At first, no one knew who the floatplane pilot and radioman were who saved those men . . .
Here is the story of the floatplane and its crew credited with saving the lives of 20 "Miss" survivors from the burning waters that day in November 1944 . . .
20Nov2023 = 79th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Mississinewa in WWII
May we always remember those brave men who served aboard the Miss and particularly show reverence for those 63 US sailors who lost their lives as a result of the sinking.
To honor all the Miss sailors, the images of the 150 sailors who have been identified in photos have been revised into two videos and posted on YouTube, Part 1 (Adkinson thru Guerriero) and Part 2 (Hammond thru Young) to allow more time to see each sailor.
PART 1 - Crewmen A thru G (updated 23Feb2024)
Thank you, all you veterans who have served this country unselfishly giving your all for family and country. May your sacrifices always be remembered and honored.
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Passing of Nancy Mair
It is with great sorrow that we share the news of the passing of Nancy Mair. Nancy, loving wife of Mike Mair, went home to the Lord on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 after a brief and unexpected illness.
For Information about a scholarship created in Nancy's memory, and a full obituary, please click on this posting link Nancy Mair.
Additionally, planned Celebration of Life and visitation can be found at this link for the Melby Funeral Home https://www.melbyfh.com/obituary/nancy-mair where you can also leave a message.
Mike Mair can be contacted directly at mikemair59 at Outlook.com (using the @ sign instead of " at ").
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Some recent items:
- The photo of S2c, Angelo Aimetti, has been sent to us and added to the individual crew photos. Read the post at Angelo Aimetti, S2c identified.
- Many of the Mississinewa related photos have been colorized and can now be seen on the Gallery Link above
- The Log Book Project - an interesting look at what two men are doing to bring post-war's shared understanding of mutal loss to the people of today
Navy Seabee Museum makes photos of Ulithi available to son of WWII Seabee
The Massachusetts Maritime Academy honors AO-59 Navigator, Lt. Robert Rowe's memory. See related post.
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Mike Mair and a host of others visit the Veteran's Breakfast Club video chat in December to discuss his book, Kaiten, and the USS Mississinewa. Visit our blog post to see the actual videos. https://ussmississinewa.com/veteranbrkfstclbchats/
Latest "Kaiten" book review:
(Click article for larger version)
Due to losses of supporters who have kept the USS Mississinewa from slipping into the realm of forgotten history, and the discovery of photos identifying four sailors who passed away November 20, 1944, we suggest you view Newsletter Volume 9, Spring 2019 for details of these recent events/findings.
Kaiten: Japan's Secret Manned Suicide Submarine And the First American Ship It Sank in WWII
by authors Michael Mair and Joy Waldron.
Click here to read recent review of Kaiten.
Kaiten Facebook Page
Memorial on Mangejang Island, at Ulithi, for those lost in the sinking of the Mississinewa constructed by the US Navy. Click on photos to enlarge.
Photos courtesy of Lt. Cmdr. Carter, US Navy.*
(*2016-2018 - Capt. John A. Carter served as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, retiring sometime after 2018.)
Actual 16mm film taken on 20 November 1944 of the Mississinewa as it burned not long after being hit by the Kaiten. (Remember when you watch this that the entire 553 foot long 'Miss' is completely engulfed within the smoke.)
Margaret's Story
Left: The late Margaret Pence, aka “Peggy” Howell, christening the USS Mississinewa on March 28, 1944. Click on Margaret’s photo to see the autographed picture of her christening the ship, and the photos she shared with us given to her by Captain Beck in 1945.
Click on photo to view crew pictures/ID's
Click on the picture above to view the Navy Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)'s presentation (here in the form of a .pdf) on the removal of the oil from the sunken USS Mississinewa in 2003.
- Ray Fulleman - 1923 - 2009 - Remembered as he joined his shipmates in eternal rest
- Jack Mair - The Catalyst for the AO-59 "Movement" is remembered
- Simon "Sid" Harris - 1915 - 2003 - Gave us the final moments of the AO-59
- Fernando Cuevas honored in Texas' Ennis Daily News in a two part story
Click here for Part 1 (October 15, 2007) / Click here for Part 2 (October 16, 2007) - Press Release - U.S.S. Mississinewa location found!
- Read Naval History Magazine's April story about finding the AO-59 (must be a subscriber to view)
- Press Release - Oil Leak from AO-59 at Ulithi Atoll Contained
The U.S.S. Mississinewa was a T3-S2-A3 Auxiliary Oiler, built by Bethlahem Steel at Sparrows Point, Maryland, and commissioned on May 18, 1944. The role of the U.S.S. Mississinewa was to refuel ships, while underway, in the South Pacific during WWII. She, along with the other Auxiliary Oilers, played a crucial role in keeping combat vessels supplied with fuel.
On the morning of November 20, 1944, while anchored in Ulithi Atoll, the U.S.S. Mississinewa was struck by a Kaiten (Imperial Japanese Navy -IJN- manned suicide torpedo with a 3,418 lb. warhead). This action was the very first use of this secret suicide submarine by the IJN against the U.S.). This Miss became totally engulfed in flames and subsequently sank with a loss of 63 U.S. Sailors and one Japanese Kaiten pilot. The sinking was captured in still photographs by Sid Harris, a sailor aboard fleet tug, Munsee, one of several fighting the fire. See our Newsletter, Vol. 2 for some of his pictures. It was also captured by 16mm film, which has been put into a YouTube video (see on YouTube) or the link on this page.
We want to express our utmost gratitude to all those brave sailors who risked their lives to rescue the crew of the Mississinewa, as well as all those who sacrificed their time, safety, and lives to help ensure the freedom that we, as Americans, enjoy today.
(L-R) Mike Mair & Ray, Ron, and Bob Fulleman, USS Lackawanna, AO-40 Reunion - Seattle, WA - 2000
