James W. Blanchard
Encyclopedia
James William Blanchard
was an American
submarine
commander during the Pacific War
, who received the Navy Cross
for sinking the Japanese aircraft carrier Taihō
on 19 June 1944 during the Battle of the Philippine Sea
.
,
Blanchard graduated the United States Naval Academy
in Annapolis
, Maryland
with the Class of 1927. He was at the Submarine School
in New London
, Connecticut
until, on 5 December 1943, now a Lieutenant Commander
, he took command of the Gato-class submarine Albacore
in Brisbane, Australia, replacing Oscar Hagberg.
On 26 December 1943, Albacore departed Australia for the first time under Blanchard's command in order to patrol north of the Bismarck Islands. Directed by Ultra
signal intelligence to intercept a Japanese I-boat
, Albacore made no contact when the I-boat failed to arrive. Blanchard spotted his first target on 12 January 1944 and sank the ammunition ship Choko Maru (about 2,750 tons) with two separate torpedo attacks. Two days later, he worked in concert with Wally Ebert in Scamp
and "Bub" Ward in Guardfish
. Ward, unable to get a shot, flushed the destroyer
Sazanami (1,750 tons); Blanchard sank her with a spread of four shots from his stern torpedo tube
s, while Ward stood by taking periscope
pictures. Another destroyer pinned him down and delivered fifty-nine depth charges, leaving Ebert and Ward free to pursue three tankers. Following more than a fortnight of uneventful patrolling, Albacore headed home, with fuel stops at Tulagi
and Midway Island before reaching Pearl Harbor
on 22 February. After three days of repairs, Albacore went on to Mare Island for overhaul.
While there, John Crowley, newly assigned to command Flier
, got in a heated dispute with his exec, Ben Adams, who nearly went to surface forces; instead, he was transferred to Blanchard's boat, replacing Ralph De Loach, who was already scheduled to new construction.
. He reached Pearl Harbor
on 13 May and spent the next two weeks on final repairs and training. Albacore began her ninth patrol on 29 May and was assigned waters west of the Mariana Islands
and around the Palau Islands. During the next few days, he made only one contact a Japanese convoy which she encountered on 11 June. However before he could gain a firing position, a Japanese aircraft forced him to dive and he lost contact.
On the morning of 18 June, two days after American forces began landing on Saipan
, Admiral Charles Lockwood
(COMSUBPAC) moved four boats (Anton Gallaher's Bang
, Sam Loomis' Stingray
, James Jordan
's Finback
, and Blanchard in Albacore) in the hope of intercepting a Japanese task force under Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa
that Ultra reported bound from Tawi Tawi to Saipan. Blanchard shifted from west of the Mariana Islands
to a new location 100 miles (185 km) further south.
At about 08:00 on 19 June, he raised his periscope and found himself in the midst of Ozawa's main body. Blanchard, with astounding aplomb considering how juicy the target was, allowed one Japanese carrier to pass unharmed and selected a second one for his target at 9,000 yards (8,200 m). Waiting while a destroyer passed before his sights, he saw his TDC
had gone awry, so at 5,300 yards (4,850 m) he fired six bow tubes by eye. Three Japanese destroyers immediately charged Albacore, and Blanchard dived. While on the way down, he heard (and felt) one solid hit, correctly timed for his last torpedo
. About the same time, 25 depth charges began raining down on the submarine, some so close the cork
insulation was shaken loose. Then Blanchard heard "a distant and persistent explosion of great force", followed by another; Blanchard believed this, too was a hit, but was mistaken.
, the 31,000-ton aircraft carrier
Taihō
, the newest and largest in the Japanese fleet. The explosion jammed the enemy ship's forward aircraft elevator, and filled its pit with gasoline, water, and aviation fuel. However, no fire erupted, and the flight deck was unharmed. Ozawa was unconcerned by the hit and launched two more waves of aircraft. Meanwhile, a novice took over the damage control responsibilities. He believed the best way to handle gasoline fumes was to open up the ship's ventilation system and let them disperse throughout the ship. This action turned the ship into a floating time bomb. At 15:30, a tremendous explosion jolted Taihō and blew out the sides of the carrier. Taihō began to settle in the water and was clearly doomed. Although Admiral Ozawa wanted to go down with the ship, his staff persuaded him to transfer to the cruiser
Haguro
. After Ozawa shifted his flag, a second explosion ripped through Taihō and she sank by the stern, taking 1,650 officers and men with her.
