Lost Subs - USS Cisco (SS-290)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Compiled June 30, 2008, by David Barth.
USS Cisco (SS-290) a Balao-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the cisco,
a whitefish of the Great Lakes. Her keel was laid down by the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine. She was launched
on 24 December 1942 sponsored by Mrs. A. C. Bennett, through her proxy, Mrs. N. Robertson, and commissioned on 10 May
1943 with Commander James W. Coe in command. She reported to the Pacific Fleet.
Cisco sailed from Panama 7 August 1943 for Brisbane, Australia, arriving 1 September to assume local patrol duties,
until 18 September, when she docked at Darwin. She put out on her first war patrol 20 September, but never
returned.
Japanese records tell of sighting a submarine leaking oil on 28 September in an area where Cisco is known to have been
the only submarine then operating. Japanese records state this submarine was sunk by bombs and depth charges. Cisco is
thus presumed to have been lost in action 28 September 1943.
The only survivor from the crew was Chief Radioman Howell
B. Rice (USN ret.), who was taken sick in Darwin and sent ashore to the Navy hospital prior to Cisco's final voyage.
Japanese Records above indicate the submarine was attacked by Type 97 "Kate" attack bombers of the 954 Naval Air
Squadron and the riverboat Karatsu (originally a U.S. gunboat, USS Luzon (PR-7), captured by Japanese forces and
put to work against its former owners).