Chandeleur (AV 10) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 19 text:

Thanksgiving dinner spoiled by General Quarters. ULITHI AND SAIPAN— A BREATHING SPELL Having completed her mission at KOSSOL PASSAGE, the U. S. S. CHANDELEUR got underway Christmas Day 1944 for ULITHI, CAROLINE ISLANDS, arriving the next day. We stayed at ULITHI for over a month carrying out routine maintenance on the fifteen PBM-3D ' s of VPB.21 and enjoying a breathing spell from the no-liberty port of KOSSOL PASSAGE. On 8 February 1945 we got underway for SAIPAN, MARIANAS, where we remained until 23 March. The routine here was much the same as at ULITHI. However, things be- gan getting busier during the end of our stay at SAIPAN and we knew that another opera- tion was shaping up. KERAMA RETTO AND THE OKINAWA CAMPAIGN On 23 March 1945, the U. S. S. CHANDE- LEUR embarked on what was to be the most important and difficult operation of her career. The task group consisted of three AV ' s (HAMLIN, ST. GEORGE, CHANDE- LEUR) and four AVP ' s (ONSLOW, BER- ING STRAIT, SHELIKOF, YAKUTAT) with Commander Fleet Air Wing One, Com- modore Dixwell KETCHAM, in the HAM- LIN as CTG and OTG. While still underway we learned that our destination was KERAMA RETTO, a small group of islands in the NAN- SEI SHOTO or RYUKYU chain, seventeen miles west of OKINAWA. Task Group 51.20 arrived at KERAMA RETTO 28 March 1945 only one day after the 77th Division, U. S. Army had landed and secured part of the group. Thus 28 March found us at KERAMA RETTO on D plus 1 Day for that group and D minus 3 Day for OKINAWA itself where the initial landing was made on 1 April 1945, Easter Sunday morning. Immediately prior to leaving SAIPAN, our squadron, VPB-21, completed a change-over from PBM-3D aircraft to the PBM.5 type. Throughout the OKINAWA campaign VPB- 21 used fifteen PBM-5 ' s on their bombing, search, and rescue missions. On 29 March 1945, before any planes had departed on flights, this vessel assumed control of seadrome operations and remained Sea- drome Control Tender until relieved by the U. S. S. KENNETH WHITING on 5 August just before our departure for SAIPAN. Dur- ing the period 29 March through 30 April 1945 the CHANDELEUR also had the duty of FLEET POST OFFICE ANNEX and ban- died air service for the press to COMVIAND- ERINCHIEF,PACIFICOCEANSAREA, Public Relations, Guam. At KERAMA RETTO the seaplane main- tenance problem was made more difficult be- cause of the number of planes returning from missions badly damaged from enemy ac- tion — frequently in a sinking condition. Then, too, much valuable working time was lost due to Red and Blue Alerts. In order to keep the planes flying, it became necessary to work even during Flash Blue, using dimmed lights at night. Only when General Quarters was sounded, did the maintenance crews leave their work. While on the subject of General Quarters and enemy attacks, it is interesting to note that the CHANDELEUR went to General Quarters 204 times between 28 March and 15 July, a period of a little over three and one-half months. During this time enemy aircraft were brought under fire by the ship ' s guns on eight occasions, hits being scored at least twice. One enemy single-engine aircraft was splashed at 0121 29 April 1945. This plane came through a gap between two nearby is- lands, headed directly toward the CHANDE- LEUR. It was tracked and taken under ac- curate fire from two 40 mm. and eight 20 mm. guns at close range, (before any other ship opened fire). The plane pulled up momentar- ily, then fell into a dive crashing into the water and exploding about 30 seconds later. The second time our guns scored hits was on the evening of 21 June 1945. At about 1838 two enemy planes, later identified as a FRANK and an OSCAR, approached our anchorage without warning and at low altitude. The FRANK immediately crashed into the U. S. S. CURTISS and the OSCAR circled to attack this vessel. Due to the alertness of the CHANDELEUR ' s fire control personnel the enemy plane changed its course and crashed about 10 yards short of the port side of the nearby KENNETH WHITING. Sev- eral hits were scored by our 20 mm. and 40 mm. gunners and the CHANDELEUR was cred- ited with an assist for her part in splashing the would-be KAMIKAZE. It was decided to move the seaplane base from KERAMA RETTO to OKINAWA proper and so on 15 July, after 109 busy days at KERAMA, the CHANDELEUR got un- derway for CHIMU WAN, OKINAWA in company with other units of Task Group 30.5. At our new location, this vessel continued tending planes for VPB- 21 with our same ad- ditional duties as Seadrome Control Tender. During the three weeks we were at CHIMU

