Manchester (CL 83) - Naval Cruise Book

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— The next two weeks saw a busy Manchester, often moving quickly from area to area to fulfill assignments that arose without warning in the face of the long-awaited Red spring offensive.

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APRIL 14- The British made an emergency call again today. The ship ' s windmill, loaded with candy, cigarettes and soap, was on its way to deliver the stuff to a fellow ' copter crew aboard an LST also anchored in Wonsan harbor when the call came through. Pilot Roger Gill banked the ' copter in the direction ol Eiamhung, where the British plane had been shot down. Two Sea Furies escorted me, Lieu- tenant Gill related. Just as we reached the out- skirts of the city, one of them yelled over the circuit that I was being fired at. We lost altitude fast to dodge the bursts, and when I turned back I saw the ditched plane. The helicopter made a fast landing, and the British pilot, who wasn ' t hurt in the crash, jumped aboard. But then we were too heavy, Gill said. So I yelled to my crewman, Tom Roche, to jettison some of the load we were carry- ing. Out went candy, cigarettes and soap, and finally we had to toss out our heavy aerial camera. This lightened the windmill enough, and it was soon airborne. In a wardroom bull session later, Lieutenant Gill laughed. Our LST buddies missed out all right; but I ' ll bet there are some Reds who ' re living like kings right now! FROM: PHILIPPINE SEA TO: MANCHESTER YOUR PROMPT AND EFFECTIVE ACTION IN RESCUING OUR PILOT GREATLY APPRECIATED FROM: THESEUS TO: MANCHESTER ONCE AGAIN MANY THANKS FOR THE SERVICES OF YOUR HELICOPTER X THE SWIFT AND COURAGEOUS RESCUE WAS HIGHLY APPRECIATED FROM: THESEUS TO: MANCHESTER THE REGULARITY WITH WHICH YOUR HELICOPTER EFFECTS DARING RESCUES IS BEYOND THE HIGHEST PRAISE X MAY I PLEASE BE INFORMED OF THE NAMES OF THE CREWS BOTH TODAY AND YESTERDAY AND WILL YOU CONVEY TO THEM MY SINCERE THANKS TO: MANCHESTER FROM: LORD MAYOR, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND WITH GRATITUDE AND ADMIRATION CITIZENS OF MANCHESTER ENGLAND HAVE LEARNED OF THE EXPLOITS OF HOVER PLANES OF THE UNITED STATES WARSHIP MANCHESTER IN RESCUING AIRMEN OF THE BRITISH AIRCRAFT CARRIER THESEUS X WE IN MANCHESTER SEND GREETINGS AND GOOD WISHES TO ALL ABOARD THE WARSHIP MANCHESTER

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APRIL 14: Rear Admiral Allan E. Smith. Commander Task Force 95, shown at above left, and Rear Admiral Roscoe H. Hillen- koetter, Commander Cruiser Division One, above right, came aboard in Wonsan harbor nearly under enemy noses for official visit with Captain Parks . . . APRIL 17: Firing at truck convoy in Wonsan . . . APRIL 18: Red spring offensive has begun. Ship bom- barding Suwon Dan and Hosong . . . APRIL 27: Destroying transportation centers near Wonsan . . . APRIL 29: As Red spring offensive builds up against UN lines. Man- chester moves into a two-day bombardment of Tongch ' on . . . EVENING. APRIL 30: In Wonsan with cruiser Helena. Kalma Gak guns again opened fire accurately on our firing line. Still no damage to Manchester, but enemy explosions indicated higher caliber guns being used. Ship ' s ammunition expendi- ture now exceeding 2 7,000 . . . MAY 1: Operating with TF 7 7 due to danger created by recent enemy buildup of air power.