Grand Opening of the USS Flyer Exhibit at the USS SILVERSIDES Submarine Museum.

The USS SILVERSIDES Submarine Museum choose this Memorial Day weekend as a fitting time open the USS Flyer Exhibit. The ribbon cutting was attended by the family of survivor Al Jacobson Jr. of Grand Haven and Mrs Jacobson cut the ribbon to open the exhibit to Veterans from across America to see for the first time.

The last surviving crew member of USS Flier, Ens. Al Jacobson Jr. was a native of Grand Haven Michigan. USS Silversides Submarine Museum is proud to recognize this native son, and dedicate this on-going exhibition to his lasting memory and those of his fellow submariner's for their courageous and selfless sacrifices to the welfare of the nation.

Alvin  Jacobson Jr. was a young Navy ensign keeping watch off the aft port of the submarine U.S.S. Flier as it maneuvered through the waters of the Balabac Strait the evening of Aug. 13, 1944. Jacobson, remembered that night's deep red sunset as the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. But that beauty was dimmed just minutes later by a huge explosion that shook the submarine. The U.S.S Flier had struck a mine, only 14 of its 86-member crew made it into the water. Young Jacobson and seven of his crew mates were the only ones to make it to shore. They struggled for days to survive before being rescued by the submarine U.S.S Redfin.

USS Flier, a 1,525-ton Gato-class submarine was commissioned in mid-October 1943. She departed from Pearl Harbor for her first war patrol in January 1944. The USS Flier (SS 250) was discovered by a documentary film company and identified through the use of video evidence and the assistance of the Naval Heritage and History Command.