Wasp (CV 18) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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-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

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PART I 15 16 OOO .ll 18 CIO 19 OOO 20 ll' 21 CCI ' CHHONOLOGY - fJul continucdl NHS? aircraft struck Rota airfield at Tatacho Pt. WnSP aircraft attacked Guam bivouac areas with one-ton daisy Cutter bombs devastatingly explod- ing just above the ground. JASP launched four air strikes on Guam targctsg buildings, gun positions at naelup Point, nsan Village, Piti town, Cabras Island. WASP launched four strikes on Guam.gun install- ations at Agana and niantes Point. , WASP launcnod five strikes against Guam gun em- placements on the ridge behind ngana town. WW Dazn for Marines landing on Gram. 2., WASP ass- isted in support by launching six strikes against targets dosignated by the air Coordinator. at l5l4 local time Captain 0. A. nellor, USN, report . cd aboard for duty as Commanding Officer. it 260