Meade (DD 602) - Naval Cruise Book

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-v,aM!':,fq, fi ,V . ,4,,,f'Agl,1i -, ,,.,g.,H,1 ,en ., . WZ-f-.25 ., The first landing party starting off around Table Island French mission which was driven from Haiphong by the invading Japanese. This military group has been out of communi- cation with French authorities for almost a year. No supplies have been brought to them. Their situation is questionable. We were anxious to get started and im- patient of the delays incidental to secur- ing stores from the army, information on minefields, a skimmer to supplement the whaleboat and setting up a communica- tion plan. The Supply Officer, by some manner of miracle, had thirty tons of food -and clothing aboard by 0330 the morning of departure and all preparations were made for getting underway. -The 602 heavily laden with supplies Q and a skimmer weighed anchor and headed for Tonkin Gulf. Our progress was temporarily impeded by a minor typhoon and we altered -course to skirt the southern edge of the storm. On the morning of Sep- tember 21 we approached Table Island making smoke, blowing the whistle, and shooting star shells hoping to attract the attention of any Frenchmen in the area. Although a few natives could be seen sculling sampans from one island ,to an- other no one appeared curiousfabout our presence in the area. Failing to arouse any response in this manner the motor whaleboat was put in the water and the first landing party set out through Phaka Strait into the narrow

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X i We , ll-Q We trail a storm into Tonkin Gulf 3

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