THE GROUPER STORY

[Music] I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M Titus retired although the primary function of the silent service is to sink ships they have to be ready for most any kind of an oddball assignment one of the artists fell to the USS grouper which was operating in the vicinity of the solomon islands this is the story of her secret mission it was September 23rd 1943 the USS trooper when the commander Martin P hotel when Atlas Maryland was patrolling the area south of trucks the executive officer was lieutenant john d Mason theevans burg Pennsylvania was one of those fabled South Sea nights warm peaceful scented by flowers from the nearby tropical islands the war seemed a million miles on and tomorrow it would be even farther away after two long years of fighting the grupa was due to leave for San Francisco in the morning you know it's a shame that all this things you've always read about South Seas nights like this I'll still take San Francisco I always figured I'd come here someday just to see what it was like well you made it Kevin yeah I made it you vote keep those cigarettes covered there's a war on you know aye aye sir hey Carly yeah what in all I'm gonna do when this wars over you ain't gonna do nothing war ain't never gonna be over alright alright then I don't wait soon as we get back to Frisco I'm gonna transfer me to the infantry yeah which army which army for the United States Army stupid never heard of it holy how'd you ever get the Navy you're illiterate don't be such a wise guy yeah maybe you're right I like you boy you're alright that's why I'm gonna cut you in on a good thing yeah like what but are you gonna need some Shore money when you hit the beach at Frisco right I got me a few months back pain three months back-pay random civilians make that much every week and you gotta be fat maybe spending all your time at the USO I never thought of that I'll tell you what I'm gonna do now there's some poker players on there that's got to be reformed now a hundred bucks will buy you half interest in the tape I don't know you lose that honey man I got an edge why do you think I let this beard grow [Music] you guys ever see this view from the top of the mark boy that's really something Fila cars next month that's where you'll find me I may spend my whole leave up there you're sitting up there on top of everything looking at that to you why tell me that why for two years all I've had to look at is gauges and vowels and Europe faces I can't get that out of my system maybe things have changed since I was there just have to pay to get in you play to get out yeah where are you gonna get the money all right we're proceeding immediately to wood Lark Island our route is between Cape penofin and Green Island that's a little of course the San Francisco ISNA Kevin I'm picking up a party of what stray ends and 3,000 pounds of equipment what's the deal special mission we're to land them on New Britain near Cape Oxford passings to on the from the be undetected oh the Japanese behind every bush I knew Britain that sounds like a good idea do you want me to break the news to the men no discussion with the crew they all don't know soon enough steady on course one four zero all ahead standard steady on course one four zero all ahead standard all engines answering ahead standard sir well I figure it it's got to be Australia why tell me that why because if it ain't Australia there's nothing there after that except the South Pole man that's kind of far from Frisco [Music] well let the light shine forth right full rudder all ahead one-third [Music] major an inducer seen you often why the heavier boardmaker I'm commander a hot tell the captain he seems a little small captain I got 46 men here I will find room for them good worth seeing anyway alright they call make a move smart they looks like a bunch of farmers fine-looking bunch of men my father a bunch of Larkins from out back but they're going for a blue oh yeah I understand you have the intelligence information I don't know the borders myself but my head boy comes to this fun what what's holding him up hey you stop alone together all night you fella belong you come along quick time huh what do you say I don't know what he said I don't speak us dragon all right let's get stuck into it there no no more boys himse government ship have altogether too much small hole altogether too much frightened better me savvy go along push belong me Oh beg pardon sir captain what's the crisis I don't know captain we aren't taking them fuzzy wuzzies aboard are we we are oh they won't go down below their trucks on the site that I'm gonna finger one have you we have we'd be in trouble won't go down they'll have to ride on deck that's all no they won't we'll be submerged most of the time what's your orders that made you but I've only got three hours to get your load of war then underway yeah I've got a nightmare after getting up alone well the way I gave it sir the chief whatever he is claims he isn't afraid it's the rest of them but if we can get him down below maybe he'll