The USS Bonefish's crew returned from a two-week rest leaves in Perth, Australia on 3 January 1944. The 4"50-caliber deck gun and number three main engine had been overhauled by the USS Pelias' Relief Crew. The fresh camouflage paint, gray on vertical surfaces and black on horizontal surfaces, made Bonefish look like a new submarine, not a veteran battered by depth charges and bombs. Only thirty-two of the original sixty-nine members of the commissioning crew remained aboard. After seven days of intense underway training, Bonefish was loaded for the third war patrol.

On 12 January Bonefish got underway for the 1600-mile journey mostly through enemy waters to the assigned patrol area in the South China Sea. The intense training continued until Bonefish was forced to dive by an enemy aircraft two days south of Lombok Strait. Enemy planes were not expected south of Lombok, making the crew uneasy. The second crash dive, a day south of Lombok, kept the crew's adrenaline flowing. Surfacing at 1953 on 18 January with the crew at Battle Stations and using four main engines, Bonefish entered the hazardous Lombok Strait.

She dodged patrol craft and avoided being detected by the shore battery crews. Entering the Flores Sea, an intense hunt for an enemy submarine was conducted for three days. Not finding the submarine being used for antisubmarine warfare, Bonefish continued north. A sixty-ton, two masted sailing ship was ordered to heave to after the seven-man crew on deck acted suspiciously. It took a burst across her bow from a Tommy Gun to make the crew lower the sails. Two soldiers scurried below deck. The crew was ordered to abandon ship because the vessel had a radio used to broadcast U.S. submarine positions.

As the first burst of 20-millimeter armor piercing and incendiary shells raked the wooden bull, the crew jumped overboard. Round after round holed the sailing trip. Thirty-nine enemy soldiers were counted going over the side as the vessel sank. With the crew's esprit de corps soaring, Bonefish continued north.

Suspecting an oil leak, three volunteer engineers in daylight checked the topside fuel fittings. The trio set an Olympic dash record when a RUFE type airplane forced the Bonefish to crash dive. The plane dropped two aerial bombs and was joined by two additional planes. Hide and seek with aircraft became a daily ritual wearing on the crew's nerves.

Bonefish entered the South China Sea on 26 January and arrived at her patrol area off Kamranh Bay on 3 February. Harassment by aircraft and dodging fishing vessels, twenty-six of the latter in one day, rough seas and torrential rains hampered the patrolling. At 1010 on 5 February, the mast of a large cargo ship loomed out of a rain squall.

The cargo ship was followed by sixteen more enemy vessels heavily laden and steaming in two groups. One group had cargo carriers, troop ships with landing barges and patrol ships. The other group consisted of tankers, cargo carriers; patrol ships and was followed by an Asakaz Class Destroyer. Overhead, RUFE type aircraft circled. The convoy went inside the Isles de Pecheurs making Bonefish race toward intercept when the convoy came out from behind Hon Nai Island.

Running submerged at full speed between periscope looks and rigged for depth charge; Bonefish reached firing position in the shallow and restricted water. As the convoy appeared all torpedo tubes were made ready. Four torpedoes from the bow tubes sped toward the 19,000 ton tanker and two torpedoes raced toward the largest cargo ship. Turning for a stern shot, the Bonefish took a steep down angle dipping the periscope.

Nine tons of water poured into the forward torpedo room before a sluggish torpedo tube poppet valve could be closed. The destroyer and escorts swarmed toward Bonefish.

The destroyer was at 1500 yards when the submarine was brought under control. The crew heard two torpedoes explode against the tanker and one against the cargo ship before the first two heavy depth charges shook the hull.

Using evasive maneuvers and running silent, the crew's stoutheartedness turned to fright. Two more depth charges rattled the hull as the destroyer's propellers churned the shallow water above the submarine. One patrol craft pinged, one listened while the destroyer charged and dropped three more depth charges. The lights in Bonefish blinked. On Bonefish's sonar crackling sounds in the vicinity of the torpedoed targets were heard. The crew felt the tanker and cargo ship had sunk. Six more depth charges shook the Bonefish. Airplanes dropped depth bombs around her. The attackers turned back to the convoy. After planning up to periscope depth, large columns of smoke were observed in the area of the torpedo attack. A RUFE aircraft sighted the periscope and the destroyer and escorts reversed course and raced toward Bonefish.

Going deep the attackers were evaded and the torpedo tubes were reloaded. Repairs were made to electrical circuits, radar, pit log and the leaking hull fittings. Again planning up to periscope depth, none of the enemy was in sight. Surfacing at 1929, the Officer-of-the-Deck and lookouts scrambled to the bridge.

The overcast, black tropical night was turned into daylight when a patrol plane dropped a flare. The Bonefish set a record crash diving. On each of the next three days during inclement weather enemy aircraft forced Bonefish to make emergency dives. And not one enemy ship was encountered. On 9 February patrolling off the mouth of Kamranh Bay, a convoy was sighted through the periscope, lifting the crew's soggy spirits.

