Duncan (DDR 874) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 58 text:

MAYDAY ! ! Wliilc- conJucthi routine fli lit operations some sixty miles from liis carrier, tlie USS Pliilippine Sea, (CVA 47), Ensign M.E. BraJcn liuinJ that tlic date of July 20, 1954 was to be a memorahle one in liis naval carreer. Noting tkat liis Corsair was func- tioning improperly, lie cneckeu tlie crowJecl instrument panel in Iront of liim, and swiftly JeciJecl tliat tne main difficulty lay witfi a faulty lube oil line, and tnat tlie distance tetween him and liis carrier was too great to attempt, and,tliat lie was forced to ditcli tne aircraft. Scanning tlie liostilc waters of tlic Soutli Cliina Sea lielow, lie spotted tlie USS DUNCAN, tusily conducting tlie duties of a radar picket destroyer of TosL Force 77. Informing tlie DUNCAN of tlie nature of liis troulde liy voice radio, Ens. Braden paralleled tlic course of tlie DUNCAN, and made all of tlie arrangements necessary Lefore tlie craslilanding of tlie plane. As tlie stricken aircraft lost altitude and neared tlie point of impact, tlie DUNCAN ' S alert crew stormed into action. Tlie squalling of tlie Punlic Address System, and tne cracHing of sound-powered teleplione circuits notified all necessary personnel, and in less time tnat is required to tell of it, tlie DUNCAN ' S wnalenoat was manned and lowered under tne capaLle direction of LTJG P.R. Orser, who assumed tne responsinility of Boat Officer. As is tlie usual case in an undertaking of tiiis nature, tne Doat was efficiently manned, in addition to LIJG Orser, witli full rescue crew. 1 lie crew wnicli so effectively nandlea tne task on tnis occasion was composed of D. E. CARDENAS, as Coxswain, D. A. MERCIER as BowKook, B. A. MCDANIEL as Engineer, S. A. LEMLER as Quartermaster to liandle visual communications witli tlie DUNCAN, G. D. DUNKLEBERGER, Hospital Corpsman, and B. I . REIKEN as tlie Qualified Swimmer, wnicn must accompany all floats in sucli instances. Wnen Ens. Braden s iilaiie struck tne water some 900 yards from tne DUNCAN ' S port quarter, a time lapse no greater tlian five minutes liad occurred liefore hns. I3raden was safe anoard tlie noat, wet, dislieveled, nut extremely relieved. Carried to tlie DUNCAN lor a cliange of clotlies and tlie jiroverhial tracer Ensign Braden discovered tlie companionsliip and liosiiitalily for wliicli tlie destroyer Navy is so famous, and during tlie two-day stay wliicli followed liis tliird rescue from a downed aircraft, kad an opportunity to kecome familiar wliitli tlie operation and equipment of a DDR. It was witk a great reluctance tliai the DUNCAN received tlie Philippine Sea ' s helicopter at the end of this period for his return transfer, for Ensign ]?raden made many friends during his visit ahoard. 46