tell the others it's okay okay we'll try it pick up a law and stand by I'll drop down to you he hesitates the last moment I ask [Music] this is also the head boy there haven't you've got that gift ready for him oh sure have captain right here see souvenir of the grouper got the name right on it now we'll look the rest of the boat over this is our window see all together people belong out there all right all right let's get them below MD master long government too much good fellow him friend long me all right landing party of 17 Australians and 29 natives were infarct in addition rubber boats and 3,000 pounds bigfooters to take the board the group had gotten away from the Breton from water they drink this shows a cove somewhere north of Cape Oxford but that's all no scale the landmarks nothing I'm sorry captain that's all the drill they gave me but you're expected the natives are gonna light a signal fire high in the hills behind the cove major this coast is anything like the ones I've seen they'll be a dozen fires how am I expected to find the right one even if I do what about soundings this Cove is probably too shallow the dive and it's certainly too small to maneuver and I don't intend to be a sitting duck for anybody well blame you for that then as close as I can about three or four miles to go on a rubber boat captain both they brought aboard were fitted with attachments for outboard motors well faster they get in the better yes sir but no motors came with the equipment major I believe you said your head boy came from that area that's right you know I think we'd better find out how much he knows about it I'll get him Tavia told you do it no give me no understand these words you know some of these words suppose when we talk up government fella like king belong me bad fella Master make a mouthful of work too much hard like devil devil no good stop along Calibos all right all right what do you know what he's talking about where's Prince in English Drago was up to potty and he got in strife with the Jones whatever that means ask him if he knows the area around Cape Oxford yes sir get some married belong me MP crier - too much sooo not him say I hate him I did you get any of that oh yes it it seems he has a Minister for Home Affairs waiting for him I think I sanded this stuff a little Catherine that means the boy has a wife on the eye so I must know something that's useful if we can ever find out what it is ask him about the cold is there a reef he understands you captain good yes sir this fella reef you know like reef belong country along master Anchorage stuff all night in Anchorage no more close up dead finish sports burn Hemi still wait translation some bloke in a foreign Arthur came a cropper Mason it sounds like there's a reef captain a small craft founded in the code might be a navigational hazard that's not the only one what's he sayin he's Crowley translation I think he means the boys seasick at a group of dough just before daybreak and continue the rest of the dates of birds Japanese aircraft will operating in the area and the coast was expected to be well guarded captain hotel would have to feel his way in close enough for the landing party to paddle ashore down scope how bad is it well it doesn't look good sir there's only two paddles per boat none of the landing party's ever been in a rubber raft before okay we'll use our men as paddlers on the first trip they'll have to scrounge some additional paddles from the island ladies those headhunters behaving themselves oh yes hey don't you know better to sneak up behind a guy take walk you're making me nervous come on well it ain't poker nothing I've ever seen before get a look at those cards what's the matter with him the banks won't the readers go on I tell ya I got him spotted every lovin card in the deck is marked and somebody's gonna get killed who's doin it they're all doing it covered but it's all dinkum they all know the markings everybody knows but everybody else is gone your kid so what's the idea of the game to see who can cheat the best you watch they'll find a dead bird in a minute you mean they're gonna start shooting I mean some gala will walk into a snare yeah then what happened ease in the chair I mean he has to shout everybody a drink when he gets back don't you think in the be Kevin plant fall about four hours how long take us to find that Co I wouldn't want to guess right we've been a nuisance to you well part of the job made you they I tell me you would do to go back to America it's gonna wait two years a few more days won't kill us but you lads must be anxious I know I only got hold myself to show time ago oh where North Africa so am I left with the the Rats of Tobruk you didn't waste any time getting back in Mike I've been in the wrong war afternoon my father and my brother with prisoners of the Japanese I'm about sorry well it's been worse one of my blokes was on the north coast and he wouldn't even they came he had to climb over the Helen Stanley mountains and his shorts and sneakers yeah play it off our starboard quarter you better go below