- 4 months ago
During the attack on the Truk islands, the USS Tang stands by to rescue downed American pilots.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykes, retired.
00:30Welcome aboard for another true story of the silent service.
00:35I'm sure you'll be interested in the account of the Second War Patrol of the USS Tang,
00:41a submarine whose whole active service consisted of only five patrols.
00:46But during those five, Tang and her skipper, Captain O'Kane,
00:51hung up one of the greatest records of damage and destruction to enemy shipping
00:55ever credited to a submarine.
00:57Oddly enough, this is the patrol during which the Tang didn't sink a single ship.
01:10It starts with the Tang refitting at Midway Island early in 1944.
01:17Look, I don't care what Commander Hastings says.
01:19I'm going to get two more welders on this job
01:21if I have to buck this all the way to the Commodore's office.
01:23Well, maybe you'll have better luck than I did, Captain.
01:26He turned me down cold.
01:28Well, I'm going to go up to the Commodore's office right...
01:30Here comes Commander Hastings.
01:32He's got blood in his eye.
01:33What's the idea of asking for two more welders, O'Kane?
01:39My men are working on a dozen ships beside yours.
01:42The idea is that I promised the Admiral that the Tang is going to refit and go on patrol in 13 days at the outside.
01:48You know as well as I do that we send them out of here in a normal turnaround time of 23 to 24 days.
01:53And we only managed to do that by working around the clock.
01:56Now look, Commander...
01:56Now, everybody knows what a wonderful job you fellows are doing, Commander.
02:01It's just that Captain O'Kane wants...
02:03I know what he wants.
02:05I was attached to the Navy Yard when we built the Tang.
02:08O'Kane noticed that he got a launch in a month ahead of schedule.
02:11Can you come up here a minute, Captain?
02:12Dick's going to take her out in 13 days, Commander.
02:19Even if she's pasted together with chewing gum.
02:22What's the matter with him?
02:25Remember, Dick was the exec aboard Wahoo.
02:28And then he was detached to take command of Tang before...
02:31Wahoo and Mush Morton and all her crew were lost.
02:36He figures he's got a score to settle.
02:38Yeah.
02:39Tell O'Kane I'm giving him the other two welders.
02:53At dawn of the 13th day, Tang left Midway,
02:57under orders to patrol in the vicinity of the island of Palau,
03:01with the objective of destroying enemy shipping.
03:03After one month on patrol,
03:08the total score of enemy shipping sunk.
03:11Zero.
03:17Captain, the cook made this rice especially the way you like it.
03:20I've had enough, Andrew.
03:23But, Captain, you haven't had any.
03:25Sorry, Andrew.
03:26You find us a couple Japanese carriers,
03:28and I promise you I'll eat three helpings of everything.
03:30Even a freighter would give me an appetite.
03:36Captain.
03:38Message from ComSubPAC.
03:40All right, let's have it.
03:43Right.
03:45Set a course for truck, Murray.
03:47Flyboys have a big carrier strike coming up there.
03:50We're supposed to pick up any of them that have to ditch.
03:52But our orders also read,
03:53Tang will act independently against enemy as opportunity offers.
03:57Let's make ourselves some opportunities.
04:05The island of truck was a major Japanese bastion.
04:10The Navy sent a tremendous array of power to reduce it.
04:12Trucks' defenses.
04:14The first stage of the attack was wave upon wave of fighter bombers
04:30to reduce trucks' defenses.
04:32The enemy fought back.
04:46The enemy fought back.
04:46Father Christ.
04:55Captain, come on.
05:061 Luego de tres veces.
05:07Una batch de Christie.
05:08No, no, no.
05:09Va exploring.
05:10Familiarios enма shows aviously einige Landes.
05:11Cavalias en una chanchaodal.
05:13Cavalias en la chanchaodal.
05:13Cavalias en una chanchaodal.
05:14Seis unличan adolescents.
05:14¿Ve Зaló nos legitimately report сох tam ne pas?
05:15Olympia en una imp hopelessha.
05:15But the fighter-bombers kept hitting trucks.
05:28Tang was on station, off truck, waiting.
05:34You ever see a prettier sight?
05:37Not since I last saw my wife.
05:41Meanwhile, the battle wagons were catapulting their float planes.
05:46The mission was spotting and reconnaissance, not fighting.
05:55I had him for a minute.
05:57There he is again.
05:58Tall Pine, this is Fox Peter 2-9, calling Tall Pine. Over.
06:03That's good for the North Carolina, isn't it?
06:05This is Tall Pine.
06:07Go ahead. Over.
