 Frank Edward Hayler |
Patrol area was cleared at 8:30 PM and a course set for Apo East Pass.
At about 5:20 AM December 4, 1944 made a quick dive in northern end of Apo East Pass for submerged transit.
During the day two bombers were sighted, possibly B-24s.
At 6:12 PM U.S.S. Hake surfaced and continued on a southeasterly course, rounding Ambulong Light, and heading for Maniguin Island Light which is 13 miles southwest of Pandan Bay.
This light was picked up on "SJ" radar at 2:30 AM, December 5, 1944.
At 4:15 AM "SD" radar reported a plane contact, range 6 miles. Submerged to 120 feet keel depth. It is believed this target was the lighthouse which was 6 miles bearing 195° T. and 090° relative. This is the strongest point in the "SD" "UMBRELLA".
Proceeded submerged to a point 10 miles south of the rendezvous and turned north to the close beach.
Held this course until 2:30 PM at which time we were 1 ½ miles off the town of Libertad. We observed two houses and several huts in this vicinity, also two sailboats and considerable personnel activity at the waters edge.
Promptly at 4 PM the previously designated security signal was hoisted from the beach. This consisted of two white discs placed 100 meters apart. Set course for rendezvous, arriving at 5 PM.
At 5:49 PM U.S.S. Hake surfaced and closed two sailboats standing out from Libertad. The first boat contained Colonel Cirilo B. Garcia 61st Inf, 6th M.D. USAFFE and Lieutenant J. W. Williams, USN a torpedo plane pilot from U.S.S. Cabot. Lieutenant Williams was in charge of evacuee party, which consisted of six Naval Officers, one Army Officer, six Naval enlisted personnel, six Army enlisted personnel and ten Philippine Army and Guerrilla personnel. A list of survivors by name is appended. All but Colonel Garcia and Lieutenant Williams were in second sailboat.
Supplies and ammunition as listed in Enclosure were transferred to Colonel Garcia and two sacks of mail and one packet of papers captured from a Japanese armed motor launch were taken aboard for further transfer to G.H.Q. at 9:28 PM U.S.S. Hake departed Pandan Bay and set course 195° for Sibutu Pass via Cuyo East Pass.
- F. E. Hayler
RECOVERED BY U.S.S. HAKE ON DECEMBER 5 1944
Lieutenant John W. Williams, 85252, VT-29, U.S. Navy.
Wife: Mrs. J. W. Williams, 117 W. 10th St., Sanford, Florida
Lieutenant (jg) William F. Axtman, 278298, VT-15, USNR.
Mother: Mrs. W. F. Axtman, 2132 W. 82nd St., Los Angeles, California.
Lieutenant (jg) James Ritchie, 157170, VF-37, USNR.
Wife: Mrs. J. Ritchie, Rt #2. Box 129, Fontana, California.
Ensign Willard M. Fletcher, 337627, VT-18, USNR.
Sister: Mrs. Albert Paul, 628 N. Kansas St., Edwardsville, Illinois.
Ensign Robert K. McAdams, 351095, VT-19, USNR.
Mother: Mrs. W. T. McAdams, Jr., 1304 N. Central Ave., Glendale, California.
Ensign William G. Shackelford, 301579, VF-28, USNR.
Father: W. G. Shackelford, 401 Riverview Dr., Parkersburg, West Virginia.
James E. Boland, AOM2C, 613 08 31, VT-29, USNR.
Mother: Mrs. Matilda R. Boland, 119 Valencia St., Cincinnati, Ohio.
Vernon L. England, ARM3c, 863 98 05, VT-19, USNR.
Mother: Esther M. England, 720 Fullerton Parkway, Chicago, Illinois.
John Johnston, AMM2c, 225 12 96, VT-19, USN.
Mother: Mrs. S. Johnston, 525 E. 145 St. c/o Sheeran, Bronx, N.Y.
John T. O'Donnell, AMM1c, 551 81 76, VT-15, USN.
Father: John A. O'Donnell, 407 30th St., West Palm Beach Florida.
B. L. Raczynski, AEM1c, 651 94 80, VT-29, USNR.
Mother: Mrs. E. B. Keim, 2509 E. Clearfield St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Rudolph W. Velle, MoMM1c, 224 42 10, U.S.S. Gunnel, USN.
Wife: Mrs. R. W. Velle, 160 19th Ave., Irvington, New Jersey.
https://ulongbeach.com/2026/02/alfredo-siena-of-gasan-honored-by-us-navy-for-ww2-rescue-of-us-sailor/
2nd Lieutenant John M. Wylder, 0-762980, 13th. AAF.
Mother: Mrs. L. N. Wylder, 5555 Sheridan Rd., Chicago, Illinois
Harold A. Douglas, S/Sgt, 39294761, 13th AAF.
Wife: Mrs. H. A. Douglas, 6557 Fry St., Bell, California.
Dennis C. Jones, S/Sgt, 39207755, 13th AAF.
Wife: Mrs. D. C. Jones, 802 Seneca St., Seattle, Washington.
