USS Flying Fish (SS-229)

USS Flying Fish (SS-229)

USS Flying Fish (SS/AGSS-229), a Gato-class submarine, was the first submarine and second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the flying fish, a family of fishes of tropic and warm temperate seas whose long winglike fins make it possible for them to move some distance through the air.

The keel of Flying Fish (SS-229) was laid down on 6 December 1940 by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine. She was launched 9 July 1941 (sponsored by Mrs. Husband E. Kimmel, wife of the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet), and commissioned 10 December 1941, Lieutenant Commander Glynn "Donc" Donaho (Class of 1927) in command.

Flying Fish is credited with having sunk a total of 58,306 tons of Japanese shipping and received 12 battle stars for World War II service.

Read more about USS Flying Fish (SS-229):  First War Patrol - Battle of Midway, Second War Patrol, August – September 1942, Third, Fourth and Fifth War Patrols, October 1942 – May 1943, Sixth War Patrol, June – July 1943, Seventh War Patrol, October – November 1943, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth War Patrols, November 1943 – July 1944, Eleventh War Patrol, October – November 1944, Twelfth War Patrol, May – July 1945, Post-war Service