Callaghan (DDG 994) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 19 text:

■ ■ H r- RMCM Richard L White Communications Officer MMCS(SW) Samuel T. Deruntz Material Assistant OSCS (SW) David J. Barr Operations Assistant RP3 Bruce A. Thompson Religious Program Specialist YN1 Vincent C. Main Administrative Supervisor MSI Renato C. Cabebe Mess Management Specialist Squadron Staff 15

Page 18 text:

Squadron Staff LCDR William G. Owen Combat Systems Officer LCDR John E. Munnik Operations Officer LCDR Craig W. Turley Material Officer LT J. Henry Pang born Chaplain LT Anthony J. Papapietro, Jr. Air Ops Plans Officer L T Daniel L. Parker Tactics Readiness Officer 14 Squadron Staff

Page 20 text:

The last destroyer sunk during World War II, USS CALLAGHAN (DD 792) was struck by a kamikaze plane off Okinawa on 29 July 1945, just 49 minutes before she was scheduled to start back to the United States. Built by the Bethlehem Steel Company of San Pedro, Calif., her keel was laid on 21 February 1943, and she was placed in commission on 27 November 1943. Commander F.J. Johnson, USN, assumed the first command. After a post-shakedown availability, she left the United States on 5 February 1944 for Pearl Harbor. Operating out of Pearl Harbor until 28 February, she steamed to Kwajalein and Majuro to join Task Group 50.15. On 30 March and 1 April air strikes were launched from escort carriers of the Task Group while CALLAGHAN and other destroyers screened the carriers from submarine attack. At the end of April, the ship departed for Pearl Harbor, escorting tankers returning to the United States for replenishment. On 30 May 1944 she got underway for the Marshall Islands. On 11 June she sortied from Eniwetok screening the escort carriers MIDWAY, WHITE PLAINS, and KALININ BAY as they operated east of Saipan in support of the landings there. CALLAGHAN rendezvoused with Task Group 58.4 on 5 August to protect the carriers who were providing air support for the fighting on Guam. On 29 August the destroyer was again steaming with the carriers as they ranged off Palau, Mindanao, Luzon and the Central Philippines striking at the Japanese. After sweeps over the Philippines in support of the landings on Leyte, the group raced to get in position to launch a dawn attack against units of the Japanese fleet menacing the invasion forces from the north. Task Group 38.3 sortied again on 1 November enroute to Manus but was rerouted to the Philippines because of increasing enemy naval and air activity. She was back at Ulithi by Christmas Eve and spent Christmas Day in dry dock. In late December and January CALLAGHAN participated in strikes against Formosa, Luzon, Camranh Bay, Saigon, the south China coast and Hong Kong before sailing to Iwo Jima to participate in the landings there. After Iwo Jima she provided support for the landings at Okinawa. CALLAGHAN continued operating off Okinawa on fire support and screening assignments until taking a radar picket station on 9 July 1945. Just after midnight on the morning of 29 July, General Quarters rang through the ship as a lone plane was detected approaching the patrol group. The Japanese, piloting an antiquated biplane, dived on CALLAGHAN and was driven off by heavy anti- aircraft fire. He came back, skimming the water unobserved until just before he reached the destroyer. He hit CALLAGHAN on the starboard side sending up a towering 150 foot sheet of flame from the after section of the ship. A bomb that had penetrated to the after engine room exploded with devastating effect blowing holes in the hull causing serious flooding. Ten minutes later Commander Bertholf ordered CALLAGHAN aban- doned. CALLAGHAN sank stern first at 0235, bringing to a violent end the career of a proud fighting ship. The First CALLAGHAN 16 USS Callaghan