Santa Fe (CL 60) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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

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, I 1 'i l ' H C . -.X , V J , i , v V V, , -..... ., -I ,N ,I iv fri R ll iwcifwllx' 'l,lIl'y'U yi get It , . ,r.. -.. .1-iiifg, ,J ,A X-,y,,.L,,. danao Island. Expending 1789 rounds of 6 , 5 and 40 MM ammunition the SANTA FE sank four of the I5 ships she fired upon in the two hour battle. The other ships were left burning or severely damaged. Though but 90 yards distant in some cases, the Japanese craft in- flicted no damage to the raiders. Air strikes against Mindanao Island were resumed on the 10th. Strikes were launched against the Visayan area on the 12th to 1-lth while standing off Dinagat Island. An enemy bomber penetrated the screen on the 13th and scored a near miss on a CVL. The same day the battle- ships ALABAMA, MASSACHUSETTS, VVASHING- TON and INDIANA joined the Task Group. In the midst of fueling, fighting, receiving mail and burying the dead, the SANTA FE's two Kingfishers winged over enemy held territory to the Camotes Islands where they rescued two downed aviators in the care of friendly Filipino guerillas. After the successful Marine seizure of Pelelieu Island, during which time the carriers stood by to provide air support when needed, the Task Force steamed northwest toward Luzon to launch, on the 21st and 22nd, the first strikes against Manila. On the 24th the Visayan area was again the target. After the first phase of the Philippine campaign was over the SANTA FE anchored in Kossol Passage, Palau Islands, but because of the insecurity of the open reef sur- rounding the anchorage and the possibility ofnight air and surface attack from the Japanese forces on Babelthaup, five miles away, the ships sortied nightly, returning in the morning for replenishing. On the first of October the Task Group proceeded to Ulithi, newly seized Caroline Atoll, which was to become the forward base of future fleet operations. Navy pilot ftopj resrued of Camotes Is. hook: on to sliipls crane Still wearing Filipino donated civvie.v , pilot is .vent to DD Cabove yup coajtalgzfgggpiftggglagl ?'Z'if-iff gift ziifezzi gP1ii1ifpfnEif i conifoy carried uel oil and aviation gasoline from Yapan. 67 b ' B' l' Ba Mindanao Another 3500 ton Nip merchant heads for Davey 7'ones. Davao-bound f