Bataan (CVL 29) - Naval Cruise Book

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Back in Yokosuka, BATAAN said good- bye to her friends, VS-25, on 12 April. Her anti-submarine training was ended. Now she was about to begin, for the second time within a year, another campaign in Korean waters. The morning of 14 April 1952 BATAAN was saddened by the departure of a man she had come to know and respect — Captain William Miller. A change of command ceremony took place on the flight deck, where Captain Miller gave his farewell speech. Captain Miller then introduced the new skipper. Captain H. R. Homey. April 19 B. TAAN stretched her sea legs again and churned on toward Kobe, the first leg of her journey to the West Coast of Korea. She arrived there on the 20th, and embarked the famous Marine Checkerboard Squadron VMA-312. On the 23rd BATAAN again played host to Commander Carrier Dixision 15, as Admiral Cornwell held an administratixe inspection. BATAAN felt proud as she was gixen an overall mark of excellent. On the 24th day of April, 1952, BATAAN made history. As she sailed from Kobe to- ward Sasebo, she took a new route and became the first man-o ' -war since before World War H to sail from Kobe to Sasebo by way of the Straits of the Inland Sea. These treacher- ous straits arc situated between the Japanese Islands of Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. BATAAN sweated for thirty hours, as her new skipper. Captain H. R. Horney, and her navigator, Lcdr. T. R. Wheaton, and a fireman named Matsumi Nakao, a Japanese-American boy acting as interpreter between the Captain and the Japanese pilot, stood on the bridge continually to guide her through. Several things make this channel especially dangerous. For one thing BATAAN is 600 feet long, 71 feet wide, displacing 25 feet of water. To this must be added the numerous shallows and islands dotting the straits. Many mines, left over from W orld W ' ar II, are also another hazard that had to be avoided. Nothing unusual was encountered throughout the trip, however, and BATAAN eased into Sasebo at 1600 on the next day, with three very tired people still standing on the bridge. After preliminary warm-up flights to cjualify ten new pilots, BATAAN turned her bow into the chilly waters of the Yellow Sea. On the cold dawn of 30 April 1952, she sent her first flight of Corsairs toward the enemy. The next day BATAAN had her first casualty

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SASEBO Latr in thr aftnndon of 26 Apn . BATAAN passed thioiiRh the sub- marine nets of Sasebo Harbor. Sasebo, second only to Vokosuka in importance as a UN naval base, pro ides excellent protected harbor facilities for all size ships. Developed in secrecy by the Japanese prior to the start of World War II, Sasebo ser ed the Imperial Fleet as an oper- ating base while controlling the China and ' ellow Seas. The strategic position of Sasebo has been utilized by UN Naval Forces because of its proximity to Korean waters. Much time and money has been saved since the start of the Korean conflict by making mainte- nance and repair facilities a ailable at this southern port, eliminating the lone trek to Yokosuka. n Sasebo, as BATAAN passes through the nets. The city built on the shores of this bay has little historical back- ground. It grew mainly as a resul t of Japanese development of the port in the early thirties. It is listed as a major railroad terminal because of its military importance. The popula- tion, now estimated at fifty thousand Japanese, has increased considerably since the start of the Korean conflict. Typical oriental hucksters are to be seen lining the city streets, offering native wares and entertainment in return for ever increasing quantities of yen. However, Naval personnel are quite well provided with recrea- tional facilities on the Naval Station and at the adjoining army base, Camp Mower. While Sasebo offers little in the way of oriental charm, it does pro- ide the UN ships with an excellent base for operating in Korean waters. Buoy 18, our anchoraijr for many long months.

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in tlir Ko- Var for 1952. An F4U crashed oxer tlic side as it tried to hmd. Speed and efficiency were displayed as the crew of heHcopter Southern Com- fort rescued the pilot in less than four minutes. On 9 May another plane crashed into the bar- riers, tearine, the engine off when the prop stuck in the flight deck. BAT. AN felt the pain, but she made no outcry or protest. She was too concerned with her job and the pilot, who suf- fered a slight brain concus- sion. Al dchiiclinij a pilot tells (he inltno a- tion sergeant just where his flight caught the Reds. BATAAN continued her operations until 1 1 May when she returned to Sasebo, the City by the Sea, after 1 1 days on the line. In that short time she outdid herself by launching 419 sorties against the enemy. BATAAN was a part of Task Element 95.11 and her job was an important one. She assisted in enforcing the United Nations Blockade and in the defense of friendly islands off the West Coast of Korea. She sent her planes out to spot for control of naval gunfire. The planes did a little firing of their own against vital enemy targets. VMA- 312 Corsairs zoomed in close, exposed to Red gunfire, protecting our ground forces. Enemy shipping was crippled. Mines were destroyed. Combat Air Patrols were con- ducted with friendly naval forces operating off the Korean coast. During this period. Captain Barbanes was shot down near Sukch ' on, Korea, while on armed reconnaissance. His wingmates protected him from Red ground troops by strafing. They directed an . ir Force helicopter to the scene. Captain Barbanes was rescued undrr heavy fire, hut was returned to the ship unharmed. Also during this period, a rocket ex- ploded on BATAAN ' S flight deck. A wound three feet wide gaped menacingly in the flight deck. Three of her men were injured, l)ut no fatalities. On the 28th of May, BATAAN made her w ay back to Yoko- suka for repair of dam- age done by the rocket explosion. She arrived gratefully to nurse her wounds until the 5th of Captain Horney congratulates Captain Kapowich on his one hundredth mission.