In order for the diving and rescue work to succeed, the FALCON had to be held firmly moored directly over the stricken submarine, This meant that George had to set a four-point moor with the points equidistant in order to hold the FALCON in position. As he eased the ship forward I watched Boatswain Raikes walk around the deck and inspect the four anchors tied with manila line over the side ready for release. Attached to these heavy anchors by a steel hawser were four long wooden buoys. I know from past experience that the men would be standing by with axes ready to cut the anchors loose when the command was given from the bridge. Lt. Sharp had asked for plenty of maneuvering room and the fleet had complied by moving well out of the way; only one small tug continued to circle the area where the buoy was attached to what everyone fervently hoped was the SQUALUS. In spite of heavy seas, the FALCON was maneuvered so as to drop the four anchors in beautiful precision and then the return trip, even more difficult to accomplish, was made to pick up each one of the buoys and attach a line which would then be used to pull the FALCON into position over the submarine. In spite of the prodigious amount of work entailed in this operation, at 0650 the Falcon was in her moorings with the lines standing out hundreds of yards in four directions, we thought we were ready to put the first diver over the side.
At about this time, however, the lookout in the wheelhouse shouted to Lt. Sharp, "We're dragging, Sir." And sure enough the heavy seas had proved too much for the anchors. An attempt was made to offset the drag by manipulating the strain on the lines but the ship still moved slightly and drifted away from the buoy marking the position of the SQUALUS. By this time Captain Edwards had come aboard as had Lieutenant Momsen, who had been named as officer-in-charge of the rescue and salvage operation. It was decided to call for the U. S. S. WANDANK to come over, pick up another anchor from our fantail and drop it to give us additional steadying force to windward. It was a tricky maneuver for the tug had to come alongside in a heavy sea and we had to shift a five-ton anchor from our deck to the tug. But it was accomplished without mishap.
Even with the extra anchor in position, another round of bearings indicated that we were again falling to leeward. There was nothing to do but to turn the FALCON ninety degrees so that she would head into the wind and sea. This would give her an easier heading so far as the elements were concerned, but would put her at right angles to the apparent position of the sunken submarine, which was not as advantageous insofar as the divers were concerned. The shift was accomplished and just as the work was finished a remarkable change came over the weather. It almost seemed as if it were an act of Providence for the sun broke through the clouds, the wind died down and the sea abated. All hands felt that this was a good omen.