Page 18 text:

THE SAIPAN OPERATION On 18 May 1944, the U. S. S. CHANDE- LEUR got underway from N. S. D. Oakland for Pearl Harbor. From Hawaii our next stop was KWAJALEIN in the Marshall Islands, which we reached on 5 June 1944. After two weeks at KWAJALEIN, we departed for ENIWETOK. Arriving at ENIWETOK the CHANDELEUR took over the duty of tend- ing these patrol squadrons. Each squadron was made up of fifteen PBM-3D ' s. Then came our orders to get underway and on 23 June 1944 we left for SAIPAN, MARI- ANAS, which had been invaded by U. S. forces less than 10 days before. Arriving at SAIPAN on 26 June we immediately began tending our PBM ' s under the overall com- mand of Captain TAFT, G. O., U.S.S. POKO- MOKE. Captain TAFT was succeeded soon after our arrival at SAIPAN by Commodore Dixwell KETCHAM, U. S. N., Commander Fleet Air Wing One. Operating conditions at SAIPAN were not always of the best due to rough water, high winds, and enemy shore batteries. This vessel was anchored in GARAPAN BAY and on several occasions the ship ' s planes came under fire from enemy shore guns scattering shrapnel and doing some minor damage to the PBM ' s. At one time, there was a bad run of weather with 15 to 20 foot swells. Plane maintenance crews had to go over the side into their boats via cargo nets and the sea made working on the planes extremely hazardous. During the GHANDELEUR ' s stay on SAI- PAN we went to General Quarters many times but were never under actual attack, the raiders seemingly being intent on creating a nuisance and preventing the ship and squadron personnel from getting much-needed rest. During our stay on SAIPAN, the planes of VP-202 and VP-216 conducted long range searches and photographic missions. Planes of VH-1, a rescue and evacuation squadron, were also assigned to us for maintenance on 5 July giving the CHANDELEUR a total of 36 (thirty-six) PBM-3D ' s to keep flying. On 10 July 1944, well before the island was secured, the CHANDELEUR placed the first PB.M on the ramp of the Japanese seaplane base at SAIPAN for maintenance work. Some Chandeleur men received a commendatory mass from Gapt. Goodney for their work in preparing the ramp for operations. Putting this ramp to use greatly facilitated seaplane maintenance during this important operation. Early in September 1944 we were ordered to make preparations for a new operation. Our plane maintenance crews had thirty-six sea- planes to check before leaving and also eigh- teen engines to change but all w ork was ac- complished with time to spare. TENDING AT KOSSOL PASSAGE On 3 September 1944, Commodore Dixwell KETCHAM, U. S. N. came aboard the CHANDELEUR as Commander Fleet Air Wing One and Commander of Task Group 59.3. This flag remained aboard the AV-10 until 15 October. After completing all checks on the planes of VP-202, VP-216, and VH-1 the U. S. S. CHANDELEUR was ready to go and on 12 September, 1944 this vessel got underway as part of Task Group 59.3 consist- ing of the U. S. S. CHANDELEUR, U. S. S. POKOMOKE, U. S. S. MACKINAC, U. S. S. YAKUTAT, and U. S. S. ONSLOW. The task group proceeded to a position latitude 7 degrees 30 minutes north and longitude 138 degrees east to await further orders. Upon receiving the expected orders the task group set its course for KOSSOL PASSAGE, PALAU ISLANDS and arrived at 1130 on 16 September 1944. Hundreds of mines were being sunk on all sides, many even after we were anchored. The operation at KOSSOL PASSAGE proved to be one of our toughest jobs since the water was almost continuously rough. During one day, 7 November 1944, a wind of hurricane force hit this area with gusts up to 75 knots. Many of the seaplanes rode out this typhoon on the water but despite everything the planes were kept in commission and the patrols were met. Food had to be floated to the planes on a rubber life raft, towed by a boat, since the water was too rough for a boat to come alongside a plane. It was very import- ant that the patrols be made as our planes were flying coverage for the invasion of the PHILIPPINES. While at KOSSOL PASSAGE, VPB.202 was relieved by VPB-21, the last crew of VPB- 202 being relieved on 24 October. VH-1 was detached from our cognizance on 6 October and VPB-216 left for home on 21 November leaving the CHANDELEUR only VPB-21 to tend. The operation at KOSSOL PASSAGE was uneventful in respect to enemy action. A few nuisance raiders came over from nearby BABELTHUAP ISL.AND but there was only one instance of a bomb being dropped. On Thanksgiving Day, 30 November 1944 we got underway for dispersal due to an expected enemy air attack. The attack came off exactly on time but consisted of only one plane which dropped a bomb (causing no damage) and left the area. The only harm done was to everyone ' s disposition due to having a fine

