16 April 1945As USS Launce enters Pearl Harbor there are eight naval aviators among the men assembled on her deck.
Standard Report Format
Boat ID: USS Launce
Successful Patrol: Yes
Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 1
Number of Non-Capital Warships Sank: 1
Capital Ships Sank: 0
Total Tonnage Destroyed: 1,200
Special Assignment Completed: Yes, 8 aviators rescued
Refit Time: 1 Month, ready Jun 45
Awards Requested:
Naval Commendation ribbon for LCdr Michael Bowers
Gold Star to Combat Patrol Insignia for crew
3rd Battle Star for Submarine
Narrative:Launce departed Pearl Harbor for our third war Patrol on 1 March. Enroute to our assigned patrol area we heard the news about the liberation of Manila on the 3rd and the bombing of Tokyo on the 9th. We were off the coast of Iwo Jima when it fell on the 16th.
By 17 March we were in position off Kyushu, prepared to conduct Lifeguard operations for naval airstrikes on the airfields near Nagasaki. The planned strikes took place on the 18th, and Launce successfully pulled eight aviators out of the drink.
With our lifeguard duties complete, we headed up the Japanese coast, encountering a small freighter (800 tons) departing Yokohama under escort by a 28-GO (400 tons) the night of the 24th. I conducted a surface attack at medium range, firing two Mk14s at each target. The 28-GO evaded one fish and one of the torpedoes fired at the freighter proved to be a dud. Still, the other two fish did the job and both vessels disappeared in large fireballs.
Heading for home, a blip appeared on the radar screen on the 31st. Proceeding to investigate, we instead ran across an IJN Nell. Fortunately the lookouts were sharp and Launce dived before being detected.
On 1 April we heard about the landings on Okinawa, the reason for the March 16th attacks on the Nagasaki airfields. Another radar contact on 3 April also proved to be unreliable, Launce finding no targets despite an extensive search.
News of the sinking of the IJN super-battleship, Yamato on the 7th cheered us, though it was quickly supplanted by more sobering news: the discovery of the Nazi camp at Buchenwald on the 10th and the damage to Enterprise and Missouri off Okinawa on the 11th. Our ‘passengers’ were especially upset at the news about Enterprise, several of them hailing from her. Perhaps the most sobering news of all was the death of the President on the 12th. It was a somber crew that stood on the deck as Launce entered Pearl Harbor on 16 April.
With no damage or casualties, Launce should be ready to start her fourth war patrol in June.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael Bowers, LCdr, USN, commanding
USS Launce