Lifeguard Duty

In the fall of 1943, the newly expanded U.S. Navy carrier forces began hit and run raids on Japanese-held
islands in the central Pacific. Expecting aircraft losses, Navy commanders requested submarines to be
stationed off various target islands to rescue downed airmen. On October 7, 1943, USS Skate
inaugurated the service by risking Japanese artillery shells to rescue 6 airmen off Wake Island. Six
months later, USS Tang picked up 22 out of 32 pilots shot down during a raid on Truk Atoll. By the
end of the war, U.S. submarines saved 504 U.S. airmen from capture or drowning.