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U.S.S. BullheadPrint Page 
The U.S.S. Bullhead (SS-332) departed Fremantle on July 31, 1945 to commence its third war patrol but was sunk in an attack by a Japanese army aircraft on August 6 in the Java Sea. Eighty-four United States servicemen lost their lives.
A new memorial has been unveiled in Fremantle, Western Australia in honor of the American World War II submarine USS Bullhead.
The USS Bullhead (SS-332) departed Fremantle on July 31, 1945 to commence its third war patrol but was sunk in an attack by a Japanese army aircraft on August 6 in the Java Sea. Eighty-four United States servicemen lost their lives.
The memorial, located outside the Western Australian Maritime Museum, was unveiled on the 76th anniversary of the submarine’s sinking.
U.S. Consul General David Gainer said the memorial underscored the United States’ unwavering commitment to Australia. Australia and the U.S. have fought side-by-side in every major conflict since World War II,” Consul General Gainer said. “Lives aboard the USS Bullhead were lost defending Australia. This memorial is a powerful symbol of their courage and the unbreakable alliance between our two countries.”
Memorial benefactor and author Tim Baldock said the significance of the submarine’s contribution to the final outcome of the Pacific War, and the fact his book is dedicated to the memory of the crew of the USS Bullhead, inspired him to create the memorial. “It honours not only the Bullhead and the submarine fleet, but the Port of Fremantle as well, where so many of these boats were based,” Mr Baldock said.
Fremantle was the world’s second largest submarine base in World War II, after Pearl Harbor, and housed submarines predominately from the U.S. The USS Bullhead was the last of 52 American submarines, and the last U.S. naval vessel, to be lost in WWII.
“May this memorial provide some comfort to those who lost a loved one on the USS Bullhead, and also serve as an eternal reminder of the sacrifices made in defense of democracy,” Consul General Gainer said.
US Embassy 6 August 2021.
Location
| Address: | Peter Hughes Drive, Victoria Quay, Fremantle, 6160 |
|---|---|
| State: | WA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -32.054968 Long: 115.739623 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Conflict |
| Sub-Theme: | WW2 |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 06-August-1945 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 06-August-1945 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Friday 6th August, 2021 |
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USS Bullhead (SS-332)
Balao Class SUbmarine
Lieutenant Commande Edward R. Holt Jr in command
Laid down Launched Commissioned Sunk
21 October 1943 16 July 1944 4 December 1944 6 August 1945
The USS Bullhead (SS-332) was the last of 52 American submarines and the last US naval vessel lost in WWII. She departed Fremantle on 31 July 1945 and was sunk in the Java Sea of the coast of Bali, Indonesia in 6 August 1945, the same day that the first atomic bomb was dropped in the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
Fremantle was the second largest submarine base of the war after the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and approximatley 170 Americanm, British and Dutch submarines were based here over the course of the war. The largest of these forces were the American submarines and a total of eleven that operated out of Fremantle were lost.
The submarine fleet was the single biggest factor in deciding the outcome of the Pacific War and accounted for more than half of all Japanese shipping losses.
Dedicated in honour of those who served on the USS Bullhead and remain on eternal patrol
[ Names ]
Erected in memory of her Officers and men by the Baldock family, Western Australia
