USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG

June 21, 1945                        Zone description (-) 9

          Underway at 0430 with other destroyers present to form an AA screen 1,000 yards to seaward of the HAGUSHI ANCHORAGE. No enemy air attacks during the day. Patrolled station until after dark, stood into the anchorage and anchored at 2050.

          Position:

             0800 - Latitude - 26°-24.5’ N;   Longitude - 127°-40.O’ E.

             1200 - Latitude - 26°-23.4’ N;   Longitude - 127°-41.O’ E.

             2000 - Latitude - 26°-24.2’ N;   Longitude - 127°-42.1’ E.

 

June 22, 1945                        Zone description (-) 9

          Single enemy planes dropped bombs on the beach at 0113 and again at 0217. Destroyers present got underway at 0800 and formed a screen to seaward of the anchorage; enemy planes reported approaching. During the morning, an estimated 30 planes attempted a raid on OKINAWA. None of these reached their targets but were intercepted by the friendly Combat Air Patrol. Entered the anchorage at 1525 and anchored. Underway at 1705, proceeding to southwestern OKINAWA for night’s duty assigned by CTG 31.5. Patrolled a screening station eight miles west of Southern OKINAWA during the night. Went to General Quarters at 2200 when an enemy plane was contacted to the north. This or another planes dropped two groups of flares 14 miles to the northeast. No other raids during the night.

          Positions:

             0800 - Latitude - 26°-l4’ N;  Longitude - 127°-42’ E.

             1200 - Latitude - 26°-26’ N;  Longitude - 127°-41’ E.

             2000 - Latitude - 26°-l2’ N;  Longitude - l27°-30’ E.

 

June 23, 1945                        Zone description (-) 9

          Ceased patrolling off southwestern OKINAWA at 0620 and proceeded to HAGUSHI to pick up mail before departing for SAIPAN. At 0900, released from TG 31.5 to escort a convoy from OKINAWA to SAIPAN. The screening group, PICKING, WICKES, HALL, designated as TU 31.29.16; escort commander, Captain BERT F. BROWN, ComDesRon 49 in PICKING. Convoy designated OKS 9 with the convoy commodore in the J. FRANKLIN BELL. The convoy sortied from HAGUSHI at 0830, formed up with the eight merchantmen and naval auxiliary units in two columns, and the three screening destroyers in a standard anti-submarine screen. Departed OKINAWA at 1000 for SAIPAN, steaming along prescribed route at 9 knots. CTG 31.5 believes PICKING will be further routed to the United States for routine Navy Yard overhaul.

          Positions:

0800 — Latitude - 26°-2l.5’ N; Longitude - l27°-42.5’ E.

1200 - Latitude - 25°-58.3’ N; Longitude - l27°-32.l’ E.

2000 - Latitude - 25°-ll.5’ N; Longitude - l28°-l3.5’ E.

 

June 24, 1945                        Zone description (-) 10

          Steaming in company with convoy OKS #9, enroute to SAIPAN. Three escorting destroyers in anti-submarine screen #53, patrolling stations in accordance with plan #3 section 4383 of F.T.P. 223A.

          Positions:

0800 - Latitude - 24°-25.l’ N; Longitude - l29°-45.5’ E.

1200 - Latitude - 23°-45.l’ N; Longitude - l30°-59.4’ E.

2000 - Latitude - 23°-l5.l’ N; Longitude - l32°-11.O’ E.

 

June 25, 1945                       Zone description (-) 10

          Received orders from C.T.F. 31, to report to the port director SAIPAN, for routing to PEARL HARBOR, where report to ComDesPac for further routing to the WEST COAST for overhaul.

          Positions:

0800 - Latitude - 22°-l8.9’ N; Longitude - l34°-lO.9’ E.

1200 - Latitude - 22°-00.0’ N; Longitude - l34°-48.2’ E.

2000 - Latitude - 2l°-3l.6’ N; Longitude - l36°-l2.8’ E.

 

June 26, 1945                        Zone description (-) 10

          Steaming as before; weather fair. Work is underway by all departments in preparing job orders for yard overhaul. Boxing matches were renewed by the crew on the fantail today, the strain of forward area activity lifted.

          Positions:

0800 - Latitude - 20°-02.7’ N; Longitude - 174°-52.0’ E.

