Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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1 ,A PELELIU AIRFIELD LAID WASTE BY OUR BARRAGE I hadnnt seen a Jap all morning. There was no return fire. We Werenit fooled, however. We had learned his game through bitter experience. He was only waiting for us to take him for granted. I knew all this, but in spite of it I was feeling pretty brave as I flew back and forth at 1,000 feet looking for targets. The ship wanted more active targets. More active targets-hell! That wasn't the way these birds fought. They didn't move 'til you got a flame-thrower on their tails. I was beginning to wish they would open up just for a change! Then out of nowhere, tracers swished past me. Where were they coming from? Damn-they were all around. At last I identified the firing. They were fighters from our own carriers plunging down atop our spotting planes, strafing all the Way. It was a narrow squeak but I got out whole and barked a message to the ship: 'Treelancelv I bellowed. This is Ace. Dammit, give me the Word on these car- rier strikes. That last one nearly got mef' The carrier planes finally retired, and we Louisville pilots' pulled in on a new target. It was a good-sized blockhouse-- easy money for Lady Loufs boys. Then, suddenly, I realized someone else had taken the target under fire. A fat old bat- tle-wagon, that looked like the deacon of our church back home, was the culprit when-swish-boom-. 'cHello, Freelance, this is Ace. Our next target has been destroyed. A sixteen-inch did the job. Twenty minutes gas left. Request orders. Over. 127

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Opposite page: Underwater demolition teams operating close to the beach TARGET DESTROYEDI position charges which clear the coral reefs from the paths of invasion barges. Ace, this is Freelance. Return to base. Over. NThis is Ace, Wilco, out. As l headed for the ship I began think- ing over the day. Weid done pretty Well. We'd knocked out pill boxes and block- houses, and Worked over the ravine. While taking a look at the terrain below, my eye suddenly came upon a cave with stores piled high in front of it. Gas was low, but, hell, this had to be taken care of. Hlfreelance, this is Ace. live spotted a cave. Suggest We get it. Over. Realigning our grid co-ordinates, we took the target under fire. nlfreelance, this is Ace. We've been hitting all around it. Hold fire While l go down to take a look. As I dipped low before the cave the first time, I got no response. Hm-m-m-m, I thought, that was good. Wcid go down for a better look. Thatis what the ,laps were Waiting for. As we came in low a 20-mm. lashed out at our boxseat chariot. Bullets drove through the wings, bursting in dull grey puffs of smoke and a splattering of fire, as I gave her the gun and got out of there. 'cYou all right back there, Radio? I shouted. c'Yes, sir, he blurted. 'gBut let's get out of here. Do you think those Wings will stand a landing?,' I assured him she was flying all right and We headed for home 129