James L Moon Sr. and |
| James L. Moon | USS Lapon SS260 |
| Crew of the USS Lapon |
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James Lindsay Moon was born in 1923 and as a result of that event,
was old enough to join the Navy and serve in World War II. In January of 1944, Jim was assigned to serve on the USS Lapon (SS260). The USS Lapon was a Gato class submarine: Length: 31' Beam: 27'3" Complement of 80 men She was: Launched 27 October 1942 Commissioned 23 January 1943 Departed New London: 4 May 1943 The USS Lapon went on 8 patrols during the war. Patrol 1 - 24 June 1943 During her first patrol, the Lapon entered the Sea of Japan through a mined strait. With her were the USS Plunger (SS-179) and the USS Permit (SS-178). The bombing of a Japanese airbase on Matsuwa by the USS Narwhal (SS-167) made it possible for the Lapon, Plunger and Permit to escape the Sea of Japan. Patrol 2 - 26 September 1943 On her second patrol, the Lapon sank the Taichu Maru in the Kumano Gulf. Patrol 3 - 01 January 1944 This was Jim's first patrol with the Lapon. The sub headed for the South China Sea with Commander L.T. Stone at the helm and Jim in the radio room. On 08 March 1944 she Damaged the Toyokuni Maru in the South China Sea. The next day on the 9th she sank both the Toyokuni Maru and the Nichirei Maru. On the 16th she attacked the Kunikawa Maru and 2 days later sank the Hokuruku Maru. On 01 April 1944, the USS Lapon put into Fremantle, Australia for refit. Patrol 4 - 25 April 1944 Again the Lapon put out to sea and headed for the South China Sea. While on this patrol the Lapon sank the Wales Maru and the Bizen Maru. It was at this point that the Lapon had to make a quick change of course, because a destroyer was using the torpedo trail to close in on the boat. Jim, in the radio room, became very worried when it stopped dead in the water, directly above the submerged Lapon. It was only after the ship moved on that Jim realized that the Lapon was safest with the escort ship directly above them. After all, dropping depth charges straight down under your own ship was just as quick a way to sink yourself as an enemy sub. The Lapon arrived safely on 6 June, 1944 for a refit. Patrol 5 - 29 June 1944 Heading for the east part of the South China Sea, the Lapon sank: 03 July - Kyodo Maru 18 July - Kurama Maru 18 July - AGS Kjodo Maru #36 18 July - SC Kamo Maru 31 July - AO Tinshin Maru and damaged the Jijun Maru. Patrol 6 - 04 September 1944 Under new Commander; Lt. Comdr. D.G. Baer. The USS Lapon returned to the South China Sea to created a wolfpack with the USS Flasher (SS-249) and the USS Bonefish (SS-223). While on this patrol, she sank the Shun Yuan (22 September 1944), the Hokki Maru (27 September 1944) and the Ejiri Maru (10 October 1944). During this patrol, the Lapon also served lifeguard duty for the Philippines strikes. Patrol 7 - 23 November 1944 On the 7th patrol, the USS Lapon was in the Lingayen Gulf as part of a wolfpack with the USS Hammerhead (SS-364) and the USS Paddle (SS-263). Jim relates that the sub had to stay submerged for 19 hours while the enemy dropped 100 depth charges trying to destroy them. Patrol 8 - 06 June 1945 Her 8th patrol took her to the Tokio area with the USS Sea Poacher (SS-406), USS Moray (SS-300), USS Angler (SS-240), USS Cero (SS-225) and USS Carp (SS-338) to form a picket boat sweep ahead of Admiral Halsey's forces. Later she went on lifeguard duty off Tori Shima to watch for downed pilots and aircrew from the TF 57's, B-24's and B-29's bombing Japan. When they finished the patrol, they returned to Guam where Jim Moon transferred to a sub tender. Two weeks later, the war ended. On 11-15-1945 he was discharged from the Navy in Memphis TN. The USS Lapon operated out of Australia and had to use the Lomboc Strait to get to Fremantle. This was a shallow water strait and very clear, making it an impossible trip to make during daylight. The sub would make its way through the strait at night and try to avoid the Japanese who lay in wait for them. On one occasion, the Lapon escaped because of a squall. Sources: 1. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships 2. http://pacific.hyperlink.cz/ships/usn/ss/ss-260.htm 3. James L Moon - radioman on the USS Lapon (SS-260)
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