Belleau Wood (CVL 24) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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The E P11115 CRUISE 15 july 1-September 10, 1945 refs Fl-ask Group 38.1 left San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf the morning of July lst. Commanded by Rear Admiral T. L. Sprague, it was the largest task group in which we had ever served. At the heart were live carriers: BENNINGf TON, LEXINGTON, HANCOCK, SAN JACINTO, and BELLEAU WOOD, supported by a wall of battle' ships and cruisers: SOUTH DAKOTA, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, ATLANTA, AMSTERDAM, OKLAHOMA CITY, SAN JUAN, TOPEKA, and DAYTON. Around all was a seven mile wide circle of 20 destroyers. With 34 shipsfthis task group alone was larger than an entire task force at the start of the war. The powerful outfit steamed northward from the Philip' pines. Our sights were on Japan.