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December 16,1944 Zone description (-) 11 Steaming as
before, enroute Cape Torokina, Bougainville Island to Huon Gulf, British New
Guinea. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 06°-52.5’
S; Longitude - 152°-08.5’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 06°-47.5’
S; Longitude - 151°-37.0’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 06°-38.0’
S; Longitude - 150°-46.0’ E. December 17, 1944 Zone description (-)11 Steaming
as before enroute Torokina, Bougainville to Buna, New Guinea. At 1230 joined up
with TASK GROUP 79.6 and formed a special cruising Disposition in accordance
with C.T.U. 79.11.3’s Movement Order 2-44. PICKING in station 6000 yards
ahead of the guide. Guide is WALTER C. WANN (DE412). O.T.C. is C.T.U.
79.11.3 in PICKING. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 06°-34.0’ S; Longitude - 149°-23.0’
E. 1200 - Latitude - 06°-45.5’ S; Longitude - 148°-55.0’ E 2000 - Latitude - 07°-11.9’ S; Longitude - 148°-07.0’
E. December 18, 1944 Zone description (-) 11 Steaming as
before enroute Torokina, Bougainville to Bona, New Guinea. Shortly after midnight
made radar contact on TASK GROUP 79.2 which was
also proceeding to Bona for the assault rehearsal. During the early morning
commenced entering Huon Gulf in accordance with the assault plan. After
all groups had entered the gulf, screening ships took station in accordance
with C.T.U. 79.11.3’s anti-submarine and anti-aircraft screening plan.
At 0900 the assault groups commenced landing exercises. Shortly after landing
exercises began, held general quarters for drill air attack in accordance
with CTF 79 verbal orders. Friendly planes made simulated air attacks for about
an hour. During the afternoon another simulated air attack was
held. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 06°-50.0’ S; Longitude -
147°-04.8’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 06°-50.2’ S; Longitude -
147°-03.6’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 06°-49.0’ S; Longitude -
146°-59.0’ E. December 19, 1944 Zone description (-) 11 Lying to in anti-submarine and anti-aircraft
screening station, assault groups carrying out assault rehearsal. During the
day drill Bogies made
simulated air attack. At 1600 the transport groups departed from the area. PICKING
proceeded to LST area and anchored. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 06°-49.0’ S; Longitude
-146°-59.0’ E. 1200 — Latitude - 06°-50.0’ S; Longitude -147°-04.0’
E. 2000 — Latitude - 06°-50.5’ S; Longitude -146°-50.4’ E.(Error) December 20, 1944 Zone description (-) 11 At 0500
underway and proceeded from HUON GULF. Upon completion of sortie, formed a
special cruising disposition with TASK GROUP 79.5, TASK GROUP
79.6 and TASK UNIT 79-11.3 and set course for MANUS ISLAND, ADMIRALTY ISLANDS
in accordance with C.T.U. 79.11.3 Movement Order 2-44. PICKING in station
on the fleet axis 6000 yards ahead of guide. Guide is LST 625. O.T.C. is
C.T.U. 79.11.3 in the PICKING. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 06°-51.4’ S; Longitude -
147°-20.0’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 06°-57.O’ S; Longitude -
147°-54.5’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 05°-38.O’ S; Longitude -
147°-45.0’ E. December 21, 1944 Zone description (-) 11 Steaming
as before enroute BUNA, N.G. to MANUS. During the afternoon held anti-aircraft
firing exercises with all batteries; tow planes furnished by CNB, MANUS.
Ammunition expended: 50 rounds of 5” AA Common, 78 rounds of 40mm. At 1800
changed zone time to minus nine. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 04°-16.0’
S; Longitude - 147°-15.5’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 03°-45.5’
S; Longitude - 147°-14.5’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 02°-23.0’
S; Longitude - 147°-17.0’ E. December 22, 1944 Zone
description (-) 11 Arrived
at MANUS at sunrise, conducted anti-submarine patrol while TASK GROUP 79.5
entered port. After T.G. 79.5 had entered, ceased patrol, entered port and anchored in assigned berth in
SEEADLER HARBOR. Remainder of screening ships continued anti-submarine patrol
while T.G. 79.6 entered port. At 0730 Changed zone time to minus ten. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 01°-58.8’ S;
Longitude -147°-18.7’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 01°-58.8’
S; Longitude - 147°-18.7’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 01°-58.8’
S; Longitude - 147°-18.7’ E. December 27, 1944 Zone description (-) 10 At 1245 underway in accordance with C.T.U. 79.11.3
Top Secret mailgram 241600 of December 1944 and proceeded from SEEADLER HARBOR.
Upon completion of sortie, formed
special cruising disposition with TASK GROUP 79.5, TASK GROUP 79.6 and TASK
UNIT 79.11.3 and set course for assault area Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 01°-58.5’
S; Longitude - 147°-18.5’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 01°-58.5’
S; Longitude - 147°-18.5’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 01°-31.0’
S; Longitude - 146°-53.0’ E. December 28,1944 Zone description (-) 9 Steaming
as before enroute MANUS ISLAND to assault of LUZON, P. I. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 00°-26.0’
S; Longitude - 146°-49.0’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 00°-21.0’
S; Longitude - 146°-18.0’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 00°-02.0’
N; Longitude - 145°-19.0’ E. December 29, 1944 Zone description (-) 9 Steaming
as before enroute MANUS ISLAND to LUZON, P.I. During the morning and afternoon
exercised at forming the assault approach disposition. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 00°-39.0’
N; Longitude - 144°-22.0’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 00°-45.0’
N; Longitude - 143°-54.0’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 00°-20.0’
N; Longitude - 143°-08.0’ E. December 30, 1944 Zone description (-) 9 Steaming
as before enroute MANUS ISLAND to LUZON ISLAND, P.I. During the afternoon
exercised at forming the assault approach disposition. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 02°-05.5’
N; Longitude - 141°-34.0’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 02°-19.0’
N; Longitude - 141°-01.0’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 02°-49.0’ N; Longitude - 140°-04.0’ E. |