Lunga Point (CVE 94) - Naval Cruise Book

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ammunition from LCM. 1735 Underway from Kcnnna Redo am lioraKc Claptain al tin- (onn. Kxcciitivi- OliiciT and Navigator on the bridge, a e ahead 2 3. 1737 Ship went to General Quarters. 1 740 Clame to course 2i5°T and p.g.c., 218° p.s.c. 1754 Passed through anti-submarine nets. Kerama Retio had been a hot place in more ways than one, and no one was exactly sorry to be leaxing; howexcr, our really hot time was yet to come, when in diving attack on starboard bow. All guns brought to bear and plane (jn port bow turned away at i.otx) yards; jjclievcd to ha c xrn hit and crashed. Planes on starboard bow turned left at 1200 yards and dtne on U..S..S. Mikhrll, dropping two small Ixjmbs. The plane then crash-dived on an APD. 1858 c c to 240°T and p.g.c. Fires observed on APD. 1916 Ob- .ser ed gunfire by convoy Ijcaring 255° ' r, dis- tance 10 miles. Two enemy planes seen to be shot down in flames. 1942 .Secured from (Gen- eral Quarters. Set Condition of Readiness III, Material Condition Baker. 1958 c c to 27o°T and p.g.c. c s to 14 knots. Bogies having been reported closing on us from both the north and southwest, wc were, of course at General Quarters waiting to open fire just the minute they dared come within range of our guns. At 1843 two enemy planes were seen approaching our starboard quarter and the starboard guns opened fire just before they got within range, throwing up a terrific barrage. One of the planes dared to come in to within 1500 yards, but, apparently, he couldn ' t take it, and turned and dis- appeared. The .second plane, taken under fire by this ship, the Mitchell and the Pallerson, finallv turned to his starboard, low on the 18-20 Steaming as before. i8og Secured from General Quarters. Set Condition of Readiness III, Material Condition Baker. 1823 c c to io4°T and p.g.c, 099° p.s.c. Five destroyers of MinDiv 60 sighted on port bow 2 miles. 1833 Ship went to General Quarters. ' Bogies ' reported approaching from north- erly and southwesterly directions. Transport Group, 6 miles distant on starboard quarter, seen under attack. 1842 c s to flank. 1843 Two enemy planes approaching our starboard quarter. All guns opened fire. U.S.S. Mitchell and U.S.S. Patterson also opened fire. One plane hit and believed crashed. The other plane turned away at 1500 yards. 1844 Two enemy planes approa ching on port beam. The U.S..S. Xawman, MinDiv 60 and this ship all took these planes under fire. Both planes shot down. 1845 c to i50°T and p.g.c. Unidentified plane approaching on port bow in low glide. An enemy ' Nick ' approaching water, and crashed some distance from us. Just about that time, two more enemy fighters approached low on the water to port and were taken under fire by the Xawman and probably MinDiv 60. One of them exploded in the air 94

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thrill and excitement of that Easter Monday was by no means over, taccause 1 6- 1 8 Anchored as before. Continuing to load ammunition. 1641 Stationed all the anchor detail. 1727 Received last load of ro ; Hospital ship off Ok angels of iwa. Wherever our troops go these y follow in their footsteps; cenUr: A lot of Japs if rice with their ancestors aboard this warship the bottom off Okinawa on L — i; below: Sea to Okinawa beaches keep tides from flooding Top: Crazy-quilt patterns of Okinawa countryside broken trenches and gun emplacements; cenlrr: We pull away froi tanker upon completion of fueling operation off Okinawa: W «i remains of city ol Naha. Okinawa, and waterfront c

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THE SMOKING LAMP IS LIGHTED! 95