USS FLIER SS 250

USS FLIER SS 250 Gato Class

August 13, 1944 - 78 Men Lost. Sunk by enemy mines.

From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Flier
The round sunfish widely known in the United States.

(SS-250: dp. 1,526; l. 311'9"; b. 27'3"; dr. 15'3"; s. 20 k.; cpl. 60; a. 1 3", 10 21" tt.; cl. Gato)

Flier departed Fremantle on August 2, 1944, on her second and final war patrol near the coast of Indochina. On the evening of August 13, 1944, as she transited Balabac Strait on the surface, she was rocked by a great explosion from contact with an enemy mine. She sank 1 minute after striking the mine, but 13 officers made it into the water. Eight of them reached the beach of Mantangula Island after 15 hours in the water. Friendly natives guided them to a coast-watcher, who arranged for them to be picked up by submarine, and on the night of August 30-31, 1944, they were rescued by Redfin (SS-272).

Flier received one battle star for World War II service. She is credited with having sunk the 10,380-ton Japanese transport Hakusam Maru during her first war patrol.