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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)

Grunion (SS-216)
A Life & Beyond

Radio Call Sign: November - Uniform - Delta - Papa

To Additional Pages

Keel Laying - Loss
Aftermath
Initial Discovery 2006
ROV Pictures of the Wreckage
Hypotheses of the Sinking

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 1 March 1941, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 22 December 1941; Commissioned USS Grunion (SS-216), 11 April 1942; Final Disposition, last report 30 July 1942, reported overdue from patrol off Kiska Island, Alaska, 5 October 1942, all hands assumed lost; Struck from the Naval Register, 2 November 1942. Grunion received one battle star for World War II service.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,424 t.; Length 311' 9"; Beam 27' 3"; Draft 15' 3"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Complement 6 Officers 54 Enlisted; Operating Depth, 300 ft; Submerged Endurance, 48 hrs at 2 kts; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10 kts; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 3"/50 deck gun, two .50 cal. machine guns, two .30 cal. machine guns; Propulsion, diesel electric reduction gear with four General Motors main generator engines, HP 5400, Fuel Capacity, 97,140 gals., four General Electric main motors, HP 2740, two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin propellers.

Dedicated to all men lost while serving in the U.S. Submarine Force.
Note: The one and only reason that this page is completley devoted to John Edgar Wilson Jr. is because I have received material covering what appears to be his entire period of service from enlistment & beyond.
"In Grateful Memory of John Edgar Wilson Jr, who died in the service of his country at Aleutian - Alaskan Area, USS Grunion (SS-216), 2nd August 1943 (Presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live, and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives - in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men."
Signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America.

Size	Image Description	Contributed By/ Source
69k	John Edgar Wilson Jr., Ship's Cook Third Class, age about 19 in this photo.	Photo courtesy of John Edgar Wilson III, nephew of John Edgar Wilson Jr., K.I.A. aboard the Grunion (SS-216) with 69 other crewmen, 30 July 1942. Photo added 08/11/07.
94k	John Edgar Wilson Jr., certificate of discharge as an apprentice seaman from the USN Reserve to enlist in the US Navy., 10 June 1940.	Photo courtesy of John Edgar Wilson III, nephew of John Edgar Wilson Jr., K.I.A. aboard the Grunion (SS-216) with 69 other crewmen, 30 July 1942.
173k	John Edgar Wilson Jr., certificate of discharge, reverse side.	Photo courtesy of John Edgar Wilson III, nephew of John Edgar Wilson Jr., K.I.A. aboard the Grunion (SS-216) with 69 other crewmen, 30 July 1942.
101k	John Edgar Wilson Jr., oath of allegiance upon enlistment to the US Navy on 11 June 1940.	Photo courtesy of John Edgar Wilson III, nephew of John Edgar Wilson Jr., K.I.A. aboard the Grunion (SS-216) with 69 other crewmen, 30 July 1942.
122k	29 Sept. 1942 Western Union / MIA telegram for John Edgar Wilson Jr, Ship's Cook Third Class, aboard the Grunion (SS-216).	Photo courtesy of John Edgar Wilson III, nephew of John Edgar Wilson Jr., K.I.A. aboard the Grunion (SS-216) with 69 other crewmen, 30 July 1942.
170k	30 Sept. 1942 MIA article and telegram to LT. Richard N. Wilson from his father, John Edgar Wilson SR, informing him of the loss of his brother John Edgar Wilson Jr., Ship's Cook Third Class, aboard the Grunion (SS-216).	Photo courtesy of John Edgar Wilson III, nephew of John Edgar Wilson Jr., K.I.A. aboard the Grunion (SS-216) with 69 other crewmen, 30 July 1942.
122k	"In Grateful Memory of John Edgar Wilson Jr, who died in the service of his country at Aleutian - Alaskan Area Grunion (SS-216), 2nd August 1943 (Presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live, and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives - in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men." Signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America.	Photo courtesy of John Edgar Wilson III, nephew of John Edgar Wilson Jr., K.I.A. aboard the Grunion (SS-216) with 69 other crewmen, 30 July 1942.
102k	"The Commander Submarine Forces Pacific Fleet, has the great honor and privilege to posthumously commend the late John Edgar Wilson Jr. for service set forth in the following Citation: "For meritouous conduct as a member of the crew of the Grunion (SS-216) which destroyed three enemy destroyers. Despite severe and persistent anti-submarine measures reulting in these three successful attacks, the *Grunion* was brought safely through the counter attacks and continued an aggressive war patrol. As a member of the crew of the *Grunion*, your performance of duty was an important and material contribution to the prosecution of this war". R.H. English Rear Admiral, US Navy.	Photo courtesy of John Edgar Wilson III, nephew of John Edgar Wilson Jr., K.I.A. aboard the Grunion (SS-216) with 69 other crewmen, 30 July 1942.
137k	Deep Submergence Cruisograph from John Edgar Wilson Jr. of the Grunion (SS-216) on 7 May 1942. An accompanying letter from the Navy Dept Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington DC, dated 1 June 1943 added: My dear Mr. WIlson: Your son, John Edgar Wilson JR, Ship's Cook Third Class, U.S. Navy, formerly attached to the *Grunion*, was certified by the former Commanding office of the submarine to have been aboard when it submerged to a maximun dept of 315 feet, on May 7th, 1942, in Block Island Sound. In recognition of this accomplishment, A Deep Submergence Certificate was ordered for him at that time, but unfortunately, it cannot now be delivered to him. It can neither be signed by the Diving Officer or the Commanding Officer, since they are likewise among the missing personnel. The Bureau feels that you will greatly treasure this certificate as a memento of your son's service, and is pleased to forward it to you. Very truly yours, Randall Jacobs Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Personnel A.C. Jacobs Commander, U.S.BN.R. Head of Casualties and Allotments Section by direction.	Photo courtesy of John Edgar Wilson III, nephew of John Edgar Wilson Jr., Grunion (SS-216) with 69 other crewmen, 30 July 1942.
75k	Purple Heart awarded to John Edgar Wilson Jr., Ship's Cook Third Class, on 17 April 1944.	Photo courtesy of John Edgar Wilson III, nephew of John Edgar Wilson Jr., K.I.A. aboard the Grunion (SS-216) with 69 other crewmen, 30 July 1942.
101k	Commendation letter dated 26 Sept. 1945, for meritorious conduct as a member of the crew of the Grunion (SS-216).	Photo courtesy of John Edgar Wilson III, nephew of John Edgar Wilson Jr., K.I.A. aboard the Grunion (SS-216) with 69 other crewmen, 30 July 1942.
220k	Letter from the Bureau of Navigation written on 9 July 1948 to the families of the crews whose sons were lost in action during WW II. The families were presented with a book entitled "US Submarine Losses."	Photo courtesy of John Edgar Wilson III, nephew of John Edgar Wilson Jr., K.I.A. aboard the Grunion (SS-216) with 69 other crewmen, 30 July 1942.
125k	Front cover of "US Submarine Losses."	Photo courtesy of John Edgar Wilson III, nephew of John Edgar Wilson Jr., K.I.A. aboard the Grunion (SS-216) with 69 other crewmen, 30 July 1942.
69k	Memorial marker for John Edgar Wilson Jr, Ship's Cook Third Class, lost aboard the Grunion (SS-216).	Photo courtesy of John Edgar Wilson III, nephew of John Edgar Wilson Jr., K.I.A. aboard the Grunion (SS-216) with 69 other crewmen, 30 July 1942.