None of the men in Albacore thought Taihō had sunk, and neither did Lockwood. Blanchard was angry for "missing a golden opportunity."
After this, Blanchard was detailed to lifeguard
duty for planes striking Yap
and Ulithi
. Amid a 29 June strike, he was strafed by a Japanese aircraft, which did not major damage. On 2 July, he shifted to intercept traffic between Yap and the Palau Islands. Just after 08:00, he spotted a 900-ton wooden inter-island steamer Taimei Maru loaded with Japanese civilians and battle surfaced for gun attack. After setting the ship fire, Blanchard dived again to avoid another airplane. The submarine surfaced soon thereafter and picked up five survivors, then later discovered a half-sunken lifeboat with a child in it. When the survivors reached Japan, they claimed Blanchard had mistreated them, and Emperor Hirohito filed a formal protest, very rare for the war.
Blanchard put in to Majuro
in the Marshall Islands
on 15 July. He was praised for an aggressive patrol and received credit for damaging (not sinking) a Shōkaku-class
carrier. American codebreakers from HYPO
had lost track of Taihō after the Battle of the Philippine Sea
and, while puzzled, did not realize she had gone down. Only months later did a POW
reveal her sinking. "Months and months went by," Blanchard recalled. "Then they picked up a POW someplace who said Taihō went down in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Even then intelligence was doubtful. So I said, 'Keep him alive until he convinces them.'" After confirmation was finally obtained, Lockwood upgraded Blanchard's Navy Commendation Medal
to a Navy Cross
.
, he was operations and plans officer for COMSUBPAC.
He retired from the Navy in 1956, receiving a tombstone promotion to the rank of rear admiral
.
Blanchard died on 5 March 1987.
was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
commander during the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, who received the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for sinking the Japanese aircraft carrier Taihō
Japanese aircraft carrier Taiho
was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. With a heavily armored hull and flight deck , she represented a major departure in Japanese carrier design and was expected to not only survive multiple bomb, torpedo or shell hits but also continue fighting effectively...
on 19 June 1944 during the Battle of the Philippine Sea
Battle of the Philippine Sea
The Battle of the Philippine Sea was a decisive naval battle of World War II which effectively eliminated the Imperial Japanese Navy's ability to conduct large-scale carrier actions. It took place during the United States' amphibious invasion of the Mariana Islands during the Pacific War...
.
Early life and career
A native of Faison, North CarolinaFaison, North Carolina
Faison is a town in Duplin and Sampson counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 744 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Faison is located at ....
,
Blanchard graduated the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in Annapolis
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
with the Class of 1927. He was at the Submarine School
Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London is the United States Navy's primary submarine base, the "Home of the Submarine Force", and "the Submarine Capital of the World".-History:...
in New London
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
until, on 5 December 1943, now a Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
, he took command of the Gato-class submarine Albacore
USS Albacore (SS-218)
was a Gato-class submarine which served in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II, winning four Presidential Unit Citations and nine battle stars for her service...
in Brisbane, Australia, replacing Oscar Hagberg.
USS Albacore
Ultra
Ultra was the designation adopted by British military intelligence in June 1941 for wartime signals intelligence obtained by "breaking" high-level encrypted enemy radio and teleprinter communications at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park. "Ultra" eventually became the standard...
signal intelligence to intercept a Japanese I-boat
B1 type submarine
The Type B1 submarine were the most numerous submarine class of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II...
, Albacore made no contact when the I-boat failed to arrive. Blanchard spotted his first target on 12 January 1944 and sank the ammunition ship Choko Maru (about 2,750 tons) with two separate torpedo attacks. Two days later, he worked in concert with Wally Ebert in Scamp
USS Scamp (SS-277)
USS Scamp , a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the scamp, a member of the Serranidae family....
and "Bub" Ward in Guardfish
USS Guardfish (SS-217)
, a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the guardfish, a voracious green and silvery fish with elongated pike-like body and long narrow jaws....
. Ward, unable to get a shot, flushed the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
Sazanami (1,750 tons); Blanchard sank her with a spread of four shots from his stern torpedo tube
Torpedo tube
A torpedo tube is a device for launching torpedoes. There are two main types of torpedo tube: underwater tubes fitted to submarines and some surface ships, and deck-mounted units installed aboard surface vessels...
s, while Ward stood by taking periscope
Periscope
A periscope is an instrument for observation from a concealed position. In its simplest form it consists of a tube with mirrors at each end set parallel to each other at a 45-degree angle....
pictures. Another destroyer pinned him down and delivered fifty-nine depth charges, leaving Ebert and Ward free to pursue three tankers. Following more than a fortnight of uneventful patrolling, Albacore headed home, with fuel stops at Tulagi
Tulagi
Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida Island. The town of the same name on the island Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island (5.5 km by 1 km) in the Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Florida...
and Midway Island before reaching Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
on 22 February. After three days of repairs, Albacore went on to Mare Island for overhaul.
