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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Flying Fish (SS-229) (AGSS-229)

Radio Call Sign: November - Foxtrot - Alpha - Papa

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 6 December 1940, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME, Launched, 9 July 1941; Commissioned USS Flying Fish (SS-229), 10 December 1941; Reclassified Auxiliary Research Submarine (AGSS-229), 29 November 1950; Decommissioned, 28 May 1954, at New London, CT.; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 August 1958; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 1 May 1959. Flying Fish received 12 battle stars for World War II service.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,410 t.; Length 311' 10"; Beam 27' 3"; Draft 15' 2"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Complement 6 officers, 54 enlished; 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 Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines, 5400 hp, Fuel Capacity, 94,400 gals., four Elliot Motor Co., electric motors, 2740 hp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin screws.
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Flying Fish 53k Commemorative post mark on the ocassion of Flying Fish's (SS-229) launching, 9 July 1941.
Photo courtesy of Jim Savo, Skate (SS-305) Plankowner, who also served on the Flying Fish (SS-229) during WW II, submitted by Greg Krenzelok.
Flying Fish 23k Commemorative post mark on the ocassion of Flying Fish's (SS-229) launching, 9 July 1941.
Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Flying Fish 55k Flying Fish (SS-229) sliding down the launching ways at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME, 9 July 1941.
US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
Flying Fish 82k The Flying Fish (SS-229) is water borne after sliding down the launching ways at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME, 9 July 1941.
US Navy photo, courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Flying Fish 35k Commemorative post mark on the ocassion of Flying Fish's (SS-229) first day in commission, 10 December 1941.
Photo courtesy of Jim Savo, Skate (SS-305) Plankowner, who also served on the Flying Fish (SS-229) during WW II, submitted by Greg Krenzelok.
Flying Fish 152k The Flying Fish (SS-229), leaving Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, for testing for her newly added mine detection and clearance equipment. In May she would make her 12th and last war patrol wearing this measure 32 camouflage paint scheme. The boat is equipped with a 20mm gun forward and a 40mm gun aft. A 5"/25 cal. gun is mounted on the main deck aft.
Photo and text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, Fleet Subs of WW II" by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
Flying Fish 65k The aft lookout keeps a sharp eye out for any contacts onboard the Flying Fish (SS-229). Circa 1944-45.
USN photo # NH-9356. Photo and text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, Fleet Subs of WW II" by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
Flying Fish 210k Crew photo of the Flying Fish (SS-229) at Brisbane Australia at the New Farm Wharf in July of 1944.
Victor A Barnhart Jr is in the first row, third from the right.
Photo courtesy of Dale Martin and Jim Savo, Skate (SS-305) Plankowner, who also served on the Flying Fish (SS-229) during WW II, submitted by Greg Krenzelok.
Flying Fish 134k Flying Fish (SS-229), Spadefish (SS-411), Tinosa (SS-283), Bowfin (SS-287), and Skate (SS-305) as they appeared from a photo taken at the top of training tower at Sail 9 in 1945.
US Navy photo courtesy of "Proceedings" magazine, submitted by George Klos.
Bowfin 74k Flying Fish (SS-229), Spadefish (SS-411), Tinosa (SS-283), Bowfin (SS-287), and Skate (SS-305) as they appeared from a photo taken at the top of training tower at Sail 9 in 1945 after her 9th War Patrol. Courtesy of Leeward Publications Ships Data #4, USS Bowfin, submitted by of Aryeh (Lee) Wetherhorn.
Flying Fish 84k Flying Fish (SS-229), returning to Pearl Harbor in July, 1945 with other members of wolf pack.
US Navy photo courtesy of Mike Green.
