In June 1944, the Japanese carrier Shokaku was hit by three torpedoes fired by a US submarine. A noncomissioned flight technician on the flight deck gave the following account.
When the seawater reached our ankles, the executive officer on the bridge ordered, "601 Squadron airmen abandon ship!" Reporting to the executive officer, I ordered the men, "Head for the destroyer Wakasuki straight ahead. Do your best."
We were about to jump into the sea when four of the men surrounded me, saying, "I can't swim." "You don't have to swim, just stay afloat," I said. "Pieces of lumber and tatami mats for judo will come drifting by. Lifeboats will come by as well, so hang on." But I did not have the nerve to ask them if they could float.
一九四四年六月，日本航空母艦翔鶴號被美國潛艇發射的三枚魚雷擊中。當時在飛行甲板上的一名技術軍士有以下記述。
海水淹到我們腳踝。船橋上的副艦長下令：「六零一飛行中隊飛行員棄船！」我是向副艦長負責的，就命令各飛行員：「游到前面的若月號驅逐艦那裏。盡力而為吧。」
我們正要跳進海裏，四個飛行員圍着我說：「我不會游泳。」我說：「你們不必游泳，浮在水上就可以。木塊、柔道場的稻草墊等，會漂到你們身旁。救生艇也會漂過。撑住吧。」但我沒有勇氣問他們能不能浮在水上。