Bowfin was laid down by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard at Kittery, Maine on 23 July 1942; launched on 7 December 1942 by Mrs. Jane Gawne, wife of Captain James O. Gawne.; and commissioned on 1 May 1943, Commander Joseph H. Willingham in command.
Advertisement
Bowfin sunk Tsushima Maru, an evacuation ship for schoolchildren, on her way from Okinawa to Kagoshima on August 21, 1944 . 1,484 civilians including 767 schoolchildren were killed.
Leaving Pearl Harbor 29 August 1945 Bowfin sailed to the east coast, arriving at Tompkinsville, N.Y., 21 September. She operated with the Atlantic Fleet until placed out of commission in reserve at New London, Conn., 12 February 1947.
Bowfin was decommissioned on 12 February 1947 and placed in reserve at New London in Connecticut, until recommissioned on 27 July 1951. She was decommissioned again on 22 April 1954 and placed in reserve at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. She was recommissioned on 10 January 1960 and served as a pierside trainer at Seattle, Washington. She was redesignated an Auxiliary Research Submarine, AGSS-287, in 1962.
On 1 December 1971, Bowfin was decommissioned for the final time and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. She is preserved as a memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Bowfin was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for her 2nd offensive war patrol and the Navy Unit Commendation for her 6th offensive war patrol and eight battle stars for her World War II. In addition, she was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.