Page 20 text:

WAN, we went to General Quarters 16 times but did no firing at enemy targets. While at CHIMU WAN, the CHANDE- LEUR had to get underway twice and stand out to sea in execution of Typhoon Plan X. Due to approaching storms, we evacuated our planes and left CHIMU WAN once on 19 July and again on 1 August. The storms quickly subsided however and operations were resumed in short order with no damage being done to any of our seaplanes. On 5 August the CHANDELEUR was relieved of Seadrome Control and the next day got underway for SAIPAN, MARI- ANAS. During the 131 days this vessel operated in the OKINAWA area, every landing and take- off made by planes of Fleet Air Wing One was controlled by us and despite 220 (two hundred twenty) general quarters, enemy at- tacks, typhoons, and other hazards to seaplane operation, we helped keep our search planes flying. A few words about the accomplishments of our squadron during the OKINAWA opera- tion would not be a risk at this point. We have tended VPB-21 continuously since 18 October 1944, eleven months together at KOSSOL PASSAGE, ULITHI, SAIPAN, KERAMA RETTO, CHIMU WAN, and now the occu- pation of JAPAN at OMINATO. In citing the deeds of the squadron at OKI- NAWA only, we are not forgetting the other months of the day-to-day patrols but since the operation at OKINAWA was undoubtedly the largest and most important seaplane operation in history, the facts about this campaign seem the most logical to present. During the OKINAWA operation. Marin- ers of VPB-21 sank nine enemy vessels, prob- ably sank three others, and damaged twenty- nine more. In addition to this, many land tar- gets were destroyed or damaged. CHANDELEUR-based PBM ' s drew first blood at OKINAWA being in on the kill of a large Japanese submarine two days before the invasion of OKINAWA. Our search planes spotted the giant Japanese battleship YAMATO on the morning of 7 April 1945 and warned the carrier planes that later de- stroyed her. During the OKINAWA operation, planes of VPB-21 rescued twenty downed airmen, shot down at least one Nip plane, and flew over five hundred combat missions for a total of 7,000 (seven thousand) hours. Close co-operation between ship and squad- ron made such accomplishments possible and in helping VPB-21 pile up such an impressive record, the U. S. S. CHANDELEUR has defi- nitely fulfilled her primary functions; to act as a floating base for the maintenance of sea- planes and for the caring of their crews. OCCUPATION OF JAPAN After leaving OKINAWA, the U. S. S. CHANDELEUR stopped first at SAIPAN, arriving there 10 August. Orders to get under- way again came and on 12 August we departed for ENIWETOK, arriving at this Marshall Is- land atoll three days later. At ENIWETOK we passed from under the cognizance of CFAW-1 for the first time in over a year and during our stay here the CHANDELEUR was under the Commander of the Marshall and Gilberts Area. The biggest news stories of the war, the atomic bomb, Russia ' s entry into the conflict, and Japan ' s surrender oflFer found us under- way between OKINAWA and ENIWETOK and the rapid cessation of hostilities left us very uncertain as to our status. After seven days availability alongside the U. S. S. LAERTES (AR.20) to make critically needed repairs in the engine room, our status began to clear as cold weather gear came aboard and the CHANDELEUR was ordered to get underway again. The official V-J day, Sunday, 2 September 1945, found us underway en route to OMI- NATO, HONSHU, JAPAN. On 6 Septem- ber the CHANDELEUR joined the main force of the North Pacific Fleet about 200 miles off the Northern coast of the main Jap- anese island of HONSHU, and thus came under direct command of Com Nor Pac, Vice Admiral Frank Jack FLETCHER, U. S. N. Reaching OMINATO on 8 September with the other units of the North Pacific Fleet, the CHANDELEUR was one of the first large ships to enter the harbor and anchor. The next morning. Admiral FLETCHER re- ceived the formal surrender of Northern HONSHU and all of HOKKAIDO from the Japanese envoys on a nearby ship, U. S. S. PANAMINT. Our PBM ' s arrived 10 September and using us as their base flew routine searches, Dumbo missions, and mail and passenger trips to TOKYO. The OMINATO operation was the culmination of the CHANDELEUR ' s war activity. On 16 October after the arrival of our relief, the U. S. S. TANGIER, we at last weighed anchor. SAIP.AN, almost our home port, was our first stop, but in less than 24 hours we had provisioned, fueled and taken on pas- sengers. On the morning of 23 October the familiar landscape of SAIPAN faded from sight and the CHANDELEUR, her days of war over, headed home.