Medal of Honor

[rmediver2002]

I found this while doing some research and figured everyone here could truely appreciate the accomplishment...




CRILLEY, FRANK WILLIAM

Rank and organization: Chief Gunner's Mate, U.S. Navy. Born: 13 September 1883, Trenton, N.J. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. (19 November 1928). Citation: For display of extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession above and beyond the call of duty during the diving operations in connection with the sinking in a depth of water 304 feet, of the U.S.S. F-4 with all on board, as a result of loss of depth control, which occurred off Honolulu, T.H., on 25 March 1915. On 17 April 1915, William F. Loughman, chief gunner's mate, U.S. Navy, who had descended to the wreck and had examined one of the wire hawsers attached to it, upon starting his ascent, and when at a depth of 250 feet beneath the surface of the water, had his lifeline and air hose so badly fouled by this hawser that he was unable to free himself; he could neither ascend nor descend. On account of the length of time that Loughman had already been subjected to the great pressure due to the depth of water, and of the uncertainty of the additional time he would have to be subjected to this pressure before he could be brought to the surface, it was imperative that steps be taken at once to clear him. Instantly, realizing the desperate case of his comrade, Crilley volunteered to go to his aid, immediately donned a diving suit and descended. After a lapse of time of 2 hours and 11 minutes, Crilley was brought to the surface, having by a superb exhibition of skill, coolness, endurance and fortitude, untangled the snarl of lines and cleared his imperiled comrade, so that he was brought, still alive, to the surface.


Jeff Lane

 

[DA Aquamaster]

There were a lot of dives on the F-4 and I think dives to 300' and the successful salvage of a sub from 300' of water in 1915 were very impressive feats in their own right.

The F-4 sank with 22 men aboard a half mile off the coast of Hawaii after she lost power due to sea water flooding her battery. She sank in 300 feet of water but the hull, rated to only 200 feet, remained intact. She was quickly located by an oil slick and a trail of bubbles and over the next 24 hours Navy divers attempted to attached cables to her in an effort to raise her. These efforts failed and when no more signs of life from the crew could be detected the rescue operation was called off.

Salvaged efforts started shortly thereafter and the F-4 was successfully raised 5 months later. After her recovery it was discovered that 15 of crew had made their way to the engine room and survived the intial sinking only to succumb to lack of air over the next 24 hours.

 

[Wreck Wench]

Simply amazing...anyone know of any good books on more stories like this one?

 

[iflyprops]

There was an incident in '39 I believe where the USS Squalus went down in 250ft of water and 33 of the crew were rescued by Swede Momsen's 'invention'. Check anything out about this, the whole thing was pretty interesting and amazing.

 

[Don Burke]

Wreck Wench once bubbled... Simply amazing...anyone know of any good books on more stories like this one?

"The Terrible Hours" by Peter Maas is pretty good. That is about Squalus with some mention of other submarine sinkings.

I'm rereading "Marine Salvage, The Unforgiving Business of No Cure, No Pay" by Joseph N. Gores for either the third or fourth time. That has some submarine rescue/salvage stories in it.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

"Under Pressure" by A.J. Hill is a good account of the sinking and rescue of the crew of the S-5 which sank in 1920 in 180 feet of water.

"Descent into Darkness" by Cmdr. Edward C. Raymer is also a very good book recounting the work of salvage divers at Pearl harbor in 1942 and 1943.

 

[Oldenboldiver]

'Few Survived' by Edwyn Gray is interesting. I gave my copy away to an elderly neighbour whose uncle was killed in the K13.

 

[rmediver2002]

I have read Decent into darkeness several times now, it is one of my favorite books!

I recently purchased "Diving as a guest of the emporer" and am looking forward to sitting down with it. It is about some US Navy divers who were forced to dive during WW II while in prisoner of war camps.

Jeff Lane

 

[rmediver2002]

Medal of Honor citation of Chief Machinist's Mate William Badders (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 129):


"For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the rescue and salvage operations following the sinking of the U.S.S. Squalus on 23 May 1939. During the rescue operations, BADDERS, as senior member of the rescue chamber crew, made the last extremely hazardous trip of the rescue chamber to attempt to rescue any possible survivors in the flooded after portion of the Squalus. He was fully aware of the great danger involved in that if he and his assistant became incapacitated, there was no way in which either could be rescued. During the salvage operations, BADDERS made important and difficult dives under the most hazardous conditions. His outstanding performance of duty contributed much to the success of the operations and characterizes conduct far above and beyond the ordinary call of duty."


http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-b/w-baddrs.htm

USS Squalus (SS-192) Rescue and Salvage Operations, 1939

Secretary of the Navy Charles Edison presents Medals of Honor to four men for heroism during rescue and salvage operations following the accidental sinking of Squalus on 23 May 1939. The ceremonies took place at the Navy Department on 19 January 1940.
The men are (from left to right):
Chief Machinist's Mate William Badders;
Chief Torpedoman John Mihalowski;
Chief Boatswain's Mate Orson L. Crandall; and
Chief Metalsmith James Harper McDonald.
All were qualified as Divers. The Diver's distinguishing mark is visible on the Mihalowski's and Crandall's jacket sleeves.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.