Pilotfish was laid down by the Portsmouth Navy Yard, in Kittery, Maine, on 15 May 1943; launched on 30 August 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Martha Szolmeczka Scheutz; and commissioned on 16 December 1943.

After a week the group sailed to an area south of Formosa and patrolled across a probable route of reinforcement or retirement of the Japanese forced engaged in the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

The group proceeded via Saipan to the East China Sea area, where a long patrol brought no contacts but a hospital ship and small craft.

On 31 August Pilotfish rendezvoused with other ships and proceeded to Tokyo Kaiwan in order to participate in the initial occupation of Japan and the formal surrender ceremonies.

By a directive dated 1 July 1946, Pilotfish was selected for disposal by use as a target for Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll.

Moored 363 yards (332 meters) from "surface zero," she was sunk by the Test Baker underwater atomic bomb explosion on 25 July 1946, the explosion′s pressure waves compressing her hull and forcing her hatches open, completely flooding her.

However, in 1991 the U.S. National Park Service reported that this narrative is incorrect, and that Pilotfish′s wreck was not salvaged after her 1946 sinking and remains on the bottom of the lagoon at Bikini Atoll.