During Its Fifth Tour
On its fifth tour, the Grayback managed to carry out a rescue operation. Six Americans had been stranded at Munda Bay in the Solomon Islands after the Martin B-26 Marauder bomber was wrecked. Two of the men on the submarine went ashore and found the airmen as the Grayback dove at dawn to evade the attention of the Japanese planes. The night after that, these two submariners ferried all six survivors back to the vessel. Commander Edward C. Stephan, the captain of the vessel, ended up getting both the Navy Cross and the U.S. Army Silver Star for this rescue. As the submarine went on with its mission, it torpedoed a few more Japanese vessels. Sadly, it was later damaged by depth charges courtesy of an enemy destroyer.
During Its Fifth Tour
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