The lost bullion of USS Peary

[Crow]

Gidday amigo gather around for another sunken treasure yarn. grab a favorite brew and make yourself comfortable.

Here is another history mystery that has never fully been solved. WW2 had a host of stories of lost treasure due to fleeing the Japanese. On such story of lost gold is connected to a warship USS Peary that was sunk with all guns blazing.

The USS Peary (DD-226), a Clemson-class destroyer with a storied history, sailed into the annals of World War II as a brave and fateful warship. While its heroic and tragic past is well-documented, a remarkable revelation in 2019 has added a new layer to its history – the mysterious disappearance of its stern and a safe rumoured to contain US gold bullion. We will into the USS Peary’s journey, its connection to US gold bullion, and the intriguing discovery of the blown-off stern.

Here is a picture of the gallant ship below.

Commissioned in 1920, the USS Peary embarked on a career that would take it from the Far East to the Yangtze River Patrol. It served diligently in the protection of American interests in Chinese waters. When World War II broke out, the USS Peary found itself in the heart of action.

To be continued

Crow

 

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[Crow]

Stationed at Cavite, Philippines, the USS Peary experienced the onslaught of the Pearl Harbor raid, which marked the beginning of the United States’ involvement in World War II. Two days later, Japanese aircraft launched a devastating attack on the Cavite Navy Yard. In the wake of the assault, the Peary was left damaged, with one bomb causing havoc in its superstructure, and another, an incendiary, igniting the galley deck house.

Amidst the chaos, the ship’s crew confronted a precarious situation, with fires threatening to set off torpedo warheads in a nearby torpedo overhaul shop. The USS Whippoorwill came to the rescue, towing the Peary to safety. Collaborating with the USS Pillsbury, they managed to extinguish the fire in a mere five minutes.

However, the ship’s commanding officer, Commander H. H. Keith, sustained injuries during this ordeal and was relieved by Commander J. M. Bermingham.

On December 26, 1941, the Japanese struck again as the USS Peary was underway. The crew witnessed several bombs falling perilously close to the ship, underscoring the ever-present danger.

By the dawn of December 27, the USS Peary had reached Campomanes Bay on Negros Island, where it decided to take refuge for the day. The crew resorted to camouflage, covering the ship with green paint and palm fronds in hopes of evading Japanese patrol bombers. Fortunately, five enemy planes flew overhead without spotting the concealed vessel.

As darkness fell, the USS Peary embarked on a journey through the Celebes Sea, en route to Makassar Strait. However, the spectre of Japanese bombers continued to haunt them. A Japanese bomber identified the Peary the following morning and shadowed the ship, joined by three more bombers in a two-hour attack. These aircraft dropped 500-pound bombs and launched two torpedoes just 500 yards from the ship. In a stroke of fortune, the torpedoes narrowly missed their intended target, both at the bow and stern. The attackers eventually withdrew, leaving the USS Peary to lick its wounds and continue its mission.

To be continued.

Crow

 

[Crow]

The USS Peary’s fate took a grim turn when it arrived in Darwin, Australia, in early 1942. Operating primarily in an anti-submarine patrol capacity during January and part of February, the ship was later involved in a mission to transport reinforcements and supplies to Allied forces in Dutch Timor. However, this operation was swiftly abandoned due to intense air attacks.

Here is picture of USS Peary in Timor sea

On February 19, 1942, Darwin was subjected to a massive Japanese air attack. The USS Peary became a target for Japanese dive bombers, enduring the impact of five bombs. The first bomb struck the fantail, the second, an incendiary, hit the galley deck house, and the third, oddly, did not detonate.

The fourth bomb struck the ship’s forward section, setting off the forward ammunition magazines, causing a catastrophic explosion. The fifth bomb, another incendiary, exploded in the aft engine room. Despite the chaos, the crew valiantly defended their ship, utilizing .30 caliber and .50 caliber machine guns.

Here is picture of USS Peary sinking below.

In the wake of the attack, the USS Peary and its brave crew met a tragic fate. Eighty-eight officers and men, including Commander J. M. Bermingham, were lost. Only 53 enlisted survivors and one officer, LTJG R.L. Johnson, remained. LT W.J. Catlett, who had been ashore during the final battle, was entrusted with compiling the official US Navy report on the ship’s sinking. The USS Peary marked the first destroyer of the Asiatic Fleet to be sunk in World War II, and it was subsequently struck from the Navy List on May 8, 1942.

