Hancock (CV 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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M ore Ammo TBM Avenger

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SBZC s Tmzl Jap Fleet Through Cloud Cover Air groups from the small carriers made strafing and bombing runs through out the action making dry runs even after all bombs had been expended The fantail 5 inch on each carrier barked out a weak but defiant challenge while the enemy cruisers closed to ll OOO yards before breaking off the attack in an unexplained but welcome retreat Vice Admiral Oldendorf s southern force was too slow to aid in the action or to drive off the enemy planes which sunk the battered St Lo and damaged the three remaining carriers l-lalseys northern force was too distant Too late, too, the Hannah's avenging planes which caught the retreating force off the northeast coast of Samar. Attacking again and again the Hannah's planes scored hits on a NACHI- class cruiser, a YAMATO-class battleship, an AGANO-class cruiser and a KONGO-class battleship. As the last strike was delivered the central enemy force lay under a heavy pall of its -own smoke. Retreating through San Ber- nardino Strait in the night the enemy force found the Hannah's planes wait- ing for it as it fled through the Visayan Sea on the morning of the 26th.

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Northward through Jintotola Channel the force entered the Sibuyan Sea where the battleship MUSASHI, Bismarck of the Jap Navy, was hit with a lOOO-pound bomb. Before noon a MOAGAMI-class cruiser had been added to the list, as well as a 5000-ton landing ship. By this time the Hannah- was forced to retire for fuel, returning on the 29th after a rendezvous with fleet tankers at sea. On the 29th the Hananh's fighters 'hit Clark, Nichols and Angeles airfields as well as shipping in Manila Harbor. The Hannah continued mopping up operations from Manila Harbor to Masbate lsland until fighter fields were ready for operation ashore. For her First Operation the Hannah had hung up an enviable record. The Japanese were minus ninety-seven planes, four large warships, twelve mer- chant ships and 'her shipyards were in for some real patching if the cripples ever made port. ln Ulithi liberty and recreation were provided by beach par- ties with beer, hot dogs and baseball games on the coral island of Mog-Mog. The clear green-blue waters gave up many new varieties of fish to the in- veterate few, persevering enough to spend long hours in open whaleboats under the sticky heat of this low-altitude archipelago. OPERATION TWO For her Second Operation the Hannah caught a brief but whirlwind assign- ment--the mopping up of airfields which had been heavily reinforced during the fleet week just passed. Turning to with characteristic vigor, Air Group Seven supported army ground troops and made shipping sweeps over a 350- mile area to knock out several small vessels around Masbate lsland, south of Manila. A typhoon set in during the second week in November, forcing Direct Hit on Magami Class Cruiser-October 29, 1944