Hancock (CV 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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French Indo-China Feels Fury of American Air Attack Launching attacks against Japanese positions on the l7th of October, the Hannah's planes flew daily strikles against the islands of Cebu, Panay, Negros and Masbate, pounding airfields and shipping until the Zl st lone day beyond A-dayl when Rear Admiral T. L. Sprague's assisting escort carriers took over the job of close-in ground support and strategic bombing. Thus relieved, the Hannah retired toward Ulithi for rearming and provision- ing. While enroute to Ulithi the I-lannah received informationlof strong enemy units in the Visayan Sea area-one unit sortied Jap-held Singapore through the Sulu Sea and into the more confined, island-bordered Visayan Sea-another entered the Subuyan Sea from west of Mindoro. While the Hannah reversed course to the westward, flyers from her sister carriers caught up with the southern and central forces, damaging a battle- ship and several cruisers. The planes were forced to retire for fuel even as the enemy seemed to retreat toward the South China Sea. The westbound Hannahfs four racing screws drove the waves under her curved clipper bow higher and higher through the night even as the little damaged southern force attempted to transit narrow Suriago Strait. Lying in wait for just such a move was a formidable force of battleships, cruisers and destroyers under Vice Admiral J. B. Oldendorf, u.s.N. At about

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airfields and assembled shipping. The Hannah's planes racked up their first kills in a highly successful sweep which reduced Japanese surface forces by a submarine-tender, a large tanker, a medium freighter, one small oiler, one oil barge, one LST and six luggers. Listed as probably sunk were four medium freighters, six smaller oilers and seven additional .luggers. Jap air power was reduced by seven aircraft potted on the ground by raiding Hannah fight- ers. Air Group Seven lost one scout bomber to anti-aircraft fire. Striking again while the Japanese were off balance, fast carriers swung north and east through the night to launch strikes against Formosa on Columbus Day. Hitting the north and east coasts the Tasld Force found it had stirred up a real nest of Mitsubishis. As the sun set over the East China Sea a swarm of almost a hundred Japanese aircraft set upon Task Force 38.2. Two confirmed kills were credited to the Hannah's AA guns in a series of raids which lasted for over seven hours. Dawn arose over the nearby Ryukyu lslands as the Japanese retreated to taste another daylight attack on their home fields by the newly-initiated Hannah's bombers and fighters. Attacking again during the nights of October l3th and l4th the Japanese managed to get torpedoes home to the cruisers Houston and Canberra, but both ships were able to make port under their own power. During the attack one plane was shot down within SOO yards of the Hannah. The morning of the l-4th found Air Group Seven airborne again and raiding Taien airfields and shipping along the Formosa coast. As the carrier force retired to the southeast during the afternoon, a heavy force of enemy planes broke through the CAP iCombat Air Patroll to land several close ones along- side the Hannah. Death w-histled close to the crew of a 20mm mount as a 'SOO-pound bomb penetrated the thin steel gun platform to explode harmlessly in the water below. The near-miss spelled finis for the enemy dive-bomber and the after- noon foray painted another rising sun on the island scoreboard. The few remaining enemy planes were forced t-o withdraw and the Battle of the Taiwan iFormosal Sea ended as Task Force 38.2 withdrew to aid in the amphibious landings in the Philippines. Radio Tokyo's -hyperbolical claims of a smashing Japanese victory failed to mention the 9l5 planes lost but told .only of the crippled American Navy pursued by the revenging forces of the Japanese Imperial Fleet. A strong enemy force actually sortied Empire waters on October l6th but garbled radio reports from search planes prevented proper location of the enemy units until too late for effective attack. Enemy search planes had sighted the American Fleet and finding it far from crippled, prudently withdrew to the Inland Sea. Admiral Halsey's Third Fleet retired from the East China Sea, in accordance with prearranged plans, to support General Douglas MacArthur's return to the Philippines. Tribute to the Third Fleet's prowess lay in the softening-up assignment which was to eliminate enemy gun positions, planes and ship- ping as well as prevent the enemy fleet from breaking through to the beach- heads as they had at the Savo Island Battle of Guadalcanal. .

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Hannalfs First Party Dress Fuelmg LSM at Sea