WWII Coast Guard Grumman Duck crash site located after 70 years

"THE TAKE OFF: The Coast Guard amphibian plane (J2F) has been put over the side, and Lieutenant John A. Pritchard, Jr. and Radioman Benjamin A. Bottoms, ready for the take-off, scan the Greenland icebergs over which they have spent so many hours of hazardous flying in their single-engine plane.  They successfully rescued two of the U.S. Army fliers and met their death in an attempt to rescue the [sic] third flier."; no date; Photo No. (Rel. No.) 06-19-43 (03); photographer not listed.

NEW YORK – The Defense Department's Joint POW/MIA Personnel Accounting Command said an exhaustive search by an expedition team of U.S. Coast Guardservice members and North South Polar, Inc. Scientists and explorers has produced sufficient evidence that the crash site of a WWII Coast Guard Grumman Duck rescue aircraft missing for 70 years with three men aboard, beneath the ice near Koge Bay, Greenland, has been found, Coast Guard officials announced Monday.

By using historical information, ground penetrating radar, a magnetometer and metal detection equipment, the expedition team isolated the location where the aircrew crashed on Nov. 29, 1942. The team then melted five six-inch-wide holes deep into the ice and lowered a specially designed camera scope. At approximately 38 feet below the ice surface in the second hole, the team observed black cables consistent with wiring used in WWII-era J2F-4 amphibious Grumman aircraft.

Further analysis of video from the camera scope and photographs captured by a member of the expedition team revealed additional aircraft components similar to those found in the engine area of the J2F-4 Grumman Duck.

“Locating the J2F-4 Grumman Duck was a monumental success,” said Cmdr. Jim Blow, from the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Aviation Forces. “Collectively, the Coast Guard and NSP accomplished what the Coast Guard set out to achieve in 2008 when efforts began to locate the Duck.”

For nearly three years, Coast Guard and NSP have been working together on this project researching historical documentation about the last flight of U.S. Coast Guard Lt. John Pritchard, Petty Officer 1^st Class Benjamin Bottoms and U.S. Army Air Force Cpl. Loren Howarth aboard the Duck.

“The three men aboard this aircraft were heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country,” Blow added. “The story of the Grumman Duck reflects the history and the mission of the Coast Guard, and by finding the aircraft we have begun to repay our country’s debt to them.”

Information was obtained, analyzed and cross-referenced to formulate the primary points of interest to search during the course of the Coast Guard-sponsored expedition.

Once at the remote location on Greenland’s southeast coast, the joint 17-member Coast Guard/NSP teams, consisting of safety personnel and scientific analysts, searched 10 POIs, nine with negative results.

It wasn’t until the end of the seven-day

15 Dec 1944: USS Hawkbill sank Japanese Destroyer Momo

15 Dec 1944: USS Hawkbill sank Japanese Destroyer Momo

On 15 December 1944, USS Hawkbill (SS 366) sank the Japanese destroyer Momo west of Luzon.

From the files of Naval History & Heritage Command 

Hawkbill (SS-366) was launched by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, Wis. 9 January 1944; sponsored by Mrs. F. W. Scanland, Jr., and commissioned 17 May 1944, Lt. Comdr. F. W. Scanland, Jr., in command.

Following a period of training on the Great Lakes, the submarine departed 1 June 1944 from Manitowoc to begin the long journey down the Illinois River and finally by barge down the Mississippi. She arrived New Orleans 10 June and, after combat loading, sailed 16 June for training out of the submarine base, Balboa, Canal Zone. With this vital training completed, she arrived Pearl Harbor 28 July for final preparations before her first war patrol.

Departing 23 August, the submarine steamed via Saipan to her patrol area in the Philippine Islands in company with Baya and Becuna. In October HawkWl shifted patrol to the South China Sea and, while approaching two carriers 7 October, was forced down by violent depth charging by Japanese destroyers. Two days later she attacked a 12-ship convoy with Beouna, damaging several of the ships. HawKbill transited heavily patrolled Lom-bok Strait 14 October, and terminated her first patrol at Fremantle, Australia on the 17th.

In company with Becuna and Flasher, the submarine departed for her second patrol 15 November bound for the area north of the Malay Barrier. She encountered a convoy 15 December and sank destroyer Momo with six well-placed torpedoes during a night attack. Finding few contacts—a testament to the effectiveness of the American submarines—HawKbill headed once more for Lombok Strait. This time she was sighted by a patrol craft, but cleverly maneuvered into a rain squall. The submarine was then fired- upon by shore batteries before passing out of range. Hawkbill returned to Fremantle 5 January 1945.

On her third war patrol beginning 5 February, the submarine returned to Lombok Strait to turn the tables on her former pursuers. Her torpedoes sank two submarine chasers 14 February, and she added some small craft before turning for the South China Sea. Hawkbill detected a convoy 20 February ; after engaging one escort with gunfire, she sank 5,400-ton cargo ship Daizen Maru with a spread of torpedoes. The rest of her patrol brought no targets; she arrived Fremantle 6 April 1945.

Departing on her fourth patrol 5 May, HawKbill served on lifeguard station for a B-24 strike on the Kangean Islands north of fabled Bali. She arrived 16 May on her patrol station off the coast of Malaya, and soon afterward encountered minelayer Hatsutaka heading south along the coast. She attacked and obtained two hits, causing severe damage. The ship was observed next morning being towed to the beach. At a range of almost 5,000 yards, Hawkbill fired three more torpedoes into the shallow waters and broke the ship in half, sinking a familiar enemy of submarines operating on the Malayan coast. After further patrol off Malaya and in the Gulf of Siam, she arrived Subic Bay 18 June 1945.

Hawkbill departed for her fifth and last war patrol 12 July. Returning to the coast of Malaya, she attacked a convoy 18 July. Her first torpedoes missed, and an hour later a depth charge attack of unusual accuracy and intensity began. HawKbill was blown partially out of the water by a perfectly placed pattern and damaged considerably ; but by hugging the bottom with all machinery secured, she eluded the attacking destroyers. After a stay at Subic Bay for repairs, she steamed to Borneo to rendezvous with Australian Army officers for a special mission. HawKbill destroyed two radio stations with her deck guns, landed commandos at Terampha Town, and destroyed shore installations. After reconnaissance of Anambas Island, also in the South China Sea, the versatile submarine returned to Borneo 13 August.

Following the surrender of Japan, HawKMll sailed to Pearl Harbor, departing 22 September 1945 for San Francisco. She decommissioned at Mare Island 30 September 1946 and joined the Reserve Fleet. Brought out of reserve in 1952, Hawkbill was loaned to the Netherlands under the Military Assistance Program 21 April 1953 and now serves as Zeeleeuw (S-803).

Hawkbill received six battle stars for World War II service. All five of her war patrols were designated successful, and she received a Navy Unit Commendation for her outstanding performance on patrols 1, 3, and 4.

USS Utah Memorial, Joint Base Pearl Harbor.

PEARL HARBOR (Dec. 6, 2012) Musician 3rd Class Shelby Tucci, assigned to the Pacific Fleet Band, plays Taps during a sunset ceremony at the USS Utah Memorial, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Utah was sunk during the surprise Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Diana Quinlan/Released)