Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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134 .. - ai A '- J - n p -H pk-PJ., . I, ,, 4:n 'l 7 .,l y 4' fi 27' ef f'9x1vllllllli1: A . ' r ' I- 4 I. 4 4- X W' ll I G ' - l' I I r 'f . In 'L ,J E In i . f ' 5' 6 2' f. .' S-1 : o .' I: ,I 'I I Qfi Ez? Ea ai If 2 .fi V is N ii, 'fel 4:1 Q' B ' L i .': 'll 1,1 if 1 'fy ' --f 1., gl U. IN .2 . . I ff, Q? :f 'g , . ,. fr, 'F ly 'fa 15 af 5: '-f - TE rf , w .' '5 ' 1' 2: J - IJ f. tr i ' 5 ing Marines. The troops were making for the shore with everything, they drove con- tinuously onto the beach, with little con- cern for the whistling shells overhead. The smoke and dust of the bombard- ment were so thick I could hardly see the advancement of troops. At last, I made out the second 'wave advancing on the reef. It was a beautiful sight of power in the haze. Abruptly, something went wrong. One of the amtracks exploded in flames. It was diflicult to trace where the firing was coming from because of the dust and smoke. Then another, and still another amtrack burst into flames. Looking to the flank I located the Nips on nearby Un- named Islet. They were apparently using a three-inch gun. Freelance!- Freelance! This is Ace. There's a pillbox on Unnamed Islet re- turning fire. Let's get it. Overf' Ace, from Freelance. We see it. Cangt fire. Too close to our front lines. Out. Moments later an American tank edged in on the pillbox flank to put it out of commission. With that out of the way, I decided to take a look around the ridge, so headed inland and to the north. As I whirled free of the dense smoke of battle, my eye caught a line of enemy tanks approaching our lines for a counter-attack. g'Freelance, this is Ace. Jap tanks moving from the north. Looks like twelve to fifteen. Can you get them? Overf' Ace, from Freelance. Negative. Canit fire in that area. Keep us informed of their movements. Overf, Freelance, from Ace. They are on the airfield moving like hell for our beachf' I knew something had to be done or they would massacre our foot troops. I strafed the column but it didn't begin to stop them. Then, when lid about given up hope, I noticed the laps swerve from their course. They were racing to attack our own tanks. That was our break, and their one mistake. They were light, as opposed to our mediums, and their doom was soon sealed. With that to close off a tough day, I returned to the ship. Next morning as I flew over the front- line beaches I contacted a land radio fire control station. 'gHello, Oboe 75, this is Ace Freelance. Radio check, over. g'Hello, Ace, this is Oboe 75. Hear you five by five. Want to take airfield today. Your first target is power plant just north of the strip. Itis full of snipers. Over. 'cAce to Oboe 75. Roger. Hello, Free- lance. This is Ace. Did you get Oboe 759s last transmission? Over. -er l.--.- -f vs. J