USS Bowfin (SS-287): 83 Years Since the Commission of the “Pearl Harbor Avenger”

On May 1, 1943, the USS Bowfin slipped into service as one of the United States Navy’s most formidable weapons of the Pacific War. Commissioned at Portsmouth Navy Yard exactly 83 years ago today, this Balao-class fleet submarine would go on to become a legend among the silent service—ranking 17th in tonnage sunk and 15th in the number of enemy vessels destroyed among all 188 World War II submarines that saw combat.

The Birth of a Predator

The journey to commissioning began urgently. Just days after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Portsmouth Navy Yard received orders to construct a new generation of submarines. The USS Bowfin’s keel was laid on July 23, 1942, and she was launched exactly six months later on December 7, 1942—a poignant date marking both the attack on Pearl Harbor and the submarine’s entry into the world. That symbolic launch date would foreshadow her legendary status: USS Bowfin would earn the nickname “Pearl Harbor Avenger,” a tribute to her role in exacting vengeance on Japanese forces throughout the Pacific War. In just under five months, she was combat-ready and commissioned, ready to answer the call for retribution that resonated throughout the Navy.

Engineering Excellence

The Balao-class represented a significant leap forward in submarine technology. USS Bowfin displaced 2,415 tons when submerged and stretched nearly 312 feet in length. Her most critical upgrade over the preceding Gato-class was revolutionary: thicker, higher-yield strength steel in the pressure hull skin and frame, which increased test depth to 400 feet—giving her greater operational flexibility and survivability in deep waters.

Her combat capabilities were impressive for the era. Ten torpedo tubes provided devastating firepower, with rack space for 14 reloads. On the surface, she could reach 20.25 knots; submerged, she managed 8.75 knots—fast enough to attack convoys and escape pursuing destroyers. These specifications made her among the most effective submarines of World War II.

Nine Patrols, a Legacy Forged

Between 1943 and 1945, USS Bowfin undertook nine war patrols across the Pacific. Her commanding officers’ records reflect extraordinary success: 34 large vessels sunk, 10 more under 500 tons, and damage inflicted on 33,934 tons of enemy shipping across five large vessels and two smaller craft. In total, USS Bowfin is credited with sinking or damaging 213,580 tons of enemy shipping—a remarkable combat record.

A Living Monument

Today, USS Bowfin rests at the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum Park in Pearl Harbor, just miles from where the Pacific War began. Visitors can descend into her narrow passages, stand in her control room, and glimpse the cramped quarters where her brave crew operated. She stands as a tangible reminder of the sacrifice and ingenuity of the submariners who fought the hidden war beneath the waves.

The commissioning of USS Bowfin on May 1, 1943, marked the beginning of a submarine that would prove instrumental in the Pacific victory. Among the 265 Balao-class submarines ordered and 119 completed during the war, she remains one of the most celebrated—a testament to superior engineering, fearless leadership, and the indomitable spirit of the American submarine force.

Click Image

63rd Annual Thresher Memorial

Bowfin News | April 2026

USS Thresher (SSN 593) was laid down on 28 May 1958 by the Portsmouth (N.H.) Naval Shipyard; launched on 9 July 1960; sponsored by Mrs. Frederick B. Warder; and commissioned on 3 August 1961, Commander Dean W. Axene in command.

Following trials the nuclear attack submarine took part in Nuclear submarine Exercise (NUSUBEX) 3-61 off the northeastern coast of the United States from 18 to 24 September.
 
On 18 October; the submarine headed south along the east coast. After calling at San Juan, Puerto Rico, she conducted further trials and test-fired her torpedo system before returning to Portsmouth on 29 November. The ship remained in port through the end of the year and spent the first two months of 1962 evaluating her sonar system and her Submarine Rocket (SUBROC) system. In March, the submarine participated in NUSUBEX 2-62, an exercise designed to improve the tactical capabilities of nuclear submarines, and in anti-submarine warfare training with Task Group ALPHA.
 
