William Bernard Sieglaff, USN
| Born | 6 Jul 1908 | Albert Lea, Minnesota |
| Ranks
Decorations
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Warship Commands listed for William Bernard Sieglaff, USN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| USS Tautog (199) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 28 Nov 1942 | 8 Apr 1944 |
| USS Tench (417) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 6 Oct 1944 | 13 Apr 1945 |
Career information
William Bernard Sieglaff, known throughout his life as Barney, was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota, on July 6, 1908. He attended high school in Los Angeles, CA and graduated from the US Naval Academy with the class of 193l. His first active duty assignment was on the USS Oklahoma. He next attended the sub school at the sub base in New London (Groton), CT and upon graduation was assigned to the USS S-37, a member of the Atlantic Fleet, and served on her from February, '34 to February, '37.
He was then assigned to Mare Island, CA for the fitting out of the USS Pompano, and served on that boat from her commissioning in June, '37 until May,'38.
Returning to Annapolis, he had further instruction in Naval Engineering in '38 and '39 and then was transferred to MIT, from which he received his MS degree in June, '41. He then became Engineering Officer of Submarine Division 62 and was serving at Pearl Harbor in December, '41. He continued duty with Division 62 in the Australian area until November, '42, when he assumed command of the USS Tautog, skippering that boat on seven successful war patrols. From June, '44 until April '45 he commanded the USS Tench in both the Pacific and Atlantic areas.
During the closing months of the war, he served on the staff of COMSUBPAC as Special Projects Officer (responsible for "Operation Barney" which sent a wolfpack of subs into Tokyo harbor), Force Engineer and Flag Secretary. At war's end and the onset of the occupation of Japan, he commanded the captured Japanese sub I-400.
He returned to the US in '47, and was assigned to the Navy Department where he served as Placement Officer (Submarines) in the bureau of Naval Personnel. In July, '49, he assumed command of Submarine Division 81 in the Atlantic and in August, '50, he was designated Commander Submarine Development Group 2, Atlantic. In June, '51, he reported as OIC of the Submarine School in Groton, and in June, '52, he was designated Commander of the Submarine Base and Commander of the New London Group, Atlantic Reserve Fleet.
He attended the National War College from August, '53 to June, '54 and next served as Chief of Staff and Aide to COMSUBPAC. From September '55 through October '57 he had successive command of the fleet oiler USS Allagash and the heavy cruiser USS Albany. In November, '57, he served in the Navy Department in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations. His promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral became effective on October 1, 1959.
He served the Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Mediterranean, as Deputy Chief of Staff (Intelligence) from September, '59 through December, '60 and from that date until December, '61 he was Commander Cruiser Division TWO, Atlantic Fleet. In January, '62 he assumed duties as Director of Personnel on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and in January, '64, he reported to his final posting as Commandant, First Naval District, Boston, Massachusetts. He retired from active duty in June, '66.
For his war service Admiral Sieglaff was awarded two Navy Crosses, three Silver Stars and two Legions of Merit. The Tautog was awarded the Naval Unit Commendation for its successful patrols under his command.
Events related to this officer
Submarine USS Tautog (199)
28 Nov 1942
Lt Cmdr William Bernard Sieglaff relieves Lt Cmdr Joseph Harris Willingham as Commanding Officer of USS Tautog.
30 Nov 1942
The Vichy-French merchant Canton (1581 GRT) sinks off Cape Padaran, Indo-China in position 11º10'N, 108º47'E. The mine was laid on 2 November 1942 by the US submarine USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr. J. H. Willingham).
15 Dec 1942
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) leaves Fremantle for her fifth war patrol. She is to patrol in the Java Sea.
25 Dec 1942
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese transport ship Banshu Maru No.2 (998 GRT) about 15 nautical miles north of Dili, Timor in position 08º40'S, 124º30'E.
9 Jan 1943
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) torpedoes and damages the Japanese light cruiser Natori (offsite link) 18 nautical miles south-east off Ambon in position 04º07'S, 128º32'E.
22 Jan 1943
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese passenger ship Hasshu Maru (1873 GRT) five miles east of Salier Strait, off the southern tip of Celebes in positon 05º40'S, 120º30'E.
30 Jan 1943
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) arrives back at Fremantle, Australia.
24 Feb 1943
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) Leaves Fremantle for her sixth was patrol. She was to patrol in the Makassar Strait.
9 Apr 1943
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese destroyer Isonami (offsite link) and the Japanese transport ship Penang Maru (5214 GRT) in the Celebes Sea in position 05º31'S, 123º09'E.
19 Apr 1943
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) returns to Fremantle.
11 May 1943
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) leaved Fremantle for her seventh war patrol. She is to patrol in the Flores / Celebes sea.
6 Jun 1943
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) sinks the Japanese transport Shinei Maru (970 GRT) off Basalin Strait in position 07º00'N, 123º37'E.
20 Jun 1943
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese troop transport Meiten Maru (4474 GRT) west of the Mariana Islands in position 15º57'N, 140º55'E.
2 Jul 1943
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) arrives at Pearl Harbor. She was sent to the Hunter's Point Navy Yard for a refit. She held refresher training when the yard work was completed and got back underway for Hawaii.
7 Oct 1943
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) leaves Pearl Harbor for her 8th war patrol. She is to patrol off the Palau Islands.
22 Oct 1943
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) shells a phosphate plant on Fais Island.
18 Nov 1943
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) arrived at Midway Island.
12 Dec 1943
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) left base for her 9th war patrol. She was to patrol in Japanese home waters of Sikoku Island and along the southern coast of the Japanese main island Honshu.
3 Jan 1944
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese troop transport Saisho Maru (2073 GRT) south of Honshu in position 33º44'N, 136º02'E.
4 Jan 1944
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese merchant Usa Maru (3943 GRT) south of Honshu in position 34º09'N, 136º50'E.
30 Jan 1944
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) arrived at Pearl Harbor for a refit.
5 Mar 1944
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) arrived her patrol area (10th war patrol) in the north Pacific off the Kuril Islands.
13 Mar 1944
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) sinks the Japanese merchants Ryua Maru (1915 GRT) and Shojin Maru (1942 GRT) some 20 miles west of Rashuwa Island, Kuril Islands in position 47º38'N, 152º38'E.
16 Mar 1944
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese transport ship Nichiren Maru (5460 GRT) and the Japanese destroyer Shirakumo (offsite link) east off Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan in position 42º25'N, 144º55'E.
23 Mar 1944
USS Tautog (Lt.Cdr W.B. Sieglaff) ended her 10th war patrol when she returned to Midway.
8 Apr 1944
Lt Cmdr Thomas Slack Baskett relieves Lt Cmdr William Bernard Sieglaff as Commanding Officer of USS Tautog.
Submarine USS Tench (417)
20 Dec 1944
With her initial training completed USS Tench (Cdr. W.B. Sieglaff) departs New London bound for Pearl Harbor. She arrives at Pearl Harbor in late January 1945.
7 Feb 1945
USS Tench (Cdr. W.B. Sieglaff) departs Pearl Harbor for her 1st war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the East China and Yellow Seas. She is to call at Saipan before heading to her patrol area.
27 Feb 1945
USS Tench (Cdr. W.B. Sieglaff) departs Saipan for her patrol area.
28 Mar 1945
USS Tench (Cdr. W.B. Sieglaff) sinks two small Japanese fishing trawlers with gunfire in the Yellow Sea in position 34º44'N, 122º46'E.