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Photo # 80-G-49459:  Officer looks through one of USS Bullhead's periscopes, circa Spring 1945.

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Bullhead (SS-332), 1944-1945

USS Bullhead, a 1526-ton Balao class submarine, was built at Groton, Connecticut. Commissioned in December 1944, she went to the Pacific shortly thereafter and left Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for her first war patrol in March 1945. It took her into the South China Sea, where she twice used her deck gun to shell an enemy-held island, rescued three U.S. Army bomber aircrewmen and had the unenviable experience of being attacked by another U.S. bomber, whose bombs fortunately missed their target. During this patrol Bullhead also carried Martin Sheridan, the only Second World War occasion when a War Correspondent accompanied a U.S. submarine on a combat mission.

Operating out of Freemantle, Australia, after April 1945, Bullhead's second war patrol, in the Gulf of Siam and the South China Sea, produced attacks on several small Japanese vessels. Beginning her third patrol at the end of July, she headed for the Java Sea and, on 6 August, reported her arrival on station. She was not heard from again and was presumed sunk, with her entire complement of 84 officers and men. It is possible that Bullhead was the victim of a Japanese air attack off Bali on 6 August 1945. She was the last U.S. submarine lost during World War II.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have related to USS Bullhead (SS-332).
Note:
With the exception of a launching photograph held by the National Archives, we know of no "ship" images of Bullhead, although there are many views taken on board her.

For additional views taken on board Bullhead during World War II, see:

  • USS Bullhead (SS-332), 1944-1945 -- Part II.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: 80-G-49461

    USS Bullhead (SS-332)


    Rescue of an Army pilot at sea, during a Pacific war patrol, circa Spring 1945.
    Note the Asian small sailing craft alongside the submarine.
    This photo was received by the Navy Photo Science Laboratory on 20 June 1945. It was taken by Stephen F. Birch.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-49466

    USS Bullhead (SS-332)


    Approaches a Chinese junk to pass food to its crew, during her first war patrol, circa March-April 1945.
    This photo was received by the Navy Photo Science Laboratory on 20 June 1945. It was taken by Stephen F. Birch.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 124KB; 740 x 535 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-49448

    USS Bullhead (SS-332)


    An officer on the bridge, during a Pacific war patrol, circa Spring 1945. He may be Commander Walter T. Griffith, who commanded Bullhead during her first two war patrols.
    This photo was received by the Navy Photo Science Laboratory on 20 June 1945. It was taken by Stephen F. Birch.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-49446

    USS Bullhead (SS-332)


    Officer takes bearings on the submarine's bridge, during a Pacific war patrol, circa Spring 1945.
    This photo was received by the Navy Photo Science Laboratory on 20 June 1945. It was taken by Stephen F. Birch.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 595 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-49459

    USS Bullhead (SS-332)


    An officer looks through one of the submarine's periscopes, during a Pacific war patrol, circa Spring 1945.
    This photo was received by the Navy Photo Science Laboratory on 20 June 1945. It was taken by Stephen F. Birch.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 123KB; 580 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-49447

    USS Bullhead (SS-332)


    Crewmen loading .50 caliber machine gun ammunition, during a Pacific war patrol, circa Spring 1945.
    This photo was received by the Navy Photo Science Laboratory on 20 June 1945. It was taken by Stephen F. Birch.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 65291-KN (Color)

    Insignia: USS Bullhead (SS-332)

    This cartoon emblem was designed for Bullhead during World War II.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 545 pixels

     


    In addition to the images presented here, the National Archives appears to hold at least one other view of USS Bullhead (SS-332). The following list features this image:

    The image listed below is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
    DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".



  • Photo #: 80-G-448204
    Launching of USS Bullhead (SS-332), at the Electric Boat Company shipyard, Groton, Connecticut, 16 July 1944.
    Starboard bow view (very tight on the bow), showing Bullhead entering the water as she slides down the shipways.


    Reproductions of this image should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The image listed in this box is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • For additional views taken on board Bullhead during World War II, see:

  • USS Bullhead (SS-332), 1944-1945 -- Part II.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 5 April 2003