Off Charleston, the ship undertook operations observed by the Naval Antisubmarine Warfare Council, before she returned briefly to New England waters from whence she proceeded to Florida for SUBROC tests. However, while mooring at Port Canaveral, the submarine was accidentally struck by a tug which damaged one of her ballast tanks. After repairs at Groton, CT, by the Electric Boat Company, the ship returned south for more tests and trials off Key West. Thresher then returned northward and remained in dockyard hands through the early spring of 1963.

In company with SKYLARK (ASR 20), Thresher put to sea on 10 April 1963 for deep-diving exercises. In addition to her 16 officers and 96 enlisted men, the submarine carried 17 civilian technicians to observe her performance during the deep-diving tests.
 
Fifteen minutes after reaching her assigned test depth, the submarine communicated with SKYLARK by underwater telephone, apprising the submarine rescue ship of difficulties. Garbled transmissions indicated that – far below the surface – things were going wrong. Suddenly, listeners in SKYLARK heard a noise “like air rushing into an air tank” – then, silence.
 
Efforts to reestablish contact with Thresher failed, and a search group was formed in an attempt to locate the submarine. Rescue ship RECOVERY (ARS 43) subsequently recovered bits of debris, including gloves and bits of internal insulation. Photographs taken by bathyseaph TRIESTE proved that the submarine had broken up, taking all hands on board to their deaths in 1,400 fathoms of water, some 220 miles east of Boston.

THRESHER was officially declared lost in April 1963.
 
Submarine Safety (SUBSAFE) – After the Thresher incident, a court of inquiry and the Joint Congressional Committee on Atomic Energy hearings concluded that a flooding casualty in the engine room, resulting from a piping failure in one of the sea-water systems, was the most probable cause. On 3 June 1963, the SUBSAFE program was established within the Bureau of Ships to develop the Submarine Safety Certification Criterion, outlining the minimum actions required to provide a satisfactory level of confidence in the integrity of submarine systems and the adequacy of certain depth-control capabilities. The first effort to apply additional rigor in design, manufacturing, operation, and maintenance to a subset of critical systems within the nuclear submarine, the program’s goal was to provide maximum reasonable assurance of hull integrity to preclude flooding, and the operability and integrity of critical systems and components to control and recover from a flooding casualty, should one occur. The Bureau of Ships issued a certification criterion addressing design, material, fabrication, testing, and record keeping on 20 December 1963.
 
Since the inception of the SUBSAFE Program in 1963, only one submarine has been lost.  USS Scorpion (SSN 589) was lost in May 1968 with 99 officers and men aboard. She was not a SUBSAFE certified submarine and the evidence indicates that she was lost for reasons that would not have been mitigated by the SUBSAFE Program. We have never lost a SUBSAFE certified submarine.

April 2023 Proceedings – Was the Thresher Ready for Sea?

Navy Celebrates 133 Years of the Chief Petty Officer

The history of the U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer (CPO) is a story of leadership, tradition, and evolution within the Navy’s structure. Below is an overview of its key milestones:

Establishment of the Rank

  • The rank of Chief Petty Officer was officially established on April 1, 1893, marking a pivotal moment in the Navy’s history. This date is celebrated annually as the “Navy Chief’s birthday.”
  • The creation of the rank addressed a leadership gap between officers and enlisted sailors, providing a senior enlisted rank to bridge this divide and enhance career advancement opportunities for enlisted personnel.
  • Initially, the rank included nine specialties, such as boatswain’s mate, gunner’s mate, and machinist. Over time, it expanded to encompass other roles like electrician and radioman.

Role and Responsibilities

  • CPOs were tasked with providing leadership, training junior sailors, and ensuring discipline and operational readiness aboard ships. They became known as the “backbone” of the Navy.
  • Chiefs are expected to be technical experts in their fields and uphold Navy traditions while mentoring both junior and senior personnel.

Evolution of the Rank

  • In 1958, two additional pay grades were introduced: Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8) and Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9), further formalizing the enlisted leadership structure.
  • The first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON), Delbert D. Black, was appointed in 1967, serving as a senior enlisted advisor to Navy leadership.

Historical Contributions

  • During World Wars I and II, CPOs played critical roles in training recruits, maintaining equipment, and leading combat operations. They were instrumental in submarine campaigns and major invasions like Normandy.
  • Roberta L. Hazard became the first female Chief Petty Officer in 1972, breaking barriers for women in the Navy.

