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| USN SC-497 Class Submarine Chaser 95 Tons 110' x 17' x 6' 6" 1 x 40mm AA gun 2 x 20mm cannons 2 x Twin .50 cal MG 2 x K-gun depth charge projectors 2 x Mousetrap rails  USN May 27, 1944 |
Ship History Built by Delaware Bay Shipbuilding Co., Leesburg, NJ. Laid down March 8, 1942 as SC-497 Class Submarine Chaser. Launched September 7, 1942 as USS PC-699. Commissioned October 19, 1942 in the U.S. Navy (USN). Wartime History During April 1943, reclassified as Submarine Chaser USS SC-699 and sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) assigned to the 7th Fleet. Nicknamed "Shootin’ 699". On May 27, 1944 part of the U.S. invasion force off Bosnik (Bosnek) on southern Biak. At 5:15pm Japanese planes were spotted and immediately targeted by anti-aircraft fire from U.S. Army ashore and warships. From above, they were intercepted by P-47D Thunderbolts from 342nd Fighter Squadron (342nd FS). During engagement, the subchaser fired a total of 146 x 40mm, 660 rounds of 20mm from two guns, 280 rounds by the twin .50 cal machine gun. Leading the air raid, Ki-45 Nick piloted by Major Takada was hit by anti-aircraft fire that damaged one engine. Turning to escape, Takada saw the rest of his flight shot down and on his own initiative, decided to turn back to make another attack and attempted to crash into SC-699 and hit into the sea 30' away and the wreckage tumbled and impacted amidship with an engine embedded into the wooden hull at roughly Lat 1°12'S Long 136°13'E. Aboard, sixteen of the crew were thrown or jumped overboard and many suffered burns. and two were killed or missing. RM2c William Henry Harrison was found burned to death at his gun position. MoMM1c Allen E. Hagmann was Missing In Action (MIA). Eight of the crew earned the Purple Heart for wounds including Koch, Bass, Heintz, Woodruff, Gill, Mark and Bowman and Lt(jg) Reents were later transfered to USS LST-464 for treatment. On May 28, 1944 towed by USS LST-22 to Hollandia. Afterwards, the crew were sent to Cairns for rest and recuperation. Three months later, USS SC-699 returned to duty and participated in the invasion of Leyte in the Philippines. Fate On July 2, 1947 transfered to the Philippines. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. Memorials Harrison who died of burns May 27, 1944 was buried at Manila American Cemetery at Sec H, Row 3, Grave 94. Hagmann was listed as Missing In Action (MIA) May 27, 1944 was officially declared dead on May 28, 1945. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Rose Hill Cemetery in Palmer, Nebraska. References Some sources identify the Japanese submarine sunk as I-9 incorrectly. Japanese sources indicate the ramming of Japanese submarine I-24 as June 11, 1943, the date of the loss across the International Dateline in Japan NARA USS SC-688 War Diary May 1944 pages 2-4, 11 (map) (Page 2) "In the late afternoon, approximately 1714, five enemy planes were sighted bearing 000 T from beach on course 180 T elevation 2,000 ft., two planes, probably Vals, dropped bombs on beaching area although engaged by heavy gun fire from beach and ship guns. One of these planes... The three additional planes (two engined [Ki-45 Nicks] but smaller appearing than Bettys, possibly a new type similar to Me 110s) passed over beaching area and were met with heavy gun fire. One plane..." Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - S-119-B Captain Phillip Holt Photo Collection "Materials related to the crash of a Japanese bomber into USS SC-699, 27 May 1944, during Biak operation." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William H. Harrison FindAGrave - RM2 William H Harrison (grave photos) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Allen E. Hagmann MoMM1 Allen Edward “Curley” Hagmann (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Allen E. “Curley” Hagmann (photo, memorial marker photo) NavSource - SC-699 ex-PC-699 Squadron Signal US 110' Subchasers In Action (2009) by T. Garth Connelly (cover artwork) Splinter Fleet: The Wooden Subchasers of World War II (2014) by Theodore R. Treadwell pages 115, 117, 162, 163-166 (May 27, 1944), 296 (index SC-699) Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional research and analysis Contribute
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