Wasp (CV 18) - Naval Cruise Book

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PaigeL.SlQQ5Qu9LOQXii9CigbcrlpcontinnedJ 13 .. lb .. Launched four combined strikes against Heite CHQ OKUYQHU On Formosa. Under attack at 1833 by 8 to lO low-flying Betty type torpedo planes approaching from starboard quarter, accompanied by Zekes and Oscars. Opened fire with 5Wf38 guns and automatic weaponsg shot down four Bettys. at 1835 USS CANBERRA, close aboard, received two torpedo hits that were meant for ,nsP - two boiler rooms and both engines 0 Launched one strike of combined fighters and bombers against Okayama on Formosa. At l8Al uns? opened fire at Betty type torpedo planes coming in from dead aheadg to avoid torpedo, right full rudder was executed. Torpedo caught the U55 HOUSTON? which had taken the OnNBERRA's place and position two and one-half hours be- fore, USS HOUsTON commenced abandoning ship at 1932 on stormy night The ship was out of control nd settling qU1CKlY At 2010 U53 IOUoTON w s t ken in tow by the USo BOSTON and ceased c idoning Shlp 28 rw Ls - ' . I fi F4 ' Li. ' . 4 -C' . . , FW 1 ' Cl Ll- . 9 U l-3 fo rw fm CL' L11 0 Q

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g,nrn1,f Qn3onoLQ9rF:,i9cnQtcr,-ccnuinucab 53 Task Unit 38.l.L Kburface Striking Unitl ig 6 OOO 7 ll! 9 '09 10 OOO ll OOO 12 ... lNote Uss sosrcn CFlagD i7 Uss cnnsnaan i U35 '. I ICHITLL Destroyer Division 92 Very heavy seas and wind resulting from typhoong 5 lc I 3 it be 15 1' wave caused a broken back and death of one nan , 4 1, 'I' on catwalk above forecastle. CNote 1.5 i if '4 1 USS BAOJN and fOODJOHTH reported tO CTG 38.1 ' for duty. 5 Mustered VT-ln VF-lu VB-la Cantain 'CW Ros- ! I ! .L acker, USMC, Jackson, Carl T., GMZC, and Mar- Q chute, John C., Slc, abreast the island struct- ure on flight deck for presentation of medals by Vice Admiral John 5, McCain, Commander Second Carrier Task Force, Pacific. Launched four combined strikes against Okinawa and Nana Jima. Launched fighter sweep against Appari and North- 5 u I 2 3. ern Luzon. K 5 Epragsghgtrfgzifiai?tiHO,bX.earriar.nlsassi 5 JQSP launched four strikes against Toshien and 5 U Takao on Fgfmggn, Night snoopers dropped flares. it l: RUTH, Jillian H., BM2c, 300 36 12, USN, of 3 milwaukee, wisconsin., Q X ,,. 4271 l 4. - 'A .,

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PART I .......J2EQHQ!EWff,UN50PQFn99QZEwQQL- 15 .. 16 Ill H Fifty-seven fighters were launched for enemy interceptions. U55 OnKlMND, USS SAN DIEGO, USS MILLER and USS MnRSHnLL reported for duty With Task Group 38.1. United states Ships IEICIIITA, CU7fli.iNfj, BUANL5, BELL, CiL1rblLlTTfh1 01161 KNnPP were detached to proceed to Task Group 3 30.3. At 1630 under attack by 6 to 8 enemy X, dive bombers. For the first time WASP gener- 3 ated smoke screen - starlit night. These few days following 12 October were the most tense in the ship's history. Hours of General Qpar- ters and sporadic day and night attacks. And the JASP was one elected to stay behind to protect the two crippled cruisers and act as a lure while the main force probed for the , enemy fleet, one to two hundred miles north. , Rendezvoused with Task Group 38.2 and 38.3 to 5 T form striking force 3 USS SALT lnhi CITY, U55 PENSACGLA and USS CHES-I n TBR reported to CTG 36 1 fel duty im 29 for possible fleet action. u