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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Bonefish (SS-223)

Radio Call Sign: November - Bravo - Kilo - Foxtrot
Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 25 June 1942, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 7 March 1943; Commissioned USS Bonefish (SS-223), 31 May 1943; Final Disposition, sunk on 8th patrol by Japanese warship in Toyama Wan, west coast of Honshu, 18 June 1945, all hands lost.; Struck from the Naval Register, (date unknown). Bonefish received five Navy Unit Commendations and seven battle stars during World War II.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,424 t.; Length 311' 9"; Beam 27' 3"; Draft 15' 3"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Complement 6 Officers 54 Enlisted; Operating Depth, 300 ft; Submerged Endurance, 48 hrs at 2 kts; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10 kts; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 3"/50 deck gun, two .50 cal. machine guns, two .30 cal. machine guns; Propulsion, diesel electric reduction gear with four General Motors main generator engines, HP 5400, Fuel Capacity, 97,140 gals., four General Electric main motors, HP 2740, two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin propellers.
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Bonefish 408k Keel of the Bonefish (SS-223) being laid on 25 June 1942, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.Electric Boat photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
Photo enhancement courtesy of Tom Kermen.
Bonefish 195k Mrs. Daubin to Sponsor Sub Bonefish (SS-223) Sunday.Electric Boat photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
Bonefish 198k Two WAVES to Participate in Ceremonies to Select Sponsors for Sub Launchings. New London Day, 5 March 1943 photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
Bonefish 333k Fore Poppet of the Bonefish (SS-223) shown before her launch at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. on 7 March 1943.Electric Boat photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
Photo enhancement courtesy of Tom Kermen.
Bonefish 288k Topside looking forward of the Bonefish (SS-223), on the building ways at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 7 March 1943.
Also under construction from right to left are the Cod (SS-224), Cero (SS-225), & at extreme right Corvina (SS-226).
Directly under the photographer would have been the #1 way at the Old North Yard, which on 7 March would have been occupied by the keel of Sealion (SS-315).		 Electric Boat Co / USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org. Text i.d. courtesy of David Johnston (USN, retired)
Bonefish 244k Stern view of the Bonefish (SS-223) showing her starboard torpedo tubes, on the building ways at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 7 March 1943. Electric Boat Co/ USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Bonefish 237k Sponsors party for the launch of the Bonefish (SS-223) at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. on 7 March 1943. Mrs. Elizabeth Scott Daubin & Admiral Freeland Daubin.
This was the second time that Mrs.Daubin had launched a submarine. The L-1 (SS-40) left her on the launching ways at the Fore River shipbuilding yards at Quincy, MA. on 20 January 1915.		Electric Boat photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
Photo enhancement courtesy of Tom Kermen.
Bonefish 372k Mrs. Elizabeth Scott Daubin and her bouquet of flowers await the launch of the Bonefish (SS-223) at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. on 7 March 1943. Electric Boat photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
Photo enhancement courtesy of Tom Kermen.
Bonefish 346k Bonefish's (SS-223) sponsor, Mrs. Elizabeth Scott Daubin holds the bottle of champagne which will soon meet 1,526 tons of cold steel at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. on 7 March 1943. Electric Boat photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
Photo enhancement courtesy of Tom Kermen.
Bonefish 253k Billowy brew blows by Bonefish's (SS-223) bow as Betsy blasts a bottle of bubbly bye bye at her christening ceremony at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. on 7 March 1943. Electric Boat photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
Photo enhancement courtesy of Tom Kermen.
Bonefish 244k Flag draped bow view of the Bonefish (SS-223) just prior to her launching on the building ways at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 7 March 1943. Electric Boat Co/ USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Bonefish 178k Bonefish (SS-223), slides down the ways at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 7 March 1943. Electric Boat Co / USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Bonefish 25k Commemorative post mark from Bonefish's (SS-223) launching at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 7 March 1943. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Bonefish 27k Commemorative post mark from Bonefish's (SS-223) launching at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 7 March 1943. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Bonefish 376k Sub Bonefish (SS-223) Launched at Electric Boat Yard; Second Launching in Two Weeks.New London Day, 8 March 1943 photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
Bonefish 351k And Still Another Submarine to Worry The AxisNew London Day, 8 March 1943 photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
Bonefish 212k Two men, who are playing important roles in the submarine warfare, are shown here with their wives. Left to right - Rear Admiral Freeland A. Daubin, commander of submarines Atlantic; Mrs. L. Y. Spear, wife of the president of E.B. Co; Mrs. Daubin who sponsored the Bonefish (SS-223) and Mr. Spear.New London Day, 8 March 1943 photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
Bonefish 227k Bonefish (SS-223) is towed to dock on 15 March 1943. Electric Boat photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
Photo enhancement courtesy of Tom Kermen.