While there, John Crowley, newly assigned to command Flier
USS Flier (SS-250)
, a Gato-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the flier, a round sunfish widely known in the United States....
, got in a heated dispute with his exec, Ben Adams, who nearly went to surface forces; instead, he was transferred to Blanchard's boat, replacing Ralph De Loach, who was already scheduled to new construction.
Second patrol
Blanchard, with new exec Adams, left Mare Island on 5 May 1944 and held training exercises with en route to HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. He reached Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
on 13 May and spent the next two weeks on final repairs and training. Albacore began her ninth patrol on 29 May and was assigned waters west of the Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
and around the Palau Islands. During the next few days, he made only one contact a Japanese convoy which she encountered on 11 June. However before he could gain a firing position, a Japanese aircraft forced him to dive and he lost contact.
On the morning of 18 June, two days after American forces began landing on Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
, Admiral Charles Lockwood
Charles A. Lockwood
Charles Andrews Lockwood was an admiral of the United States Navy. He is known in submarine history as the legendary commander of Submarine Force Pacific Fleet during World War II...
(COMSUBPAC) moved four boats (Anton Gallaher's Bang
USS Bang (SS-385)
USS Bang was a United States Navy , named after the bang, a dark blue or black fish of the Atlantic herring family found in the coastal waters of the United States north of North Carolina....
, Sam Loomis' Stingray
USS Stingray (SS-186)
USS Stingray , a Salmon-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the stingray, which is a large ray with a whiplike tail and sharp spines capable of inflicting severe wounds. Her keel was laid down by the Portsmouth Navy Yard on 1 October 1936. She was launched...
, James Jordan
James Jordan
-Sports:*James Jordan , English first-class cricketer*Jimmy Jordan , American Major League Baseball player*Jim Jordan , American guard-Arts:*Jim Jordan , American radio comedy performer...
's Finback
USS Finback (SS-230)
, a Gato-class submarine was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the finback, the common whale of the Atlantic coast of the United States....
, and Blanchard in Albacore) in the hope of intercepting a Japanese task force under Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa
Jisaburo Ozawa
was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He was the last Commander-in-Chief of Combined Fleet. Many military historians regard Ozawa as one of the most capable Japanese flag officers.-Biography:...
that Ultra reported bound from Tawi Tawi to Saipan. Blanchard shifted from west of the Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
to a new location 100 miles (185 km) further south.
At about 08:00 on 19 June, he raised his periscope and found himself in the midst of Ozawa's main body. Blanchard, with astounding aplomb considering how juicy the target was, allowed one Japanese carrier to pass unharmed and selected a second one for his target at 9,000 yards (8,200 m). Waiting while a destroyer passed before his sights, he saw his TDC
Torpedo Data Computer
The Torpedo Data Computer was an early electromechanical analog computer used for torpedo fire-control on American submarines during World War II . Britain, Germany, and Japan also developed automated torpedo fire control equipment, but none were as advanced as US Navy's TDC...
had gone awry, so at 5,300 yards (4,850 m) he fired six bow tubes by eye. Three Japanese destroyers immediately charged Albacore, and Blanchard dived. While on the way down, he heard (and felt) one solid hit, correctly timed for his last torpedo
Mark 14 torpedo
The Mark 14 torpedo was the United States Navy's standard submarine-launched anti-ship torpedo of World War II.This weapon was plagued with many problems which crippled its performance early in the war, and was supplemented by the Mark 18 electric torpedo in the last 2 years of the war...
. About the same time, 25 depth charges began raining down on the submarine, some so close the cork
Cork (material)
Cork is an impermeable, buoyant material, a prime-subset of bark tissue that is harvested for commercial use primarily from Quercus suber , which is endemic to southwest Europe and northwest Africa...
insulation was shaken loose. Then Blanchard heard "a distant and persistent explosion of great force", followed by another; Blanchard believed this, too was a hit, but was mistaken.
