Heywood Edwards (DD 663) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 13 text:

Sliiiiia aiilii ' ld. Allacki ' d li -iii lr plane wliicli ua -|)la.-lif(l. . ' 50. . . DcsliDM ' d iiiiiic whiili was in i i-ii- III iif jialjiil ana laki ' n li llii- lii|i ilinin;; llir ni :lil {Mhnl. Ii..inl ai.l. ' l alia U , an.l aiilirl,! uilli liil- I r.-(lil.-.l (III 1 j;ii.mi(l.-.l |)lani . M llaiiav-iMl Okinawa Ulaml ami nlirc-d willi ;;i(iU|). M ' RII. I luo .nriin | laiM lire kl.- l foiinalion anil llii-. -Iiiii hrc ' cl mi iinc. Joini ' d la k iinil In foini pif-landiiif; lioinliardmi-iil. lii-acli partio swarmed ashore i n onlaii ail held. 2 .. . I ' lane closed forma- tion and passed poll side rather elose. made a siii- lide run on Litidsay Iml crashed . idll arils astern of this ship. .5. . .Harrassed Nahalown.and Matului IVninsula. . ' v . .Screened l„hil,- olT af:o Wan fo, lire support duties. ( . . iolent air attacks le cl- opeil on all portions of Okinawa as I dilTeri ' iit raids rained homhs to the north and several radar pickets were hit. I ' riiiiilr was sunk seconds after the Slan- Iry received tile lirst low attack of a Haka homh. Fire support discontinued to meet ioli ' iil air at- tacks now closiiij: to iininediale localil . Four ' Jud s ' approaihed dead ahead and the l.riilzr opened tire. I ' lanes continued to (lose this ship and within M(l seconds after this ship opened lire, all I |)lanes were splashed. Opened lire on low llxiiif; plane that almost immediateh found its mark on the . rti(t nili. .shifted lire onto another that suicided another destroyer and noted rii(()nil disappear- iiif; in pall of a iidoiit explosion, enierfiiiif; some lime later dead in the water smokiii ' ; hea il . Lfutze went to the en iiiiiih ' s assistance and then this ship lired on another |)lane that successfulh hit holh the l.i ' ulzr and the Xfiiconih. 7 . . . San Franiiscti escaped torpedo hred at her l) Kamikaze who hit the cruiser himself. Cloiitiiiued scieeniii ' ; U r.sl I uf iiiia. (loiiimencecl lire upon low Ihinj; plane that crashed into Maiylantl. !... Screened St. Louis in homhardiii : alia town. 9. . Screened Muinvapolis in deep fire supjioit mission. 10... Harrassed aha in conipan with Leary. 11 He- liexed ) illiani I), f ' orlrr on harrassiiif; lui-sion (di Naha. 12. . . (lommenced call fire with Hiloxi de- spile anno iii; air attacks in icinit . I.S...Call (ire with I ' dillniiil. II.. . Assij;iied close tire sup- port with liinniiiiiliiim and I ' orllaiul in operation ajiaiiist le Shima. Heckler raids ihrou hoiit the nij;hl. I . .. Joined le Shima j;idiip and duiin;; ni iiil tired at eke thai dosed this hip. i ' lane was hit and rallied imniedialel . Momliarded le Shiin.i piioi to landin zs and -poradi( air allai ks developed. IT l)(la( lied from le liima operation and l oml)aiile(l Ke u Point. Joined . iiii t itinciscii. ' ) . . Kelieved I ' irkitifi on liomliardment of aka- j;asiikii an I liiickner Ha l in onalmrii area in | reparalioii for troop |)usli to llie south. 20. . .(!all tire with H . I). I ' lirlir. .S . Louis, and Uulrliins. 2.5 . . . Hartoii and Iruiii made sonar contacts on either side of us and we were direi ted to assist Iruin. Iruiii and lUirlou dropped har| i-s. 2. ' J . . Helieved ' -(( Orltun.t on lire -iipport duties. 27. . Screened I fnucs.sfr in lire support mission. Heckler raids kept area alixe with possihie raids on difTerenl s» ' e- lion of island. .50. . . Fsi dried Tinmssrr and U irh- 11(1 Id Naka usuku Wan i Kik kiier |{a i. 1 W I .. Harrassed enemy line- from aka;:a- -iikii Wan supporting forces ashore. 