SILENT SERVICE TV SHOW " THE SEARAVEN STORY" RESCUE OF AUSSIE SOLIDERS BY SUB 82984

This episode of "The Silent Service" entitled "The Searaven Story" first aired December 6, 1957. In it, the USS Searaven attempts to save Australian soldiers from Timor Island or, as TV Guide called it, "An American submarine becomes a sitting duck to save 33 Australian soldiers." The episode was from season 1 of the show, episode 36.
The episode was written by Milton Geiger and stars:
Chet Marshall ...... Cook
Robert Christopher.. Cassidy
Bill Phipps ........ Markeson
Jim Goodwin ........ McGrivey
Dave Ketchum ....... Sykes
Like all the Silent Service episodes, this dramatization was based on fact. USS Searaven (SS-196), a Sargo-class submarine, conducted her third war patrol in the vicinity of Timor Island of the Netherlands East Indies, from 2 April to 25 April 1942. On 18 April, she rescued 32 Royal Australian Air Force men from enemy-held Timor, an act for which two of her officers were awarded the Navy Cross. Five days later, fire broke out in her main power cubicle, immobilizing Searaven completely. Snapper assisted her into port in Australia.
Searaven was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the sea raven, a sculpin of the northern Atlantic coast of America. Her keel was laid down on 9 August 1938 by the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine. She was launched on 21 June 1939 sponsored by Mrs. Julianna B. Cole, wife of Cyrus W. Cole, Commandant of the Portsmouth Navy Yard ; and commissioned on 2 October 1939, with Lieutenant Thomas G. Reamy in command.
The Silent Service was a documentary styled anthology series about the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet and their missions during World War II and the Korean War. Every episode was fact based and the realism of the show was elevated by the use of actual combat footage from the files of the United States Navy.
The stories, which varied between the South Pacific during World War II, the Atlantic campaign and the Korean War, were the brainchild of Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykers, himself a submariner, who retired from the Navy in 1949 after 22 years of service. Admiral Dykers also did an intro piece for each episode, narrated the action and filmed a closing segment, usually with a member of the crew of the submarine that was highlighted on that particular episode.
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: "01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference."
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFi...

[@jackleo8726]

I was more than a little happy to discover this. I had forgotten about it completely. At my dad's insistence this was a weekly viewing. As a Bird Colonel B-24 pilot flying The Hump (in an outfit with a 40% attrition rate), he always praised The Silent Service is the toughest Duty he could think of. This country could use more of these men right now.

[@markhonerbaum3920]

The Admiral was a sub skipper himself, all credits due him are well earned. A very true an informative series, worth the time learning about the silent service.

[@stuart8663]

Thankyou America, from us here in Australia. An excellent book (I read it on Kindle) to enlarge on the danger at Timor Island during WW2 is this one: "The Men Who Came Out of the Ground" by Paul Cleary

[@josephp2712]

Our COUNTRY IS ONLY AS STRONG AS OUR SEA POWER US NAVY ALL THE WAY, THANK GOD FOR THE USS CONSTITUTION, AND THE USS ARIZONA MAY SHE REST IN PEACE, AND TO THE USS MISSOURI

[@markhonerbaum3920]

There are rewards still due them.But from a higher command to which every knee will bow.

[@richardkeilig4062]

A miracle the sub crew got the Aussies.

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-FINDER2525]

What a courageous act?

[@kenjohnson6603]

10:44 it shows a 12 hour clock. It should be a 24 hour clock.

[@Nozzlejockey2]

It appears to me that it is both 24 and 12 hour indication on it. but good catch.

[@brucer9572]

Now, now, take it easy. I'm a landlubber, and I need all the help I can get.

[@johnrogan9420]

Actor was unconvincing as a commando.