Block Island (CVE 106) - Naval Cruise Book

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The 500 pound bombs hit their marks. Okina a Target Braceletgs chickens and turkeys do well .7

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I Clwlvlliiiiiliiiiiiiiitl AWA The BLOCK ISLAND entered the fray after its shakedown cruise on 4 May at Okinawa alongside such fighting veterans as the SANTEE, SWANEE, and CHENANGO, the first ships of this type to see action in WORLD WAR II. The FBI shared in the last 43 days of the 83 day siege at Okinawa, the longest in Naval history. The Japanese, realizing that the loss of Okinawa would mean the loss of the war, used every means of its yellow power to stop the invasion of the Army and the Third Fleet which supported it. The losses of the Okinawa campaign were the heaviest in any single campaign of our Navy. On 29 May when the anniversary of the sinking of CVE 21 rolled around they baked a cake but what was more impor- tant and made that day a special day in air operations, all bombs and rockets were marked as memorials. The flight schedule was typical. Over 30 planes flew from the carrier, fired 161 five-inch Holy Moses Rockets, more than 10,000 rounds of machine gun ammunition and dropped 19,000 pounds of bombs against the enemy. That day the attack was against Ishigaki, an island 500 miles from Japan proper. From 4 May through 16 June the planes flew 1202 sorties. Sorties over target: 262 VF 11 VF QNJ 12 VF 302 VT Total 587 Sorties over own forces: 478 VF 137 VF Total 615 On these sorties they fired: 444,900 pounds of bombs expended 2,213 five incl1 rockets launched 297,000 rounds of machine gun ammunition The usual position of the ship in the Okinawa campaign was about 80 miles southeast of the island: 320 miles from Formosa 390 miles off the coast of China 380 miles from the southern tip of Japan 510 miles from the northern tip of Luzon 920 miles from Tokyo 1,100 miles from Chunking 1,130 miles from Guam 5,300 miles from New York City The shortest line from the BLOCK ISLAND to New York City, we -knew, was by the way of Tokyo. Our planes carried quarter ton bombs to Shuri Castle and dropped them squarely on the wrought steel gates of that formidable stronghold, bursting them open for our land forces. Other 500 pounders were dropped on the big twin airfields of Miyako Jima. Once our planes came over a battlefield early in the morning, found a troop carrier truck rolling up the road with thirty Japs sitting on the rail. Then suddenly there was none. The planes launched their rockets into cave entrances until whole hillsides quaked with internal explosions. They damaged airfields until the busy little yellow bees got tired of repairing them. Enemy installations of every kind were attacked and an- nihilated. The BLOCK ISLAND Marines proudly reported the havoc tl1ey wrought upon the enemy.

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- I L I I PROCLAMATIO PRESIDENT TR UMAN HAS PR OCLAIMED THE UN C ONDI TI ONAL SURRENDER OF GERMANY: Friday, 11' May 1945 MYOU AND YOUR ALLIES HAVE WON A GREAT VIC- TORY. THE PRICE WAS HIGHQ IT HAS BEEN WON BY DETERMINATION, SACRIF ICE AND BLOOD. WITH THIS VICTORY YOU HAVE WON SOMETHING MOREg THE ADMIRATION AND GRATITUDE OF AMERICANS AND THE WORLD. THE TASK HAS NOW BEEN HALF ACCOMPLISHED. ANOTHER POWERFUL ENEMY RE- MAINS. IT WILL REQUIRE ALL OUR RESOLVE AND FORTITUDE TO DESTROY HIM. ONLY BY DOING SO CAN WE KEEP FAITH WITH THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN. LET US NOW GO FORWARD TO SPEEDY AND COMPLETE VICTORY IN THE PACIFIC.