06:09I've spotted three-ditch carrier planes a little west of Yulu Island.
06:13They're drifting in toward land from Leelam Reef.
06:16They'll be under fire with the shore batteries any minute.
06:19I'm going in after them. Over.
06:21Tall Pine to FP-29.
06:24Seas are running too high for your plane to land and get off again with the three-man overload.
06:29I'm going in anyway.
06:31Maybe I can taxi them out of the range of the shore batteries.
06:34Fox Peter 2-9, this is Lily White.
06:37We're coming to your assistance.
06:39Give us exact position of ditched flyers. Over.
07:04That float plane from North Carolina says he's got the first raft.
07:14He's going after the other two.
07:16They've got several men aboard him.
07:18There's a raft down near us, Captain, just off Michigan Island, reported by an escort plane.
07:23We can pick that one up in the way.
07:30He's in the bike between co-op and truck.
07:33Left full rudder, all ahead full.
07:37Rig a free running line and life ring to the radar mast.
07:40Japanese planes ashore batteries may spot us any minute.
07:45We may have to tow those rafts clear while submerged.
07:57Twenty millimeter gun crews, manual stations.
08:10Stand by to take her down fast.
08:12You gotta go, you gotta go.
08:28Rig out foul planes.
08:29Rescue parties, stand by.
08:40All set. Let's get that guy from the North Carolina.
08:59Come right to course 230. All ahead flank.
09:05Steve, radio that float plane. We're coming after him.
09:08He's got another one, Captain.
09:15There's the float plane.
09:17He's off alone in the water.
09:19Yeah, it looks kind of funny.
09:21He's got one, two, three...
09:26How many do you make, Murray?
09:29I'm not sure, but...
09:32I count seven guys.
09:36Standing room only.
09:38We could do too long.
09:41H
09:56where�
09:59not
10:01One of those flyers is injured, Captain. Something's wrong with his arm.
10:19Pills, customer for you.
10:21Thanks for fishing us out.
10:23Hey, you seem to have done some pretty good fishing in your own hook.
10:26I'm afraid we're going to have to sink that plane of yours.
10:29No use letting it drift ashore for the enemy to play with.
10:31Well, it's just fine with me, Captain.
10:34If I never see another float plane, it'll be okay.
10:37Sink that plane!
10:45Communications, Captain.
10:47Another raft reported.
10:49His position is two miles south of O'Lan Island.
10:52Right, Steve.
10:54It'll be almost dark before we can reach estimated position.
10:57Request night fighters to join us and search for raft.
11:01Captain.
11:04Yeah.
11:05I've radioed the names of all ten of the rescued flyers to the task commander aboard the Lexington.
11:10Well, I hope we'll have some more names for you in a few minutes.
11:12If we can get the latest bunch before it's dark.
11:14Oh, well, what's the name of that float plane fly boy?
11:18Lieutenant J.G. J.A. Burns.
11:22He's a reserve officer.
11:24Well, remind me to make a special report on him.
11:26How's the injured man?
11:27Well, Pils was working on him when I last checked.
11:31Now, don't worry.
11:32A dislocated shoulder is the simplest thing in the world to fix.
11:35It says so, right here.
11:36Grasp the wrist firmly.
11:39Placing one's foot in the armpit for leverage.
11:42Now, in a row, take the arm outward to an angle of 40 degrees.
11:54Pull sharply until shoulder slips back into place.
11:58Hey!
11:58Oh!
12:00What's the matter?
12:02It's the wrong arm.
12:03Oh, well, well, sure, I was just practicing.
12:15Hey, you know something?
12:17I didn't hurt a bit.
12:19All by the book.
12:20Now all you need is a sling.
12:25I'm giving you special mention of my report, Burns.
12:28For repeatedly risking yourself.
12:30Well, don't tell him this, Captain.
12:31But I was never happier than when you sank that plane of mine.
12:35These carrier boys, you get a chance to fight this war.
12:38Battle wagons, you're going to have them.
12:41Observation, reconnaissance, scouting.
12:43Then when they want to give us a pleasant change,
12:45it's scouting, recon, and observation.
12:48All we ever do is look, see, and report.
12:51Everything, we get a crack at the enemy.
12:53Well, maybe we can give you a little excitement.
12:55How do you make it out, Andrew?
12:56Oh, just fine, Captain.
12:57All set for the second service of the dining car.
12:59Sounds as if you used to be aboard the trains.
13:02Yes, sir.
13:02The New York-Chicago run.
13:04Now that we've got 16 extra officers aboard,
13:06it's going to take me two and a half sittings
13:08at each meal to take care of all you gentlemen.
