Bataan (CVL 29) - Naval Cruise Book

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off the east coast of Korea. The 15th of December found her lending air support for the Hungnom evacuation. On New Year ' s Day, 1951, the BATAAN left Task Force 11 to join Task Group 96.8 on the west coast of Korea. On 15 January, the BATAAN and four destroyers departed Sosebo for the west coast of Korea to relieve HAAS THESEUS and screen as Task Element 95. 1 1 . This was the begin- ning of five months alternating on station in the Yellow Sea; first with the THESEUS and later with HMS GLORY. Near the end of April VMF-312 pilots flying from the BATAAN scored the first Ma- rine victories in aerial combat with enemy propeller-type aircraft. On on armed reconnais- sance mission two Marine pilots were surprised by four enemy aircraft, identified as either YAK 3 ' s or YAK 9 ' s in the vicinity of Chinnampo. In the ensuing encounter, three YAKs were shot down and the fourth fled the scene smoking from both wing roots. After completion of her tour of duty in the For East, BATAAN returned to San Diego. Early in July she was sent to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash- ington, for a four-month yard period. In November she returned to Son Diego and began underway training operations. On the 27th of January, 1952, she left Son Diego once more, bound of Yo kosuka to commence her second Korean tour of duty. Again her decks were loaded with jets, ma- chinery and vehicles. On 11 February 1952, the BATAAN arrived in Yokosuka. On Valentine ' s Day she headed south for Okinawa on ASW maneuvers with ComCorDiv 15 embarked. On 18 Feb- ruary her anchor slid into the waters of Buckner Bay. She lay in anchor there a week before leaving for Yokosuka again, arriving there 1 March. On 21 March she again mode the circuit via Okinawa on another ASW run, returning to Yokosuka on 1 1 April. Change of command ceremonies were conducted while at Yokosuka. On 14 April, Captain H. R. HORNEY relieved Captain William MILLER of command. On 20 April BATAAN was in Kobe, Japan, embarking VMA-31 2 and debarking VS- 25 and ComCarDiv 15. Three days rest and she headed through the Inland Sea toward Sosebo. 25 through 29 April she loaded with ammo and supplies, preparing to operate off the west coast of Korea. After a ten-day operating period, the BATAAN celebrated her second birthday after recommissioning, in Sosebo. Early in August the BATAAN completed her operations and returned to Son Diego via Pearl Harbor. She arrived in San Diego on the 26th of August and almost before the lines were secured to the docks, work began on her. After a brief stay in Son Diego and Long Beach, the BATAAN, on 28 October with ComCorDiv 15 and VS-871 embarked, again headed for the Far East, via Pearl Harbor. On 16 November 1952, the BATAAN relieved the SICILY in Buckner Boy, Okinawa. ASW operations lasted until the 9th of February. She relieved the BADOENG STRAIT in Yokosuka, took her Checkerboard Squadron on by an at sea switch, and headed for Sasebo. Her stay there was brief. Upon leaving, she joined other ships in the Yellow Sea to begin her third fight against the Communists. After five patrols off the West Coast of Korea, alternating with the HMS GLORY, BATAAN steamed homeward once again, with a new captain. Captain S. S. MILLER. A two-day rest in Pearl Harbor gave the crew an introduction to the stateside liberty that was to come in six short days. On he 20th of May, she left Pearl Harbor. She arrived in San Diego on the morning of the 26th, presenting two thousand dollars to the Damon Runyon Cancer Fund. A fit- ting tribute of gratitude on the part of a fighting ship and its crew.

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