William Lawrence Kitch, USN
| Born | 6 Nov 1914 | Montana, USA |
| Ranks
Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for William Lawrence Kitch, USN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| USS Blackfin (322) | T/Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 22 Dec 1944 | 19 Dec 1945 |
Career information
William Lawrence Kitchen was born on Nov 6, 1914 in Montana. He graduated from the Naval Academy is n Annapolis, MD. He married Agnes Marie Fisher in Annapolis, MD in 1940. Together, they had 2 sons.
Events related to this officer
Submarine USS Blackfin (322)
23 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) conducted exercises off Fremantle.
24 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) conducted exercises off Fremantle.
25 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) conducted exercises off Fremantle.
26 Dec 1944
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) departed from Fremantle for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.
For daily and attack positions (though incomplete) for USS Blackfin during this patrol see the map below.
29 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) arrived at Exmouth Gulf. While getting alongside the oiler she damaged her port propellor. Repairs were not possible at Exmouth Bay and Blackfin had to return to Fremantle to be docked.
1 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) arrived at Fremantle where she was immediately docked.
2 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) was undocked and departed Fremantle to resume her 2nd war patrol.
5 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) topped off with fuel at Exmouth Gulf before she departed for her patrol area later the same day.
8 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the evening, USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN), made the northbound passage of Lombok Strait on the surface.
24 Jan 1945 (position 6.00, 103.48)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese destroyer Shigure (offsite link) about 120 miles east of Khota Bharu, Malaya in position 06°00'N, 103°48'E.
Also two hits were claimed on tanker Sarawak Maru (5135 GRT, built 1943) but this appears to be incorrect.
Shigure was part of the escort of Sarawak Maru together with the frigates the frigates Kanju, Miyake and Kaibokan 13.
(All times are zone H, -8) 0502 hours - In position 06°00'N, 103°48'E obtained SJ radar contact bearing 325°(T), range 20000 yards. Commenced tracking. Enemy course 180°(T), speed 14 knots.
0503 hours - Sound picked up pinging from the direction of the target.
0515 hours - Sent out a contact report to USS Besugo and USS Hardhead.
0523 hours - There were now four targets on the radar, one large pip and three smaller ones. Range 17000 yards.
0550 hours - Turned in to attack.
0609 hours - Commenced firing three torpedoes from 1500 yards. The first torpedo hit the intended target.
0610 hours - Sighted an escort dead ahead. Shifted target. Fired two torpedoes at this escort. The first of these two torpedoes hit the intended target which was immediately enveloped in a large cloud of white smoke.
Shortly afterwards heard a second explosion thought to be a hit in the Original target, a large tanker. Blackfin now went ahead full to clear the area.
0612 hours - An enormous cloud of black smoke emerged from the spot where the escort was hit.
0614 hours - Fired three stern torpedoes at the tanker.
0617 hours - Heard and observed one hit in the after part of the tanker. One of the escort now opened fire on Blackfin for the next five minutes.
0711 hours - Submerged.
15 Feb 1945
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Subic Bay, Philippines. She was escorted in by USS Holt (Lt.Cdr. V. Blue, USNR).
2 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) contucted trials and exercises off Subic Bay.
6 Mar 1945
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) departed from Subic Bay for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea. She was escorted out by USS Dyson (Cdr. L.E. Ruff, USN).
For daily and attack positions (though incomplete) for USS Blackfin during this patrol see the map below.
28 Mar 1945
While on patrol off the south-east coast of Indo-China and in pursuit of a Japanese convoy, USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN), is damaged by depth charges. As a result of this she is forced to terminate her patrol.
(All times are zone H, -8) 0850 hours - In position 12°37'N, 109°28'E sound picked up pinging bearing approximately 230°(T).
0913 hours - Sighted masts of two escort vessels bearing 220°(T). Range was about 15000 yards.
0919 hours - Went to battle stations.
0959 hours - By now a convoy of two freighters and eight escorts was in sight. The two freighters were well inshore.
1005 hours - Rigged for silent running. Enemy course was 030°(T), speed 8 knots.
1023 hours - One of the escorts was seen to turn towards at a range of 1200 yards. Went deep and rigged for depth charging.
1024 hours - Seven depth charges were dropped, very close and causing serious damage.
1326 hours - Depth charging ceased. A total of 79 were counted.
2037 hours - Surfaced.
4 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the evening, USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN), made the southbound passage of Lombok Strait on the surface.
9 Apr 1945
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Fremantle.
7 May 1945
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) departed from Fremantle for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Singapore. She returned later the same day due to defects. After repairs she left Fremantle to resume her 4th war patrol the next day.
No map can be displayed for this patrol, the patrol report holds only a few positions.
12 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During the night of 12/13 May 1945, USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN), made the northbound transfer of Lombok Strait on the surface.
17 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) was ordered to proceed to Subic Bay for repairs to her main engines and motors.
21 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) arrived at Subic Bay.
31 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) conducted engine trials off Subic Bay. These were unsatisfactory and it was decided to sent Blackfin to the Pearl Harbour Navy Yard for proper repairs.
2 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) departed Subic Bay for Pearl Harbour.
20 Jun 1945
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) ended her 4th war patrol at Pearl Harbor. She was escorted in by USS PC-485 (Lt. J.D. Swan, USNR).
17 Jul 1945
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 5th war patrol. She was to patrol in the Yellow Sea.
For daily and attack positions for USS Blackfin during this patrol see the map below.
21 Jul 1945
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) arrived at Midway.
24 Jul 1945
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) conducted exercises off Midway together with USS Loeser (Lt.Cdr. J. Proctor, USNR), USS Sicard (Lt. A.G. Fenley, USNR), USS PC-778 (Lt. F.J. Whittlessey, USNR), USS ATR-26 (Lt. R. MacLetchie, USNR), USS ATR-63 (Lt. R.W. Coffey, USN), USS Muskalunge (Cdr. W.H. Lawrence, USN) and USS Tilefish (Cdr. W.F. Schlech, Jr., USN).
25 Jul 1945
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) conducted exercises off Midway together with USS Loeser (Lt.Cdr. J. Proctor, USNR), USS Sicard (Lt. A.G. Fenley, USNR), USS PC-778 (Lt. F.J. Whittlessey, USNR), USS ATR-26 (Lt. R. MacLetchie, USNR), USS ATR-63 (Lt. R.W. Coffey, USN).
29 Jul 1945
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) departed from Midway bound for Saipan.
7 Aug 1945
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) arrived at Saipan where she was docked to replace her starboard propellor.
11 Aug 1945
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) departed Saipan for her patrol area. She was escorted out by USS PC-782 (Lt. J.E. Ferguson, USNR).
5 Sep 1945
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) ended her 5th war patrol at Guam. She was escorted in by USS LCI(L)-603 (Lt.(jg). H.E. McMath, Jr., USNR).
6 Sep 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) departed Guam for Pearl Harbour.
16 Sep 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) arrived at Pearl Harbour.
18 Sep 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) departed Pearl Harbour for San Diego.
25 Sep 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Kitch, USN) arrived at San Diego.
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