             1200 - Latitude - 19°-47.7’ N; Longitude - 138°-32.6’ E.

             2000 - Latitude - 19°-09.1’ N; Longitude - 139°-23.8’ E.

 

June 27, 1945                        Zone description (-) 10

Enroute OKINAWA SHIMA to SAIPAN, with convoy OKS #9.

Positions:

0800 - Latitude - 18°-1O.5’ N; Longitude - 140°-48.9’ E.

1200 - Latitude - 17°-47.5’ N; Longitude - 141°-21.O’ E.

2000 - Latitude - 17°-12.5’ N; Longitude - 142°-08.8’ E.

 

June 28, 1945                        Zone description (-) 10

Enroute OKINAWA SHIMA to SAIPAN, with convoy OKS #9.

Positions:

0800 — Latitude - 16°-25.4’ N; Longitude - 143°-20.3’ E.

1200 - Latitude - 16°-27.O’ N; Longitude - 143°-46.8’ E.

2000 - Latitude - 15°-44.9’ N; Longitude - 144°-1O.3’ E.

 

June 29, 1945                        Zone description (-) 10

Sighted lights on SAIPAN., 35 miles to the east, at 0320. The main body of the convoy formed a column and commenced entering SAIPAN HARBOR through the torpedo nets at 0700. PICKING and the two other destroyers conducted an anti-submarine patrol to seaward and followed the merchant ships in at 0830. Fueled ship and anchored in an assigned berth. PICKING, HALL and WICKES underway at 1830 for PEARL HARBOR via a route passing to the south of ENIWETOK in accordance with sailing orders of the port director, SAIPAN. Speed of advance to be 16.5 knots. O.T.C. 49, in PICKING.

Positions:

0800 - Latitude - l5°-12.2’ N; Longitude - l45°-3l.6’ E.

1200 - Latitude - 15°-lO.9’ N; Longitude - l45°-39.l’ E.

2000 - Latitude - l5°-19.5’ N; Longitude - l46°-04.O’ E.

 

June 30, 1945                        Zone description(-) 10

Enroute SAIPAN to PEARL HARBOR.

Positions:

0800 - Latitude - l6°-25.4’ N; Longitude - l43°-20.3’ E.

1200 - Latitude - l6°-27.O’ N; Longitude - l43°-46.8’ E.

2000 - Latitude - l5°-44.9’ N; Longitude - 144°-lO.3’ E.

 

July 1, 1945                         Zone description (-) 12

Steaming in company with U.S.S. WICKES (DD578) and U.S.S. HALL(DD583) enroute SAIPAN ISLAND, MARIANAS to PEARL HARBOR, OAHU, T.H. with PICKING as guide. 0.T.C. is Captain Bert F. BROWN, USN, Commander Destroyer Squadron FORTY-NINE in U.S.S. PICKING.

Positions:

             0800 - Latitude - l2°-54.8’ N;   Longitude - 156°-12.O’ E.

             1200 - Latitude - l2°-38.O’ N;   Longitude - l57°-20.O’ E.

             2000 - Latitude - l2°-09.3’ N;   Longitude - 159°-49.3’ E.

 

July 2, 1945                         Zone description (-) 11

Sighted RIGILI ISLAND, ENIWETOK ATOLL, at 0527. Stood into SOUTHERN ANCHORAGE at 0745 to fuel ship. Underway at 1100 to continue trip to PEARL HARBOR and the west coast, U.S.A. The SPROSTON joined up at ENIWETOK.

Positions:

             0800 - Latitude - 11°-24.O’  N;  Longitude - l64°-24.9’ E.

             1200 - Latitude - 11°-27.0’  N;  Longitude - l64°-30.3’ E.

             2000 - Latitude - l1°-5l.9’  N;  Longitude - l64°-46.9’ E.

 

July 3, 1945                         Zone description (-) 10

Steaming as before enroute SAIPAN to PEARL HARBOR in quarter echelon formation to the right. Held tactical exercises from 1000 to 1113 and from 1316 to 1420.

Positions:

0800 - Latitude - l3°-l4.5’ N;  Longitude - l68°-32.4’ E.

             1200 - Latitude - 13°-26.4’ N;  Longitude - 169°-37.O’ E.

              2000 - Latitude - 14°-04.4’ N;  Longitude - 171°-37.9’ E.