Randolph (CVS 15) - Naval Cruise Book

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. ,., .. . M.-- ,.Ah - T' v-... Q -3. . ,- f f . . - , H - --- - -- .M.:r'----1-1::.:-- 5-3-L-'::L'.::t:5'i'1 ' I J their guest for the role played in the Okinawa campaign. The ship had traveled 27,000 miles and had not so much as sighted land for fifty- five days when they arrived. Understandably, therefore, the men welcomed even a few hours ashore, where the major attractions were a japa- nese pillbox and a brief glimpse of some Red Cross girls Qnot necessarily in that orderj. Underway again june 2, the ship moved to the San Pedro Bay anchorage in Leyte Gulf where, with the exception of a four-day training cruise, she spent the remainder of the month replenish- ing supplies and resting her battle-weary crew and Air Group. Once again, however, a sup- posedly safe anchorage brought disaster to the carrier. On june 7, a P-38, making 'fplayful runs at the vessel, miscalculated and plunged into the forward part of the flight deck, killing fourteen, wounding eleven, and setting fire to a number of aircraft. Fortunately, the planes on deck had been de-gassed, and the ship alongside - which was loaded with bombs - was not detonated. july 3: Randofblz got underway again, this time as flagship for Task Group 38.3 in Admiral Halsey's Third Fleet. After a week of intensive training, the carrier launched her new Air Group - 16 - in attacks on airfields in the Tokyo area. Strikes were then flown against the Honshu- Hokkaido region, where two vital ferries were sunk in between attacks on other targets. Follow- ing several days ofbad weather, CVG-16 renew- ed their actions against airfields around thejapa- nese capital, and also joined planes from other carriers in strikes against the japanese fleet. july 28 was one of the biggest days for the Task Force's nav al aviators. Attacking at Kure, 22 they scored three hits on carrier Katsuragi, seven on cruiser Aoba, two on cruiser Oyodo and two more on carrier Ise. Converted battle- ship Hyuga was sunk that day Qwith CVG-16 playing a major rolej, as was battleship Haruna. japan was thus left with a lone battleship QNagat0 - which had been severely damaged by Randofbhis planesj, six carriers and five cruisers, all were out of action and without crews aboard. On August 6 came the word that the first atomic bomb had been detonated in anger - dropped over Hiroshima by a B-29 at 9:15 a.m. with catastrophic results for the enemy city. Three- fifths of Hiroshima had been blown off the face of the earth, Lzfe magazine reported. Three days later the japanese high command had not agreed on surrender, and even after the second atomic bomb exploded that morning over Nagasaki, there were several policy-making officers who insisted on holding out for certain conditions before agreeing to end the hostilities. Finally, following an Hlmperial Decisionn by Emperor Hirohito, a message was dispatched to the Allied capitols, signifying japan 's readiness to accept the terms of the Potsdam Declaration. Qjapan's Premier, Prince Higashi-Kuni, in ad- dressing the Diet QParliamentj September 5 ad- mitted the atomic bomb was the immediate in- ducement to surrender, saying, f'This terrific weapon was likely to result in the obliteration of the japanese people. . .nj Following an exchange of official communiques concerning specific surrender terms, President Truman received the final message of agreement from the Emperor on the afternoon of August 14

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