Santa Fe (CL 60) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 69 text:

Q ,, is sg, ffft'7 Five milesfrom Yap-held Babeftlzmzp, LASSENfurnis1zes ammo in Kossol Passage, Pafau. Nearest U.S. troops are at Pelelzigffty miles south. RUNNING INTERFERENCE AGAINST PHILIPPINES IS 3RD FLEETIS ROLE NVASION of the defended islands of Peleliu and Anguar and neutralization of nearby Jap installations on Babelthuap and Koror was the primary mission of the Heet that sortied from Eniwetok on 30 August. The Palau Campaign, necessary preliminary to the liberation of the Philippines, was to result in the SANTA FE's ninth battle star. The SANTA FE, with the cruisers BIRMINGHAIVI, MOBILE, and RENO, the carriers LANGLEY, ESSEX, PRINCETON and LEXINGTON, and the destroyers CASSIN YOUNG, KNAPP, CALLAGHAN, COGS- VVELL, INGERSOLL, PRITCHETT, PRESTON, MOR- RISON, LAYNS, PORTERFIELD, IRVVIN and CAPER- TON comprised Task Group 38.3 under the command of Rear Admiral Sherman in the ESSEX. This, with two similar carrier groups, made up Task Force 38 under the command ofVice Admiral Mitscher in the LEXINGTON. After gunnery exercises and the Ancient Order of the Deep ceremonies were held, the Third Fleet, commanded by Admiral Halsey in the NEW JERSEY, launched air strikes against the Palau Islands September 6th and 7th. On the 9th an enemy convoy of about 40 small cargo ships was sighted and attacked by the carrier aircraft on their first sweeps over Mindanao Island. The SANTA FE, BIRMINGHAM, LONGSHAVV, PRITCHETT, LAYVS and MORRISON were detached to attack the 22 remaining ships which attempted to take cover in Bislig Bay and Hinatuan Bay north of Sanco Point on Min- 65

Page 68 text:

W,-.,,.,...,.--.,.-... . H+..- ,4,,-Mr, A ,.,,, ,,., ...,. ,-,-..,,..,,.. E ..A....,....:.- .. . -e s f 1 s f N SEABEE BUILT BASE ENABLES COM- SERON 10 TO PROVIDE INDISPEN- SABLE BEANS AND BULLETS , X, Q, R an eq, xv ,J ,5 sq Q- I cf Yfh-W NF img ,f-ff' N .,.L.l,.Z5g5 1iQ'fQ:'T'g5Q:z:ii'l 5 XQ5:k1?.q.551iJ'::35'L'! h3 '7ZL7 Eniwetok Atoll, westernmost Marshall Island, provides excellent, natural anchorage-SANTA FE in foreground. Recreation parties disemharking at Runit Isle will spend their hriey' reprieve from ship's routine drinking heer, swimming, hall-playing. Small, narrow spits qt coral sand like E niwetok, which geographers jokingly call land, are only ports qt entry during jifteen, weary months. Tent cities that border coral-laid aifyfeld are hot and peaceful, out crew agrees cooler, more hazardous shiphoard duty is hetter. New hattleships, leavyweights M the fleet, helie ofensive power as they peacefully ride at anchor in calm lagoon W' Eniwetok.

Page 70 text:

Log of action U3 Sept., reads: H0633-single bogey reported, GQ, sounded. 0636-Bogey reported splashed by CAP. Condition III set. 0650-Lone dive bomber,first reported visually inside formation, attacks. AA jfre opened immediatebn Plane downed. Detached jzrom Combat Air Patrol, a earrier fghter fF6FJ escorts slzip's Slowly gaining altitude, heavily laden torpedo-bomber crosses slzip overhead.- ' Gooney Birds on reseue mission over enemy waters. S ' ' - - - quare wzngtzps are zdentfeatzon features. 66