World War II Honoree

Donald Arthur Abel

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

U.S. Submarine Veteran

He was killed with the loss of 85 Officers and men onboard USS BONEFISH (SS-223) on 19 June 1945 in Toyama Bay, Honshu, Japan at 37°18'N, 137° 25'E. Lost at sea, Cause: Sunk by depth charge attack. Decorations: Bronze Star, Purple Heart. In company with TUNNY and SKATE, BONEFISH (SS-223), under the Command of Commander L. L. Edge, departed Guam on 28 May 1945 to conduct her eighth war patrol. This coordinated attack group under Commander G. E. Pierce in TUNNY, which was one of three groups then penetrating the Japan Sea, was ordered to transit Tsushima Strait on 5 June 1945 and to conduct offensive patrol in the Sea of Japan off the west coast of Honshu. This area was further subdivided, with BONEFISH assigned to patrol the northern portion. BONEFISH successfully transited Tsushima Strait, and made rendezvous with TUNNY on 16 June 1945, in position 36° 40'N, 135° 24'E. Commander Edge reported be had sunk one large transport and one medium freighter to date. On the morning of 18 June, TUNNY and BONEFISH rendezvoused in the vicinity of 38° 15'N, 136° 24'E. BONEFISH asked permission to conduct a submerged daylight patrol in Toyama Wan, in the mid part of western Honshu, and having received it, departed for Suzu Misaki. She was never seen or heard from again. BONEFISH, in accordance with the operation order, was to rendezvous with the other eight submarines of the three groups, at 46° 50'N, 140° 00'E at sunset on 23 June 1945, in preparation for the transit on 24 June of La Perouse Strait. BONEFISH did not make this rendezvous, and after the other eight vessels had successfully transited La Perouse Strait, TUNNY on 25 and 26 June waited off the entrance to the strait and unsuccessfully tried to contact BONEFISH. When she had not been seen or heard from by 30 July 1945, BONEFISH was reported as presumed lost.