Belleau Wood (CVL 24) - Naval Cruise Book

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As far as most of us were concerned, the primc qucsf tion to ask tankers was, Have you any mail for us? The reply usually was so many bags for the entire group which set off immediate calculation and prediction as to the number for us. Upon meeting the tankers at dawn our ships fell out from the circular cruising disposition of 5fRoger and lined up in ranks astern. One by one we took our turns in drinking from assigned oilers. Man all stations and communications for fueling from tanker, starboard side. As the ship ahead of us finished, we crept up abreast the slowly moving tanker and shot lines across for hauling back fuel hoses. Soon the two vessels were linked by a towing pendant, distance line, provisioning lines, hoses, and telephone lines. As the ships rolled from side to side these connecting sinews al' ternately sagged low to decapitate frothing waves gush' ing between the hulls, then stretched taut as the vessels rolled apart. The hauling on these hose lines, bight lines, and provision whips required veritable tugfoffwar teams on the flight and hangar decks. If the day was calm fueling wasn't so tough, but in rough seas special vigilance was required to maintain the same speed as the tanker and remain at the right distance from her. Quartermasters were 'gmadel' at times like this. . johnson, Condon, and Hanson handled our wheel through the months at this ticklish job of keeping close to the tanker so the hoses wouldn't part, yet far enough away to prevent collision. Men whose orders had come rode across on the trolley lines to board the tanker for her return trip to port. Fref quently the tanker' had new men for us. It was usually two hours before the oil king said, Enough and the tanker ceased pumping. Engineers broke the hose connections, the hoses, phone lines, and whips were retrieved. We slowly pulled away. The smoking lamp is out while alongside ammunition ship.

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F EU G DAY During the war the Navy developed an amazing sys tem of rnaintuning and supplying a fleet at sea so that the ships could stay on the offensixe indefinitely without returning to port Ewery fourth day or so 1 train f tankers cargo ships ammunition ships and eseort ear riers rende xoused with the fast carrier task groups who had retreated 1 safe distance from the forxvrrd area Contaet was nude in the early hours of the morning audible over our receivers Ships in need began sending their requirements and 1 sustained volley of messages filled the TB3 eh innels the rest of the day -...nisn l D L c v V I C , Q 2' ' V . f' . . M C 7 ' g . Y . 4 , 4 . e ' g . ' f f . 'L ' 1' o , U .M . . . a I g I . Z Y J V. 1 C . V g .t C yt . Tc U g A y V I . C 1 . K when TBS transmissions in the fueling group began to he . . , K I M . V t z Q I . - 4..,1.,,,, ,- ..., M .a.,.r , rr,, , o ruouu ,r..,..,- A , . Ai gwvxwmi gl, .N-.....1n

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I i,,xN+, ,simwwg 'Nunn Working Party Sllueen report to Lt. Stevens on the forward elevator. . Ammunition, bombs, rockets, and accessories came across via the airplane crane. One couldn't help wonder as he studied that ammunition ship a few feet abeam, What if the Japs should come in now 2211 Fortunately none did. Occasionally we went alongside an AK Qcargo shipj for stores and fresh provisions. Being assigned to work' ing parties on this detail wasn't so bad, for inevitably a few crates of oranges and apples broke apart. The one flight operation was for nflyable dudsi- planes damaged in preceding days--to fly to the escort 4 , 4 ,,.f. ,,., carrier in exchange for new replacements. For afternoon gunnery exercises the ships took stations in firing column. lnvariably there would be only one or two towing planes for the entire column which meant that the men on the guns sat idle most of time awaiting their tiring turn. Fourth Division stand by to receive destroyer for transfer of4U.S. mail brought cheers and whistles throughout the ship! Usually the mail for the entire vrou arrived on one tanker. From her, destroyers D P ' Qblessemj then distributed the specified bags around the task group. The cans acted not only as mail men but also as messengers, distributing publications from the flagf ship and delivering reports from all ships to the flag. Fueling day, which for us was somewhat of a rest, was nothing more than a ratfrace for the cans. Too little has been said for the meritorious performances of these little Hworkfhorses of the Pacific. Fueling day marked an oasis in the ocean g it meant a retreat from enemy territory, interruption of strikes, a release from battle stations, and a chance to relax. The day was complete when at sunset Captain Tomlinson inf structed the 0. 0. D. to have the word passed, There will be no routine General Quarters this evening, if the alarm sounds, it will be the real thing. i it q... ., 2 4 2 I 1 . . -- 1