2-. ' 5. . .(iorilin- iied hariassiiif; encin lines, l-.i ... Suicide hoals made delermined allai k on ships in Naka asuku Wan and explosidn were seen when lioals were hit ( (iiKcnlraled KiMM tire. if:ht si per raid- kepi area alive all ni ' ;ht. 7. . Fired at enenn in- slallalions in (iinpan with Lfury and trkan. ' ni. ' i in aka :asiiku W an. !. . . . l noon all ships in Okinawa area lire a full saKo in celehralioii of -F l)a . Patrolled . s. W . portion of Okinawa harrassin cricin lines. 0. . Relieved Louf sliau for da lirinj;. II Held up liriii : in compain with C.olorailo and Hruir liecause of expelled hea air raid thai was handled courafieoiisK li the picket line to the north. Kesiimed tire on alia. I .t . . . Pid ided (all tire for heach parlies. Id- 1 7 Fired in sujiport of artillery liarrajie on Naha. lo... t 071(1 LoUfi- shau iDD.i.iMl reported she had •;one aground on a reef southwest of Naha aiitield. Jap shore lial- lei opened up on the Lonii.sliuu and she imiiie- dialeh commenced counlei -tire, fter takin-; sev- eral hits the Loufi.shau Mew up violeiith. » Men Miiwii (p|T Lorifi.shau were treated for injuries ahoaid llii- ship. 10-20. .. Harrassed and hom- liarded Naha. 21 . . Reliev ed |) f icivi ie.s and com. nieiK cd tire in Naka-iasuku Wan oxer onoharii villafie. 2. ' i . . Fired with (7..v ' r ' oxer diiohaiu. 21. . Fired a :ainsl southern Okinaxxa. 2.i . . .Dur- ing C.hineii Peninsula, rt . . . ' I ' xxo lioj;ies reported in llie 2.1II1 eiicnix planes 1 ontiiuied |o hil area, . ' il . . . THEY COULDN T BE SUNK W , ' I

Page 12 text:

conceal movements. During retirement this ship was taken under enemy fire and se eral enemy projec- tiles landed close aboard with one shell landing in our wake as retirement began. The following morn- ing a destro er of the Asa.thio class lay dead in the water and was iniinediateK taken under fire b this ship and sunk with many sur i ors prefering death to capture. 26. . . Patrolled entrance to Leyte Gulf. 27.. -Joined group to proceed to aid escort carrier force. 31 . . .Relie%ed Ammen on picket pa- trol; fired on Francis . No apparent damage. NOVEMBER. . .1 .. .Joined Mississippi. Calijornia. Pennsylvania. Phoenix. Boise. H.MAS Shropshire. and ! ashvi!le. Bettv made single attack attempt in what appeared to be a torpedo run on this ship hut five inch batterv forced plane to turn sharplv. No hits scored. 2 . . . On radar picket off Dinagat ! • land. Air raid of 5 planes closed formation and at- tacked DE on picket. One plane, a Val . came di- rectlv at this ship but turned away when five inch bursts landed too close for comfort. 5-9. . .Patrol- ling south Surigao Strait. No incidents. 10-15... Patrolled off Leyte Gulf. 25... Joined Pennsyl- vania. .1 .- .S ' IVarranuinga enroute to Seeadler Harbor. .Admiralty Islands. 20. . . .Arrived Seead- ler Harbor. DECEMBER. . .15. . .lnderwa with Calijornia en- route Kossol Passage. Palau Islands. U!.... Ar- rived Kossol Passage. 25. . . Connnander A. L. Shepherd. U. S. Navy, relieved Commander J. . Boulware. U. S. Navy, as Commanding Officer. JANT ARY. . . 1 . . .1 nderway to Leyte Gulf in com- pany with the force of 2 BB s 2 CA s. 1 CL. 8 CVE s. 3. . .Entered the Mindanao sea enroute to Lingayeii Gulf. 4. .. Formation attacked b enemy planes with se eral ' A als and Jakes making suicide at- tacks against carriers. 