S-26 (Lieutenant Commander E.C. Hawk) was lost at 2223 on 24 January 1942 in the Gulf of Panama about fourteen miles west of San Jose Light in three hundred feet of water. There were three survivors, two officers including the Commanding Officer, and one enlisted man-all on the bridge at the time of the collision; the fourth person on the bridge, an enlisted man, was lost.

S-26 was proceeding from Balboa, Canal Zone, to its patrol station in company with S-21, S-29 and S-44 and an escort vessel, PC-460, at the time of the disaster. At 2210 the escort vessel sent a visual message to the submarines that she was leaving the formation and that they could proceed on the duty assigned. S-21 was the only submarine to receive this message. Shortly there-after PC-460 struck S-26 on the starboard side of the torpedo room and the submarine sank within a few seconds.

Salvage operations started immediately under Captain T.J. Doyle, USN, Commanding Submarine Squadron Three and Submarine Base, Coco Solo, Canal Zone; they were not successful. She had previously made one war patrol but had inflicted no damage on the enemy.

U.S.S. S-26 (SS 131) Name Rate   Name Rate Adams, Leonard W. Amick, Leroy A. Anderson, Glen W. Baranick, George Bauer, Clinton A. Baumbach, Alvin C. Biebuyck, William P. Brown, Harry A. Burchart, Edwin B. Burroughs, George O. Clark, Carl C. Claflin, Carl R. Clough, Richard K. Crabtree, Eugene O. Crumbley, Byron Dawson, James O. Ehrle, Elwood Evans, David B. Freeman, Ray A. Gamble, Robert F. Gill, Joseph M. Hawk, Earle C. Holt, Robert E. Homic, Bennie S. MM1 S2 EM2 F2 MM1 S2 S1 Y1 MM1 F2 MM2 F2 MM2 S1 CMM RM3 GM3 CMM MM2 MoMM2 CTM LCDR-CO QM2 MM1     Johnson, Nathaniel N. Kassenbaum, Harry J. Lorente, Walter G. Love, Lloyd M. MacLachlan, Robert W. Mattes, Raymond C. Nelson, Robert E. O'Brien, John P. Peters, Thomas V. Peterson, Arthur B. Pyler, Hazel B. Ramsey, Carl R. Rifkin, Steven S. Russell, George G. Russler, Clifford E. Schmutz, John M. Siebert, William C. Shattuck, Herbert F. Stubbins, J.B. Taylor, H.L. Thompson, Thomas C. Tow, Paul H. Ward, Robert E.M. Vezina, Rodrique D. Matt1 MM1 EM1 S1 RM1 TM3 AS SM3 LT F1 MM2 GM2 F1 EM2 SM1 CRM TM2 CTM ENS ENS SC2 TM2 LT-XO F2 Crew in hospital at the time of the collision: Doerfer, Phillip W. Hurst, Joe B. S2 S1     Jeavons, William S1