WWII Submariner trunk group USS Tilefish

[ww2marine]

I wanted to share this WWII Submariner trunk group I picked up recently from a family member of the vet. This group belonged to Torpedoman 2/C Wilkin Nesbitt From Ellinville, NY. He enlisted on January 1, 1943 at 18 years old. He completed boot camp and submariner school and was assigned to the newly built USS Tilefish (SS-307) 
The Tilefish set out for her 1st war patrol on April 3rd, 1944. On May 11th, she sighted a convoy and picked out a passenger liner. She fired a spread of torpedoes, one of which hit under the ship's bridge. She immediately dove as destroyers rushed to her position unleashing a salvo on depth charges. One of the pipes in the compressor compartment began pouring in seawater. MM2C George Oberhofer dove into flooding compartment and was successful in sealing the damaged pipe before the rising water shorted out the electrical system. The Tilefish dove to a harrowing 580 feet, which was 180 feet below her test depth. She was able to make it out in one piece and would live to fight another day. 
      TM2 Nesbitt and the Tilefish would complete a total of 6 war patrols, which would take them throughout the central pacific, the Philippines, the China sea, and Japan. On March 1st, 1945 she rescued Lt (JG) William Hooks whose plane crashed 500 yards off the Tilefish's starboard bow. Out of her six war patrols, five of these would be deemed "successful". 
        TM2 Nesbitt would be discharged on November 25th 1945. He would return home to New York, but would stay active in the submariner community attending many reunions over the decades for both the Tilefish and "US Submariner Veterans of WWII" Mr Nesbitt would live a long life finally passing away in 2004.
        His niece said she has multiple pictures of him and the Tilefish crew but needs to dig them out. Ill update the post for anyone interested when I receive them.

[Kurt Barickman]

Great group Kevin! Love the jumpers with all the insignia still intact and all the different cruise cards!

 

Kurt

[manayunkman]

Just an amazing acquisition 

[dmar836]

Killer!

[Navy87Guy]

Very cool! My grand uncle was a Torpedoman in the Pacific. By the time the war started he was a Chief. He started the war on PERMIT and  after 4 war patrols transferred to USS OTIS, a submarine tender. OTIS serviced subs (mostly in Australia) but also provided ship repair services in the forward echelon during the island hopping campaign.

 

I have one of his rating badges from when he was a third s class - sometime in the 1920’s.

 

[Steve Brannan]

A great Submarine group. Thanks for posting. 

[jerry_k]

Wow!

[Paulruss]

Excellent!

[Josh B.]

Beautiful intact sub group.  Increasingly hard to find now.  Love the decorated locker!

[Jay V]

Such an amazing group!!

[T1gertank519]

Fantastic time capsule. Thanks for sharing!

[Ivydiv]

Makes you want to start collecting Navy stuff. Great grouping. Thanks for posting. Dave

[Salvage Sailor]

On 12/23/2022 at 11:23 AM, ww2marine said:

 

 

Very Groovy,

 

1950's

 

[collectsmedals]

Wow! Great WWII Submarine grouping with a lot of information about the submarine and the sailor. Thank you for sharing.

[ww2marine]

Thanks everyone. It's a special group for sure.