with fuel and provisions. On their departure from Pearl Harbour they were escorted by USS PC-782 (Lt.(jg) R.L. Essick, USNR) until 1930W/19.

19 Apr 1945
For the daily positions of USS Dragonet during her 2nd war patrol see the map below.

1 May 1945
Around 0545K/1, USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) and USS Spikefish (T/Lt.Cdr. R.R. Managhan, USN) made rendezvous with their escort to Guam, USS Doneff (Lt.Cdr. T.A. Graham, USNR). They arrived at Guam around 0930K/1, where both submarines were taken in hand for voyage repairs by the submarine tender USS Holland (Capt. C.Q. Wright, Jr., USNR).

3 May 1945
Around 1500K/3, USS Shad (T/Lt.Cdr. D.L. Mehlop, USN), USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr. R.K. Worthington, USN), USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) and USS Spikefish (T/Lt.Cdr. R.R. Managhan, USN) departed from Guam for their 10th, 9th, 2nd and 3rd war patrols respectively. They were escorted out until 1900K/3 by USS SC-1069 (Lt.(jg). C.M. Janicki, USNR).

The first three were ordered to patrol in the East China and Yellow Seas in a coordinated attack group together with USS Ray (T/Cdr. W.T. Kinsella, USN) which had already departed for patrol on 30 April 1945. T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN, of the USS Dragonet was the group commander. USS Spikefish was ordered to patrol to the east of Formosa and was not a member of the group. She parted company with the other submarines around 0420I/5.

17 May 1945
USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN), who suffers from extremely noisy bow diving planes, is assigned to lifeguard duties instead of operating in the more dangerous East China Sea / Yellow Sea area.

19 May 1945
Around 0400K/19, in approximate position 30°48N, 134°27'E, USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) and USS Billfish (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Farley, Jr., USNR) made rendezvous and USS Billfish then transferred a spare part to USS Dragonet by rubber boat.

29 May 1945
At 1535K/19, just to the north of position 33°35N, 141°55'E, USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) picked up a downed aviator.

1 Jun 1945
At 1306K/1, in the vicinity of position 32°38N, 136°55'E, USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) picked up a downed aviator.

5 Jun 1945
At 2204K/5, USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) and USS Razorback (T/Lt.Cdr. C.D. Brown, USN) made rendezvous. Five rescued aviators were then transferred to USS Dragonet by USS Razorback.

6 Jun 1945
At 0700K/7, USS Dragonet (T/Capt. J.H. Lewis, USN) and USS Pipefish (T/Cdr. W.N. Deragon, USN) made rendezvous. Six rescued aviators were then transferred to USS Dragonet by USS Pipefish.

USS Dragonet then set course for Guam.

10 Jun 1945
At 0830K/10, USS Dragonet (T/Cdr. J.H. Lewis, USN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Guam. She had been met at 0519K/10 by USS Doherty (Lt.Cdr. W.J. O'Brien, USNR) which then escorted her in.

USS Dragonet was then taken in hand for a tender refit by the submarine tender USS Proteus (T/Capt. C.N. Day, USN). The tender refit was completed on 25 June 194 and USS Dragonet commenced an eight day training programme of Guam.

29 Jun 1945
USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr. G.G. Hinman, USN) conducted noise trials and then exercises off Guam. The exercises were carried out with USS Seid (Lt. A.F. Craft, USNR).

30 Jun 1945
USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr. G.G. Hinman, USN) conducted exercises off Guam with USS Greenlet (T/Lt. R.B. Willhoite, USN), USS Seid (Lt. A.F. Craft, USNR) and USS PC-620 (Lt.(jg). M.E. Wiemers, USNR).

1 Jul 1945
USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr. G.G. Hinman, USN) and USS Scabbardfish (T/Cdr. F.A. Gunn, USN) conducted exercises off Guam with USS Greenlet (T/Lt. R.B. Willhoite, USN), USS Crouter (Lt. C.F. Braught, USNR), USS Seid (Lt. A.F. Craft, USNR) and USS PC-620 (Lt.(jg). M.E. Wiemers, USNR).

