Fraser Knight – Made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom

Fraser Knight was born in Miami, Florida, on April 17, 1917. From the 1920 U.S. Census, we learn that his father, Floyd, 30, was a lawyer. His mother Ruth, 27, had only one child at home at this time; Fraser, 2 years old. In addition, Floyd’s mother Mary, 52, and Ruth’s parents, Martha and George Drew were members of the extended family. They all lived on Central Avenue in Miami.

After graduation from Miami Edison High School, Knight was nominated to the Naval Academy by Rep. J. Mark Wilcox on June 16, 1936. According to the 1940 U.S. Census, Fraser was in his third year in Annapolis, Maryland.

Knight’s most notable posting was aboard the USS Salt Lake City. The USS Salt Lake City (CL/CA-25) of the United States Navy was a Pensacola-class cruiser, later reclassified as a heavy cruiser, sometimes known as "Swayback Maru" or "Old Swayback". She had 11 battle stars for the eleven engagements she participated in. She was also the first ship to be named after Salt Lake City, Utah. From 12 October 1939 – 25 June 1940, she cruised between Pearl Harbor, Wake, and Guam, utilizing the services of Vestal while at Pearl Harbor. Fraser was an officer as part of the crew during that period.

Following his stint on the Salt Lake City, he received the following orders: “Detached Knight, Fraser S., Lt. to proceed and report to C. O. Submarine Base, New London, Conn. for temporary duty under instruction in submarines.” on May 9, 1943. After training, Fraser was to muster aboard the submarine SS Bonefish (SS-223).

Fraser married Eleanor Barron in 1943. Their son Fraser Sinclair Knight was born October 13, 1945, in Moore, North Carolina. They lived with her parents in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

The following account of the sinking of the SS Bonefish was compiled by Paul W. Wittmer and Charles R. Hinman, with editorial notes by Robert H. Downie, originally from: U.S. Submarine Losses World War II, NAVPERS 15,784, 1949 ISSUE:

“In company with TUNNY and SKATE, BONEFISH (SS-223), commanded by CDR L. L. Edge, departed Guam on 28 May 1945 to conduct her eighth war patrol. This coordinated attack group under Commander G. E. Pierce in TUNNY, which was one of three groups then penetrating the Japan Sea, was ordered to transit Tsushima Strait on 5 June 1945 and to conduct offensive patrol in the Sea of Japan off the west coast of Honshu. This area was further subdivided, with BONEFISH assigned to patrol the northern portion.

BONEFISH successfully transited Tsushima Strait, and made rendezvous with TUNNY on 16 June 1945, in position 36° 40'N, 135° 24'E. Commander Edge reported be had sunk one large transport and one medium freighter to date. On the morning of 18 June, TUNNY and BONEFISH rendezvoused in the vicinity of 38° 15'N, 136° 24'E. [Editor's Note: Position corrected from 38° 15'N, 138° 24'E.] BONEFISH asked permission to conduct a submerged daylight patrol in Toyama Wan, in the mid part of western Honshu, and having received it, departed for Suzu Misaki. She was never seen or heard from again.

BONEFISH, in accordance with the operation order, was to rendezvous with the other eight submarines of the three groups, at 46° 50'N, 140° 00'E at sunset on 23 June 1945, in preparation for the transit on 24 June of La Perouse Strait. BONEFISH did not make this rendezvous, and after the other eight vessels had successfully transited La Perouse Strait, TUNNY on 25 and 26 June waited off the entrance to the strait and unsuccessfully tried to contact BONEFISH.

Provision was made in the operation order governing this patrol group for submarines in case of necessity to proceed to Russian waters to claim a 24 hour haven, or to submit to internment in extreme need, or for them to make their exit from the Japan Sea prior to or after 24 June. When all of these possibilities had been examined, and she had not been seen or heard from by 30 July 1945, BONEFISH was reported as presumed lost.

Japanese records of anti-submarine attacks mention an attack made on 19 June 1945 [Editor's Note: Date corrected from 18 June 1945], at 37°18'N, 137° 25'E in Toyama Wan. A great many depth charges were dropped, and wood chips and oil were observed. This undoubtedly was the attack which sank BONEFISH.

Tragically, Fraser Knight was one of those sailors killed during the sinking of the Bonefish. His body was never recovered. Knight was memorialized with full military honors in the Arlington National Cemetery. The headstone is located at Section ME Grave 25. The headstone inscription reads, “FRASER SINCLAIR KNIGHT, FLORIDA, LCDR, US NAVY, WORLD WAR II, APRIL 17 1917, JULY 14 1945, SS-BSM-PH.” A cross circumscribed by a circle is carved at the top center of the headstone.

In addition, a memorial to the Navy’s fallen in the Pacific has the name of Lieutenant Commander Fraser Sinclair Knight carved in the Tablets of the Missing in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Posthumously, Knight was awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. From the Naval Academy Hall of Valor: SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Commander Fraser S. Knight (NSN: 0-85289), United States Navy, was awarded the Silver Star (Posthumously) for gallantry in action as Assistant Approach Officer of the U.S.S. BONEFISH (SS-223), during the SIXTH War Patrol of that vessel in enemy Japanese controlled waters of the Pacific, from 5 September to 8 November 19445. Lieutenant Commander Knight materially assisted his commanding officer in sinking three enemy ships totaling 22,000 tons and damaged two additional vessels totaling 8,900 tons.

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This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen’s name and read his/her story.

Resources:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56770692/Fraser-william-Knight

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/22631334

1920 and 1930 U.S. Census

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/14663856:6061

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/150563553:2442

U.S., World War II Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Casualties

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/98124:1122?_phsrc=maU342&_phstart=successSource&gsfn=Fraser+Sinclair&gsln=Knight&ml_rpos=1&queryId=9a4b3be216fe2b6b5433a6bfcb827c29

U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1970

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1036556:2375?tid=&pid=&queryId=935ab9585b6cc75baca2e66a7a1c04d7&_phsrc=maU339&_phstart=successSource

https://www.newspapers.com/image/617134808/?terms=%22Fraser%20Sinclair%20Knight%22&match=1&clipping_id=111858382

https://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-bonefish-223-loss.html

SBTS Project/Miami, Florida

Knight, Fraser Sinclair, LCDR