Bonefish 339k The national ensign is raised on the flagstaff of Bonefish (SS-223) as her crew salutes during her commissioning ceremony, 31 May 1943.USN photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
Photo enhancement courtesy of Tom Kermen.
Bonefish 43k Commemorative post mark from Bonefish's (SS-223) commissioning ceremony, 31 May 1943. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Bonefish 22k Bonefish (SS-223), underway, 1943. Courtesy of submarinesailor.comBoatsSS223Bonefish
Bonefish 128k Bonefish (SS-223), arriving at Pearl Harbor, before reporting to Australia, July 1943. USN photo.
Bonefish 102k Commander Thomas Wesley Hogan was the commanding officer of the Bonefish (SS-223) from 31 May 1943 to June 1944. He is the holder of the Navy Cross with two gold bars in lieu of the second and third awards, the Silver Star with one star in lieu of the second award, two Commendation Ribbons with bronze "V", and the Presidential Unit Citation with one star in lieu of second award. Commander Hogan is a member of the Naval Academy Class of 1931. Photo from the Atlanta CL-104 Naval Cruise Book from 1948, courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
Bonefish 164k Admiral Christy presenting a medal to Commander Thomas Wesley Hogan of the Bonefish (SS-223). USN photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
Photo enhancement courtesy of Tom Kermen.
Bonefish 218k (L to R) Chief Torpedoman, Commander Thomas Wesley Hogan and TWO Lieutenants of the Bonefish (SS-223).Photo i.d. courtesy of Ric Hedman.
USN photo courtesy of Mr. William "Randy" Everett (nephew) of McMM1c H. Vernon Miles, plankowner of the Bonefish (SS-223), K.I.A. with the rest of the 84 man crew of the Bonefish.
Bonefish 203k Submarine Combat Insignia awarded to McMM1c H. Vernon Miles. Photo i.d. courtesy of Ric Hedman.
USN photo courtesy of Mr. William "Randy" Everett (nephew) of McMM1c H. Vernon Miles, plankowner of the Bonefish (SS-223), K.I.A.. with the rest of the 84 man crew of the Bonefish.
Bonefish 277k Bonefish (SS-223) crew photo includes Electrician's Mate, Third Class John Frederick Parton, 1st row, 2nd on left, McMM1c H. Vernon Miles, second row from the bottom, fourth in from the left - he is the one with Miles stenciled on his shirt. Photo i.d. courtesy of Ric Hedman.
USN photo courtesy of Mr. William "Randy" Everett (nephew) of McMM1c H. Vernon Miles, plankowner of the Bonefish (SS-223), K.I.A.. with the rest of the 84 man crew of the Bonefish.
Bonefish 438k PDF of a day's work at the office: Bonefish (SS-223) on her 1st & 2nd patrols, October & December 1943. USN photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT & Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Photo enhancement courtesy of Tom Kermen.
Fremantle 101k Busy pier scene at Fremantle Australia 19 December 1943. From left to right, stern view to the camera are the Bonefish (SS-223), Rasher (SS-269), Bowfin (SS-287), Bluefish (SS-222), Narwhal (SS-167) and the sub tender Pelias (AS-14).
Second row, bow view are the Cod (SS-224), Tinosa (SS-283) and Crevalle (SS-291).
I believe the only time that photo could have been taken was 19 December 1943. The Tinosa was in Fremantle only once, from 16 December 1943 to 10 January 1944. During that brief window, the Bonefish had not arrived until 19 December and the Rasher departed 19 December so that is the single date all three submarines were ever in Fremantle port at the same time. 		Photo i.d. courtesy of Dan Goodell.
USN photo courtesy of Ric Hedman.
Charr 74k A 1944 Charcoal drawing by the artist Griffith Baily Coale entitled "Busy Fremantle--Busy Mother" is reminiscent of the above photo by Lt. Herb Hanson. Painting # 40 / 88-188-AN.
