Dorado (SS 248)

[ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]

Dorado, a newly commissioned submarine, under Lieutenant Commander E.C. Schneider, sailed from New London, Connecticut, on 6 October 1943 for Panama. She did not arrive at Panama nor was she heard from at any time after sailing.

E.C. Schneider

The Commander in Chief, United States Fleet in his comments concerning the Court of Inquiry covering the case, lists three possible causes for the loss of Dorado: operational casualties, enemy action, and attack by friendly forces.

The standard practice of imposing bombing restrictions within an area of fifteen miles on each side of the course of an unescorted submarine making passage in friendly waters and fifty miles ahead and one hundred miles astern of her scheduled position was carried out and all concerned were notified. A convoy was so routed as to pass through the bombing and attack restriction area surrounding Dorado on the evening of 12 October 1943, assuming correct navigation and adherence to schedule by both.

A patrol plane which was assigned by Commandant, NOB, Guantanamo to furnish air coverage on the evening of 12 October, received faulty instructions as to the location of the bombing and attack restriction area surrounding Dorado and at 2049, local time, the plane delivered a surprise attack of three depth charges on an unidentified submarine. About two hours later, the plane sighted another submarine with which it attempted to exchange recognition signals without success. This submarine fired upon the plane. A German submarine was known to be operating near the scene of these two contacts.

Because of the lack of evidence, the Court of Inquiry was unable to reach definite conclusions as to the cause of the loss of Dorado.

Three Generations: Master E.V., Chief Radioman and Mrs. E.G.V., Lcdr E.C. Schneider

U.S.S. Dorado (SS-248) Name Rate   Name Rate Abruzzio, L.J. Addy, Theodore T. Albright, Virgil J. Alloway, Thomas Aman, Paul D. Anthony, Bruce L. Austin, William L. Ballman, August F. Becker, Richard H. Boyd, John Brubeck, Fred L. Burnett, James J. Burrell, David L. Cabase, Isaac Chandler, Leonard M. Cilley, Laverne D. Coelho, J. Cosaftes, Thomas Cristello, Dominick Davenport, Donald J. Dix, H.M. Eberl, Edwin H. Fackrell, Carl E. Fisher, Joseph B. Florea, Henry C., Jr. Fry, John W. Gardner, Vernon E. Gendreau, Arthur A., Jr. Glass, D., Jr. Greenlee, Bert B. Guida, Felix F. Harlock, Robert E. Harris, Dewitt Hauber, Robert L. Hinton, Clarence C. Hollrock, G.T. Huffmon, Allan V. Irwin, R.W. F2 TM2 RM3 S2 GM1 TM3 S2 ENS SM1 LT TM1 S2 BM1 St1 CTM MoMM2 S1 MoMM2 TM1 CMoMM FC3 CMoMM SM3 MoMM1 SC3 F1 F1 TM3 LCDR MoMM1 EM2 Y2 StM2 CEM EM1 LTJG EM1 LT     Kapral, John Klink, Robert L. Lemper, Clarence L. Liggett, Guy W. Lozaw, Lawrence E. Lynch, Maurice E. Marsh, Joseph B. Mazari, C.W. McBroom, Harold D. McCall, Henry E. McGrath, Francis M. Nelson, Elmer W. Niles, Richard A. Norman, Francis B. Nowacki, Hyman A. O¹Dell Paul F. Ohrt, Charles N., Jr. Otto, Albert J. Perrault, Joseph L. Pope, Hurley L. Rhode, Ellsworth C. Routon, Pellam C. Sanders, Lloyd W. Schafer, Alfred A., Jr. Schneider, Earle C. Singscheimer, Robert K. Smith, Boyd D. Speight, Wilburn O. Talley, Robert S. Thompson, Davis S. Tipton, Oliver P. Vernarsky, Joseph Wagner, George A. White, Paul B., Jr. Williams, Bernard T. Wilmott, Lester C. Wilson, M.H. Windfeldt, Alvin L. TM2 MM2 CTM TM3 FC3 MoMM1 MoMM1 MoMM2 MoMM1 MM3 QM3 CQM MM3 S1 EM3 CRM CEM TM3 S2 S2 S2 EM2 RM2 MoMM2 LCDR-CO S2 RT2 S2 MoMM1 EM3 EM3 F2 LCDR-XO S2 SC1 PhM1 S2 SC1

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