Escolar (SS 294)

[ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]

Escolar (Cdr. W.J. Millican) departed Pearl Harbor on 18 September 1944, to proceed to Midway to top off with fuel. There she joined Croaker and Perch and left on 23 September to conduct a coordinated patrol (Escolar's first patrol) in the Yellow Sea north of 30°-00'N. Commander Millican was in command of this coordinated attack group, which was designated "Millican's Marauders."

W.J. Millican
W.J. Millican

On 30 September, when Escolar was estimated to be about north of the Bonin Islands, the following partial message was received from her: "This from Escolar X attacked with deck gun boat similar to ex-Italian Peter George five OTYI--." Although no further transmissions have ever been received by bases from Escolar, who was forced to break off the transmission and the engagement with the gunboat at this time, the Commanding Officer of Croaker has stated that she suffered no damage and was in frequent communication with Perch and Croaker until 17 October 1944.

Perch reported that on 17 October she had received a message from Escolar stating that she was in position 33°-44'N, 127°-33'E, and was heading for Latitude 33°-44'N, Longitude 129°-06'E. Neither Perch nor Croaker could raise Escolar by radio after this transmission was received.

Had Escolar left her area on the scheduled date, she would have arrived at Midway about 13 November 1944. All attempts to contact Escolar failed and she was reported on 27 November 1944 as presumed lost. It is assumed that she was lost about 17 October. Information supplied by the Japanese on antisubmarine attacks gives no clue as to the cause of her loss, but the Yellow Sea area is thought to have been mined. A course line plotted between the two positions given above does not cross any known Japanese mine lies, but positions of mines laid before April 1945 are not definitely located. The known minefields in Tsushima Strait were laid in April 1945. However, there were mines in the general area of Escolar's predicted position, and the most likely explanation for her end at present is that she detonated a mine.

Cramp's Yard, Philadelphia
Cramp;s Yard, Philadelphia

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U.S.S. Escolar (SS-294)
Name Rate   Name Rate
Abram, Lloyd L.
Anders, Donald W.
Babb, Thomas
Bailey, Laurence L.
Balfe, Donald L.
Becker, Frederick E.
Bender, Joseph J.
Blaha, Frank
Bones, Robert E.
Bonk, Benjamin W.
Brabham, Charles E.
Broecker, Glenn J.
Brouskie, Frank
Brown, Eugene E.
Cahill, Joseph M.
Calabrese, Richard L.
Caldwell, William T., Jr.
Campbell, Kenneth S.
Cheosky, Michael J.
Cifrondella, Joseph J.
Clary, John W.
Coleman, Donald E.
Cummings, Joe M.
Daniels, Ludwik C., Jr.
Ennis, Joseph F.
Evans, Benjamin
Farrar, R.L.
Farwell, John C.
Fine, Francis J.
Fostair, Jack E.
Fox, Lynn B.
Fulton, Delbert A.
Gancarz, Walter
Glading, Donald H.
Gorecki, Adam E.
Hahn, Fred L.
Hampton, Calvin L.
Hill, C.J.
Horodynski, Edward S.
Jeffrey, Losson V.
MoMM2
RM3
LT
CEM
TM2
EM3
PhM1
LCDR-XO
F1
S2
CRM
RT2
EM1
F1
MoMM3
TM3
TM1
RM1
EM3
TM2
CMoMM
QM3
MoMM1
QM2
S1
StM1
LT
CY
TM2
QM2
RT1
MoMM1
EM1
MoMM3
CCS
TM3
QM1
LT
FC2
LTJG
    Johnson, James G.
Kellam, James H.
Killough, Dan C.
Komes, Harold B.
Krause, Fertig B., Jr.
La Rue, Vere J.
Latham, H.C.
Lieder, Anthony
Lyons, William C., Jr.
Masloski, Joseph
McCloskey, Thomas D.
Miller, Stanley D.
Millican, William J.
Morris, John J.
Munsel, James M.
Newton, Raymond B., Jr.
Norford, Robert N.
O'Connell, John A., Jr.
Pennington, Beryl L.
Phillips, Daniel W.
Raley, James A.
Romond, John L.
Searls, R.W.
Shirah, Robert A.
Slavik, Joseph A.
Smith, Arthur R.
Smith, Bryant T.
Spoust, Donald
Tokarchek, Anthony
Trensch, Howard
Tucker, John B.
Tucker, Thomas E.
Turner, Richard C.
Valentino, Ralph
Velten, William
Wallace, Goodwyn M.
Wells, Nicholas P.
Whitehouse, John H.
Wybrow, Richard W.
Yaworsky, Walter
Zumar, Andrew
MoMM3
EM2
MoMM1
SC2
SM1
S1
LTJG
MoMM1
MoMM2
F1
RM2
CEM
CDR-CO
S1
MoMM3
CTM
F1
MoMM1
CMoMM
F1
StM2
MoMM3
LTJG
EM3
F2
S1
F1
Bkr3
GM1
EM3
S1
F1
EM2
MoMM2
TM3
TM1
S1
ENS
SC3
TM3
S1

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