Traditions and Legacy

  • CPOs are considered “caretakers” of Navy history and traditions. Over the decades, Chiefs have been entrusted with preserving Navy heritage and instilling the core values—Honor, Courage, and Commitment—in generations of Sailors, shaping today’s Navy.
  • The Career Compensation Act of 1949 standardized pay for all CPOs and eliminated distinctions between temporary (“acting”) and permanent appointments by 1965.

The rank of Chief Petty Officer remains a cornerstone of U.S. Navy leadership, symbolizing professionalism, expertise, and dedication to service.

102 Years of Pride: The Submarine Warfare Insignia – Approved for Wear 24 March 1924

This March marks the 102nd anniversary of a proud milestone in our Silent Service: the approval for wear of the Submarine Warfare Insignia, forever known to every qualified submariner as the “Dolphins”.

On 24 March 1924, Acting Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., gave final approval to the design that would identify those who had earned the right to serve beneath the waves. What began as a suggestion in June 1923 from Captain Ernest J. King (later Fleet Admiral and Chief of Naval Operations during World War II) became our enduring symbol of qualification, sacrifice, and brotherhood.

The design – a bow view of a surfaced O-class submarine flanked by two dolphins (actually the powerful dolphinfish, or mahi-mahi) resting on the bow planes – was crafted by the Philadelphia firm Bailey, Banks & Biddle. It was no accident that dolphins were chosen; these swift, intelligent creatures of the deep have long symbolized the sea and the unbreakable bond of those who dare to challenge it.

From that day forward, every officer and enlisted man who qualified in submarines wore the Dolphins with honor – gold for officers, silver for enlisted – on the left breast, a visible mark that they had mastered the most demanding duty in the Navy. Enlisted versions first appeared embroidered on sleeves before transitioning to the metal pin we know today.

Whether gold or silver, the Dolphins still mark the same truth they did in 1924: only those who have qualified know the true weight of the watch, the depth of the commitment, and the unbreakable bond of the Silent Service.

To all who wear them – past, present, and future – fair winds and following seas. May we continue to honor those who earned them first and those who still earn them today.

With Perpetual Remembrance and Eternal Vigilance!

D-Day 81st Anniversary – All Gave Some, Some Gave All, Lest We Forget!

Video

June 6, 2025

On June 6th, 1944 Allied soldiers, in one of the most pivotal battles of World War II, invaded the French coastline in order to propel German soldiers out of Western Europe and lead the way for victory against the tyrants of that era. Overlord was the largest air, land, and sea operation undertaken before or since June 6, 1944. The landing included over 5,000 ships, 11,000 airplanes, and over 150,000 service men.

 After years of meticulous planning and seemingly endless training, for the Allied Forces, it all came down to this: The boat ramp goes down, then jump, swim, run, and crawl to the cliffs. Many of the first young men (most not yet 20 years old) entered the surf carrying eighty pounds of equipment. They faced over 200 yards of beach before reaching the first natural feature offering any protection. Blanketed by small-arms fire and bracketed by artillery, they found themselves in hell.

 When it was over, the Allied Forces had suffered nearly 10,000 casualties; more than 4,000 were dead. Yet somehow, due to planning and preparation, and due to the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of the Allied Forces, Fortress Europe had been breached.

National D-Day Memorial

The National D-Day Memorial is a war memorial located in Bedford, Virginia. It serves as the national memorial for American D-Day veterans. However, its scope is international in that it states, “In Tribute to the valor, fidelity and sacrifice of Allied Forces on D-Day, June 6, 1944” and commends all Allied Armed Forces during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944 during World War II.

National D-Day Memorial Webpage
National D-Day Memorial Video

The “Bedford Boys”

The memorial, bordering the Blue Ridge Mountains in southwestern Virginia, is an area of over 50 acres that overlooks the town of Bedford.

Thirty-four Virginia National Guard soldiers from the town of Bedford were part of D-Day. Nineteen of them were killed during the first day of the invasion, and four more died during the rest of the Normandy campaign. The town and the “Bedford Boys” had proportionately suffered the greatest losses of the campaign, thus inspiring the United States Congress to establish the D-Day memorial in Bedford.