On completion of the day exercises USS Scabbardfish returned to Guam escorted by USS PC-620.

The other ships remained at sea for night exercises and returned to Guam on 2 July.

5 Jul 1945
USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr. G.G. Hinman, USN) and USS Spikefish (T/Lt.Cdr. R.R. Managhan, USN) conducted exercises off Guam with USS Greenlet (T/Lt. R.B. Willhoite, USN), USS Crouter (Lt. C.F. Braught, USNR), USS Seid (Lt. A.F. Craft, USNR) and USS YMS-357 (Lt. J.P. Potsch, USNR).

On completion of the day exercises USS Spikefish returned to Guam escorted by USS YMS-357.

The other ships remained at sea for night exercises and returned to Guam on 6 July.

8 Jul 1945
Around 1500K/8, USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr. G.G. Hinman, USN) and USS Spikefish (T/Lt.Cdr. R.R. Managhan, USN) departed from Guam for their 3rd and 4th war patrols respectively. They were ordered to patrol in the Bungo Straits area and East China and Yellow Seas respectively. They were escorted until darkness (around 1920K/8) by USS SC-669 (Lt.(jg) S.C. Allen, USNR).

The submarines parted company at 0800K/12.

8 Jul 1945
For the daily positions of USS Dragonet during her 3rd war patrol see the map below.

25 Jul 1945
At 0726I/25, USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr. G.G. Hinman, USN) picked up Lt.(jg) R.M. Applegate, USNR. A corsair pilot from USS Bennington (T/Capt. B.L. Braun, USN). He was in an excellent condition.

8 Aug 1945
At 0100I/8, USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr. G.G. Hinman, USN) made rendezvous with USS Whale Lt.Cdr. F.H. Carde, 3rd., USN) and transferred the pilot she had picked up earlier.

12 Aug 1945
USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr. G.G. Hinman, USN) departed her patrol area / lifeguard station for Saipan.

17 Aug 1945
Around 0230K/17, USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr G.G. Hinman, USN) and USS Entemedor (T/Cdr. W.R. Smith, Jr., USN) made rendezvous.

Around 0600K/17, they were joined by the escort to Saipan, USS SC-1318 (Lt.(jg) E.L. Campbell, USNR).

They arrived at Saipan around 1130K/17.

18 Aug 1945
Around 1400K/18, USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr G.G. Hinman, USN) departed Saipan for Midway. She was escorted by USS LCI(L)-1062 (Lt. W.O. Crawford, USNR) until 1830K/18.

19 Aug 1945
At 1614K/19, USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr G.G. Hinman, USN) is ordered to proceed to Pearl Harbour instead of Midway.

26 Aug 1945
At 1955X/26, USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr G.G. Hinman, USN) joined USS Billfish (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Farley, Jr., USNR) and USS Macabi (T/Cdr. A.H. Dropp, USN).

27 Aug 1945
Around 1015W/27, USS Billfish (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Farley, Jr., USNR), USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr G.G. Hinman, USN) and USS Macabi (T/Cdr. A.H. Dropp, USN) arrived at Pearl Harbour ending their 8th, 3rd and 1st war patrols.

They had been joined around 0520W/27, by USS PC-485 (Lt. J.D. Swan, USNR) which escorted them in.

30 Aug 1945
USS Dragonet (T/Lt.Cdr G.G. Hinman, USN) and USS Mapiro (T/Cdr. V.A. Sisler, Jr., USN) departed Pearl Harbour for San Francisco where they arrived on 6 September 1945.

Media links


U. S. Submarines in World War II

Kimmett, Larry and Regis, Margaret


U.S. Submarines Through 1945

Friedman, Norman


amazon.co.uk
(£ 56.95)

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