was the highest of any merchant vessel sunk by submarine in the Pacific during WW2.
| Lost | Saved | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merchant Crew |
45 |
30 |
75 |
| Ship's Medical Staff |
44 |
20 |
64 |
| 2/12th Field Ambulance |
138 |
11 |
149 |
| Attached Personnel |
41 |
3 |
44 |
| Totals |
268 |
64 |
332 |
(Left) The Centaur memorial window in Concord Repatriation Hospital, NSW.
A magnificent stain glass window unveiled in May 1990 by His Excellency
the late Rear Admiral Sir David Martin, KCMG, OA, Govenor of NSW. (Navy
Photographic Unit)
At 1040 15 May 1943, an Avro Anson belonging to 71 Squadron took off from
Lowood Air Base to give anti-submarine support to northbound convoy SC648.
Its pilot, Flying Officer O.Crewes, and navigator, Flying Officer J.Keith,
had flown many similar patrols before. As with the others, this patrol
was uneventful. About 1340 they turned back to base. Soon after, one of
the pilots spotted a warship (USS MUGFORD) escorting a cargo vessel (M.V.
SUSSEX) east of Cape Moreton, and then almost immediately his attention
was drawn to a flare in the sea, southeast of the two ships. Crewes circled
to investigate. He and Keith were surprised to find an enormous oil slick
about two miles in diameter, with several large pieces of debris in it.
Their surprise turned to astonishment when they saw that the debris comprised
lifeboats and rafts with clusters of living people on them. No reports
were current about any ships lost in the area. Crewes turned towards the
warship and flashed a signal:
Crewes then took his Anson down to sixty feet and flew over the scene.
He flashed his morse lamp to the excited crowd below, sending
By early afternoon on Saturday 15 May 1943 the USS MUGFORD was escorting
M.V. SUSSEX outside Moreton Bay off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
As convoy escort MUGFORD had taken up a position 2000 yds. ahead with sound
gear echo ranging and radar searching through 360deg. An Avro Anson plane
was providing ASV protection. Visibility at this time was excellent. At
1347 the first MUGFORD lookout sighted an object ahead on the horizon.
It was identified as a raft. At the same time the escort plane was observed
to dive toward the object previously reported and headed toward MUGFORD
signalling to pick up survivors in the water. Lt.-Cmdr Howard G. Corey
initiated a rescue operation.
Lt-Cmdr Howard G.Corey, USN, b. 22 May 1907, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Graduated Naval Academy (1930). Post Graduate School (1938).
Executive Officer and Navigator USS HENLEY at Pearl Harbor 7 Dec. 1941.
Assumed command of USS MUGFORD 5 Dec. 1942. From May 1944 to March 1945
was Captain on USS KILLEN where he received the Navy Cross for extraordinary
heroism as Commanding Officer in action against the Japanese Fleet during
the night Battle of Surigao Strait; and, the Silver Star Medal for conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer in Leyte Gulf, Phillippine
Islands. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement
as Commanding Officer of the MUGFORD.
Retired with the rank of Rear Admiral USN. Died, Honolulu, Hawaii mid 1980's
Reference: US National Archives, Navy Biographies Branch, 0I-450.