Robert G Bradley (FFG 49) - Naval Cruise Book

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TABLE OF CONTENTS BIOGRAPHIES 5-3 DEPARTMENT IIEADS 9 CIIAIN OE COMMAND IO COM BAT SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT ll-I5 ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT 16-21 SUPPLY DEPARTMENT 22-26 N AV IGATIONX ADMIN DEPARTMENT 27-31 OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT 32-35 PORT VISITS! EVENTS 41-150 3

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' .U ,. ABOUT THE FRIGATE'S NAME, ROBERT G. BRADLEY Robert G Bradley was born in Washington D.C. on 26 September 1921. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy on 9 June 1939, and graduated with the class of 1943on 19 June 1942, due to the exigencies of war. From 3 July to 27 October 1942, he underwent instruction at the Atlantic Subordinate Command, Service Force, at Norfolk, VA, before 'he' reported to the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, NJ, on b29 October to assist in fitting out the fleet carrier USS Princenton CCVL-235, which was ultimately placed in Commission on 25 February 1943. While serving on that ship, he received promotions to Lieutenant Qjunior grade5 and Lieutenant on 1 May 1943 and 1 July 1944, respectively, and took part in every operation conducted by the ship ranging from the occupation of Baker Island CSeptember 19435 to the Battle of Leyte Gulf COctober 19445, in which the ship was lost. On 24 October 1944, PRINCETON was operating off the coast of Luzon, in the Leyte Gulf, about 150 miles east of Manila, when a Japanese dive bomber attacked her, releasing a single bomb that penetrated the flight hanger and main decks and then exploded, touching off a conflagration that soon had the carrier's entire hanger deck ablaze. A series of explosions then rocked the ship. Lieutenant Bradley, PRINCETON'S Assistant First Lieutenant, led a repair party in the valiant effort to control the fires on the second and third decks until the intense heat generated by those flames forced him and his men to fall back. After ensuring that no wounded men had been left behind during the abandonment, Bradley followed his men into the water at about 1005 and was picked up by the destroyer MORRISON CDD 5605 soon thereafter. Shortly after 1300, Bradley left morrison and rejoined his ship and the efforts to save her. Unfortunately a submarine and air alert at 1330 drew off BIRMINGHAM CCL 625 and MORRISON - the two sips then alongside - to assume screening positions, at a time when the fire was almost totally under control. The persistent blaze flared up. With renewed vigor MORRISON and BIRMINGHAM attempted to renew their efforts alongside PRINCETON getting a line onboard the carrier at about 1515. Shortly thereafter, at 1523, the flames touched off a mass detonation of four hundred 100-pound bombs stowed aft in a torpedo magazine in PRINCETON. This explosion literally blew off the carrier's stern, killing Bradley and every man in the repair party that had been in the vicinity. 2

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DIN G OFFICER ROBERT G. BRADLEY V 2, 2007-MAY l, 2009 Dear Shipmates, When I was first told that our assignment circumnavigate Africa on a Theater Security Cooperation mission in the interest of regional maritime safety and sec was extremely pleased. I was pleased because I strategic importance of Africa and how TSC directly international peace and prosperity and because - in my my heart - I knew just how good RGB Sailors would be at mission. To say that you have not fallen short of my expectations would be an understatement. Through sixteen TSC port visits your performance has been phenomenal. Your efforts have unquestionable enhanced regional maritime safety and security and by extension international peace and prosperity. In so many Ways, this has been a record-breaking and historic deployment. I thank the Cruise Book Committee for their time and talent in putting together this memoir of our mission. I thank you and your families of the many efforts and sacriices you have made for our Navy, Nation, Ship and shipmates. With Warm Regards and Deep Respect. Clinton A. Carroll Commander USN 4