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 | 29k | Commemorative postal cover marking the keel laying of the Balao (SS-285), 26 June 1942, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.
| Courtesy of Jack Treutle. |
 | 115k | The Balao (SS-285), drawn by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource. | Photo courtesy of Navy Yard Associates. |
 | 95k | Off to the war, the Balao (SS-285) slides down the launching ways at 2:50 PM at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME., 27 October 1942. Her war operations span a period from 25 July 1943 until 27 August 1945. During this period she completed ten war patrols. She is credited with having sunk seven Japanese ships totalling 32,108 tons, in addition to sinking by gunfire 1100 tons of miscellaneous enemy small craft.
| USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org. Text courtesy of DANFS. |
 | 16k | Commemorative postal cover marking the launching of the Balao (SS-285), 27 October 1942 at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.
| Courtesy of Jack Treutle. |
 | 123k | The recently commissioned Balao (SS-285) heads out to sea for trials in May 1943. The boat is painted in overall black paint, which was the standard measure of camouflage used at this time. The boat is equipped with a 4"/50 cal gun forward and a 20mm gun on the bridge deck. Due to lack of teak wood for the deck and faster building times, this boat, like others had only the main waklking areas covered in wood. The rest of the main deck was covered with thin perforated metal deck.
| US Navy photo # 19-N-46319. Photo and text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, "Fleet Subs of WW II" by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
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 | 83k | The Balao (SS-285) upon completion in May 1943. The boat has just left Portsmouth Shipyard for sea trials.
| US Navy photo # 19-N-46317. Photo and text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, "Fleet Subs of WW II", by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
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 | 117k | Aerial view of the Balao (SS-285) off the New England coast, 31 May 1943.
| USN photo. |
 | 245k | The Balao (SS-285) October 1944 at Mare Island, looking aft, shows the addition of a new number one scope and hinges mounted on the stanchions around the guns. They were used to lower the lifeline for a lower angle of fire of the deck guns.
| US Navy photo # 6459-44 courtesy of Darryl Baker. Text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, "Fleet Subs of WW II", by Thomas F. Walkowiak. |
 | 320k | The Balao (SS-285) is seen here at Mare Island during an October 1944 refit. Newly added "SD" tower mast and new lookout platforms are circled along with new TBT's. She still mounts a 4"/50 cal. gun forward. The barge YF-557 is beyond her bow.
| US Navy photo # 6458-44 courtesy of Darryl Baker. Text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, "Fleet Subs of WW II", by Thomas F. Walkowiak. |
 | 76k | Balao (SS-285) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., following overhaul, 25 October 1944.
| US Navy photo # NH 98043, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. |
 | 186k | Balao (SS-285) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., following overhaul, 25 October 1944.
| US Navy photo # NH 98042, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center |
 | 70k | Balao (SS-285) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., following overhaul, 25 October 1944.
| US Navy photo # NH 98044, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. |
 | 69k | Balao (SS-285) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., following overhaul, 25 October 1944.
| US Navy photo # NH 98045, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. |
 | 71k | Balao (SS-285) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., following overhaul, 25 October 1944.
| US Navy photo # NH 98046, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. |
 | 166k | With a destroyer in the background, the Balao (SS-285) pulls up to the wharf, circa early 1945. The location is probably Guam.
| USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org. |
 | 147k | The Balao (SS-285) pulls up to the wharf, circa early 1945. The location is probably Guam.
| USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org. |
 | 82k | Cut out of the Balao (SS-285) class.
| USN photo courtesy of Jack Treutle. |
 | 99k | Balao (SS-285) returns to a Pacific base following a successful war patrol, circa early 1945. The location is probably Guam. Note LCT-1000 in the right distance.
| US National Archives photo # 80-G-325538, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. |
 | 117k | Balao (SS-285) returns to a Pacific base following a successful war patrol, circa early 1945. The location is probably Guam.
| Photo courtesy of Ric Hedmen. |
 | 71k | Closeup of the Balao's (SS-285) battleflag as she returns to a Pacific base following a successful war patrol, circa early 1945. The location is probably Guam.
| Photo courtesy of Ric Hedmen. |
 | 39k | Deck of the Balao (SS-285) during WW II.
The officer behind Admiral Lockwood is Balao CO Robert K.R. Worthington. The
bushy-eyebrowed officer second from right is Lew Parks, former CO of the
Pompano (SS-181) and Slade Cutter's former CO. The officer facing the camera has the
first name of Joe but last name is unknown.
| Photo courtesy of Ric Hedmen. |
 | 71k | Balao (SS-285) & Sennet (SS-408) in Port Key West Fla, circa late 1950's.
| Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle. |
 | 88k | Balao (SS-285) photographed circa 1952. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1974.
| US Navy photo # NH 79767, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. |
 | 47k | Balao (SS-285) painted pink for the movie "Operation Petticoat" in 1959 while the boat was in Key West, Fla.
| Photo courtesy of Thomas and Josephine McLoughlin. |
 | 79k | Balao (AGSS-285) exercising with a Brazilian S2F anti-submarine aircraft and H-34 (HSS-1) helicopter off Key West, FL., 7 March 1961. The Brazilian helicopter is flying over the submarine in this view. Balao is a unit of Submarine Squadron Twelve, whose insignia is visible on her fairwater, directly over her hull number. (see photo below)
| US Navy photo # NH 98047, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. |
 | 68k | View of the Balao (SS-285) "sail", with Submarine Squadron Twelve insignia, circa 1963. Removed shortly before Balao was expended as a target in 1963, this structure has been on exhibit at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C., since about the middle 1960s.
| US Navy photo # NH 57880-KN, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. |
 | 123k | After end of the submarine's "sail", circa 1963. Removed shortly before Balao (SS-285) was expended as a target in 1963, this structure has been on exhibit at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C., since about the middle 1960s.
| US Navy photo # NH 57881-KN, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. |
 | 19k | Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the 60th year of the Balao's (SS-285) commissioning, 4 February 1943 - 4 February 2003.
| Courtesy of Jack Treutle. |
 | 110k | Photo of a plaque of the Balao (SS-285) that is next to the sail on display at the Washington Navy Yard, Feb. 05.
| Photo courtesy of Wendell McLaughlin. Photo added 07/13/07. |
