Wasp (CV 18) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 24 text:

-E-5-LET CITJTWLEONU T19 GX.: UP1o1'10ia.lE.Ql1f5 5:1111 adj. 23 ooo 30 O O WASP anchored in Eniwetok Lagoon, loaded stores, ammunition and fueled ship. Rear Admiral F. U. Wagner, USN, Commander Carrier Division Five, hauled down his flag in UASP. Rear admiral Ralph Davis- on, USN, Commander Carrier Division 12 and Commander Task Group 58.2, hoisted his flag in JASP, i UAQP, as flagship of Task Group 58.2, underway with Group from.Eniwetok for the Benin Islands in accordance with Commander Task Group 58.2 dispatch 282210 of June. Mission assigned this Task Group: To destroy Iwo Jima shipp- ing and aircraft facilities and to return to the Fifth Fleet in the vicinity of Saipan to support our invasion forces in the n rianas Task Group 58 2 consisted of ,noPCCV 18511 sk Group hlagshipi FR1NLLINlCV 131 BONEEKLY lcvi 261 riser ccvt 28, Bosron ici 691 criagy Uoo UQ Uoo Uoo OD Cnlflnii CA O ,Ju Ju TCCL in ocreci Destroyer squadron 52 LJJ UU LLB T ' W rx- .1 r I . U-4 Q O FN: ,I fi TCL - 4' 'W ' .gre F F A TW ,I .L 81111 1 - , J . Ufwfi 1 X 15 1 ow 1 f' . f 7 D U ' '- '+L-U-A .,- Umi, C, , -' Vx D 1' I .iii 5 .jr -, .V - f-, , p 5' 5 Q JA- . ' py . 1 ,, 'S

Page 23 text:

'Kalki I T P.LJ. .L - U1I.iOI ,OLOGY -- Jung . , 20 Ceont.J ,,, 21 ... 23 ... Zh ... 25 - 26 . . 27 Ill continued - 1 . Of 19 and 20 June was later to be named the Battle of the Philippine Sea. 8 ved by the previous day's sunsetg the enemy fleet again evaded usg our negative searches were abandoned at 2135 when our forces reversed course and steamed back eastward. Rear Admiral Frank D. Wagner, USN, Connander Carrier Division Five, and his staff, returned to the WASP from the U55 BUNREA HILL, having been cm, barked in that ship since 6 June 194A LAS? launched strike on runways-of Pagan Island in the Marianas Group. UnSP and Task Group en route te Eniwe tok conducting routine searches, patrols. .ASP entered sniwetok lagoon for the first time and at 0912 anchored in Berths 388 and 339 17 , E

Page 25 text:

2252.l.1.QEBONQQ9GY :pfC0Dbinucdl JULY 1255 3 .,. 'W 'N Ll- ooo 6 ... 8 sfo lo Goo V13 11+ COO wn5P and Task Group rcndczvouscd for fucling with Task Group 58,1, nnSP launchod strikcs against Iwo Jima air? ficlds GHG Shipping. By 1200 king Cminus toni zono timc, photographic intcrprctation officers dccidcd that Iwo would fr- rcmcmbor that nth of July. 1 WASP and Group sct coursc for Saipan. ans? launchod strikcs against Orotc airficld,Guam Agana town, Guam, WASP launchcd strikcs against and ncarby airficlds. X was? launched strikes a ainst Piti town Guam. 9 In accordancc with Burcau of Naval Pcrsonncl dispatch Captain C. A. F. Spraguc, USN, cight months commanding officcr of thc MASP, was app- ointcd to thc tonporary rank of Roar Admiral. USS CABOT dotachcd from wnSP's Group to join Task Group 58.1. Jas? launchcd rccord-making nir Group lu in strikos against gun positions wcst of Agana town, Guam. QW 99