22 July 1945 USS Barb SS 220 was patrolling along the Japanese coast under the command of Medal of Honor winner Eugene Fluckey. While at periscope depth Fluckey noticed railroad traffic delivering weapons and supplies to Karafuto, an island in the North. The Chief of the Boat, Gunners Mate Paul G. Saunders, studying a topographical map located a spot where the railroad was close to shore. With the assistance of EM3 Bill Hatfield they assembled a makeshift bomb out of a pickle can, a scuttling charge, three batteries and a micro switch. Hatfield had worked for a railroad before the war and knew if they set it under the rails the weight of a train would depress the rails enough to activate the switch and detonated the bomb. Almost everyone on the boat volunteered to place the device. The 8 man team selected for the attempt was Lieutenant William M. Walker, Chief Gunners Mate Paul G. Saunders (Chief of the Boat), Motor Machinist Mate 1st Class John Markuson, Ships Cook 1st Class Lawrence W. Newland, Signalman 2nd Class Francis Neal Sever, Motor Machinist Mate 2nd Class James E. Richard, Torpedoman Mate 3rd Class Edward W. Klingesmith, and co-designer Electricians Mate 3rd Class Billy R. Hatfield. They shoved off in rubber boats, paddled to shore, placed their “Land Torpedo” under the track and began the return trip to Barb, waiting 900 yards off the beach. About half way back Fluckley heard an approaching train and thru a mega phone yelled “Paddle like the devil, we’re leaving !” Seconds later the bomb went off sending the train an estimated 200 feet in the air with twelve freight cars, two passenger cars, and a mail car all of which landed in a twisted pile of flames. The 8-man raiding party all returned safely to Barb and a locomotive was added to their battle flag. It has been said that this incident, along with another in which the USS Bowfin (SS\AGSS 287) had a stray torpedo blow up a pier with a truck on it; reportedly both inspired the fictional torpedoing of a truck in Blake Edward’s movie “Operation Petticoat”.
© Gregg Smith
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