13:11That's quite a chance in the old dining car days, huh?
13:13Well, none of these folks ever sent anything back to the chef.
13:16I haven't had one complaint yet.
13:18Of course, we don't get any tips, neither.
13:19What's the matter?
13:27Wake up, sleeping beauty.
13:29The prince has come to rescue you from the enchanted castle.
13:34Some prince.
13:34Why don't you turn back and go a frog?
13:38You know what these submariners call it?
13:40When they've got a lot of extra hands aboard like this,
13:43hot bunking it.
13:46Where did they put all those chief petty officers
13:48that gave us their quarters?
13:49You think you've got troubles?
13:50They're sleeping in the torpedo rooms.
13:55Good night, sir.
13:56Good night.
13:58You see those enemy batteries?
14:00All those gun emplacements
14:02are on the southwest end of Olan Island.
14:06There'll be sunrise in a few minutes.
14:08I think we'll run in,
14:10lob a few shells into those emplacements
14:11with our five-inch gun.
14:13The fighter bombers have probably
14:15put it out of action already.
14:16I don't think yesterday's strike
14:17hit that end of the island, sir.
14:19That's right.
14:20And there'll be a big strike
14:21taken off from the carrier right now.
14:24In a half hour,
14:24they'll be bombing everything on Olan Island.
14:27Now, don't you see how confused the enemy will be?
14:29We'll start throwing in our shells
14:31at the same time.
14:32They won't even know we're around.
14:34Maybe not, Captain, but
14:35I hate to make book on it.
14:37Now, quit worrying, Murray.
14:38I'll bet you a dollar
14:39they don't even fire a shot at us.
14:42Have the gun crew stand by.
14:46Well, we'll try to show you
14:47a close-up of our version of the war.
14:49Last time I counted,
14:50we had 19 of you guests on board.
14:53But you're all invited
14:54for grandstand seats on deck
14:56as soon as we surface.
14:59The big strike against
15:15the enemy naval base
15:16was continuing.
15:17With Pearl Harbor
15:18fresh in the memories
15:19of every man in the fleet,
15:20the truck was in for a pound.
15:22That's true.
15:23And the latter
15:26and that was next
15:27for the 5th century.
15:33Let's see.
15:36Take 1.
15:37Take 1.
15:38Everybody ABOUT Bliss
15:39and keep up
15:40and under
15:41a body
15:44and
15:44добав
15:45in size.
15:47ır
15:47Commence fire!
16:05I'm ready!
16:17Enjoying the show, gentlemen?
16:18I promised you ringside seats.
16:20Get below! Get below!
16:34Clear the deck! Clear the deck!
16:45Dive! Dive!
16:50Dive!
16:59Hatch secure.
17:05Here.
17:07Every little helps.
17:11Captain, I've got an idea.
17:12I've flown observation over that Japanese battery.
17:15And I'm sure they can't train their guns around to cover the south inlet.
17:18You see, here with the reefs and all, it's too shallow there for them to worry about any attack in force.
17:24There's no reason they'd ever have to defend it.
17:26How about taking your ship in there to hit them?
17:29All right, we'll do that.
17:30That ought to be lots of fun.
17:32Especially considering that these charts were probably made by some British windjammer captain before the Civil War.
17:39That's in a rather good road map.
17:41I'll bet you another dollar we'll get away with it.
17:49I brought you up here to do a job.
17:51We're going to raise this periscope up to full height.
17:53That's high above the surface of the water.
17:55You're an expert observer.
17:56How would you like to spot our fire for us?
17:59Gee, thanks, Captain.
18:00All right, this is the periscope.
18:09Now on this side here is the high power and low power.
18:13Now this is your range finder.
18:14See this?
18:15Yeah.
18:16Here's your focus right here.
18:17On this side is your elevation and depression.
18:19I see.
18:20Now here's your relative bearing.
18:21Swing it here and here and see your relative bearing.
18:23Uh-huh.
18:24All right, now when you use this, you've got to ride it.
18:26It's got a lot of weight behind it, so put your shoulder into it.
18:29You want to try it?
18:30Yeah, sure.
18:32How you doing, Laurie?
18:35I've seen better charts in the National Geographic in my dentist's waiting room.
18:41This ought to be just about right.
18:43Sure.
18:45I hope we don't have to dive.
18:47We've got just about enough water under us to go wading in.
18:56What.
18:57Let's go.
18:58Down.
18:595-0-0.
19:00Right.
19:011-5.
19:03Down.
19:045-0.
19:05Right.
19:061-5.
19:11Up.
19:121-0-0.
19:13Right.
19:140-5.
