Santa Fe (CL 60) - Naval Cruise Book

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Ground area at base of voleano had been primary target of SANTA FE, Shi-like trails left in wake q'advaneing tanhsfollow their progress up slope. and, as Marine tanks move in, shows well poelz-marked suqface. L4Zbj'7'Z77fll dlffblfi W6 H7117-fank Wfflfff- I A ,A Seemingly utter confusion qi earbf beaehhead gives way to orderliness as hour by hour, day by day, troops and materiel arefunneled through to advaneingjront lines. Note beaehed f7ap cargo ship Crightj, also floundering uamphtraeksh' and boats. WSWW While performing his duties as primary spotterfor SANTA FE's guns, After all qforts to save his life proved unavailing, Ist Lt. D. hlfilliam Marz'ne Lieutenant is fatally hit by fapanese AA fre. USMCR, is buried at sea -with full naval honors. 96 ,

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L ,, 'W . -l.-- milf,-U 5 .f 4, FQQQWM 'gf'-i gf W. . .-,ix x.-' ,uf . ' .5-.4 Ns- Vi, . ,. , .. 4 . avi! ,.'. .. ,,,.K' ', 'A . Snioflzering .fnzoke of llze IKTVM-C navai bombardmen! give: deceiving appearance Q' Iota! eyfeetivenesi as first Marine waves are about fo land. IWKJLANLHNGWLQQNTG For two nights the ship delivered harassing Ere-both to the Japs and to the crew-and kept starshells over the island to discourage counter-attacks. Heavy bombard- ments were given at dawn as the troops advanced and con- solidated their positions. About noon on the 21st, with magazines running low and a crew wearied by two and one half days of living at battle stations, the SANTA FE was relieved by the NORTH CARQLINA. With a feeling both of relief and satisfaction the ship rejoined her carrier group, having poured over 4000 of her shells into the pillboxes and blockhouses of Iwo Jima. ,L SANTA FE ana' batllerlzip TENNESSEE C103 of por! bowl are station .flzipr and must maintain position so Zanding waves can orientale. Most Marine easuaitiex are aeeepled at beaelzlzead where nzorlarjfre lake: heavy toll fy' eoneentraiea' boats, troops, buildozerf, ranks. 1 we --V , umm-a,i.ts , , , . A t ...H s--s1.- -

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Flanked by eruzxers on ezfhez hand and dzvzszon offglzters overhead carrier ESSEX zn eompany wzlh 5th Fleet headsfor Yap 5 sacred Tokyo ,Slz1'p'.f rrew rigy in Jlaraoaral gangway and prepare: to get SANTA FE ana'erway no! knowing dextinalion 145 7ap eapiial. NAVAL AIRCRAFT PAY FIRST CALL ri , TEAMING within 150 miles of Hirohito s Palace on 16 S oi' A February flat-tops of Spruance s Fifth Fleet launched S S the long awaited vengeance strike against Tokyo. Greatest surprise to the SANTA FE's crew was the almost total lack of resistance to the well-executed on- slaught. Though several bogeys were reported some- where in the overcast skies, none ventured near the ships. Foul weather cancelled operations the following noon and the force headed south. The 18th, the SANTA FE was detached from the carrier force, but after a brief 'Achange of pace at Iwo Jima she rejoined for the second Tokyo raid on 25 February. Bad weather continued to favor the laps, but it was apparent that their air force and Heet had no strength left to defend even the homeland. The two raids destroyed 667 Jap planes, damaging many more on airfields and in factories, sank l CVL, lO AK,s, 16 SC's and l PC, damaged l DD, 2 DEB, and 72 SCS. With Qld Glory two-blocked over Mouiit Suribachi and Tokyo stunned by two startling raids, the last of February saw U. S. Forces leaving Japanese waters and heading for Home,'-Ulithi. 97