Here is memorial plaque with names of who died on it. yet i have been told there are errors on it.

To be continued.

Crow

 

[Crow]

Today there is a memorial to brave men died fight to protect Darwin from the bombing.

There is plague telling of bravery crew died with guns firing to the last.

Today the ship is designated War grave. But it still does not dispel rumors she had gold on the vessel taken from the Philippines during the invasion by the Japanese.

To be continued......

Crow

 

[Crow]

In the following newspaper Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 - 1954), Friday 30 July 1948, page 1 shown below.

Ship Sunk in 1942 Believed Located.

DARWIN, Thursday: The wreck . of the USS. destroyer Peary, which was carrying over £1,000,000 worth of gold when sunk in the first Japanese air raid on Darwin In 1942, Is believed to have been located by a colored Koepang pearl shell
diver.

The discovery was made In East Arm Harbor, but the diver will not reveal the exact location, as It is understood that the U.SA. Navy is offering a reward of £1000 to anyone producing the ship's bell. The diver said that, while being dragged along by a lugger, he saw a huge steel hulk looming in front of him. Despite frantic signals, he was dragged into the wreck and only with the greatest effort freed himself.

The Peary was last seen with engines' full speed ahead and guns firing at pursuing low-flying Japanese bombers, which had set her alight at the harbor mouth. She blew up, and no trace was found of her or her complement of 80 men.

Because extensive searching had revealed no trace of the vessel, Navy experts had come to the conclusion that she was slightly buoyant, and drifted with the strong tides to the harbor mouth and back again.

So this was source of gold story? Was she actually carrying gold?

to be continued

Crow

 

[Crow]

Fast forward to 2019, and a revelation emerged that would forever alter the understanding of the USS Peary’s final moments. A team of dedicated underwater explorers, Grant Treloar, Roland Hugi, Mark Tozer, and Jeff Swann, invested countless hours in the exploration and documentation of the ship’s stern.

Here is picture of propeller shaft below.

What they uncovered was nothing short of astonishing. The USS Peary’s stern, previously believed to have gone down with the ship, had been severed and found four kilometres away from the main wreckage. This discovery raised questions about the events leading up to the ship’s sinking and the potential whereabouts of the mysterious safe rumoured to contain US gold bullion.

To be continued

Crow

 

[Crow]

As the explorers delved deeper into the remnants of the severed stern, they stumbled upon a stunning find—the door and side of a safe, indicating that the USS Peary had indeed carried valuable cargo.

The safe, long believed to be in the stern for protection, had been subjected to the same cataclysmic attack that ultimately sank the ship. The evidence of the safe’s destruction in the 2019 discovery raises tantalising questions about its contents and the fate of the US gold bullion it may have safeguarded. But once again these vessel are a designated war gave. So it moot point.

So the mystery remains just an urban legend or did the USS Peary have a cargo of gold as it fled the Philippines? Was it secretly salvaged? Or was the safe blown open in the attack and gold dropped out disintegrating stern as it sank? at 33.40 per ounce 1941 would of made it 20452 ounces with value a million in gold. roughly 62 million in today's s value of the alleged gold in the vessel.

Crow

 

[Crow]

The answer comes always with deeper research. Tom Lew OAM

Comments on the alleged gold.

Crow

 

[Crow]

The gold was transferred across Manila bay to Corregidor . The gold was on shipped on USS Trout below.

here is picture of the gold below.

What happen is some of survived crew recounted them shipping gold on USS Perry and story of having gold still on board stuck. thus the story of shipwreck having gold onboard became a legend.

That is why in depth research is important.

Crow

 

[Blak bart]

Brilliant 🫡

 

[RRmech]

The gold was transferred across Manila bay to Corregidor . The gold was on shipped on USS Trout below.

View attachment 2158820


here is picture of the gold below.

View attachment 2158821

What happen is some of survived crew recounted them shipping gold on USS Perry and story of having gold still on board stuck. thus the story of shipwreck having gold onboard became a legend.

That is why in depth research is important.

Crow

Thanks Crow, enjoy your stories and wisdom, you are a big part of the treasure on treasure net, keep it up!