The WWII submarine that saved downed pilots right under Japan’s nose

USS Razorback’s Pilot Rescue Missions Near Japan

The USS Razorback wasn’t just a hunter in the Pacific. By May 1945, this submarine took on a new job – saving downed pilots near Japan’s coast.

The crew risked it all, surfacing in enemy waters to pull American airmen from certain death. On May 25, they saved Lieutenant Colonel Taylor after his P-51 went down.

Just days later, they rescued four B-29 crew members shot down over Kobe.

These submarines formed a rescue chain every 100 miles from Japan to Allied bases, while dodging new Japanese tactics designed to sink them.

The USS Razorback now waits at North Little Rock, where you can tour the actual compartments where rescued “zoomies” once found salvation.

Admiral Lockwood Changed How Subs Fought the War

Charles Lockwood took over Pacific submarine forces in January 1943 and quickly made big changes. He went beyond just sinking enemy ships.

When Charles Alan Pownall suggested using submarines to pick up downed pilots during air attacks, Lockwood listened. As American planes flew more bombing runs over Japanese territory, this rescue need grew.

Lockwood’s open mind to new ideas saved hundreds of lives.

The Birth of a Rescue Network at Sea

Submarines soon formed what sailors called the “Lifeguard League,” creating floating rescue spots for pilots in trouble.

The Navy put these subs between aircraft carriers and targets, giving pilots a place to ditch damaged planes where help waited. This rescue job became second only to sinking Japanese ships.

By war’s end, submarine crews had pulled 504 airmen from the sea.

Early Rescues Faced Deadly Communication Problems

The first rescues hit major snags when submarines and aircraft couldn’t talk to each other properly. This led to friendly fire where American planes attacked the very submarines sent to help them.

USS Seawolf and USS Dorado may have sunk from American aircraft during these mixed-up early operations. The Navy fixed this by creating air patrols that protected rescue submarines and helped spot pilots in the water.

USS Razorback Joins the Fight in the Pacific

The Portsmouth Navy Yard in Maine built USS Razorback, sending her into service on April 3, 1944. She ran aground during training before Commander Roy S.

Benson took over. After reaching Pearl Harbor on August 4, 1944, crews fixed her weapons and put her through more training.

By August 25, she headed out on her first combat patrol as part of a three-submarine team nicknamed the “Dog Pack.

Razorback Cuts Her Teeth on Combat Missions

During her second patrol in November 1944, Razorback damaged the freighter Kenjo Maru and sank the destroyer Kuretake in the Luzon Strait.

On her third patrol in February 1945, she moved to the East China Sea where her crew sank four wooden ships using deck guns. They even caught three Japanese sailors and brought them to Guam as prisoners.

Stationed Near Japan’s Coast as a Floating Ambulance

On May 7, 1945, Razorback got new orders: rescue duty in the Nanpō Islands and Tokyo Bay. This fourth patrol put her very close to Japan’s home islands.

American submarines formed a rescue chain with boats spaced every 100 miles from Japan back to Saipan, where B-29 bombers flew from. Her crew spotted many Japanese planes and new tricks the enemy used to hunt submarines.

A Fighter Pilot Gets Pulled from Rough Waters

Razorback’s crew jumped into action on May 25, 1945, when Lieutenant Colonel Charles E. Taylor, a P-51 fighter pilot, went down.

Lieutenant W. H. Pattillo and Motor Machinist’s Mate D. D. Langford jumped into rough seas to help Taylor. The rescue happened despite choppy water and a nearby reef that could damage the submarine.

Submariners called downed pilots “zoomies” and their fighter escorts “chickens.

Four B-29 Crewmen Rescued After Kobe Bombing Run

On June 5, 1945, Razorback pulled four B-29 Superfortress crewmen from the water after their bomber crashed during a raid over Kobe, Japan. Staff Sergeant A.

J. Liberi from the bomber “MASCOT 31” was among those saved. This type of rescue was still fairly new.

The first B-29 crew rescued by a submarine happened less than six months earlier when USS Spearfish picked up airmen on December 19, 1944.

Japanese Pilots Try New Tricks to Catch Rescue Subs

During her rescue patrols, Razorback’s crew spotted Japanese pilots using new tricks to catch submarines. Enemy planes would circle slowly over areas where they thought submarines hid.

The crew also believed they saw a new weapon: air-dropped anti-submarine torpedoes.

Luckily, Razorback’s new SD-5 air search radar spotted aircraft more than 50 miles away instead of just 10 miles with older gear.

Alaska-Based Planes Get Their Own Submarine Guardian

Razorback left Midway on July 22, 1945, for her fifth patrol in the Okhotsk Sea.

Between sinking six wooden cargo ships, she served as a rescue station for planes flying from Alaska to bomb northern Japanese islands.

Though she spent many hours on rescue duty near Paramushiro island, no pilots needed help during this patrol. The crew also spotted Russian ships but followed orders not to attack them.

From Rescuer to Witness of Japan’s Surrender

On August 31, 1945, Razorback entered Tokyo Bay alongside 11 other submarines to watch Japan formally surrender.

Just days earlier, on August 29, an unidentified Japanese submarine fired a torpedo at Razorback despite the August 16 cease-fire. Razorback’s crew dove to safety but didn’t fire back.

The submarine earned a special honor as one of only 12 submarines chosen to witness the surrender ceremony that officially ended World War II.

Visiting USS Razorback

You can visit USS Razorback at 120 Riverfront Park Drive in North Little Rock on Friday through Sunday from 10am-5pm. Guided submarine tours cost $10 for adults, $5 for kids 5-12, and $7.

50 for seniors and military. Children under 5 can’t go on the submarine for safety reasons.

The submarine stays 90% operational and authentic, so you’ll need to climb a 14-foot ladder. They offer sleepover programs for groups of 10-35 people.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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