The Bedford Boys included three sets of brothers: twins Roy and Ray Stevens, with Ray killed during the landing while Roy survived, Clyde and Jack Powers, with Jack killed and Clyde wounded but surviving, and Bedford and Raymond Hoback, both killed. The losses by the soldiers from Bedford were chronicled in the best-selling book “The Bedford Boys” by Alex Kershaw, and helped inspire the movie Saving Private Ryan.

The X-Craft and D-Day

The landing at Normandy has come to mark the “beginning of the end” of the war in Europe. The Higgins landing craft has become synonymous with the invasion as the boat that won the war. However, one type of vessel that is often forgotten from the narrative is the British midget submarines that played a key role in the landing efforts.

Preparations for D-day were extensive. Operation Neptune, the codename for cross-channel portion of the invasion, under Neptune was Operation Gambit, the use of two X -class British submarines that would mark the ends of the British and Canadian invasion beaches.

The submarine could carry a four-man crew and remain at sea for days. She could dive up to 300 feet. Due to her small size, the X-craft had only one access hatch and a small periscope that was mostly unreliable. Navigation was done through a Browns A Gyro Compass and Auto Helmsman. The X-craft could either be towed by a conventional submarine or launched from the deck of a submarine to reach its intended target. Two 3,570-lb mines were attached to its sides. A hand crank could release them when they were positioned below the hull of an enemy ship. The small crew consisted of one commanding officer, a first lieutenant, an engineer, and a diver.

Two X-class submarines would return to the beaches of Normandy leading up to the invasion to help aid in what would become the eventual downfall of the German troops. HMS X-23 and HMS X-20 would be the first vessels off the shores of Normandy leading up to the attack. Arriving on June 4, the X-crafts fixed their positions and waited for nightfall to surface to begin their mission. It wasn’t until they surfaced that they received the message that the operation had been postponed due to bad weather.

On 6 June at 0445 the submarines surfaced in rough seas. They set up the 18 feet high navigation beacons that each were carrying and switched them on. These shone a green light indicating their position away from the coast, visible up to 5 miles away although undetectable to anyone on land. They used the radio beacon and echo sounder to tap out a message for the minelayers approaching Sword and Juno beaches. The incoming fleet appeared on time and roared past them.

Operation Gambit was a success, the British and Canadian forces were able to land on their respective shores without falling off course or hitting any rocks, thanks to the beacons from the X-crafts.

While the X-20 and X-23, served only a minor role in the D-Day invasion, it shows the vital role a submarine can play in a nation’s arsenal.

57th Anniversary USS Scorpion (SSN 589)

Bowfin News | May 2025

The USS Scorpion (SSN-589) was a Skipjack-class nuclear-powered submarine that sank in 1968. The circumstances surrounding its loss remain mysterious and have been the subject of various theories and investigations. The submarine was declared missing on May 27, 1968, after failing to return to its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia. The U.S. Navy had lost contact with the Scorpion on May 21, 1968, and by the night of May 22, 1968, there was significant concern about its status. The Navy waited until May 27 to officially declare the submarine missing, but by that time, the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) had already detected the breakup of the Scorpion’s hull as it sank beyond its crush depth.

The cause of the Scorpion’s loss has been the subject of much speculation, with theories ranging from a torpedo accident to a Soviet attack. The Navy’s official inquiry, completed in 1969, was unable to determine the specific cause of the loss. However, it listed accidents involving the Mark 37 torpedo as three of the most probable causes, including a hot-running torpedo, an accidentally or deliberately launched weapon, or the inadvertent activation of a torpedo by stray voltage.

The incident occurred during a period of heightened tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, and some theories suggest that the loss of the Scorpion could have been related to this geopolitical context. The USS Scorpion was part of the U.S. Navy’s fleet during the Cold War, and its loss was a significant event during this era.

The sinking of the USS Scorpion remains one of the most significant submarine losses in U.S. Navy history, with the loss of 99 crew members and two nuclear weapons. The incident has been a subject of ongoing interest and speculation, reflecting the challenges of operating submarines in the deep ocean and the risks associated with nuclear technology.