Flying Fish 164k VADM Lockwood going aboard the Flying Fish (SS-229) on 4 July 1945 to congratulate her captain & crew on a successful 12th War Patrol. The Flying Fish was part of the "Hellcats Group". The officers are identified from left to right: Risser, Foly, Siegloft, VADM Lockwood, Bruton and Comstock.
USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
Flying Fish 167k Conning tower shot of the Flying Fish(SS-229), in Pearl Harbor, most likely mid to late July of 1945. Her Ships emblem is resting on the deck leaning against the conning tower.
USN photo courtesy of Ric Hedmen.
Flying Fish 98k WW II battleflag of the Flying Fish(SS-229).
Photo courtesy of Dale Martin & Jim Savo, Skate (SS-305) Plankowner, who also served on the Flying Fish (SS-229) during WW II, submitted by Greg Krenzelok.
Flying Fish 30k PDF article of the Flying Fish(SS-229). This is a short history of the twelve patrols between December 1941 and August 15 1945. It is nine pages long and ends with totals of sunk and damaged and a summary of miles steamed and days spent on patrol.
PDF article courtesy of Victor A Barnhart Jr, via John D. Bozarth.
Flying Fish 62k Front cover of a four page welcome aboard program of the Flying Fish (SS-229) and giving a brief history of her accomplishments and submarines during WW II and post Cold War period.
Photo courtesy of Dale Martin & Jim Savo, Skate (SS-305) Plankowner, who also served on the Flying Fish (SS-229) during WW II, submitted by Greg Krenzelok.
Flying Fish 134k Page two of a four page welcome aboard program of the Flying Fish (SS-229) and giving a brief history of her accomplishments and submarines during WW II and post Cold War period.
Photo courtesy of Dale Martin & Jim Savo, Skate (SS-305) Plankowner, who also served on the Flying Fish (SS-229) during WW II, submitted by Greg Krenzelok.
Flying Fish 165k Page three of a four page welcome aboard program of the Flying Fish (SS-229) and giving a brief history of her accomplishments and submarines during WW II and post Cold War period.
Photo courtesy of Dale Martin & Jim Savo, Skate (SS-305) Plankowner, who also served on the Flying Fish (SS-229) during WW II, submitted by Greg Krenzelok.
Flying Fish 124k Last page of a four page welcome aboard program of the Flying Fish (SS-229) and giving a brief history of her accomplishments and submarines during WW II and post Cold War period.
Photo courtesy of Dale Martin & Jim Savo, Skate (SS-305) Plankowner, who also served on the Flying Fish (SS-229) during WW II, submitted by Greg Krenzelok.
Flying Fish 23k Commemorative post mark on the ocassion of Navy Day, 27 October 1946.
Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Sarda91kFlying Fish (SS-229) circa 1951 at rest at a pier with the fleet submarine Sarda (AGSS-488), location unknown. Flying Fish (SS-229) is fitted with the large GHG (Gruppen Horsch Gerat) conformal sonar array taken from the German heavy cruiser KMS Prinz Eugen.
USN photo and text from The American Submarine by Norman Polmar, courtesy of Robert Hurst. Photo added 11/30/07.
Flying Fish 76k "With lines reminiscent of the Civil War's Monitor, the Flying Fish (SS-229) was fitted with a unique round conning tower containing experimental sonar equipment."
On 11 January 1951, she began to serve the Underwater Sound Laboratory in sonar experiments. On 29 February 1952, at 1053, Flying Fish made submarine history as she dived for the 5,000th time, first American submarine to reach such a record. On board for the event was a distinguished party headed by Secretary of the Navy D. A. Kimball. This photo may have been taken at that event.
US Navy photo / Sea Classics Magazine, submitted by Lawrence W. Lee Jr. Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
Flying Fish 34k "With lines reminiscent of the Civil War's Monitor, the Flying Fish (SS-229) was fitted with a unique round conning tower containing experimental sonar equipment."
Stern view of her on this ocassion.
Photo courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Flying Fish 82k Flying Fish (SS-229) in Long Island Sound on 4 December 1952.
USN photo.
Flying Fish 17k Flying Fish (SS-229), possibly in Long Island Sound on 4 December 1952.
US Navy photo courtesy of Hyperwar US Navy in WWII.

View the Flying Fish (229)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Full Fathom Five, U.S. Submarine War Against Japan

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