Santa Fe (CL 60) - Naval Cruise Book

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- but prior to Deeember 7th Hiekam was the only up-to-date air base the U.S. possessed in Paezfe area. Small wonder fapanese placed it high on target priority list. To prove onee andfor all that NAVY CHOW is not what many people would have you believe, the Commissary Steward humbly submits below pieture of mess-hall eneouraged avoirdupois. Hawaiian Hula-hula daneed by natives is artistic and meaningful, about 180 degrees outfrom burlesque-show variety. This USO group is performing on Royal Hawaiian Hotel,s patio. Not mirage, nor make-believeg this photo WAS taken in Honolulu. Lei and grass skirt look authenticg so, no other explanation possible-she must live on other side of the island. 27

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A .,:f:f.u.:-f.1ax.w-fm-f.L: .x-,-.,,.-fy-af: rg-A-wi v -W ,-. , ....,. -731,1 .- mc,,,.,.h 4, , t I K N Months at sea where alcohol in anyform was non-existent, shows up plainbf, as earb' as third round. Men no longer accustomed to drink plus :ject q' f hot tropical sun makes many a shore patrol headache, 1 s f TOURISTS ONCE PAID , X 2 5 D O L L A R S P E R Barrage balloon secured to its moorings looks strangely out of place among N multitude fy' barracks, ojfce buildings and installations of Hickam Field. Now , Oahu and adjoining islands are dotted with Army and Navy airfelds, i V Beer bottles still in hand, recreation party slows down for moment. Though sporting gear was available, men would rather drink sehnapps. Y t t 26

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if h me-Y - ry Hymn 'nl . 55 MU, ,,,,,,,,:m .f-- .'.-n.u.1.a1.1.m.. . - ,. . L n...LLmF.- '- ,, ,, W N, f . 4 ff W' ,f ,v ' ,ez W e. ez l Fueled on 15th, SAVNTA FE begins run in to Tfzrawez and Makin at 26 knolx. Tlzefrsf .ftrike on Tzzrzzwzz wax to be lzzznzehea' zz! 0330, I8 Sept. INITIAL STRIKES OF CARRIER FORCES EORETOLD EVENTS TO FQLLOW y N PEARL HARBOR, 2 September 19-13, Rear Admiral DuBose shifted his Hag from the BIRMINGHAM to the SANTA FE, and CruDiv I3 became a reality. This division, composed of the SANTA FE, BIRMING- HAM, MOBILE-and later BILOXI-was destined to see much action with new fast carrier groups being formed. With the LEXINGTGN, BELLEAU WOOD and PRINCETON, CruDiv I3 started on its first of many task force missions on Il September. On I7 September after several days of intensive drills, Task Force I5 started its high speed run toward Tarawa, a little island in the Gilberts near the Equator. Early next morning all hands were at GQ watching the red and green lights of the planes of the first strike as they assembled over the formation. All morning long the strikes took off. By mid-afternoon, the planes had returned to their carriers and the Group began to retire from the area. At dusk, the SANTA FE had many new shellbacks, but no laps to her credit. The 28 first carrier raid had been a success and she went back to Pearl Harbor to await orders. VVake Island, symbol for American courage, was to be blasted by American forces for the first time since the laps had overpowered her gallant defenders. The cruisers were on station at noon of 5 October to begin shelling the buildings and emplacements. Planes from the ESSEX, YORKTOWN, BELLEAU IYGOD, and INDEPEND- ENCE bombed the V-shaped atoll while CruDiv I3 and the NASHVILLE bombarded. After an hour this small spitiof sand, so isolated from the world, was an inferno of raging explosions and fires. The -Iaps knew that the Navy 'had not forgotten the men who had fought and died sokvaliantly on VVake. The following day the planes bombed again for good measure. That evening the SANTA FE headed back to Honolulu.