Hancock (CV 19) - Naval Cruise Book

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Y'Ami lsland, northernmost of the 7,000 islands comprising the Philippine Archipelago land -only ninety-three miles from Taiwanl , was abeam to port about midnight and morning found the l-lannah well into the South China Sea in search of scattered remnants of the Japanse Fleet and Air Arm. Morning also found enemy planes striking at the task force but fighters were vectored in for interception and only one succeeded in getting close. The lone Jap managed to elude the fighter screen and first appeared t-o watchers on the Hannah to be a particularly bright star glowing eeriely in the dis- torting predawn light. The Combat Information Center informed gun crews to be on the lookout for an enemy plane hit by the fighter screen twenty miles out but still coming. Even as t-he warning came in, the star was made out as a two-engine bomber with left motor ablaze. The l-lannah's batteries opened up as the bogey came within range but the fighter's earlier hits took effect even as the 20's and 40's commenced their staccato bark. The bomber's left wing dropped crazily and the bogey spun in, only a ship's length from the Hannah. Steaming southward, the scuttlebutt lrumors aboard shipl ran from land- ings on the China coast to the actual intention and hope of Admiral McCain Carrier Row

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Uncle Sugar Reports Retiring at dusk the night fighters again kept peace through the hours before morning twilight. Leaving the coast of Formosa, the Hancock and her cohorts drove southeast again to rendezvous with the Enterprise on Janu- ary 5th for strikes on the 6th against Luzon in preparation for the coming invasion on Lingayen Gulf. Striking hard at Cabanatuan, Mabalacat, Banban and other Luzon airfields, carrier planes hit targets on the 6th and 7th, main- taining patrols over each field from dawn until dark. Each evening the Enterprise and lndependence launched night fighters to heckle enemy ground troops and keep down enemy night raids. These heckler raids proved the most effective means yet devised to beat down enemy morale and resistance as round-the-clock bombing became the order of the day. On D-l day the Third FIeet's Fast Carrier Force swung north again to hit airfields on Formosa, clearing landing strips of new arrivals from the Empire. Strikes on the 9th were directed against Heito, Kato, Kos-hun, Giran and the Tokilo Seaplane Station. During the night Task Force 38 retired southward through Bashi Channel into the China Sea.

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Small Boy Races for Downed Aviator -a final battle with the remainder of the Japanese Fleet. Turning into the wind on the lZth, the carriers launched attacks against Quinholm on the northeastern bulge of French Indo-China, hitting airfields and shipping to the bewilderment of surprised Japanese garrisons. Roaming southward un- checked, the carriers turned just short of the Gulf of Siam lThailandl to hit Saigon. Camranh Bay also felt the force of naval planes when an entire convoy in the bay was sunk with its escorts. Outguessing the off-balanced Japanese, the Hannah's sisters swung north again to hit l-lainan Island in the Gulf of Tonkin, then north and east again to hit the Pescadores Islands in Tawain Strait. Striking swiftly at enemy airfields and Rising Sun shipping, the fast carriers held a northward course to the very mouth of Taiwan Strait before turning back to hit the coast of China again. On the l5th, raiding planes hit Jap-held l-long Kong and Kowloon, encountering the most anti- aircraft fire experienced in the entire operation. The Hannah lost six pilots and five aircrewmen in combat. ln spite of severe enemy resistance attacks were pressed home with much damage to enemy installations again on the l6th. Targets on the l6th were the Sanchu, Chian airfield and shipping in the harbor at l-long Kong lVictorial and nearby Kowloon. 4