6. . .Heaviest air attacks b Japanese suicide pilots. This ship in compain with Portland. Colunihia. California. Pennsylvania and Colorado bombarded landlocked ba area where sporadic enemv air attacks turned the area into concentrated flak. Ship assisting in splashing two enenn planes, one nicking the R. P. Lt ' ary on her No. 2 gun. 7. . .Bondiarded the .Agno river area and provided close fire support to the beach reconnais- sance, o. . . Harrassed enemv beachheads. 9. . . Pro- ided left w ing for assault troops that landed virtu- all unopposed. Provided bombardment facilities for group mo ing east toward the mouth of the Dagupan Ri er. Sinmltaneous suicide attacks against Uississippi and UM.4S Australia. 10. . . Fired on suicide headed in sleep dive for Saufly. Plane missed and crashed into water. Retired with tafk force to co er beachhead and re-supplv con- o s. 1 1-10. .. Cruising in company with Task (jroup covering approaches to Lingayan (Julf. 17 ...Recovered pilot off Lunga Point. Joined eii Mexico entering Lingayen (iulf. 22 . . . Lnderwa with California. Neiv Mexico, Barton. Loiiry. AVh- coinh. Leu ' .ze. Ingraham. Bennion. R. P. Leary to I lithi in western Carolines Islands. 27. . Arrivc ' d I lithi. anchored I rushi anchorage. FEBRUARY . .1(1. . .1 nderway for Saipan. Mari- annas Islands. 12. . . rri ed Saipan. 11. . . I nder- wav. enroute to Iwo Jima. olcano Islands. 16. . . Took position off hea v ships for bombardment of Iwo Jima. 18. . .Plane from Chichi Jima closed this ship astern and dropped bomb alongside Chandler (DMS-9). No firing was possible. Another plane glided in past this ship low on water and struck the Gamble. 19... Marines hit beach. Enem niortar fire straddled bow of this ship. Landings made at great cost as enemy emplacements l)ogged down landing craft. 20. .. Provided call fire for beach parties. 22-24. . .Provided call fire and picket dut for Northwest sector of Iwo. On 24th of Februarv. Bryant (DI)665l ranmied this ship on starboard quarter opening; a hole 3 feet wide. 12 feet fore and aft. 25. . . Provided harras ' ing fire until ordered to repair hull damage. 27. . Completed temporarv repairs and took departure froTn Iwo Jima to Sai- pan for hull repairs. M.ARCH. . .2. . ..Arrived Garapan Harbor, Saipan — ordered to Tanapag Harbor for repairs. 9 . . . De- parted for LJithi Atoll in V( estern Caroline Islands. 21 . .1 nderwa with task force enroute Okinawa. R ukus Islands. 25. . .Supported underwater de- molition teams and beach reconnaissance in offen- si e against Kerama Retto. Expended almost 2000 rounds during operation of initial landings on is- lands southwest of Okinawa, harrpssing encTuv posi- tions. 27 . Fired on VaF that later crashed into evada. Fired on Francis wh ' ch crashed 1500 ards astern of this ship. Picked up pilot. 28. . . Patrolled le Shima. Assisted destro er under at- tack bv enemv suicide boat. 29. .. Harrassed le

Page 14 text:

Firing llli ioll ill akaf;a.-Likii Wan i ri ' I inin- liai u. JLl E. . .1. . .Fired in coinpam with Laiis. I ' oilhuul and West Virginia on ( hinen Saki. 2-3. . .In (din- pan with Vinceiines. Barton and Rooks hondiaid- inp ( ' hiiien Peninsuhi. r . . . Two hofiies reported in area (lose to Okinawa; siiirided into Lonisviiic and Mississippi who were !! miles south of this shi|). ()•! 1 . . . Harrassed enemy lines in comijany with spotting plane. Destroyed caves in southern porticni of Chiiien Peninsula. 