EARL
RAYMOND BAUMGART
Rate/Rank
MOMM2 (SS)
SIGNIFICANT DUTY STATIONS
NAVAL TRAINING STATION, GREAT LAKES, IL
SUB SCHOOL NEW LONDON, CT
ADVNAT TRASCH (DIESEL) GREAT LAKES, IL * USS R-4
USS FLIER SS-250 - SUNK BY MINE, BALABAC STRAIT, SOUTH OF PALAWAN
SUBDIV 182 (RELIEF CREW) MARE ISLAND, CA
SIGNIFICANT AWARDS
ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL
PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL
SUBMARINE COMBAT PATROL INSIGNIA
SERVICE MEMORIES
Earl Raymond Baumgart MOMM2 (SS) USNR went through Naval Training Station, Great Lakes and volunteered for submarine duty. After Submarine School at New London, CT, he was assigned to engineering duty as a Fireman Apprentice (FA). That school assignment sent him back to NTS Great Lakes for Motor Machinist Mate (MOMM) School. Next, he was sent to an Advanced Training School for diesel submarine engines. He then was sent to a fleet submarine, the USS R-4, for on the job training. Assigned to the USS Flier SS-250, he was aboard in time for her second war patrol. For this Combat Patrol She was assigned to the Borneo-Southern Philippine area to intercept merchant targets and targets of opportunity.
Traversing the Balabac Strait between the two countries, she struck a mine and sunk within a minute. Of the 86 crew members 14 survived the sinking, including the Commanding Officer, CDR Crowley, the Executive Officer, LT Liddell, and 12 others. In the water for up to 15 hours, they swam to the nearest land, Mantangula Island. Only eight made it; Baumgart was one of those few survivors. No water was found on the island and the survivors shared two coconuts between them while they built a raft. They paddled and swam holding on to the raft, finally reaching Bugsuk Island in the Philippines. Friendly fishermen took them to the Philippine guerillas who then escorted them to a Coast Watchers Group. With the Coast Watchers' radio it was arranged for the USS Redfin SS-272 to pick up the survivors along with American and British people who had been hiding on the island since the war in the Philippines started. They were delivered to Australia, completed a formal inquiry into the loss of the USS Flier, and were reassigned to full duty status.
Earl Raymond Baumgart was released from active duty 12/28/1945 with the admonishment to report to his Draft Board. He returned to his home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He died in 2005 and is buried at the Brookfield Memorial Park, Milwaukee.
Submitted by Doug Bewall RMCM USN Ret.
