|
|
November 18, 1944 Zone description (-) 9 At midnight
commenced passing through Surigao Strait between DINAGAT and HOMONHON Islands
proceeding into Leyte Gulf and at unloading area. At 0500 Transport Division 30
screened by BROOKS, C. J. BADGER and WICKES was ordered to leave
disposition and proceed to assigned area and unload. The remainder of the
disposition arrived at its unloading area, Latitude - 11°-05 N; Longitude - 125°-00
E., in the vicinity of Tacloban about two
hours later. The transports anchored and the screening ships took screening
stations, PICKINGs station 2000 yards
bearing 270° T., from center of transport area. Shortly after transports had
anchored, unloading just commenced, unidentified aircraft were reported in
area. Ship went to general quarters in preparation for air attack. About ten minutes later intense AA fire was observed to the North
about five miles. One enemy plane made a suicide dive into a merchant ship that
was anchored in that vicinity causing a large explosion and fire. Another enemy
plane was observed shot down over land near Tacloban
by two P-38 fighters. At the same time two Japanese ZEKE type aircraft were sighted
approaching this TASK UNIT from the south. The planes were fired on by all the
ships in the area but continued to close and made dive bombing attacks on the
transports. One of the planes was hit and crashed in the water before releasing
its bombs. The other plane released bombs at the ALCYONE but missed,
then looped out of this dive and made a suicide dive On the U.S.S. ALPINE. The
plane burst into flames while in the dive, crashed into the water and exploded
close on the ALPINES port beam. A fire was caused in the ALPINE. Ammunition
expended by this ship: 8 rounds of 5 AA Common, 54 rounds of 40mm, 89 rounds of 20mm. Shortly after the attack on the ALPINE,
two P-47 type fighters crossing over the Northern part of the harbor were
fired on very intensely by ships in that vicinity. The planes were identified
as friendly by this ship and CDS 49 transmitted the word to that effect over
the voice radio but firing continued until the planes were out of gun fire
range. No ships of this TASK UNIT opened fire. 0915 Area was declared clear of
enemy aircraft, ship secured from general quarters. During the afternoon there
were three alerts but no enemy planes were sighted. At 1645 upon completion of
unloading, ships of the TASK UNIT got underway, formed an anti-aircraft
cruising disposition, O.T.C. and guide in U.S.S. LAMAR, and proceeded from Leyte
Gulf. O.T.C. is ComTaskUnit 79.15.4, Captain Johnson. After clearing Suriago
Strait formed special cruising disposition BAKER, with O.T.C.
and guide in U.S.S. LAMAR, and set course for Manus Island of the
Admiralty Group. PICKING in station #1 of anti-submarine
screen plan #57. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 11°-06.0 N; Longitude -125°-03.5 E. 1200 - Latitude -
11°-06.3 N; Longitude - 125°-03.4 E. 2000 - Latitude -10°-42.5 N; Longitude - 125°-30.5E. November 19, 1944 Zone description (-)9 Steaming
as before enroute Leyte to Manus.
During the morning 4 fighters from the Lunga Point
reported to FDO in the WICKES to act as combat air
patrol for this TASK UNIT. The planes remained in area for about two hours and
were detached. Positions: 0800 - Latitude -
09°-25.0 N; Longitude - 127°-14.5E. 1200 -
Latitude - 08°-45.0 N; Longitude - 127°-54.0E. 2000 -
Latitude - 08°-06.0 N; Longitude - 126°-16.0E. November 20, 1944. Zone description (-) 9 Steaming enroute
Leyte to Manus.
During the morning, screening ships that were low in fuel, fueled from the
transports. PICKING did not require fuel. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 07°-00.0 N; Longitude - 131°-47.0 E. 1200 -
Latitude - 06°-46.0 N; Longitude - 132°-18.0 E. 2000 -
Latitude - 06°-05.0 N; Longitude - 133°-38.0 E. November 21, 1944. Zone description (-)9 Steaming enroute
from Leyte to Manus. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 04°-58.0 N; Longitude - 135°-49.0 E. 1200 -
Latitude - 04°-37.0 N; Longitude - l36°-33.0 E. 2000 -
Latitude - 03°-48.0 N; Longitude - 138°-10.0 E. November 22, 1944. Zone description (-) 9 Steaming as before enroute
from Leyte to Manus. During afternoon transports held target practice on surface
targets launched from ships of the screen. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 02°-l8.0 N; Longitude - 140°-13.0 E. 1200 -
Latitude - 01°-52.0 N; Longitude - 140°-52.0 E. 2000 -
Latitude - 01°-02.5 N; Longitude - 141°-53.0 E. November 23, 1944.
Zone description ( - ) 9 Steaming as before, enroute
Leyte to Manus.
During the afternoon the transports held target practice on targets launched
from ships of the screen. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 00°-05.0 N; Longitude - 147°-53.0 E. 1200 -
Latitude - 00°-06.0 N; Longitude - 144°-38.0 E. 2000 -
Latitude - 00°-29.0 N; Longitude - 146°-02.0 E. November 24, 1944. Zone description (-) 9 Arrived at Manus at 0730 and conducted anti-submarine patrol
while the transports entered port. After transports had entered, ceased patrolling,
entered port and anchored in assigned berth. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 01°-52.0 S; Longitude - 147°-20.1 E. 1200 -
Latitude - 01°-59.2 S; Longitude - 147°-l5.6 E. 2000 -
Latitude - 02°-00.5 S; Longitude - 147°-23.0 E. November 28, 1944. Zone description
(-) 9 At 0800 got underway and proceeded from Seeadler
Harbor in accordance with CTF 79 secret dispatch 210646 of November 1944.
Patrolled sortie station O.T.C. and guide in U.S.S. LAMAR. PICKING
in station #1 of anti-submarine screen plan #54.
O.T.C. is COMTRANSDIV 38, Captain Johnson. During the morning the transports held anti-aircraft firing exercises
Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 01°-59.4 S; Longitude - 147°-17.3 E. 1200 - Latitude - 01°-48.5
S; Longitude - 147°-26.5 E. 2000 -
Latitude - 03°-26.1 S; Longitude - 147°-13.0 E. November 29, 1944 . Zone description ( - ) 9 Arrived at Finschaven at 1100 and
conducted anti-submarine patrol while the transports loaded boats. Upon
completion of loading, formed the normal cruising disposition and set course to
Cape Torokina, Bougainville Island of the Solomon
Group. O.T.C. and guide in U.S.S. LAMAR. PICKING in station #1 of anti-submarine screen plan #54.
O.T.C. is COMTRANSDIV 38, Captain Johnson. Positions: 0800
- Latitude - 06°-47.0 S; Longitude
-147°-44.0 E. 1200
- Latitude - 06°-35.0 S; Longitude -147°-54.0
E. 2000 - Latitude - 06°-30.0 S; Longitude -148°-05.0 E. |