Close Call
The Grayback acted as a beacon ship for a barrage of Munda Bay, Solomon Islands on January 5, in addition to providing rescue assistance. Six Americans were stranded in the Solomon Islands when their Martin B-26 Marauder aircraft went down in the ocean while on a training mission. After the sun had set, two members of the submarine’s crew walked ashore and located the remaining members of the crew. Following that, the two navy officers were successful in returning the six survivors to the Grayback, where they were greeted with open arms by everyone on board.
Close Call
Valiant Rescue
Commander Edward C. Stephan, the boat’s commanding officer, received the Navy Cross and the U.S. Army Silver Star for this heroic deed. However, the submarine continued her mission and sank a number of Japanese ships in the following days. However, depth charges delivered by an opposing destroyer eventually resulted in her own destruction. While on patrol, Grayback engaged numerous Japanese vessels with torpedoes, causing significant damage to them. Her first attack came on 17 January, when she tried to take out the destroyer accompanying a huge maru with her deck weapons. The destroyer, on the other hand, eluded the torpedoes and slammed into Grayback with 19 depth charges. In Brisbane, Australia, the submarine arrived on January 23 when a gasket on a drainpipe was blown.
Valiant Rescue
