The Navy has confirmed that the USS Grunion SS216 is the sunken vessel that was first discovered on the ocean floor off the Aleutian Islands of Alaska in 2006. The sons of the ships commanding officer launched a search team to verify that the vessel was their father’s submarine.
The crew of 70 reported heavy anti submarine activity on July 30, 1942. That was the last time the sub was heard from. The Navy reported the vessel lost on August 16, 1942.
Sons Bruce, Brad and John Abele first formed a plan to locate their father’s missing vessel in 2002. It August 2006 a team of side scan sonar experts located a ‘target’ near Sitka, a mile below the surface. A second expedition was mounted in August 2007 and video and high resolution pictures were obtained.
Rear Admiral Douglas McAneny announce in a news conference from Pearl Harbor that the missing submarine had been found thanks to the efforts of the sons of Lt. Commander Mannert L. ‘Jim’ Abele. A memorial service, arranged by family members, will be held on October 11th in Cleveland for the 70 lost souls some 66 years ago.
Check out our photo gallery and video footage below.