View of the sunken submarine’s bow section, on the Atlantic Ocean floor 10,000 feet deep, some 400 miles southwest of the Azores. Probably taken when Scorpion was located by USNS Mizar (T-AGOR-11) in October 1968. This image shows the top of the bow section, from the vicinity of the sail (which has been torn off)at left to the tip of the bowat top center. The torpedo room hatch is visible about half-way along the length of this hull section, with a lifeline track running aft from it.
Wreck of USS Scorpion (SSN-589) Atlantic Ocean (August 1986)….Depth 10,000 feet, 400 miles southwest of the Azores; stern view of the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Scorpion (SSN-589) showing the upper portion of the rudder (with draft markings) and the port stern plane. Note that the … after portion of the engine room section (has been) telescoped into the machinery room. The ribs of the stern planes can be seen due to the deformation of the metal covering them.
Wreck of USS Scorpion (SSN-589) Atlantic Ocean (August 1986)….Depth 10,000 feet, 400 miles southwest of the Azores; A view of the detached sail of the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Scorpion (SSN-589) laying on the ocean floor. The starboard fairwater plane is visible protruding from the sail. Masts are visible extending from the top of the sail (located at the lower portion of the photograph). A large segment of the after section of the sail, including the deck access hatch, is missing. Various articles from the operations compartment are scattered in this vicinity.

Ernie Pyle 80th Anniversary Memorial

Aloha,

On April 18, 2025, the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation will host the Ernie Pyle 80th Anniversary Memorial in Honolulu at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. This ceremony is to commemorate the death of World War II Scripps-Howard feature columnist and war correspondent Ernie Pyle, who was killed in 1945. 

This tradition was established in 1949, the year Ernie Pyle was interred at the Punchbowl National Cemetery in Honolulu. At the time, a eulogy was written and read by Buck Buchwach, the editor of the Honolulu Advertiser. This carried on every 5 years until the 1990s. In 2015, the Ernie Pyle LegacyFoundation renewed the ceremony, to continue every 5 years. In lieu of a 2020 event due to the pandemic, the VFW and American Legion held a belated ceremony in 2021.

Now in 2025, April 18th, known as Ernie Pyle Remembrance Day, is here. The ceremony to honorErnie will be held at 10am at the National Cemetery of the Pacific. The Memorial Address will be given by Suzanne Vares-Lum, the Director at Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies.Other notable speakers include Jason Seal, the VFW Senior Vice Commander and CR Drumheller, theCommander of the American Legion Post 17. 

Following the ceremony, the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation will be hosting a luncheon at 12pm at the Oahu Veterans Center. Members of the community and guests of the ceremony are invited to attend to continue the conversation about Ernie, and his positive impact on our world today.

In honor of Ernie Pyle Remembrance Day, we are also honoring all veterans, whom Ernie respected so dearly. We also want to recognize all journalists following in the footsteps of Ernie Pyle in their human interest storytelling, which is now more prevalent than ever. 

Written by Gerald “Jerry” Maschinogeraldm@erniepylefoundation.org.

Regards/
“CR” Drumheller

Ernie Pyle: The Voice of the American Soldier in World War II

Navy Celebrates 132 Years of the Chief Petty Officer

The history of the U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer (CPO) is a story of leadership, tradition, and evolution within the Navy’s structure. Below is an overview of its key milestones:

Establishment of the Rank

  • The rank of Chief Petty Officer was officially established on April 1, 1893, marking a pivotal moment in the Navy’s history. This date is celebrated annually as the “Navy Chief’s birthday.”
  • The creation of the rank addressed a leadership gap between officers and enlisted sailors, providing a senior enlisted rank to bridge this divide and enhance career advancement opportunities for enlisted personnel.
  • Initially, the rank included nine specialties, such as boatswain’s mate, gunner’s mate, and machinist. Over time, it expanded to encompass other roles like electrician and radioman.

Role and Responsibilities

  • CPOs were tasked with providing leadership, training junior sailors, and ensuring discipline and operational readiness aboard ships. They became known as the “backbone” of the Navy.
  • Chiefs are expected to be technical experts in their fields and uphold Navy traditions while mentoring both junior and senior personnel.

