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USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG April 12, 1945. Zone
description (-) 9 At 0320 an enemy plane approached the area, went to
general quarters. Range closed to 8 miles on a bearing of 005° T. Ships in the
anchorage to the north fired with no visible results. Visibility was poor in
the smoke screen, but smoke cover was welcome. At 0420 a twin-engined enemy bomber passed
overhead. The fantail sentry observed two bombs explode off the stern, close
aboard. The soundman reported two underwater explosions. Plane was
not fired at as the ship was in smoke and detection not early enough for a good
solution. Enemy planes were back in the assault area again at dawn, but none
came within range of this ship. Underway at dawn; remained in the same area to await further fire support missions. Assigned to work under C.T.F.
55 for the day. Stood by until arrival of an observation
plane on station. The air borne spotter saw a possible radar station and
observation ost which was taken under fire.
Sixty-five rounds of AA Common were used to neutralize the area. The
bombardment was shifted to a target area containing a gun emplacement. Enemy
artillery fire was visually sighted and the location taken under fire. At 1330
an enemy mass air attack commenced on shipping in the OKINAWA area. Each enemy
raid was effectively intercepted by the C.A.P. The enemy planes were in groups
of four to fifteen. Most of the planes reported were VALS
; others were ZEKES and BETTYS . Only one enemy plane
reached the transport area. A VAL emerged from over the land from the
east, went into a slow gliding dive and hit into the rigging of a transport.
The SAN FRANCISCO detected the plane before the dive, and opened fire
with the 5 and 40mm batteries. The target was not on a safe bearing for the PICKING
to fire the main battery, and outside the effective range of the 40 mm guns
(5,000 yards) . Several of our ships sustained
damage. The radar picket ships to the north were hardest hit. At least seventy
enemy aircraft were counted shot down. The raids decreased in size and
frequency and at 1645 the air was clear of enemy aircraft. Left the fire
support area at 1715 without relief and proceeded to rendezvous with T.G. 54.2,
the night retirement force, in accordance with C.T.F. 54 orders. Retired to the north in company with units of T.F. 54. bearing 345° T., 5 miles. This plane identified later as a BETTY, came up from astern of the formation and was fired upon by screening destroyers Positions: 0800
- Latitude - 26°-21.5 N; Longitude - 127°-42.5 E. 1200 - Latitude - 26°-16.8 N; Longitude -
l27°-4l.3 E. 2000 - Latitude - 26°-l6.7 N; Longitude -
l27°-39.8 E. April 13, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 Departed from formation in company with the BARTON with orders from C.T.F. 52 to proceed to KERAMA RETTO for logistics. Joined the U.S.S. ARKAWSAS in Fire Support Three off southeastern OKINAWA. PICKING and CALLAGHAN screened ARKANSAS during Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 26°-Ol.3 N; Longitude - l27°-42.5
E. 1200 - Latitude - 26°-ll.4 N; Longitude -
l27°-19.6 E. 2000
- Latitude - 26°-12.8 N; Longitude - l27°-20.5 E. April 14, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 Continued
to screen the ARKANSAS with the CALLAGHAN until 0624, when
released to carry out morning assignment. Proceeded into NAKAGUSUKU WAN, eastern OKINAWA, to join units of T.G. 51.19 in
furnishing fire support for troops driving towards the south. Communications were
established with an N.L.O. on the beach and a V.O.F. plane. Bombardment was
commenced on a target area in which there was reported to be much enemy
activity.l36 rounds of AA Common and 3 rounds of white phosphorous were fired. At 1115 an
enemy plane was reported in the area. It was described as being silver and
very fast -- making 400 knots . It quickly left the area under attack
from the C.A.P. and the bombardment was resumed on various targets chosen by
the spotter and N.L.O. During the afternoon, a large fire was started in oil
dump, a pillbox was damaged, and five gun emplacements were neutralized. 282
rounds of AA Common and 2 rounds of white phosphorous were expended. At sundown
units of T.G. 51.19 retired to sea. The PICKING and the LAWS remained
to furnish night illumination. Anchored after dark and at 2000 commenced
scheduled firing of star shells in the designated target areas at a rate of 6
rounds per hour. Gun flashed were observed behind the enemy lines. These were
reported and permission was given to fire into the area. Five rounds were fired
to neutralize the area after which the location was watched to detect any
further firing, of which no more was observed. At 2150 harassing fire was
commenced on three target areas assigned by C.T.F. 55. A total of 105 rounds of
AA Common was to be used on these targets throughout
the night. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 26°-l3.l
N; Longitude - l27°-50.4 E. 1200 - Latitude - 26°-l3.l
N; Longitude - 127°-50.4 E. 2000 - Latitude - 26°-l3.9
N; Longitude - 127°-51.6 E. April 15, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 Conducted
night illumination and harassing fire until morning. 69 starshells
and 115 rounds of AA Common were fired into three target areas. The S.F.C. party reported the illumination as being very good, and that our firing
was instrumental in putting down a Japanese counterattack which commencedWICHITA
fired
several rounds of 5 and the plane retired, minimum
range to PICKING was 16,000 yards. Another plane was observed over
OKINAWA, ten miles to the west. It flew in a large are over the island through
a barrage of AA fire and disappeared to the north. These planes were apparently
on reconnaissance rather than raiding missions. They flew at
high speed in level flight and made no attacks. The
disposition proceeded to sea on an initial southeasterly course. At 2015 and
again at 2330 an unidentified plane was detected to the west. Neither of these
came within gun range of the formation. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 26°-ll.3
N; Longitude - 127°-53.5 E. 1200 - Latitude - 26°-1l.l
N; Longitude - l27°-52.0 E. 2000 - Latitude - 25°-57.3
N; Longitude - l28°-l4.0 E. |