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The United States Navy Memorial

Navy Memorial Honoring the Men & Women of the Sea Services

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Tullibee

Ship Designation: 
SS-284
Date Lost: 
Sunday, March 26, 1944
Runaway Torpedo Explosion
Tullibee arrived on her station off Palau for a fourth patrol on March 25, 1944. The next day, despite poor visibility in squally weather, she spotted a convoy of three freighters/troop carriers and three escorts. She made several approaches on the surface but was unable to see the targets. ... Since she had an acceptable fire control solution, she finally fired two torpedoes blind. A minute later, a tremendous explosion occurred. The single survivor, who was blown off the bridge, stated after the war that this was not due to any action by the escorts, since they were not in the vicinity. He was convinced that the explosion resulted from a circular run by one of Tullibee’s own torpedoes.

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 80

Name Service Branchsort descending
MOMM 2c John Betsill USN
Sea 1c William Hoefler USN
TM 3c Laurence Kidwell USN
PhM 1c Henry Thacker USN
Ens Powel Saterfield USN
SC 2c Lionel Blanchard USN
F 1c Charles Heath USN
TM 3c Theodore Keener USN
CEM George Ticknor USN
MOMM 1c Robert Roby USN
Cdr Charles Brindupke USN
MOMM 3c Marvin Hall USN
MOMM 1c Henry Keating USN
EM 1c Kirk Stearns USN
CCS Walter Schoenrock USN
TM 3c Melvin Britt USN
Sea 1c Donald Graham USN
RM 2c Frederick Kisman USN
Sea 2c Howard Strachan USN
F 1c Howard Seibert USN

Pages

Prepared by: J.P.O’Hara, CDR, USN (Ret.)