Comet (AP 166) - Naval Cruise Book

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Battin' the Breeze 'hm MINI vi' , 3g.,1- gy, -2, A Y ,. , -if ' :fa -we-.Qv:fv..:11:J,,'z ' '45 K' -N ,F .,-rf' 155 1 1' fb IUMA 1 7 1 4 2 yr M' 4? 44 4 , , . 'S ' 'iw 1-12: , 1 , V Q M Q K0 ,,..fA.5 f -4 7,9 3' M N 3 X ,,,f ,A ,Jw , My ' - M' Lf 2wwM.,.Mfw,:f2QwZQ,x9 2,1 in Air attack-Lingayen Gulf Berled Erl

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came out with a clayyic report that will forever be rernern- bered. While rtearning along toward Leyte, the above rnen-' tioned crew rnernber noticed fornething in the sky. Here if his report, via phoner, to the bridge: linerny-air-craft-at-090 elevation if . . . Wait! I think it'f flapping ity wingrf' On D plus 2, 11 January, the convoy steamed into Lingayen Gulf on the west coast of the island of Luzon. The whole area was under dense smoke screen at the time, making ship maneuvers very hazardous. Upon anchoring about 0830, debarkation began imme- diately, and by 1400 all troops except the shipis platoon had been put ashore, and the discharge of cargo was begun. Unloading con- tinued throughout several Flash Red warnings, and numerous reports were received of enemy planes being shot down. By mid- night on 12 January the ship was completely unloaded and ready for sea. One boiler had been secured for emergency repairs, result- ing in a reduced speed. Consequently, this ship was placed in a convoy of LST's, for the return trip. The escorticarrier SALA- MAUA, which hadisustained severe damage by the enemy and was intermittently receiving help from an attendingtug, was part of the group. Since the carrier's storm rooms had been destroyed, supplies from this ship were sent to them on an LCI which came alongside while underway. . The gro-up proceeded to Leyte at a speed of advance of9'knots, encountering no enemy forces enroute. V Onlythree hours were spent at anchor in Leyte Gulf on 18 Jan- uary before the COMET received orders to proceed independently to Hollandia, to be escorted by the destroyer ROBINSGN. A mes- sage requesting medical assistance was received from the escort on 21 January, and a landing craft was lowered away to pick up the patient. Shortly thereafter a successful appendectomy was per- formed on him by Lt. Comdr. L. Bain. LUzoN RE1NFoRcEMENT Arrived in Hollandia 23 January and took on oil and water before proceeding to an anchorage in Humboldt Bay. Un the 26th 62

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The rest of the month was consumed making emergency repairs necessary because of excessive continuous service. A few passen- gers and patients returning to the States boarded for the next leg of the journey which ended at Pearl Harbor. The destroyer escort MANLOVE and PC-587 escorted the ship to Eniwetok, after which she proceeded independently for the next 11 days, arriving at Pearl Harbor 16 March. - ' Here it was .learned that the COMET was to return to San Francisco for overhaul. 400 patients from U.S.S. Naval Hospital, including some Iwo Jima casualties, were taken aboard during the next two days. Also received were a number of passengers going back for reassignment. On Sunday, 18 March, the last leg of the journey began, and a week later the COMET steamed under the Golden.Gate Bridge in San Francisco Bay and debarked all patients and passengers. T .. ' A period of 60 days availability was granted the ship for altera- tions, maintenance, and repairs, and all personnel were given 25 days leave. Everyone felt that it was well earned after serving 11 consecutive months overseas and participating in 4 major invasions. Overhaul began Z6 March at Pier 25 with the General Engineering and Drydock Company doing the work. A On March 26th the first leave xection w-as of and work began. The entire ship way changed over in many ways and when the jirft .fection returned it war, to thern., like Corning back to a new COMET. The availability expired 25 May after the ship had been dry- docked at Hunter's Point and had completed :numerous tests on Z3 and 24 May in preparation for sea. On 17 May Lt. B. Blee had been detached and Lt. K. Adams, Jr. was now the Executive Officer. Provisions, stores, and ammunition were loaded at NSD, Oakland, during the period 26-28 May and on the 31st the COMET was once again underway carrying out orders to report to Port Hueneme, California, to load Seabees destined for Okinawa in the Ryukus Islands. T ' 660 i a . iz Q S 5 l QE g . iw . il l ii .,. 4