USS Pogy SS 266
The USS Pogy SS 266 was a Gato-class submarine that was launched on June 23rd, 1942 from the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company out of Manitowoc, Wisconsin and was sponsored by a Mrs. Julius A. Furer. The submarine was commissioned on January 10th, 1943 under the command of Lieutenant Commander G. H. Wales. On February 1st the boat was temporarily commissioned and placed aboard a floating dry dock that towed the Pogy south down the Mississippi River heading towards New Orleans, Louisiana where she arrived on February 12th to be set out into the open ocean for the first time.
The USS Pogy transited the Panama Canal and moved west into the deep Pacific where she finally reached her destination and new home port at Pearl Harbor on April 5th, 1943. On April 15th, 1943 the Pogy set out on her first war patrol where she drove onward towards the eastern coast of Honshu Island making the first enemy contact of her service on May 1st. She encountered an escort group of five enemy ships and ascended to periscope depth following engagement procedures in preparation for attack.
She was able to sink a gunboat and heavily damage an enemy freighter as well as taking down 3 more Japanese Imperial Fleet vessels before retiring and terminating her war patrol on June 5th back at Midway. Following refitting and refueling she departed Midway on June 26th heading out on her second war patrol where she was ordered to patrol along the coast of the Pulap Islands and off of Truk. On August 1st she was able to sink a seven thousand four hundred ninety seven ton aircraft transport ship and headed back to Pearl Harbor on August 16th terminating that patrol.
During the time from April of 1943 until the very end of the war in August of 1945 the USS Pogy SS 266 served her country with great honor and was able to carry out a total of ten war patrols that took her from the Palau Islands and the Tropic of Cancer to Saipan and through the Sea of Japan. She was successfully credited with sinking over sixty two thousand six hundred thirty three tons of enemy shipping. The USS Pogy SS 266 was finally decommissioned on July 20th, 1946. She was awarded eight battle stars for her courageous and honorable service during World War II.
The honorable crew who served on the USS Pogy SS 266 endured many dangerous moments. Unfortunately, they were also exposed to a danger they were unaware of while going about their duties. The USS Pogy SS 266 and other submarines were built with asbestos as insulation in and around pipes and most of the crewmen were exposed to a dangerous chemical which put them at risk for acquiring many respiratory problems, including the development of mesothelioma cancer. Any crewmembers who served aboard the USS Pogy SS 266 should be evaluated by a medical specialist.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