Courtesy of the USNHC.
Capelin 113k Painting entitled Homeward Bound by the artist E.V. Vandos, depicting Capelin (SS-289) on her homeward bound voyage to eternal patrol. The other submarine might be the Bonefish (SS-223) which would join her on eternal patrol on 18 June 1945.
Nothing has been positively heard from Capelin since she departed. However, Bonefish reported having seen a U.S. submarine at 1°-14'N, 123°-50'E on 2 December 1943. This position is in the area assigned to Capelin at this time. An attempt to reach Capelin by radio, on 9 December 1943, elicited no response. 		Photo & text courtesy of history.navy.mil.
Bonefish 398k While escorting a tanker convoy from Manila towards Balikpapan on 14 May 1944, Inazuma exploded after being struck by torpedoes launched by Bonefish (SS-223) in the Celebes Sea near Tawitawi at position 5°8'N 119°38'E / 5.133°N 119.633° / 5.133; 119.633. Her sister ship Hibiki rescued the 125 survivors, which did not include her captain, Commander Tokiwa.
Picture of Inazuma underway on 24 March 1936.		Photo & text courtesy of wikipedia via Tommy Trampp.
Bonefish 273k Bonefish (SS-223) Xmas Post card oil painting by Lloyds of Vallejo Art Studio.USN photo courtesy of Mr. William "Randy" Everett (nephew) of McMM1c H. Vernon Miles, plankowner of the Bonefish (SS-223), K.I.A.. with the rest of the 84 man crew of the Bonefish.
Bonefish 3.10k Bonefish (SS-223) returning to the submarine base in Fremantle, Australia at the end of her 4th war patrol on 30 May 1944. The photo was signed between 30 May 1944 and 2 August 1944. I base the August date on the signature of Jack Crowley on the photo. He and Flier (SS-250) were lost on the patrol starting from Fremantle on 2 August 1944. An unsigned copy can be viewed here. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Operation Barney
0828330		2.54k
Submarine Force Pacific Fleet...
extends to.....
membership in the distinguished order of...
Mighty Mine Dodgers
A small band of brave men of high courage who have completed with skill, ingenuity and tenacity a task that required a transit of the most dangerous of war waters through enemy minefields and penetrating what the Emperor of Japan considered his inviolate waters....The Sea of Japan. No weapon of Dai Nippon could halt these determined men. They did wilfully and with due knowledge of the dangers involved, carry out their assigned task to emerge from incontrovertible proof of the success of their daring, thus becoming members of the Mighty Mine Dodgers and thus entitled to all the rights and privileges thereof.
Let all men who read this scroll be forever grateful and respectful of those heroic American submariners who went in and especially to those who gave their lives in this operation. The job was superlatively well done.
Chas Lockwood
Vice Admiral
This was Operation Barney		Operation Barney link courtesy of Steven Trent Smith, World War II Magazine via navytimes.com
Photo courtesy of the family of Charles H Wagner Jr., TM2c (SS) USNR. Service from 1942-1946, aged 18-22, aboard S-37 (SS-142) & Tinosa (patrols 6-12).
Bonefish 53k Bonefish (SS-223), ship's legend. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Bonefish 605k Crew of the Bonefish (SS-223) pose for group photo.
Commander Edge is kneeling in the first row, 4th on the left.		USN photo courtesy of Sarah E. Shuler (daughter) & Lawrence L. Edge Jr. (son) of Lawrence Lott Edge, CO of the Bonefish (SS-223) K.I.A. with the rest of the 84 man crew of the Bonefish.
Bonefish 706k Medals that were awarded to Commander Lawrence Lott Edge.USN photo courtesy of Sarah E. Shuler (daughter) & Lawrence L. Edge Jr. (son) of Lawrence Lott Edge, CO of the Bonefish (SS-223) K.I.A. with the rest of the 84 man crew of the Bonefish.
Bonefish 573k Lawrence Lott Edge, Commander (Commanding Officer) of the Bonefish (SS-223), at the time of her loss while in the performance of Operation BarneyUSN photo courtesy of Sarah E. Shuler (daughter) & Lawrence L. Edge Jr. (son) of Lawrence Lott Edge, CO of the Bonefish K.I.A. with the rest of the 84 man crew of the Bonefish.
