Manchester (CL 83) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 67 text:

ir,Mm jm - They break the sky- in pieces blue . . . Men and blades across the night. The new Manchester helicopter arrived, and assumed the role played by the former wind- mill. We began anew the taxi-service, spotting, and rescue of downed American pilots. Many times it was a thankless job, but each of us realized how completely important and essential our helicopter detachment was to the lighting power of the Manchester.

Page 66 text:

On a cold February day a squadron of planes roared away from the carrier Valley Forge and streaked across Korea to burst their fury on the Communist bridges and high- ways which had been assigned as their targets. One of the planes caught enemy fire and crashed. The remainder of the formation covered the crumbled mass of steel on the ground while the pilot, ' bleeding and suffering from a broken leg, crawled out into the deep snow. A call for help was flashed back to the Manchester, and in a matter of minutes Lt. Ed Moore and Lt. Kenneth Henry were climbing into the Manchester helicopter. Soon they were making their descent to the injured pilot. But this was not a lucky day. A down-draft caused the rotor of the Manchester helo to crash against a rock, leaving the aircraft useless. Lt. Moore and Lt. Henry escaped uninjured and made their way to the downe d pilot. Now the Communist ground troops, poised in the area, had three targets instead of one, and they slowly began to encircle the three Americans. Another call for help was flashed out and an Air Force helo came in to attempt the rescue. There was only room for two passengers — there were three men on the ground. Lt. Moore and Lt. Henry refused to leave the pilot for it was impossible to move him to the place the new helicopter had landed because of his broken leg. They waved the helicopter away after its pilot had begged them to save themselves. The two Manchester men chose to stay. Darkness came, and the American formation of planes withdrew from the area. Unmolested now, except for the small arms Lt. Moore and Lt. Henry carried, the (Com- munist troops began drawing tight the circle they had formed. The next day, back on the Manchester, the following words were passed over the ship ' s public address . . . The search for Lt. Moore and Lt. Henry has been discontinued . . . blood was observed trailing to a house at the edge of the woods . . . Lt. Moore and Lt. Henry are ' onsidered in the hands of the enemy. The silence which followed the Bosun Mate ' s words was heavy. This had been the reward for attempting the res -ue of another man ' s life. But, perhaps, each ofliccr and crew member on the Manchester felt a deep and warm pride for two brave men who sacrificed themselves on a cold mean- ingless day in Korea. FROM: VALLEY FORGE CV-45 TO: MANCHESTER CL-83 APPRECIATE GREATLY YOUR ATTEMPT TO RESCUE OUR PILOT X REGRET THAT IT ENDED IN DISASTER FOR YOUR HELO AND ITS VALIANT CREW FROM: MANCHESTER CL-83 TO: VALLEY FORGE CV-45 WE SHARE YOUR DEEPEST REGRET UPON THE LOSS OF THREE VALIANT OFFICERS X IN ADDITION WE FEEL KEENLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE FAILURE OF A MISSION WHICH SEEMED SO PROMISING AND WHICH TO US IN THE MANCHESTER APPEARED BOTH TIMELY AND WELL COORDINATED BY ALL CONCERNED

Page 68 text:

SPECIAL MISSIONS Besides our duties with Fast Carrier Task Kor.e 77. and o.ir duties supporting the front line troops on the bonihline. we were often ordered to hirddog along the Kast Coast of K..rea, niovnig uilo the harhors, disrupting vital Communist troop and supply points. We hit eities as far north as Chongjin, 130 miles from the Russian submarine base at Vladivostok: we hit the enem at kojo and Songjin; and we returned to our home away from home — Wonsan Harbor.