12... Call fire on Naha. Ki . . . Pro ided aerial cover for task fjroup south ol Senaga Shima. 14... First quiet night in over a month was spent at Hagushi anchorage. 1.5. . .Per- formed flycatcher duly with Twiggs and Callng- lian. 16. . .Flycatcher dut east of southern part of island. 17. . .Fired on 200 Jap troops which an LCI could observe nioving on the beach. 19...l ' sual night illumination with harrassing fire on troo|)s ashore. 23. . .Accompanied Guest for night mission, illuminating. 24. . .LCI 549 rammed this vessel at how denting hullnose but no serious damage sus- tained. 26. . .Steaming in company with Compston. Gainanl. 3 LSTs, and accompanying mineswee|)- ers to Kume Shima for boml ardment of Zental town. 27.. .In conipan with FuUani and Cla.xton to relieve Aiishiinic on radar picket guarding planes from Saki Shima. JULY. . .2. . .Cunningham relieved this ship on radar picket. 24 . . . Left in company with Leary and Au- lick to assume duties on radar picket. Two planes of our combat patrol crashed nearby and Leary proceeded to rescue survivors. 27. .. .Relieved b Laiis. Dyson, and Callaghan on radar picket. 2o. . . Proceeded with Cal il lo and Leary to Le te Island. Callaghan sunk during evening raid on picket sta- tion we left. 31 . . .Entered Surigao Strait and San Pedro anchorage in Levte Gulf. AUGUST. . . 1 . . .Crew had liberty at Osmena Center on Samar Island for first time since departure from Ulithi on March 21. Ship has spent 128 da s on the fciiwaid area in dircil imilac 1 vvilli llic cniiin c - iT day. 2. . . Kn ionic Saipaii u ilh Lrai . I 0-1 1 . . . In inner pra liaili(M in-lalling iiru gnu |iaiirl . 1.1, , I ' lc-idcnl Tiinnaii lirciadca-l llial the Japan- ese liad agreed In siiirendei under the I ' olsdain Dec- laration. 16. . .Proceeded with I ' resiilriil l ' „lh from Guam to Eniwetok Island in the Marshalls. 19. . . Arrived Eniwetok. Shiji is to proceed to .Adak in the Aleutians to join the 9th Fleet. 20... Orders cancelled. Instead this ship escorts the Chnndeleur ihe 29th. 29. . .Underway with Cliandeleiir to the Omiiiato Naval Base on the island of Honslui in Japan. Occupation wilh the 9th Fleet o|)eiatiiig in the iicrthern portion of the Japanese home islaiid . SEPTEMBER. . .2. . Heard broadcast of the official cajjitulation of Japan in Tokyo Bay aboard the U. S. S. Missouri. This ship still enroute Oniinalo Naval Base for occupation of area. 7-11.. .Paln l- ling eastern entrance to Tsugaru Strait belueeii Japanese home islands of Hokkaido and Honshu. 12. . Entered the straits at noon wilh Leary. Ben- limn and Wainurighl. Anchored in Ominato Ko. 19. .. Underway with Japanese convov escorting them to Tokyo. 22. . .Arrived Tokyo, disposed of convoy. 23. .. Departed Tokyo escorting Tippe- canoe back to Ominato aval Base. 26. . . Arrived Ominato Ba . 29. . First official flag raising cere- monies in northern Honshu made bv Rear Admiral Denebrink. OCTOBER. . . 1-7. . Patrolling Tsugaru Straits, i!. . . Relieved as entrance patrol. Proceeded to anchorage at Ominato. 11. . .Typhoon that ravaged Okinawa hit northern-most portion of Japan. 13. . .Departed for Hachinohe. Japan, to dispose of Jap ammo. 14. . Arrived Hachinohe. 19. . Relieved bv A. IT. Grant. Proceeded to Ominato. 22 . . . Departed from Ominato for Pearl Harbor. T. H. 31 .. .Arrived Pearl Harbor. NOVEMBER. . .3. . . Deparii Seattle, asliiiigton. 10. . inalon. I Pearl llail».i iindUU Ani c l Sealllc. W ash CAPTAIN H. F. STOUT COIWIDESICOm Stt COMMODORE H. N. SMOOT -JSe