To conduct her second war patrol, FLIER (CDR J.D. Crowley) left Fremantle on August 2, 1944 and headed for area waters off Saigon, French Indochina.
On the evening of August 13, she was transiting Balabac Strait, traveling on the surface. At 2200, a thunderous explosion rocked the submarine. Oil, water and debris showered the bridge. Crawley was thrown from his feet and several others on the bridge were injured. Air rushed from the conning tower hatch and there was a roar of flooding water followed by frantic outcry from those below. Lt J.W. Liddell, the executive officer, was blown through the hatch. Men struggled up the ladder behind him. FLIER, still making 15 knots, sank a minute after the explosion.
Thirteen survivors, including CDR Crowley started a desperate swim in the direction of land. At first they tried to keep together. Then the tide swept some of the weaker swimmers away from the others. Lt W.L. Reynolds and Ens P.S. Mayer, both badly injured, were unable to swim on. Lt P. Knapp became separated from the group and disappeared in the night. Crowley decided the best chance was to strike out for coral reefs north-westward. The sky was overcast, but an occasional play of lightning helped to keep the swimmers oriented. The moon rose at 0300, August 14, and the going seemed somewhat easier in the silvered water.
But a little while later, Lt J.E. Casey, who had been blinded by oil, quietly slipped away. Realizing it had to be every man for himself, Crowley told all hands to swim on as best they could toward the land which was now in sight.
The sun came up in a crimson welter and the sky blazed. All morning the swimmers labored on. At 1330 five of the group caught a floating palm tree. Clinging to this flotsam, they succeeded in reaching the beach of Mantangule Island. There they found Quartermaster J.D. Russo, who had swum the entire distance. And later they were delighted to encounter D.P. Tremaine, Fire Control Technician 3, and W.B. Miller, Motor Machinists Mate 3.
On this jungle island, FLIERs survivors lived like Crusoes for five days. On August 19 they found friendly natives who guided them to a U.S. Army Coast Watcher Unit on Palawan. The coast watchers provided communications facilities and arrangements were made for evacuation by submarine.
In small boats the FLIER survivors were embarked on the night of August 30 to make the rendezvous offshore with the submarine REDFIN. After a hair-raising excursion, during which they had to skirt a Japanese ship anchored near the rendezvous point, they reached the objective and were safe aboard REDFIN on the morning of August 31st.
So concluded one of the most harrowing submarine adventures of the Pacific War. The survivors who made the long swim were grateful for the luck and stamina that kept them going. But they would never forget those who were unable to "make it" after FLIER struck the mine.