3 Messages

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Entry: 81945 USS PICKERAL (SS-534)	USS PICKERAL SS-524 IN THE KOREAN WAR
T.E. MOORE wrote on February 1, 2012 City and State: Unit: Service or Relationship: OTHER Comments: In March and April 1950, the USS Pickeral SS-524(the correct number;NOT #534)made a record 5,200 mile submerged trans-Pacific voyage, from Hong Kong to Pearl Harbor in 21 days. The U.S.Navy began submarine operations in the Korean War as early as July 1950, with the deployment of the USS Catfish SS- 339, the USS Remora SS-487, and the USS Pickeral SS- 524, on reconnaissance patrols. LCDR.Paul R.Schratz, commanding the USS Pickeral SS-524, led the Tench- class diesel sub into the Sea of Japan, during 14-22 Aug.1950, to conduct a photo-reconnaissance survey of Wonsan,North Korea, a site already under consideration by General MacArthur, as a future amphibious objective. LCDR.Schratz accomplished his surreptitous mission blithely ignorant that the Russians and North Koreans were laying the most extensive mine-field of the war in the proximity of his submarine. Only later did I learn the area was heavily mined, LCDR.Schratz admitted. Few Pacific U.S.Navy Fleet submarines, including the USS Pickeral SS-524, at the time had mine-detecting QLA sonar installed, and none had mine-clearing cables. USS Pickeral SS-524; Korean War Skippers; LCDR.Paul Richard Schratz-1949-51-CDR. Henry Becker-1951-54. The USS Pickeral SS-524, was loaned to Italy on 18,Aug.1972, and re-named Primo Longobardo S-501. Decomm. 31,Jan.1980, sold for scrap, 31,May1981, in Genoa,Italy. Keywords: THE SHIP WAS NOT SS-534,IT WAS SS-524- SKIPPER-LCDR.PAUL RICHARD SCHRATZ-SUBMERGED RECORD-14-22AUG.1950 SURVEY OF WONSAN,NORTH KOREA-

Entry: 69564 USS PICKERAL (SS-534)	SHIPMATE
ANDREW THOMPSON wrote on March 19, 2009 City and State: TX Unit: Service or Relationship: NAVY VETERAN Comments: andrew from Wva Keywords: tex

Entry: 61420 USS PICKERAL (SS-534)	LOOKING FOR FATHER'S SUB
MAUREEN TOBIN wrote on June 26, 2007 City and State: Unit: Service or Relationship: FAMILY MEMBER Comments: I am trying to learn what submarine(s) my late father served on. His name was Bernard ("Bun") Tobin, He was in the Navy 1950-54, transferring from the Battleship Wisconsin in 1952 or 1953. At one point he was based in New London, CT. He was involved in navigation in some way. He died of natural causes in 1978, just after his 46th birthday. His wife, Joan, died several years later. Did he serve on the Pickeral? Keywords:

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