YP-422 was briefly commanded by Lieutenant L. Ron Hubbard, later known as the controversial founder of Scientology. Hubbard was assigned to Lawley & Son Shipyard, in the Neponset area of Boston, Massachusetts in connection with the conversion of the YP-422 from 25 June to 28 July 1942, when she was placed in commission with Hubbard in command.
Hubbard was relieved of his command on 1 October 1942, a few weeks after YP-422 underwent a 27-hour training exercise in August 1942. A dispatch sent by the Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard on 25 September 1942 described Hubbard as "not temperamentally fitted for independent command".[3] Ironically, Hubbard was then given command of the submarine chaser USS PC-815 which also resulted in his being officially reprimanded and relieved of command.
In early 1943, YP-422 was dispatched to the Pacific theater of operations to support the Solomon Islands campaign. However, she was lost on 23 April 1943 after striking Tumbo Reef, three miles south-east of the entrance to North Bulari Passage[4] a break in the reefs near Nouméa, New Caledonia.[5]
. Jon Atack. A Piece of Blue Sky. 74. Carol Publishing Group. 1990. 0-8184-0499-X.