Hancock (CV 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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Taking ca Drink 4'

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f 1 l i X L Q -fr, - l ., 4 4 Jap 540-Poiifhcler Pliwiged Through This 20mm Platform Without Exploding CVE's, supporting the landings at Samar, sent air groups into the Sulu Sea after the fleeing survivors of the night battle, leaving only anti-submarine patrols in the vicinity. Steaming eastward through San Bernardino Strait, a central enemy force launched a surprise attack against the thin-skinned CVE's as air strikes were frantically recalled to fend off the threat of total annihilation. The six jeep carriers wheeled into the wind and retired at flank speed from a force of four battleships, about eight cruisers and as many destroyers. The plucky carriers had not the speed of their larger sisters and were soon flanked by the fast enemy cruisers and battleships. The valiant destroyer screen laid down a torpedo attack under smoke screen cover from which the Hoely Johnston and the DeRoberts failed to return. Early in the action the Gambier Bay went down under a rain of shells from the enemy cruisers and every ship was holed again and again

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Fighter Tuning Up for Take-Off Rockets for Luzon Strike