The U.S.S. Barb a 311 foot, Gato class submarine was a pioneer, the first sub to launch missiles and it flew a 'battle' flag unlike any other U.S. ship. In addition to the Medal of Honor ribbon at the top of the flag identifying the heroism of its Captain, Commander Eugene "Lucky" Fluckey, and at the bottom of the flag an image of a Japanese train locomotive.
THATS RIGHT THIS SUB SANK A TRAIN!
0400 18, July 1945 in Patience Bay, off the coast of Karafuto, Japan. Commander Fluckey peered over the map spread before him. It was the Barbs 12th war patrol and the fifth under his command. He was to turn the subs command over to another skipper after four patrols but, made a deal with Admiral Lockwood to make a fifth trip whith the men he cared for like a father. Of course no one suspected when he had struck that deal prior to his fourth and should have been his final war patrol, that Commander Fluckey's success would be so great that he would be awarded the Medal of Honor. Commander Fluckey remembered that patrol. "LUCKY" Fluckey they called him. On 8, January the Barb had emerged victorious from running a two-hour night battle after sinking a large enemy ammunition ship. Two weeks later in Mamkwan Harbor he found more than 30 enemy ships. In only 5 fathoms (30 feet) of water his crew unleashed the sub's forward torpedoes, then turned and fired 4 from the stern. As he sped away in dangerous waters to the open sea, he recorded eight direct hits on six enemy ships.
What could be left for this Commander to accomplish who, just three months earlier had been in /Washington D.C. to receive the Medal of Honor? He smiled as he looked again at the map showing a rail line that ran along the enemy coastline. His crew was excited about bagging a train! The rail line would not be a problem. A shore party could go ashore under cover of darkness to plant explosives, a 55-pound scuttling charge. But, this early morning Cmdr. Fluckey and his officers were puzzled as to how they could blow the tracks, but also one of the frequent trains shuttled supplies for the Japanese war machine. As crazy as the idea was he didn't want to risk the lives of his men in the process. Electricians Mate Billy Hatfield came up with the idea of letting the train blow itself up! All we need is a micro switch, a battery and detonater set under the track to let the weight of the locomotive BLOW ITSELF UP? That way we don't set it off, the train will. Not only did Billy have the plan, he wanted to go shore with the volunteers. Solution found, no shortage of volunteers; all that was needed was, proper weather... Some cloud cover to darken the moon and the operation was a go.
Commander Fluckey established his criteria for the volunteer party: [1] No married men would be included, except for Hatfield, [2] The party would include members from each department, [3] The party would be split evenly between regular Navy and Navy Reserve sailors, [4] at least half the men had to be Boy Scouts, experienced in handling medical emergencies and proficient in wood lore. FINALLY, Cmdr. Fluckey would lead the party.
The names of the 8 selected sailors was announced it was greeted with a mix of excitement and disappointment. Among the disappointed was Cmdr. Fluckey who surrendered his opportunity at the insistance of his officers that as commander of the Barb he belonged with the boat. Along with a threat from one of his officers that "I swear I'll send a message to to ComSubPac if the Skipper tries to join the shore party".
In the mean time there would be no harassing of Japanese shipping or shore operations by the Barb until the train mission had been accomplished. The crew ould 'lay low' to prepare their equipment, practice, plan and wait for the weather.
22, July 1945, Patienc Bay [ Off the coast of Karfuto, Japan]. Waiting in 30 feet of water was wearing thin the patience of Cmdr. Fluckey and his inovative crew. Everthing was ready. During these four days the crew watched the skies for cloud cover, checked and rechecked their equipment. With the need proposed for a pick and shovel the boats engineering department made what was needed from steel in the decking of the engine room. they bent and welded the parts as needed.
The only things beyond their control was the weather and time. Only five days left on the Barbs patrol. Watching the skies the skipper noticed plumes of cirrus clouds, then white stratus capping the mountain peaks ashore. A cloud cover was building to cover the three quarters moon. THIS WOULD BE THE NIGHT!
0000, 23, July 1945; The barb had crept to witin 950 yards of the shoreline. No one would suspect an American sub so close to shore or in such shallow water.The small boats were lowered slowly into the water and after 25 minutes the shore party was on Japanese soil. On their homeland! Through the waist high grass,crossing a highway and into a 4 foot high drainage ditch, the party made their way to the tracks. Three men were posted as guards.Murkuson climbed a nearby water tower.He stopped in shock as he found it was an enemy OCCUPIED lookout tower. Fortunately the guard was peacefully sleeping. Markuson was able to quietly slip away to warn the party. The news of the guard caused the men that were digging to go slower and quieter. Twenty minutes later, the team finished hiding the charges in the freshly dug soil. Withe the explosives in place all were to retreat while Hatfield made the last connection. It was the only order they refused to obay. they wanted to make sure it was 'right."
0135, Watching from the deck Cmdr. Fluckey saw the signal from the beach that the shore party was under way. Fluckey skillfully guided the Barb within 600 yards of the beach. There was only 6 feet under her keel but, he wanted to be close in case trouble arose and a daring rescue of his men became necessary.
0145, The two boats were only half way back when the sub's machine gunner yelled. 'CAPTAIN'! There's a train coming up the tracks! The Commander grabbed a megaphone and yelled to the boats, "Paddle like the devi"!, knowing they would not reach the Barb before the train hit the micro switch.
0147, The darkness was shattered by a brilliant light.. and the roar of the explosion! The boiler of the locomotive blew, throwing pieces of the locomotive over 200 feet in the air.Behind it the railroad freight cars accordioned into each other, bursting into flame and adding to the display
Five minutes later the landing partiy was lifted to the deck by their comrades as the Barb eased slowlyback to the safety of the deep. Moving at only two knots, it would be a while before the Barb was into deep enough waters to submerge. The skipper announced on the intercom, "All hands below deck not needed to to maneuver the ship have permission to come topside". The crew did not have to be told twice to get topside for a view. On her return to home port the Barb flew a broom on her mast head to signal a 'clean sweep' and a job well done!
I salute the Crew of the USS Barb. They ALL went above and beyond the call off duty. Her "skipper", the officers and men could have just made a slow trip home. The shore party did not have to volunteer to go ashore on the enemies "homeland" to blow up a train. The original story called the shore party " saboteurs". These men went ashore in US Navy uniforms 'of the day'. Not dressed as civilians. They did what they were trained to do, destroy the enemy, were you can, how you can and by what ever means you can! This is noteable as the only combat ground operation that took place on the Japanese home islands.