USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG

April 4, 1945.                       Zone description (-) 9

Continued harassing fire on selected targets according to plan during the night and early morning. At 0430 an unidentified aircraft was reported in the area by C.T.F. 52. The ship went to general quarters for a possible air attack. This condition continued till dawn and prevented the firing of our complete allowance of one hundred rounds. Ninety-three rounds of 5 inch AA common were expended. Results of the bombardment were not observed. At 0715 the PICKING joined the U.S.S. TUSCALOOSA south of OKINAWA and proceeded, in accordance with verbal orders from C.T.G. 51.19, to rendezvous with T.U. 52.3.2 at a point east of OKINAWA. This T.U. (administrative title, SWEEP UNIT TWO), commanded by Commander MITCHELL in the U.S.S. FORREST, DMS24; had been assigned to clear an unswept area which ran along the east coast of OKINAWA and extended ten miles out from the beach. Two DMS’s formed on the TUSCALOOSA according to anti-submarine plan 52; PICKING astern of the cruiser. The TUSCALOOSA and PICKING were to furnish fire support for the mine sweepers. The operation proceeded without air attack or fire from shore batteries. In the afternoon, the TUSCALOOSA received a report that a damaged L.C.I. was drifting in the southern sector of the area to be swept and was hampering operations. The PICKING was ordered by the TUSCALOOSA to investigate and sink the L.C.I. if necessary.

 

The vessel was LCI 82 which had been hit by a suicide enemy motor torpedo boat early in the morning. It had a hole in the port side extending

almost

Positions:

0800 - Latitude - 26°-05.O’ N; Longitude - l27°-57.O’ E.

1200 - Latitude - 26°-lO.2’ N; Longitude - l28°-OO.4’ E.

2000 - Latitude - 25°-59.7’ N; Longitude - l27°-44.3’ E.

 

April 5, 1945.                       Zone description (-)9

The PICKING and MORRISON screened TUSCALOOSA in anti-submarine screen #52 while the cruiser conducted a night harassing bombardment on targets behind enemy lines in southern OKINAWA. OTC was Commanding Officer, U.S.S. TUSCALOOSA. Firing was done from Fire Support Sector Three, southeast of OKINAWA; the formation maneuvered in that area during the night. At 0715 MORRISON left station to proceed on assigned duty; TUSCALOOSA accompanied by PICKING proceeded north to act as fire support ships for Mine Sweeping UNIT TWO. The sweeps were to clear area Q-5 east of, OKINAWA. ESTES, flagship of CTG 51.19, ARKANSAS, and WICHITA were present with their escorts. BILOXI was maneuvering further to seaward conducting a shore bombardment. At 055 the OTC, CTG.51.19, assigned definite areas of responsibility to the fire support ships. TUSCALOOSA and PICKING were to cover the small islands from ICHI BANARE to HANAHIKA SHIMA. However, before arriving on station, CTG 51.19 verbally ordered ships under his command to prepare for a mass air attack. Earlier in the morning CTF 51 had sent a message to ships present to expect heavy air attacks from KYUSHU today. The DD’s, APD’s and DM5 formed a circular screen around ESTES, TUSCALOOSA, ARKA1~1SAS and WEST VIRGINIA which had come up. The ship went to general quarters, but no enemy air attacks were made. The formation, PICKING in station 4 of a fifteen ship screen, maneuvered along the southeastern coast of OKINAWA awaiting the expected air attack.

 

          At 1500 PICKING and LEARY were designated to escort the WICHITA, TUSCALOOSA, ARKANSAS and MARYLAND to Fire Support Sector 5, southwest of OKINAWA. As the formation arrived at the destination, the NEVADA also in the area reported a shore battery of an estimated calibre of 6” was firing on her. The position of this gun was easily determined by flashes. PICKING obtained permission to fire and opened up with two five gun salvos. The cruisers and battleships were now firing with their heavier guns and PICKING ceased fire. At least two splashes were observed astern of the NEVADA. Firing stopped from the beach; ships proceeded northward at flank speed. Our shore batteries on KEISE SHIMA took the enemy gun under fire. Proceeded to PT. “MONK”, the rendezvous point for ships of T.F. 54 retiring to sea for the night. Various units of T.F. 54 formed up as T.U. 54.2 in special cruising disposition 5RD: four battleships and four cruisers equally spaced on circles 2 and 3.5 respectively, 14 destroyers in circular screen on circle 7. PICKING in station 12. OTC was CTF 54, Rear Admiral DEYO, in the TENNESSEE. IDAHO was desinated as guide. Formation retired to the north on an initial course of 340° T. At 2124 C.I.C. detected Japanese air-borne radar, 147 mc, 1700 pulse rate, on the intercept gear.

            Positions:

               0800 - Latitude - 26°-ll.O’ N;   Longitude - l28°—05.O’ E.

               1200 - Latitude - 26°-05.4’ N;   Longitude - 127°-58.2’ E.

               2000 - Latitude - 26°-30.2’ N;   Longitude - l27°-29.6’ E.

 

April 6, 1945               Zone description (-) 9

            At 0115, when T.G. 54.2 was thirty five miles northwest of OKINAWA on its night retirement route, C.I.C. made radar contact on an unidentified aircraft twenty five miles to the south. The ship went to general quarters or a probable air attack. Seven minutes later two screening ships at the head of the formation opened fire. The target was not on a safe bearing for the PICKING to fire. The plane burst into flames and hit the water 3000 yards off the starboard beam. Special anti-aircraft cruising disposition 5VD was formed. In this formation, ships of the screen maintained their stations; the cruisers and battleships formed a circular disposition on circle 3. The ship went to general quarters again at 0320 when radar contact was made on an air target 085°, 16 miles. The main battery opened fire in full radar control when the plane came within range. Results of the firing were not observed, but the aircraft turned and opened up the range.

 

            At 0415 control opened fire on an unidentified aircraft bearing 214° T., 6000 yards, (fleet course, 130° T.); and eight minutes later on another one at the same range and bearing. All firing was done in full radar control. A total of 33 rounds of 5” was expended. There were no further attacks on the formation, although at 0556 AA firing was observed in the assault area ten miles south. On return to OKINAWA the PICKING was released to proceed to Eastern Anchorage, KERAMA RETTO for fueling operations, fuel on hand was down to 41%. Fueling completed, got underway from alongside the tanker, passed through net at the northern entrance and proceeded towards the transport area off the beachheads to report to CTF 54 in the TENNESSEE for duty. Enroute, a plane believed to be a “PEGGY” suddenly appeared from the east over OKINAWA, flew over KEISE-SHIMA and disappeared to the southwest. 22 rounds of 5”/38 were fired by the condition watch. Bombs were released over KEISE-SHIMA in an attempt to hit our shore batteries there, but all hit the water. The plane made its run almost completely undetected by ships in the area. The TENNESSEE was maneuvering in Fire Support Sector Four to the south. PICKING joined her as escort. The BARTON came up later and anti-submarine screen 52 was formed with PICKING in station #2. The TENNESSEE proceeded up towards ire Support Sector Five. The heavy units of T.F. 54 started forming up for night retirement at 1600. Destroyers patrolled while screening during sortie. At 1630 an enemy plane was reported in the area and the ship went to general quarters. However, no planes come within effective gun range. Near Ie Jima an enemy plane went into a suicide dive that missed ships in the area and crashed into the water. At 1635 the ship was at general quarters again; several unidentified aircraft were approaching from 300° T. Five minutes later 4 “TONY” type Japanese planes were visible coming in low from the west.