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USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG June 9, 1945 Zone description (-) 9 At
0210 contacted an unidentified plane 35 miles to the south. At 0310 this plane
evaluated as enemy had closed to 20 miles on various courses escaping a
friendly night fighter. Went to general quarters. Plane continued closing to
three miles and then retired to the west. There were no further contacts until
2000 when the WADSWORTH picked up a low flying plane to the north. This
plane, which may have taken off from KUME SHIMA, 20 miles to the north, closed
to 12 miles, changed course to the west and contact was lost. At 2055, the
ships of R.P. STATION NINE proceeded to a night station, 13 miles to the east;
as directed by C.T.F. 31. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 25°-58.5
N; Longitude - 127°-54.4 E. 1200 - Latitude - 25°-59.O
N; Longitude - l26°-53.O E. 2000 - Latitude - 25°-58.l
N; Longitude - l27°-48.9 E. June 10, 1945 Zone description (-) 9 Held
routine general quarters at 0500. All battle stations are manned at dawn and
dusk, the most probable times for air attacks. Proceeded to day station at
0517. No air attacks encountered during the day or night. Positions:
The
MASSEY relieved the WADSWORTH at 1517 as fighter director ship. Shifted
to night station at 2150. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 25°-58.5
N; Longitude - l26°-54.0 E. 1200 - Latitude - 26°-Ol.8
N; Longitude - l26°-54.0 E. 2000 - Latitude - 26°-01.8
N; Longitude - 126°-54.O E. June 12, 1945 Zone description
(-) 9 Ships
of the picket station were called in by C.T.G. 31.5, to be at the outer screen
(outside the transport area, HAGUSHI) at dawn. There was a possibility that a
typhoon approaching from the south would pass over the OKINAWA area. Arrived 3
miles southeast of KERAMA RETTO at dawn and awaited further orders. The typhoon
was passing clear 200 miles to the west. PICKING and MOALE directed
by C.T.G. 31.5 to enter EASTERN ANCHORAGE, KERAMA RETTO, for logistics. The MASSEY
and the LCSs proceeded on to HAGUSHI. Fueled, took aboard tracerless 40mm
ammunition for night AA firing; proceeded to HAGUSHI at 1244 and anchored there
at 1357. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 26°-lO.4
N; Longitude - l27°-l9.8 E. 1200 - Latitude - 26°-ll.3
N; Longitude - 127°-l9.4 E. 2000 - Latitude - 26°-2l.9
N; Longitude - l27°-42.7 E. June 13, 1945 Zone description
(-) 9 Anchored
at HAGUSHI with 2 days availability to clean firesides and repair a leaking
economizer. Positions: 0800,1200,2000, Latitude -
26°-2l.9 N; Longitude - l27°-42.7 E. June 14, 1945 Zone description
(-) 9 Anchored
at HAGUSHI. Positions: 0800,1200,2000, Latitude -
26°-2l.9 N; Longitude l27°-42.7 E. June 15, 1945 Zone description (-) 9 Underway
to fuel ship at sea from a tanker outside of HAGUSHI ANCHORAGE. Fueling
operations completed (only topping off was required), returned to HAGUSHI and
anchored at 0713. Two enemy planes snooped in the area 20 miles to the north
from 2135 to 2215. Positions: 0800,1200,2000, Latitude
26°-21.9 N; Longitude l27°-42.7 E. June 16, 1945 Zone description (-) 9 Anchored at
HAGUSHI. A few enemy bombers were over OKINAWA from 0400 to 0500. Two,
identified as BETTYS, were shot down by night fighters. One
dropped bombs, hitting an LCVP in the HAGUSHI ANCHORAGE. At 1117 proceeded to
radar picket station #15 eighteen miles west of IHEYA SHIMA. As
directed by C.T.G. 31.5. On station at 1340, relieved the CONVERSE as a radar
picket support ship. ComflesRon 49 relieved ComDesDiv 46 as O.T.C. Fighter
director ship, the PRITCHETT; other support ships: the CAPERTON and
4 LCSs. Contacted no enemy planes during the day or night, although unidentified
friendly planes constitute a continual nuisance. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 26°-21.O
N; Longitude - 127°-43.O E. 1200 - Latitude - 26°-33.O
N; Longitude - 127°-40.O E. 2000 - Latitude - 27°-12.O
N; Longitude - 127°-40.O E. June 17, 1945 Zone description (-) 9 A quiet day
except for a few false alarm enemy air contacts and a sound contact by the CAPERTON
later evaluated as a wake echo. The KEITH arrived
on station at 1700 to relieve the CAPERTON tomorrow morning. Positions: 0800 - Latitude -
27°-04.O N; Longitude - l27°35.0 E. 1200
- Latitude - 27°-04.5 N; Longitude - 127°34.0 E. 2000
- Latitude - 27°-04.1 N; Longitude - 127°35.0 E. June 18, 1945 Zone description (-) 9 Patrolled
during day with no enemy air raids encountered. Position: 0800 - Latitude - 27°-04.O
N; Longitude - 127°-35.O E. 1200 - Latitude - 27°-08.O
N; Longitude - 127°-40.O E. 2000 - Latitude - 27°-11.O
N; Longitude - 127°-49.O E. June 19, 1945 Zone description (-) 9 The night was
quiet with no enemy planes in the immediate area. At 0155 a BETTY was
shot down in flames 19 miles southwest by a night fighter. Proceeded to day
station at 0457. Contacted no hostile planes other than the usual unidentified
friendlies during the day and night. Moved up to night station at 2018. Position: 0800 - Latitude - 27°-04.0 N;
Longitude 127°35.0 E. 1200 - Latitude -
26°-09.2 N;
Longitude 127°-40.0 E. 2000 - Latitude - 27°-08.0 N;
Longitude - 127°-40.0 E. June 20, 1945 Zone description (-) 9 At 0805, PICKING and PRITCHETT
relieved by the ANTHONY and DYSON; ComDesRon 49 relieved as
O.T.C. by ComDesRon 24. Proceeded to KERAMA RETTO For logistics. Fueled and
provisioned ship; proceeded to HAGUSHI and anchored. Position: 0800 - Latitude
27°-07.0 N;
Longitude - 127°-30.0 E. 1200 - Latitude -
26°-ll.5 N;
Longitude - 127°-19.5 E. 2000 - Latitude - 26°-22.0 N;
Longitude - 127°-42.0 E. |