World War II Honoree

Raymond Francis Flisher

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Middletown, Ohio

Honored By

U.S. Submarine Veterans, Inc.

Relationship

Shipmates

FIREMAN FIRST CLASS KILLED ONBOARD USS R-12 SS-89 WITH THE LOSS OF 42 OFFICERS AND MEN, INCLUDING THREE BRAZILIAN OFFICERS. USS R-12 WAS SUNK ON 12 JUNE 1943 OFF OF KEY WEST, FLORIDA AT AT LATITUDE 24 DEGREES 24 MINUTES 30 SECONDS NORTH AND LONGITUDE 81 DEGREES - 38 MINUTES 30 SECONDS WEST IN SIX HUNDRED FEET OF WATER. R-12, WHILE UNDERWAY TO CONDUCT A TORPEDO PRACTICE APPROACH, SOUNDED HER LAST DIVING ALARM. AS SHE COMPLETED PREPARATIONS TO DIVE, THE FORWARD BATTERY COMPARTMENT BEGAN TO FLOOD. THE COLLISION ALARM WAS SOUNDED. ORDERS WERE GIVEN TO BLOW MAIN BALLAST AND CLOSE THE HATCHES. BUT THE SEA WAS FASTER AND R-12 SANK WITHIN 15 SECONDS. THE PERSONNEL ON THE BRIDGE, TWO OFFICERS INCLUDING THE COMMANDING, OFFICER, AND THREE ENLISTED MEN, WERE THE ONLY SURVIVORS.