major stand by to dive plane circled overhead for a few minutes and then flew away there's nothing to indicate whether the group had been sighted captain hotel proceeded towards Cape Oxford on the surface what's going on here we fellow him all together make a murrain bill on government ship this business what do you think what's he gammon about lying form settlement you'll pay your money and wait your turn how these guys taking showers they just like the works about they have it lighting up all night well I ain't gonna put up with much more of it I think it right now I'm gonna felt one of these guys ha ha Thank You Man I got a buck says he'll take you I can make out at least eight wires Bank out here tell it there blow off the starboard bow fit yeah it's a little high up the other that might mean it's up in the hill just as easily be a Japanese patrol how do we know you want me to give the recognition signal Oh get in close it boys you gonna get that I know I'm attend a little flipped around on the dark we'll go right into the coax so they'll have a short hold of the beach [Music] but you estimate the distance to the beach but not near Belize are in another four five hundred yards all ahead one-third planning parties many bison very much hey wacko you look like a flaming car coffee muster Oh way will you what's this for hit me said you too much good fellow master give you present I mean he's giving me this crooked dick you savvy humbug another fellow stop along government ship catch them plenty of money quick time you alright hey get a load of this joker he's give me these crazy cards to clean you guys out are you trying to do get me killed him he say you friend belong him soon as you hit the beach with some paddles many as you can get good sir and if you have to leave the beach be careful might be Japanese patrols in the area hi sir the equipment will go in with the next load and my maybe boys good of CAP they let the fire go out on the hill we can't see anything to get a pick get a radar range on the bluffs that we don't maintain position those boats will never find us I captain you've done a bunch of Johnson I am the lads appreciated part of the camera where the rest of the paddle you go one after bully just back there in the jungle yes come back yet no he's not on the beach when you get back send a signal hi [Music] Robinson Crusoe but you so long I got follow up in that village okay this place I ever been women kids with dogs chickens everybody took off for the hills a minute they see me I emptied that village in nothing flat can't understand it take a look in the mirror you will I never noticed you right now you look wider than those fluffy bunny come on Dingle it won't hurt you [Music] cat chip just rounded the Cape 10-foot stand by how many more to go do more trips captain don't fire until I give you the word height that guns loaded ready right at him if they move this way I want to get him first [Music] alright take it easy there watch his leg captain the men are bringing in an army pilot he's been hiding out the jungle should have stayed there he was better off the enemy pan if grupa was not site get him going again and fast I'm the captain names Hotel Norman boy am I glad to see you I thought I was going to be stuck there till the end of the war how'd you get here I got shot down flying our photo reconnaissance over a ball yeah what are you doing here we just brought in a landing party where they're going and what they're planning to do I couldn't say I can tell you where we're going San Francisco as a passenger all right promises make fixed up his foot yeah that's right screen to make him feel at home wonder what those guys are gonna do back there make reconnaissance on Japanese positions I suppose okay they're probably making a landing soon I hope we helped to make it earlier [Music] there was no doubt the group has night landing helped make the invasion of Duke Britain easier when General MacArthur's troops went ashore the following December [Music] you SS grouper now how the devil did that get here I'll be back in a moment with our special guest we have with us Captain John Dee Mason who is then the executive officer of the USS Krupa red as you look back on it I bet you of glad you had to postpone that trip to San Francisco we'd been on patrol for quite a while and there was a lot of moaning when this new assignment came through but it turned out to be an experience none of us will forget your captain's spy Keitel has told me your passengers were pretty frightening outfit they were the kind you wouldn't want real mad at you so we were careful how we handle them after we convinced them it was okay to come below we had very little trouble apparently there was naturalist children yes and twice is inquisitive there wasn't a single inhibition in the whole crowd maybe they have something in a way of life I want to congratulate you and the ship's company of the group on another great job of submarining be with us again when the silent service brings you another true and exciting submarine story [Music] [Music]