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USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG October 14 ,1944 . Zone time (
- ) 9 0830
Underway from Seeadler Harbor, Manus Island in
accordance with C.T.U. 79.11.2 top secret mailgram 130040 of October and
commenced screening sortie of Task Group 79.2. Upon completion of sortie,
formed cruising disposition 5CS with Task Group 79.2 and set course from Manus
Island to assault area, Leyte Island, P.I. , in accordance
with Commander Task Group 79.2 attack order A604. O.T.C.
ComTaskGroup 79.2 (Rear Admiral Royal), in U.S.S. ROCKY MOUNT. Positions: 1200 -
Latitude - 01°-46.O S; Longitude 147°-07.O E. 2000 -
Latitude - 0O°-50.3 S; Longitude 145°-56.O E. October 15
, 1944. Zone time
( - ) 9 During morning
participated in tactical exercises. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - OO°-31.3
N; Longitude - l44°-21.6 E. 1200 -
Latitude - 00°-52.8' N; Longitude - 143°-43.l E. 2000 - Latitude - 01°-38.O'
N; Longitude - 142°-13.5 E. October 16, 1944.
Zone time (-)9 During morning
participated in tactical exercises. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 03°-Ol.4 N; Longitude - 140°-08.9 E. 1200 -
Latitude - 03°-2l.2 N; Longitude - l39°-24.l E. 2000 -
Latitude - O4°-O4.2' N; Longitude - 138°-41.O E. October 17, 1944.
Zone time (-)9 During early
darkness participated in tactical exercises, maneuvers of Task Group 79.2
without signal. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 05°-l3.3 N; Longitude - l36°-25.O E. 1200 -
Latitude - 05°-38.7 N; Longitude - l35°-50.O E. 2000 -
Latitude - 06°-17.O N; Longitude - l34°-39.l E. October 18, 1944 . Zone time
( - ) 9 During morning
participated in tactical exercises. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 07°-l3.7 N; Longitude - 132°-46.3 E. 1200 -
Latitude - 07°-28.5 N; Longitude - l32°-1O.l E. 2000 -
Latitude - O8-O3.4 N; Longitude - l3l°-08.5 E. October 19, 1944. Zone Time (-)9 About 1330
formation was possibly sighted by snooper plane on bearing 236° T., distance
thirty-one miles. Fighters were vectored out by FDO of C.V.E., but failed to
intercept. At 1600 formed special approach disposition for attack on Leyte
Island, U.S.S. PICKING in screening
station #1, 2900 yards ahead of guide. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 09°-0l.O N; Longitude - l29°-l2.8 N. 1200 - Latitude - 09°-25.5
N; Longitude - l28°-25.5 N. 2000 Latitude 09°-57:0
N; Longitude - l25°-07.5 N. October 20, 1944 Zone time (-) 9 At 0130 ship
went to general quarters, began passing between Homonhon
and Dinagat Islands entering Leyte Gulf and
proceeding to Assault Area. At 0620 U.S.S. MC DERMUT in formation ahead
reported she was under air attack by a single Japanese aircraft, type
unidentified. The plane was fired on by ships in formation but no damage was
observed. At 0800 arrived at Assault Area, east of Dulag,
formed AS and AA screen for transports. U.S.S. PICKINGS screening
station Number twenty-three, with bearings as follows: Catmon
Hill 310° T., Tangbo Point 129° T., right tangent
Samar Island 034-1/4° T. 1000 Assault troops began to land on eastern beach
areas of Leyte Island; resistance was reported as mild; bombardment by fire
support ships continued. Early in afternoon, by order of Screen Commander,
U.S.S. PICKING moved in closer to transport area to provide more
effective AA screen. 1605 Held general quarters, single engine enemy plane,
type unidentified, sighted passing over formation area, making radical course changes
to avoid AA fire from ships of formation. Plane disappeared in the direction of
Samar Island, no damage observed. U.S.S. PICKING did not open fire
because of foul bearing. Later, U.S.S. HONOLULU, furnishing fire support
in close to the beach opposite Catmon Hill was
reported to have been torpedoed and severely damaged by attack of previous
plane. The plane made its attack from inland, undetected until it cleared Catmon Hill at which time its range was very close to the
U.S.S. HONOLULU. 1715 Anchored in screening station to screen transports
that were directed not to retire. All ships commenced laying smoke; at sunset
the harbor was partially covered by low broken smoke screen. 1834 Made radar contact
on enemy planes bearing 265°T., distance forty-six miles, ship went to general
quarters for air attack. 1836 Observed AA fire on bearing 265° T, about
five minutes later four Japanese planes, identified as SALLY type bombers, were
sighted at a very high altitude, approach angle about 70°, as they emerged from clouds and smoke; planes passed
directly overhead. At 1842 U.S.S. PICKING opened fire with all batteries, fire was ceased at 1846 having expended the
following ammunition: thirty-four rounds of 5/38, 120 rounds of 40mm and 300
rounds of 20mm. All the 5/38 ammunition was expended as the, planes were going
away from the ship. Planes passed out of visual range in the direction of Samar
Island; no damage observed. Enemy planes remained in area until about 1930 at
which time received report that no enemy planes were in the area, secured from general
quarters. By 2100 all the smoke screen had been carried away by a moderate
breeze to seaward. It is
considered opinion of the Commanding Officer that smoke over an assault area is
a most effective passive defense. Many enemy aircraft were undoubtedly frustrated in attacks on large
vessels thereby and expended their bombs half heartedly on tugs, destroyers, and other smaller craft. Position: 0800 -
Latitude - l0°-53.3 N; Longitude -
l25°-1l.l E. 1200 -
Latitude - l0°-53.3 N; Longitude -
l25°-1l.l E. October
21, 1944
Zone time ( - ) 9 At
midnight all ships began laying smoke and continued for twenty minutes of each
hour until sunrise at which time the harbor was covered with a dense smoke
screen, visibility about 5O0 yards. At 0526 radar contact on enemy plane
reported bearing 310° T. distance 20 miles from
reference point Molly, ship went to general quarters. Shortly after alert,
AA, fire was observed in several places from bearing 205° T. to 320°
T., no planes were sighted by this ship. Several reports of radar contact on
enemy planes were received during following two hours
after initial attack. About 0700 U.S.S. HUMPHREYS reported a Japanese
plane had crashed in the water and four survivors had been |