USS Robalo (SS-273) - Fate of Survivors

Fate of Survivors

On 2 August, a note was dropped from the window of a cell of Puerto Princesa Prison Camp on Palawan Island in the Philippines. It was picked up by an American soldier who was on a work detail nearby. The note was in turn given to H.D. Hough, Yeoman Second Class, who was also a prisoner at the camp. On 4 August, he contacted Trinidad Mendosa, wife of guerrilla leader Dr. Mendosa who furnished further information on the survivors.

From these sources, it was concluded Robalo was sunk on 26 July 1944, 2 miles (3.2 km) off the western coast of Palawan Island from an explosion in the vicinity of her after battery, probably caused by an enemy mine. Only four men swam ashore, and made their way through the jungles to a small barrier northwest of the Puerto Princesa Prison Camp, where Japanese Military Police captured them and jailed them for guerrilla activities. On 15 August, they were evacuated by a Japanese destroyer and never heard from again. Robalo was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 16 September 1944.

There are two Japanese destroyers lost in August 1944 in either of which the four survivors could have been held:

• Akakaze, sunk on 23 August 1944 off Cape Bilinao (Luzon), by USS Haddo (SS-255).
• Yūnagi, sunk on 25 August 1944 off northwest Luzon by USS Picuda (SS-382).

Robalo earned two battle stars for World War II service.