The attack approach was laborious because of fog, rain and heavy seas. The convoy consisted of a 15,000-ton tanker, a large troop and cargo ship, four medium size cargo carriers, a Sigure Class Destroyer and five escort vessels.

The destroyer patrolled on a zigzag course well out to seaward and the escorts were ahead and behind the convoy. A RUFE aircraft circled over the convoy as Bonefish closed the range to the tanker. Rigging for depth charge, all torpedo tubes were made ready. The loudly knocking trim pump had to be run to maintain depth control. The tanker was at 3,000 yards when the pinging destroyer belched black smoke

An with a burst of speed charged Bonefish. A spread of six torpedoes was fired from the forward tubes at the tanker. One torpedo refused to leave the tube. The apprehensive crew knew the extreme danger of being caught in shallow water by the offended destroyer. At 1331 the first depth charge slammed the Bonefish, showering the crew with paint chips.

The destroyer's propellers churned the sea furiously above the Bonefish. Four more depth charges forcefully shook the submarine. The next four depth charges exploded astern as the Bonefish made quick turns to evade the angry enemy. Three more escorts like hungry dingo dogs joined the attack.

The attackers were relentless from 1336 until 1355 while Bonefish strived to reach deep water. One to four depth charges were dropped during each of the fifteen attacks. The twenty-nine depth chares sprang leaks, exploded light bulbs and continued to spray paint chips. Going deeper Bonefish ran aground in mud at 240 feet. Miraculously the submarine got free and the extended sonar wasn't damaged. Crackling noises, dull explosions and breaking up sounds associated with a ship sinking lifted the crew's spirits. But the next uncomfortably close depth charge caused more leaks in hull fittings. Another depth charge hammered the hull. An aerial bomb exploded astern as Bonefish reached deeper water. The destroyer's eerie pinging faded. Slowing to one-third speed, the crew secured from battle stations, thankful that the strong hull withstood the vicious enemy mauling. The torpedo tubes were reloaded, repairs made and debris caused by the forty-nine depth charges and nine aerial bombs was cleaned up. Surfacing after sunset, none of the enemy ships were in sight. The clean air tasted sweet. Weary from depth charges and inclement weather, the crew's zest returned four days later when a convoy was sighted.

An Asakaz Class Destroyer, two patrol boats and two RUFE aircraft escorted the two large cargo ships. The convoy slipped behind Hon Nai Island and Honnai Point preventing a torpedo attack. Later that day, 11 February, a small cargo ship not worthy of a torpedo was allowed to pass. The rain stopped. It was decided to destroy the Cape Paderan Radio Station by gunfire even, though large swells rocked the submarine.

The Radio Station was outlined by moonlight, but the rolling seas made it difficult to keep it in the gun sights. A high capacity projectile with a point detonating fuse was loaded into the 4"50-caliber gun. On the bridge the Captain ordered, "Commence FIRING."

The foot firing mechanism malfunctioned. The Gun Captain jerked the hand-firing lanyard. It broke. Tripping the firing mechanism by hand, twelve rounds were fired. One hit and several near misses were observed while the enemy shore battery fired back. The engagement was broke off. The crew's disappointment continued during the next seven days of patrolling. Rough seas and inclement weather prevented any attacks on enemy ships. The allotted time in the area was up. Bonefish started the long journey back to Australia with some torpedoes aboard.

Enemy planes and patrol craft were encountered every day in the Sula and Celebes Seas and Makassar Strait keeping the crew's nerves frayed. Off North Watcher Island on 27 February Bonefish tried to intimidate a small patrol craft to leave her shallow water haven. The gun crew was ready, but the enemy didn't take the bait. On the evening of 3 March Lombok Island was sighted.

Bonefish waited until the moon had set after midnight on 4 March to make the dash through Lombok Strait. Two groups of patrol boats were sighted at about 5,000 yards on each beam. The blackness of the night allowed Bonefish to evade the enemy by passing between the groups. The crew's spirits rose as the Indian Ocean was entered and a course was set for Fremantle. But liberty plans were abruptly halted.

The Commander Task Force 71 ordered Bonefish to refuel and take on supplies at Exmouth Gulf then intercept the Japanese invasion fleet headed toward Western Australia.

Patrolling in the Indian Ocean, the crew's adrenaline flowed as they prepared to attack the enemy fleet. During the five days of patrolling the only excitement was exchanging recognition signals with a U.S. Navy patrol bomber. On 12 March, Bonefish was ordered to Fremantle. The phantom fleet was discovered to be an error in intelligence. The disappointed crew shifted their thoughts to liberty. Arriving Fremantle 13 March, Bonefish had steamed 6,000 miles and spent forty-five days in enemy controlled waters.