RATON SS-270 SHIPMATES STORIES AND/OR COMMENTS

Obviously, there was no answer to these possibilities.  Lapon then attempted to contact the unknown submarine by sonar including plain language, referencing nick names that only a U S submarine skipper would reconginze.  No responses were received so the decision was made that we would battle surface and quickly clear the area.  This was accomplished with no complications or contacts.  We proceeded towards Perth, as we only had two torpedoes and had informed Headquarters of the episode by sending a message which stated "missed, repeat missed a possible friendly submarine with two torpedoes." The days events were not quite over yet as Lapon headed South towards Perth via Karimata Strait.  The high scope picked up a US Submarine approaching, the two of us approached like sniffing dogs with many changes of course to ensure eyeball recotgnition.  The approaching submarine was USS Gunnel commanded by Jack McCain.  When we got within hailing distance we told him we had fired two torpedoes possibly at Jim Davis in Raton whereupon Jack said, I hope you didn't sink him as I'm supposed to meet him later." Upon arrival in Perth the Raton sailors maintained that we had hit them with a dud, as a large dent in the hull was found when she was in dry dock and that they had been really shaken up by the end of run explosions. The momory of the deathly silence that prevailed on Lapon during the four-minute torpedo run will never be forgotten.  The episode was one that all wanted to forget and to my knowledge, other than Roscoe's book Submarine, had never been reported until Jim Davis's fine article in Shipmate.

USS RATON SS-270 SHIPS PARTY POLLY'S INN NORWICH, CT 16 FEB 1946

POEM The night is cold and still As ye go rolling up the hill Ye destination for a time so jolly Is an Inn administered by Polly Remember Ace The mighty micks and his whole crew Will gather there for a hellava stew There will be women, beer and whiskey To make the evening mighty risky Remember Ace Those with sweethearts and with dates Those married guys with their mates Bouton and Bailorucki do not forget As they, unlike Schmitz, are not gone yet Remember Ace When slopping begin at the bar Be polite use a glass instead of a jar Best ye be gentle laid to rest With Cameran, Adock, and the best Remember Ace When the old man tries to dance Give him plenty of room to prance As yet, well, ye know him not Hence a seventy two may be forgot Rembmer Ace When the chow you do devour Rembmer La-Vertu who cooked by the hour To produce more than just a stew Such as recommended by Mr. Lou Remember Ace And should you be provoked to fight Get outside in the dark dark night There slug it out toe to toe Then broadcast to who should know Rembmer Ace, and Tanner, the Doc And how Villa was mistaken for a rock Remember the broken chair and table And that's the end of this little fable Rembmer Ace By LT. Michael U. Moore USN