Departing Pearl Harbor on 29 December 1943, USS SCORPION SS-278 under the command of Commander. M.G. Schmidt stopped at Midway Island to top off fuel, leaving 3 January 1944 to conduct its fourth War Patrol. Her assigned area was in the northern East China and Yellow Seas.

On the morning of 5 January 1944, SCORPION reported that one of her crew had sustained a fracture of the upper arm and requested a rendezvous with USS HERRING SS-233 which was returning from patrol and was nearby. The rendezvous was accomplished on the afternoon of 5 January, but heavy seas prevented the transfer. HERRING reported this fact on 6 January, and stated "SCORPION reports case under control.” 

SCORPION was never to be seen or heard from again, believed sunk by enemy mines. All 60 crewmembers were lost.

Picture and information above submitted by Art Randall, United States Submarine Veterans, Inc.