19:15Up.
19:161-0-0.
19:17Right.
19:180-5.
19:19On target.
19:20Rapid fire.
19:21On target.
19:22Rapid fire.
19:23Got it! Fire!
19:29Got his ammo, though. Come on up here and have a look, Burns.
19:35Break out the biggest U.S. colors we have and lash them to the deck.
19:38I don't want any of our trigger-happy fly boys thinking we're a Japanese sub.
19:47Thanks, Murray. Every little helps.
19:54I feel a lot better with that out there.
19:58Did you ever hear what the Duke of Wellington said when he looked over his own troops?
20:01No.
20:02I don't know what the enemy will think of you, gentlemen.
20:04But you're certainly scared the devil out of me.
20:07Bridge, radio. Three flyers down on a raft, just north of Burnout Island.
20:12Come left to 1-7-0. All ahead, flight.
20:25Bridge, radio.
20:28Our cover will be unable to stand by. They can just make it back to their carriers before dark.
20:33Bridge, aye.
20:34Ten minutes more and it would have been so black we'd never have found them.
20:50Shoving off for Pearl, Murray.
20:52Pearl!
20:54We've still got every torpedo aboard we started out with.
20:56I know.
20:57And 19...
20:59That last batch made it 22.
21:0122 more men than we started out with.
21:03We're going back heavier than we went out.
21:06Fine patrol.
21:08We won't dare show our faces around the base.
21:11Put our course for Pearl, Murray.
21:18This is sure one fine-looking patrol report.
21:20On tanks first patrol, we've got five ships.
21:25What am I going to tell them this time?
21:27Thirty days off Palau and not one fish fired.
21:31Well, we did pull 22 guys out of the drink.
21:35Yeah, and hit one two-bit enemy battery.
21:38Have you made out that report in Burns yet, Captain?
21:43Yeah, I radioed Task Force Commander this morning.
21:46Even if we're in the doghouse, maybe it'll help to give him a boot.
21:50He sure has it coming.
21:59Captain.
22:04What is it?
22:05Nothing, sir. Beg pardon.
22:14Blue course. One, three, five.
22:16Well, it won't be long until they're giving them the bad news.
22:25What's the bad for?
22:27Don't ask me.
22:29Maybe they're expecting somebody else.
22:31Good to see you again, Dick.
22:32That's quite a crowd you've got aboard.
22:33Yes, sir.
22:34Let's adjourn to the wardrobe.
22:35I want to get all the details on your patrol.
22:36Yes, sir.
22:37And you've set the pattern for the future, for what we're calling lifeguard operations.
22:39I tell you, Dick, the fliers will give you their right arm. And their left eye, too, if you asked for it. You've pioneered a completely new technique. It worked out even better than we dared hope when you were ordered to truck. In the future, they'll be counting on the left eye.
22:55To rescue every aviator who has to ditch. Lieutenant Burns had brought in seven all by himself, sir. I know. Is he still aboard? I want to see him. Yes, sir. Pass the word for Lieutenant Burns to report to the wardrobe.
23:04I probably don't have to tell you, but I'm awarding the combat pin for all aboard. I'm sure you guessed it. Well, Admiral, this is Lieutenant Burns. I got O'Kane's report on you and passed it on Burns.
23:19And Commire Pack asked me to tell you that your application for fighter training has been approved. Your orders are on the way. Wow! I beg your pardon, sir.
23:28Not at all, not at all. I think wow sums it up very well.
23:33I'll be back in a moment with our special guest.
23:49Now I'm very happy to present to you with my special guest.
23:54with our special guest.
24:01Now I'm very happy to present to you Captain Richard H. O. Kane,
24:05who is the skipper of the Tang on the patrol we've just shown you.
24:10Good to see you again, Tommy. You certainly brought back some vivid memories.
24:14That must have been quite a patrol, Dick.
24:16It was. I think your viewers will be especially interested to know
24:20that all the scenes you showed of Lieutenant Byrne's float plane
24:23were seven men he rescued aboard her were real combat footage made at the time.
24:28We had a 16mm camera bug aboard who shot them.
24:31Dick, this will embarrass you,
24:33but I want our viewers to see the decorations you've got on your chest.
24:37Not only the Congressional Medal of Honor,
24:39but also the second highest honor, the Navy Cross, three times over.
24:44Admiral, you said you wouldn't do this.
24:47I had a wonderful Executive Officer, Murray Frazee.
24:50I wish he could be here not to mention the Tang's whole crew.
24:54I'm sure we all do.
24:57We hope you will be with us again
24:59when we bring you another true story of the silent service.
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