The sinking of Taihō
One of the torpedoes had hit Ozawa's flagshipFlagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
, the 31,000-ton aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
Taihō
Japanese aircraft carrier Taiho
was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. With a heavily armored hull and flight deck , she represented a major departure in Japanese carrier design and was expected to not only survive multiple bomb, torpedo or shell hits but also continue fighting effectively...
, the newest and largest in the Japanese fleet. The explosion jammed the enemy ship's forward aircraft elevator, and filled its pit with gasoline, water, and aviation fuel. However, no fire erupted, and the flight deck was unharmed. Ozawa was unconcerned by the hit and launched two more waves of aircraft. Meanwhile, a novice took over the damage control responsibilities. He believed the best way to handle gasoline fumes was to open up the ship's ventilation system and let them disperse throughout the ship. This action turned the ship into a floating time bomb. At 15:30, a tremendous explosion jolted Taihō and blew out the sides of the carrier. Taihō began to settle in the water and was clearly doomed. Although Admiral Ozawa wanted to go down with the ship, his staff persuaded him to transfer to the cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
Haguro
Japanese cruiser Haguro
|-External reference links: -External links:**...
. After Ozawa shifted his flag, a second explosion ripped through Taihō and she sank by the stern, taking 1,650 officers and men with her.
None of the men in Albacore thought Taihō had sunk, and neither did Lockwood. Blanchard was angry for "missing a golden opportunity."
After this, Blanchard was detailed to lifeguard
Lifeguard
A lifeguard supervises the safety and rescue of swimmers, surfers, and other water sports participants such as in a swimming pool, water park, or beach. Lifeguards are strong swimmers and trained in first aid, certified in water rescue using a variety of aids and equipment depending on...
duty for planes striking Yap
Yap
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It is a state of the Federated States of Micronesia. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four...
and Ulithi
Ulithi
Ulithi is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about 191 km east of Yap. It consists of 40 islets totalling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest in the world. It is administered by the state of Yap in the Federated States of...
. Amid a 29 June strike, he was strafed by a Japanese aircraft, which did not major damage. On 2 July, he shifted to intercept traffic between Yap and the Palau Islands. Just after 08:00, he spotted a 900-ton wooden inter-island steamer Taimei Maru loaded with Japanese civilians and battle surfaced for gun attack. After setting the ship fire, Blanchard dived again to avoid another airplane. The submarine surfaced soon thereafter and picked up five survivors, then later discovered a half-sunken lifeboat with a child in it. When the survivors reached Japan, they claimed Blanchard had mistreated them, and Emperor Hirohito filed a formal protest, very rare for the war.
Blanchard put in to Majuro
Majuro
Majuro , is a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. The atoll itself has a land area of and encloses a lagoon of...
in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
on 15 July. He was praised for an aggressive patrol and received credit for damaging (not sinking) a Shōkaku-class
Shokaku class aircraft carrier
The was a pair of aircraft carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy built before World War II. Only two vessels were built in this class; and . Together, they formed the 5th Carrier Division. Both were lost in action during World War II.-References:...
carrier. American codebreakers from HYPO
Station HYPO
Station HYPO, also known as Fleet Radio Unit Pacific was the United States Navy signals monitoring and cryptographic intelligence unit in Hawaii during World War II. It was one of two major Allied signals intelligence units, called Fleet Radio Units in the Pacific theaters, along with FRUMEL in...
had lost track of Taihō after the Battle of the Philippine Sea
Battle of the Philippine Sea
The Battle of the Philippine Sea was a decisive naval battle of World War II which effectively eliminated the Imperial Japanese Navy's ability to conduct large-scale carrier actions. It took place during the United States' amphibious invasion of the Mariana Islands during the Pacific War...
and, while puzzled, did not realize she had gone down. Only months later did a POW
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
reveal her sinking. "Months and months went by," Blanchard recalled. "Then they picked up a POW someplace who said Taihō went down in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Even then intelligence was doubtful. So I said, 'Keep him alive until he convinces them.'" After confirmation was finally obtained, Lockwood upgraded Blanchard's Navy Commendation Medal
Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration which is presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. For valorous actions in direct contact with an enemy force, but of a lesser degree than required for the award of the Bronze Star, the Valor device may...
to a Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
.
Later service
Blanchard commanded a submarine division later in the war, and a submarine squadron in 1946–47. At the beginning of the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, he was operations and plans officer for COMSUBPAC.
He retired from the Navy in 1956, receiving a tombstone promotion to the rank of rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
.
Blanchard died on 5 March 1987.