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USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG October 24, 1944 . Zone time (- ) 9 (Continued) quarters. At 2235 unidentified
aircraft was picked up by radar of this vessel bearing 036° T., distance 37
miles. Aircraft closed to twenty-five miles, circled, opened range and faded.
About ten minutes later two unidentified planes were picked up on bearing 165°
T., distance 28 miles, ship immediately went to general quarters. Plane crossed
the front of the formation at this range and began to close rapidly on bearing
120° T. 2251 Commenced firing with 5 battery in full radar control at which
time the range was 10,500 yards. At 2252 ceased firing as planes turned left
and began to open range. Ammunition expended: 37 rounds of AA Common. About two
minutes later observed a red flash and glow low over the water on bearing 145°
T., range about 6 miles, believed to be aircraft shot down. Shortly after this
lost radar contact and secured from general quarters. Positions: 1200 - Latitude - 11°-00 N; Longitude - l25°-11.8 E. 2000 -
Latitude - 10°-23.O N; Longitude -
l25°-55.O E. October 25, 1944 Zone time ( - ) 9 At
0935 departed from Task Unit 79.14.8 along with U.S.S. SPROSTON and U.S.S.
HALE and began proceeding to Leyte Gulf at 25 knots in accordance with ComTaskForce
79 secret dispatch 242326. Formed column open order with PICKING
guide. OTC was CDS 49 in PICKING. Shortly after departure
intercepted following transmission on the local air warning net: CTG 77.4 to
CTG 77.2, one Sangamom aircraft reported at 0900 two
groups of Japanese fleet bearing 030° T., distance 100 miles from HOMONHON
Island, course 270° T., speed 25 knots. One CL dead in the
water at 0954 "ITEM. Early in the afternoon joined Task Group
77.4.1 in accordance with orders of CTF 79 and took screening station bearing
330° T. on circle six from fleet center. Task Group 77.4.1 reported it had been
under intermittent air attack all morning and several ships were damaged. During
afternoon from 1400 until sunset several unidentified aircraft were contacted
within 20 miles of the formation. On each contact, carrier fighter planes of
this group intercepted the enemy and destroyed or drove them away. During one
alert, an enemy plane was seen to crash in the water astern of the formation. No
enemy aircraft attacked the formation during the afternoon. During early
darkness Task Group 77.4.3, 25 miles away, and with no screen, reported being
trailed by an unidentified surface vessel. PICKING, SPROSTON and HALE were
directed to investigate. Held general quarters for surface
attack. Upon approaching the area of the unidentified surface contact,
this vessel got a surface contact bearing 356° T., distance 20,800 yards. About
20 minutes later contact on unidentified surface contact was lost on bearing 345°
T., range 9500 yards. Contact was assumed to be surfaced submarine which has submerged.
A scouting line bearing 270° T., distance 3000 yards from PICKING, guide
was formed. Shortly after contact disappeared from screen, U.S.S. SPROSTON, the
center ship of scouting line, made sonar contact and attacked with depth
charges. PICKING then began maneuvering to make run on submarine, but did
not gain contact. At 2125, ten minutes after SPROSTONs
depth charge attack, got radar contact on two unidentified aircraft bearing
006° T., distance 21 miles, range closing. SPROSTON reported still
having sonar contact. At 2136, when the aircraft had closed to 12000 yards,
commenced firing with 5 battery in full radar control. 2140
Ceased firing on aircraft, having expended 55 rounds of Common. Shortly
after firing was
ceased, a parachute was sighted, descending on the port side. U.S.S HALE reported
seeing a damaged plane plunge into the water. During next half hour various
unidentified aircraft contacts were made but did not close within gun fire
range. On orders of CTU 77.4.3 PICKING and HALE proceeded to join
Task Group 77.4.3 and furnish A/S and A/A screen. SPROSTON was ordered to
remain in area and search for submarine. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 09°-24.5 N;
Longitude - 127°-50.8 E. 1200 -
Latitude - 09°-41.O N; Longitude - 127°-07.8E. 2000 - Latitude - 10°-0l N; Longitude - 126°-56 E. October 26, 1944 Zone time ( -)9
About midnight, in company with U.S.S. HALE, joined Task Unit 77.4.3 in
area east of Leyte Gulf to furnish A/S and A/A screen. The Task Unit steamed on
a south easterly course at 15 knots and at Sunrise was approximately 125 miles
south east of the Leyte Gulf entrance.
There were no unidentified contacts or alerts during the morning. At 1111, on
orders of C.T.F. 79, PICKING broke off from Task Unit
77.4.3 and set course for Leyte Gulf at 20 knots.
Shortly after darkness, contacted U.S.S. MOUNT OLYMPUS and escorts and
joined formation
which was enroute to Peleliu
Island. Positions: 0800 - Latitude 08°-42.5
N; Longitude - l29°-08.3 E. 1200 - Latitude - 08°-34.8
N; Longitude - l29°-29.8 E. 2000 -
Latitude - l0°-O.5 N; Longitude - l26°-57.5 E. October 27 , 1944 . Zone time ( - ) 9 Steaming as before. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 05°-29.5 N
- Longitude - l28°-52.2 E. 1200 -
Latitude - 05°-lO.2 N - Longitude - l29°-27.5 E. 2000 -
Latitude - 07°-3l.7 N - Longitude - l3l°-02.O E. October 28,
1944.
Zone time ( - ) 9 At
noon formation arrived at Peleliu Island of the
Palau Group for a few hours stay while CTF 79, Vice-Admiral Wilkinson, went
ashore. Upon arrival
fueled from U.S.S. MOUNT OLYMPUS. After fueling was
completed, got under way and patroled area south of
anchorage. About sunset Vice-Admiral set
for Hollandia, N.G., PICKING again in
screening station #1. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 07°-04.5
N; Longitude - l33°-40.3 E. 1200 -
Latitude - 07°-0l.O N; Longitude - l34°-lO.5 E. 2000 -
Latitude - 06°-37.O N; Longitude - l34°-32.3 E. October 29 , 1944 . Zone
time ( - ) 9 Steaming as before. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 04°-50.O N; Longitude - 135°-49.O E. 1200 -
Latitude - 04°-l9.0 N; Longitude - l36°-l6.0 E. 2000 -
Latitude - 03°-07.O N; Longitude - l37°-06.0 E. October 30, 1944.
Zone time (-) 9 Steaming as before. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 01°-15.5
N; Longitude 138°-27.0 E. 1200 - Latitude - 00°-45.5
N; Longitude - 139°-10.0 E.(ERROR) 2000 - Latitude - 00°-35.0
N; Longitude - 140°-01.0 E. October 31, 1944. - Zone time (-) 9 About 0900
entered Humboldt Bay, Hollandia, N.G., fueled ship
and anchored in assigned berth. Positions: 0800 - Latitude 02°-33.0 S;
Longitude - 140°-45.5 E. 1200 - Latitude 02°-34.9 S;
Longitude - 140°-44.9 E. 2000 - Latitude 02°-34.9 S; Longitude - 140°-44.9 E. |