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17 May, T-1447 many distant depth charges, T-1714 many more. T-2000 surfaced, T-2008 SJ radar contact 29,000 yards, four radar pips. T-2040 got contact report out, BALAO receipted. T-2051 headed in, target now looks like a Frigate (PF). T-0038 began firing, range 3,100 yards. T-0043 no hits, believe they ran under. Target began firing guns wildly, probably seen torpedoes. T-0515 we dove. 18 May, message ordering us to Guam. 19 May T-2335 recognition signals with SEGUNDO. Message from BALAO, four contacts of 17 May, were part of a hunter/killer group working area. 19 May, exchanged signals with SEGUNDO. 20 May, T-0052 radar contact Danjo Gunto, 50,000 yards. T-0112 contact on Tori Shimi, 10,300 yards. T-1915 picked up Japanese rubber life raft. T-2050 transit Strait Tokara Gunto group. 21-23 May T-0245 exchanged signals with TIGRONE. 24-25 May T-0651 in company with STEELHEAD and DE-14 (escort), proceeding to Apra Harbor, Guam. T-1020 moored alongside tender PROTEUS. Rest camp was at Camp Dealy. NOTE: Remember many private 190 proof distilling companies running samples on the beach area. Raton was credited with sinking one medium tanker (AO) 6,000 tons, one medium cargo (AK) 100 tons, one medium transport (AP) 4,400 tons. The seventh patrol was designated "Successful". Duration of patrol 50 days. |
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Raton completed re-fit on 9 June 1945. 10-21 June conducted extensive training period for new Commanding Officer and crew. On 22 June, ready for sea. The eighth patrol was spent on "Lifeguard Duty" in the area south of Hong Kong. There was no worthy ship contacts. 22 June 1945 underway from Guam with DE-356 (escort). 23 June T-0533 sighted Anatahan Island, conducted 40MM, 20MM and .50 ca. firing drills. 24 June, T-0425 exchanged recognitions with MUSKALLANGE. 25 June, T-1405 conducted gun drills again. 26-27 June, T-2230 transit Batan Passage, T-2305 assigned Lifeguard Duty 114E-115E. 28 June enroute, exchanged signals with B-24. 29 June in northern part of area, sighted Lema Islands. 30 June, T-0652, sighted radio tower on Pratas Island, T-1500 exchanged calls with CARBONERO. 1 July on station near Lema Island, range 35 miles, manning lifeguard and VHF radio frequencies. 2-6 July, T-0427 loud starboard shaft squeel. 7-8 July patrol area between Lema Island and Kaipong Islands. 9-11 July, T-1400 XO and 1st LT went over the side to look at propeller and shaft, no visual defects seen. Believe squeel originating in strut. 12 June, large flight of B-24s, out top cover a B-17. 13 July, flights of P-38s, many B-24s. T-2325, shifting station East of Hainan Island. 14 July, sighted Hospital Ship, "John Island". Many B-24 flights. 15 July, T-0607 sighted Reef Island. 16-17 July on station T-1122 sighted our top cover, a B-17, talked to pilot. 18 July, new station, near Kaipong Isle. 19 July, message from CROAKER, our relief, designate rondezvous point, to transfer mail, receive patrol area data, frequencies, etc. 21 July, met with CROAKER exchanged all data, received mail. T-0630, departed for Subic Bay P.I. T-0715 test fired 40MM and 5"/25 cal. deck guns. 22 July, T-2200, received storm warningl, T-2300 struck by strong winds, heavy seas. 23 July, T-0107 sighted escort, ROMBACH DE-364. T-1042 moored alongside ANTHEDON, Subic Bay, P. I. This patrol was designated "not successful". We did not rescue any of the downed aircraft crews. |
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