MOH

Medal of Honor: Frank William Crilley - Peacetime Heroism - April 17, 1915

Two hundred fifty feet below the Pacific, a trapped diver was running out of time. Without hesitation, he stepped into a suit, descended into the darkness, and went after him.

April 29, 2026

Name: Frank William Crilley
Rank: Chief Gunner’s Mate
Branch: U.S. Navy
Era: Peacetime Heroism
Duty Station: U.S. Navy Diving Operations, USS F-4 Salvage Mission
Date of Action: April 17, 1915
Location: Off Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii

Summary of Action

On 17 April 1915, Chief Gunner’s Mate Frank William Crilley distinguished himself during dangerous salvage operations connected to the loss of the submarine USS F-4.

The submarine had sunk off Honolulu on 25 March 1915 in 304 feet of water after loss of depth control, taking all hands with her.

During the recovery mission, Chief Gunner’s Mate William F. Loughman descended to the wreck to inspect one of the wire hawsers attached to the submarine.

As Loughman began his ascent, at a depth of approximately 250 feet, his lifeline and air hose became hopelessly fouled in the hawser.

He could neither rise nor descend.

Having already endured the crushing pressure of the deep for an extended period, every passing moment threatened his life.

Recognizing the desperate emergency instantly, Crilley volunteered to rescue his trapped shipmate.

He immediately donned a diving suit and descended into the depths.

Working under immense pressure and extreme danger, Crilley battled the tangled lines in darkness far below the surface.

After two hours and eleven minutes, he was brought back up.

Through extraordinary skill, coolness, endurance, and fortitude, he had freed the trapped diver.

Loughman was then brought to the surface alive.

Crilley’s courage in one of the most hazardous rescue attempts of his era reflected the highest traditions of the United States Navy.

Medal of Honor Citation

CRILLEY, FRANK WILLIAM

Rank and organization: Chief Gunner’s Mate, U.S. Navy.
Born: 13 September 1883, Trenton, N.J.
Accredited to: Pennsylvania.
Date of issue: 19 November 1928.

Citation:
For display of extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession above and beyond the call of duty during the diving operations in connection with the sinking in a depth of water 304 feet, of the U.S.S. F-4 with all on board, as a result of loss of depth control, which occurred off Honolulu, T.H., on 25 March 1915. On 17 April 1915, William F. Loughman, chief gunner’s mate, U.S. Navy, who had descended to the wreck and had examined one of the wire hawsers attached to it, upon starting his ascent, and when at a depth of 250 feet beneath the surface of the water, had his lifeline and air hose so badly fouled by this hawser that he was unable to free himself; he could neither ascend nor descend. On account of the length of time that Loughman had already been subjected to the great pressure due to the depth of water, and of the uncertainty of the additional time he would have to be subjected to this pressure before he could be brought to the surface, it was imperative that steps be taken at once to clear him. Instantly, realizing the desperate case of his comrade, Crilley volunteered to go to his aid, immediately donned a diving suit and descended. After a lapse of time of 2 hours and 11 minutes, Crilley was brought to the surface, having by a superb exhibition of skill, coolness, endurance and fortitude, untangled the snarl of lines and cleared his imperiled comrade, so that he was brought, still alive, to the surface.