Nick. Mascetta, S/Sgt, 13011785, 13th AAF.
Father: Frank Mascetta, 517 Forest St., Monessen, Pa.
Don H. Mix, S/Sgt, 19182149, 13th AAF.
Wife: Mrs. D. H. Mix, 1600 Beach St., San Francisco, California.
Don R. Perri, T/Sgt, 36723501, 13th AAF
Mother: Mrs. Jenny Perri, 4015 W. Congress St., Chicago, Illinois.
Clyde R. Whitling, S/Sgt, 18163024, 13th AAF.
Father: R. W. Whitling, Route #1., Weleetka, Oklahoma.
Captain Eustacio D. Orobia, AC,IA 01477, Air Corps, Philippine Army,
1051 Plaza Leon XIII, Tondo, Manila.
1st Lieutenant Augusto L. Jurado, AC,PA 0-1627, Capt Guerrilla Rank,
Lucena, Tayabas.
2nd Lieutenant Benjamin de Ocampo, AC,PA Capt Guerrilla Rank.
Panitan, Capiz.
3rd Lieutenant Delfin C. Bustamante, AC,PA.
Obando, Bulacan.
3rd Lieutenant Horacio De Castro, AC,PA, 1st Lieutenant, Guerrilla Rank.
841 Pampanga St., Santa Cruz, Manila.
3rd Lieutenant Narzal A. Lim, AC,PA, 1st Lieutenant, Guerrilla Rank.
Zamboanga City.
3rd Lieutenant Eliseo A. Mercado, AC,PA.
Obando, Bulacan.
3rd Lieutenant J. O'Brien, AC,PA, Capt Guerrilla Rank.
#5 M. Salvador, Riverside, San Juan, Rizal.
Adriano S. Olivar, Pvt. 1c. PA. 641-HSS-12694,
Culasi, Antique.
Efren U. Rodillon, S/Sgt. 65th. Inf. 61st. Div. USAFFE 641 ROTC-ILSOL.
Pandan, Antique.
USS Hake (SS-256)
By Eric Wertheim
January 1997, Proceedings, Volume 123/1/1,127
The U.S. submarine Hake (SS-256), built by Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut, was launched on 17 July 1942 and commissioned on 30 October 1942 with Lieutenant Commander J.C. Broach in command.
Following commissioning and a shakedown cruise, the Hake took part in two war patrols in the North Atlantic in early 1943. The Hake then was reassigned to the Pacific Fleet, and departed Pearl Harbor for her third war patrol on 27 December 1943, The Hake sunk a transport vessel headed for Japan on 12 January 1944, and on 26 January, attacked another tanker, but suffered considerable damage as a result of subsequent depth charge attacks. On 1 February, the Hake discovered a five-ship convoy which included two escorts. The Hake sunk two of three targets, and escaped unscathed in the confusion.
The Hake sunk an unescorted tanker in the South China Sea, on 27 March 1944, and damaged several more ships on 1 April, before ending her fourth war patrol.
During the Hake's fifth war patrol, while acting as a picket to warn Allied forces of the approach of any enemy ships, on 8 June the Hake detected and sunk a Japanese destroyer. On 17 and 20 June, the Hake sunk an enemy cargo ship and a fully loaded troop transport respectively.
During its sixth war patrol, the Hake damaged a destroyer.
For the Hake's seventh war patrol, she was assigned to work with the submarines Hardhead (SS-365) and the ill-fated Growler (SS-215), which was lost on the patrol. On 7-8 November 1944, the Hake was badly damaged while spending 16 hours attempting to avoid destruction by enemy forces, during which time the crew counted more than 100 depth charge explosions near its position. Following this harrowing action, the Hake rendezvoused with Filipino guerrillas off Panay Island in order to bring on board 29 downed American aviators. The Hake returned to Australia on 16 December 1945.
After searching unsuccessfully for enemy shipping for nearly a month on her eighth war patrol, which began on 12 January 1945, the Hake departed for San Francisco and, following an overhaul, returned to action on her ninth war patrol. The Hake served as lifeguard ship for air strikes against Japan and following the Japanese surrender she sailed for New London, Connecticut, and was decommissioned and placed in reserve on 13 July 1946. The Hake was taken out of reserve on 15 October 1956 and served as a reserve training ship for the 4th Naval District at Philadelphia.
Redesignated AGSS-256 in 1962, the Hake was struck from the Navy list on 1 March 1967.
- Eric Wertheim
https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1997/january/uss-hake-ss-256
SEVENTH FLEET INTELLIGENCE CENTER
Submarine: USS Hake (SS-256)
Commanding Officer: Commander F. E. Hayler.
Date and Location of Sailing: On patrol -- about 5 December 1944.
Mission: Pick up night of 5-6 December 1944, position 11-45N, 121-55E to evacuate 19 or more persons, including fliers, and furnish all possible supplies, arms and ammunition, which can be spared to Guerrillas at Libertad, Panay.
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/s/submarine-activities-connected-with-guerrilla-organizations.html
