North Carolina (BB 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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. . Following fhe Nauru bombardmenl NORTH CAROLINA sorhed info fhe Kavieng and Rabaul areas. Then Task Force 58 formed al' Funafuh for lhe Marshall Islands operahon Hlfhng fhe Japs hard and fas'l', we bombarded Roi and Namur Islands on 29 and 30 January I944 while our planes sfruck Kwalalein and Namur. When Kwaialein Afoll was virfually secured we lefl' for 'Ihe firsi' Truk rand of I6 and I7 February There our airmen blasfed Jap shipping relenflessly. O Nexf Task Force 58 visifed fhe Marianas for a fhunderlng air slrike which cos? fhe enemy l35 planes and many ships. Maiuro, in Ihe Marshalls now became fleei' anchorage In lale March and April our air blows fell on Palau, Yap, and Woleai, and fhen on Hollandia and New Guinea enabling virlually unopposed landings Carrier warfare was lasi' being perfecfed. Our 'task force was hnfhng everywhere and wifh everyfhmg af herefofore inconceivable speed. NORTH CAROLINA'S role as fas+-s1'ep- ping proleclor of fhe mnghly carriers was all-imporfanf O Then +he famous 58 raced norlheasi' +o give Truk anofher aerial pounding THE SHOWBOATS OS2U pilofs eFfec'I'ed daring rescues of fighler pilofs downed in Truk Harbor. Afler a day of bombardlng Ponape in early May NORTH CAROLINA headed for Pearl 'Fo a quick overhaul. I ln June, I944, fhis seasoned veferan of fwo years in fhe Pacific supporled fhe Marianas landings Firsl' came 'Iwo days of air s'I'rikes over Saipan, Tinian and Guam Then THE SHOWBOAT bombarded Saipan on fhe I3+h gusi' prior fo +he Marine assaulf. On ihe I9'rh Task Force 58 had nfs biggesf day - Ihe renown Marianas Turkey Shoo? Over 350 Jap carrier planes were splashed 'I'ha'I' day, rhe combined eliforfs of our ships and planes The subsequenf fwo day chase of 'Ihe Jap fleef resulfed in disappoinlmenl, bu'r . . . ... , - . -- . . . . I A , . I . -Q Q Q . s . . . I . o . . . . - , . 'C 0 O O I ' U O U . ' I l I 0 . . . , I' - . . . . . O O Q I - , . . , - Q . . . . . . fhe achon was a 'Iurnlng poml of I'he war O On 6 July, I944 NORTH CAROLINA developed shall Irouble and was ordered fo proceed fo Bremerfon via Pearl. This was her firsl' maior overhaul, and her firsl look al' fhe s+a+es in 25 monlhs. Behind her was a record of which any ship could be iuslly proud. Presenf af all major campaigns, she had seen our coun+ry's naval mighl' grow 'From I'he 'falfering remnanls of +he Pearl Harbor holocausl' fo 'Ihe grea'I'es'I' navy in 'Ihe world. Newer and larger ships were already proving Iheir worlh. Bul' none were so proud as THE SHOWBOAT as she sfeamed info Pugei' Sound .... JAP PLANE DOWNED IN KWAJALEIN AIR ACTION X

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BB ss FIRES TI-IE FIRST I6-INc:I-I SALVO Wa OF WAR INTO JAP TERRITORY WW

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