USS Pompon (SS-267)
Our interest in the Pompon comes from our late father having served seven war patrols aboard her from 1943 to the end of hostilities in 1945.
His subsequent assignment to the U.S. Navy prize crew of a Japanese submarine is described in the I-400 page on this site.
History
Excerpts of the boat's entry in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships can be found online at the subnet.com site; see http://www.subnet.com/fleet/ss267.htm.
an unofficial Pompon history page maintained by Bernie Kanoff (bkanoff@atnet.net) for Hank Henderson and Robert H. Gray details the early history of the Pompon from construction, early trials and commissioning, and includes all nine patrol reports and crew reminiscences.
From the latter site comes the following narrative of its mothballing in 1946:
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"The first week of January 1946 Pompon departed [New London] for the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for overhaul and preservation in preparation for decommissioning.
All machinery was overhauled, deactivated, mothballed.
Even the screws were removed and stored/mounted topside.
Pompon was then towed back to the Sub Base, New London for final inspection, and decommissioning."
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On 11 May 1946 the Pompon was decommissioned and placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at the submarine base in New London CT.
Reprieve
Five years later the Pompon was selected as the class boat for the Migraine III radar picket submarine conversions.
She was taken back to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for modification and recommissioned as SSR-267 on 15 June 1953.
In this capacity she served for another six years (twice the duration of her original commission).
End of the Line
quoting again from the same source as above:
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"Returning to Norfolk, she then operated off the east coast until placed in commission in reserve at Charleston 2 February 1959.
Following decommissioning, Pompon was struck from the Navy List 1 April 1960, and was sold to Commercial Metals Co., 25 November 1960.
Pompon was scrapped by the Commercial Metals Company ..."
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Disappointment
Upon learning that the Pompon had been sold for scrap, Dr. Paine contacted the salvage company in an attempt to purchase some part, however small, of the boat as a keepsake.
Naval regulations strictly limit the disposition of warships and their components, and to his great regret the shipbreakers denied his request.
After this experience he put time and energy into encouraging a museum organization with which he was affiliated to acquire a US fleet submarine for display.
This effort was unsuccessful and no American submarine was preserved for another ten years.
Discovery
Years later we happened to be in Alexandria VA where a city park occupies the West bank of the Potomac River.
Just north of the Torpedo Factory art complex a marine propeller is mounted on a stone base under a willow tree at the water's edge.
There is no historical marker or plaque in place; the propeller appears to have been set there purely for aesthetic reasons.
A closer examination of the propeller leaves no doubt as to its provenance: both the screw and cap piece are clearly marked for the Pompon.
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Screw Inscription |
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PHS2489
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A-BU SHIPS SERIAL NO.11872
B-BU SHIPS DRAW NO.SS212-S-447ALT6N.Y.P.H 7.7.44
C-SUITABLE FOR SS212 TO 424 INCL.
D-STARBOARD. RH
E-DIA 7 FT. 9.500 IN.
F-PITCH<VARIABLE>DESIGNED 8 FT. 9.75 IN. AT 33.5 RAD
G-MF MARE ISLAND NAVY YARD.
H-U O NO. X0603-8888-A-2467S /5511
I-WEIGHT 2800LBS
POMPON
3TO8 267
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Cap Inscription |
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Questions
We were delighted to find that the "Peaceful P" had not met its demise without leaving behind any identifiable traces.
Nonetheless a few questions remain:
- How was this particular propeller chosen for display at this location?
- Why was no marker or plaque set up at the site?
- And why is the unit an apparent composite, bearing screws from the starboard assembly and a cap from its portside counterpart?
This particular propeller may have been installed as part of the 1945 refit in Mare Island and then replaced during the Philadelphia Navy Yard refit in the early 1950s and, much later, selected at random from stocks on hand for display in Virginia.
Those with further information (or better guesses) are encouraged to contact the webmaster.
Selected online sources for further information
the I-400 page
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