Coast Defense Vessel No. 17 213k Coast Defense Vessel No. 17, at Yokohama, 13 April, 1944, representative of three of the class of ships which sank the Bonefish (SS-223); Coast Defense Vessel No. 63, Coast Defense Vessel No. 75, & Coast Defense Vessel No. 207. Photo from A. J. Watts, "Japanese Warships of World War II", courtesy of Aryeh Weterhorn.
Bonefish 641k Western Union telegram dated 28 July 1945 informing Mrs. Sarah Simms Edge that her husband, Lawrence Lott Edge, Commander of the Bonefish (SS-223) is M.I.A.USN photo courtesy of Sarah E. Shuler (daughter) & Lawrence L. Edge Jr. (son) of Lawrence Lott Edge, CO of the Bonefish K.I.A. with the rest of the 84 man crew of the Bonefish.
Bonefish 984k Pictured here are targets seen through Bonefish's (SS-223) periscope.
In searching for more targets, Bonefish eventually found herself in the ASW report of CD-22 which participated in her sinking. 		Photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
PDF photos courtesy of Kiyotaka Asano.
Bonefish 66k Google Earth satellite photo of Toyoma Wan, Bonefish's (SS-223) last approximate position based during post-war debriefings. This position is thought to be the final resting place of the Bonefish and her crew.View courtesy of Google Earth.
Fremantle 365k This plaque was unveiled 20 March 1995 by His Excellency Major General P.M. Jeffery OA MC, Governor of Western Australia to commemorate the sacrifices made by Allied submarines that operated out of Fremantle, Western Australia during WW II. Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
Bonefish 81k Commemorative photo in honor of the memory of the crew of the Bonefish (SS-223).Photo courtesy of Tom Kermen.
Dante's Prayer courtesy of Loreena McKennitt via loreenamckennitt.com
Tolling the Boats 117k Joyce DaSilva, the wife of Jesse DaSilva of the Tang (SS-306), one of the nine survivors of the boat, tosses a flower into a reflecting pool to honor the memory of one of the 52 submarines lost during World War II at the National Submarine Memorial-West on board Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif. On this Veterans Day, the Submarine Veterans of World War II transferred ownership of the memorial to the U.S. Navy.

The following text is from The Coming Fury by Bruce Catton., pg. 478.
"Major Sullivan Ballou of Rhode Island was killed in the battle, and just before it he had wrote to his wife, Sarah, to tell her that he believed he was going to be killed and to express a tremulous faith that could see a gleam of light in the dark:
"But O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and float unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you in the gladdest days and in the gloomiest nights, always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your chest it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait, for we shall meet again!"		 Text i.d. courtesy of Marlynn Starring. Photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck Senior, Vice Commander, Los Angeles-Pasadena Base, USSVI.
USN photo # N-1159B-021 by Journalist 2nd Class Brian Brannon, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
Bonefish 284k Memorial wreath being laid over the site of the Bonefish (SS-223), on the west coast of Honshu by the crew of the Yorktown (CVA-10), 29 September 1961.

In Memorium:

In the Second Book of Shmuel (Samuel), 22nd chapter, 5th through the 20th verses, translated from the original in Hebrew and published by the Koren Publishers of Jerusalem, Israel, 1982, can perhaps aptly describe the fate of the crew and all other U.S. submariners who died defending their county:

"When the waves of death compassed me / the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; / the bonds of She'ol encircled me; / the snares of death took me by surprise; / in my distress I called upon the Lord, / and cried to my G-D: / and he heard my voice out of his temple, / and my cry entered into his ears. / Then the earth shook and trembled; /the foundations of heaven moved / and shook because of his anger /...the heavy mass of waters, and thick clouds of the skies /... And the channels of the sea appeared, / the foundations of the world were laid bare, / at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast at the breath of his nostrils. / He sent from above, he took me; / he drew me out of many waters; / he delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me. / They surprised me in the day of my calamity: / but the Lord was my stay / He brought me forth also into a large place: / he delivered me because he delighted in me./"		 USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org & Polaris Magazine, December 1961, through the kindness of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton, CT.
View the Bonefish (SS-223)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
On Eternal Patrol
ComSubPac Report of loss of USS Bonefish (SS 223) 18 June 1945 - 85 Men Lost
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
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