Evolution of the Rank

  • In 1958, two additional pay grades were introduced: Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8) and Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9), further formalizing the enlisted leadership structure.
  • The first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON), Delbert D. Black, was appointed in 1967, serving as a senior enlisted advisor to Navy leadership.

Historical Contributions

  • During World Wars I and II, CPOs played critical roles in training recruits, maintaining equipment, and leading combat operations. They were instrumental in submarine campaigns and major invasions like Normandy.
  • Roberta L. Hazard became the first female Chief Petty Officer in 1972, breaking barriers for women in the Navy.

Traditions and Legacy

  • CPOs are considered “caretakers” of Navy history and traditions. Over the decades, Chiefs have been entrusted with preserving Navy heritage and instilling the core values—Honor, Courage, and Commitment—in generations of Sailors, shaping today’s Navy.
  • The Career Compensation Act of 1949 standardized pay for all CPOs and eliminated distinctions between temporary (“acting”) and permanent appointments by 1965.

The rank of Chief Petty Officer remains a cornerstone of U.S. Navy leadership, symbolizing professionalism, expertise, and dedication to service.

“Dolphins” Turn 101 Years Old!

One of the earliest versions of the submarine warfare insignia, circa the 1920s.

The history of the U.S. Submarine Warfare Insignia, commonly known as “Dolphins,” dates back to 1923 when Captain Ernest J. King, then Commander of Submarine Division Three, proposed creating a distinctive badge for qualified submariners. He submitted a pen-and-ink sketch depicting a shield mounted on the beam ends of a submarine, flanked by dolphins forward and abaft the conning tower. The idea was strongly endorsed by the Commander of Submarine Division Atlantic and forwarded to the Bureau of Navigation (now Naval Personnel Command) for further development.

On March 20, 1924, the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation recommended adopting this design, which was approved by Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Acting Secretary of the Navy. Initially, the insignia was worn only while attached to submarine units or commands but later became a permanent badge for qualified submariners in 1941.

“Dolphins” symbolize the identity and prestige of submariners and are considered one of the Navy’s oldest and most challenging warfare badges to earn.

Qualification in submarines is a daunting task. However, once finished you become part of a fellowship that can only be understood by those who have done it themselves. That can only be truly recognized by the very small and special group of men that have the pride and honor of calling themselves SUBMARINERS.

Modern silver “dolphins” worn by enlisted members of the submarine force.

Dolphin History
Qualifying the Boat

World Premier – Shikata Ga Nai (It Cannot Be Helped)

On December 29, 2024 the Hawai’i production of “Shikata Ga Nai (It Cannot Be Helped)” premiered at the Moanalua High School Performing Arts Center.

Movie production was started just before the beginning of the COVID pandemic in 2019 and thus took five years to produce. It was supposed to premier in 2022, but due to all the COVID restrictions caused delay until now.

Storyline: It is 1999, and Tatsuo “Tats” Kaneshiro is a veteran of WWII living out his autumn days in the quiet seclusion of his suburban home in Hawaii. A member of the famed 442 RCT, the all Nisei (second generation Japanese American) infantry regiment that became the most decorated war unit in American history, Tats spends his time tending to his garden, watching television, and occasionally entertaining company like an old army buddy he plays chess with. His single parent daughter, Lynn, who has moved back home after her divorce, and attention deficit grandson, Ryan, live with him. But the peace that seemingly hovers over his daily existence masks his internal struggle. For though the war has been over for 50 years, Tats relives it every day due to a haunting secret about his time in battle that he has kept to himself. Inspired by the true life tendencies of many 442 veterans who have never told their families of their war experiences, “Shikata Ga Nai” tells of the battles that these now declining heroes have faced on their own without no one else knowing. Watch trailer HERE.

Bowfin Submarine Veteran Pat Suenaga volunteered to help for this movie premiere and provided the pictures below.

Premier Program

Bowfin SubVet Pat Suenaga
Moanalua High School Performing Arts Center Full Theater (700 Seats)
Check in desk manned by Mililani High School Students