San Jacinto (CVL 30) - Naval Cruise Book

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W1 ' rv: . r ' baefmuffd-if--faxing-F . - -- . . . .. . . .. . ' - A 1 . -. ,-is-rnnieanei, t M.- 1 v w W v Na, -,fC,,.,-,,j,,.,,,f:,..,,,.,,,, it-.-., ,,,-..v , ,.,43,,.:gg f -----, , ..... ,-. .... h .m,y,,5,,, r ,L w. L Q1 i. but Lt. fj.g.I BOREN brought it safely home. I r. if if L. y , S E Funeral services are conducted on the flight deck for the late I Lt. fj.g.l NAMES and Seaman First Class ROBINSON. 1 .E l I I r f it Even in the combat zone, Navy traditions are not neglected. Captain KERNODLE , V congratulates Ensign HILE, who got the cake for the sl1ip's 5000th landing, made f in combat off the PHILIPPINES. I Captain Michael H . Kernodle assumes command of the U.S.S. SAN IACINTO, relieving Captain Harold M. Martin. Q , . . .,.,.,,,,,.,..,,., . . . -..-,,.-.A-f-v-Q-..v..-.--v-.4-., - - ' ' ' -4-- -N .f.v--xA-.vQ.-..-.x.. -N-- f - -1. . H ' ' -f rv- .f-.qw .. . . . fm.-V fo- - .,,..,.,,,,,.,,,...,-,:,gv4'0i:xJ4:-F - fm..-., - g -.zgnng-egg-7 N -.rf .- - . - -.,V -- - - - ,. 'j v+ 'v-f-vv- - - A J -4.1-,...v.-.N M . , A A A S- A - -f-A -v-A - -q-,.v, N' Q fn. ---. 1rx':es-.':-r:-:'-:-:'-:'-------'fL'-- 3-5 -m- ' -- f - A ' ' -A x alm rf' mu '6'L'g - - '-1 .A ' ..,- --f-'-v-W 1- -M-1-MG. vw,-.-' ' f '.z.-.,-.4 v. T ' ' ' '-1 ...-s'-- s - A-- ' qi. 1, I I M '11 1 1 1 an ,4 1 This torpedo plane was badly shot up W in the attack on the Iap fleet, 3

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, CHAPTER v y . I.. CHANGE IN COMMAND-OPERATIONS IN, sUPPoRT I or RECAPTURE or LRYTE 4 N 14 October 1944 a new Skipper was assigned to the UlS.S. SAN JACINTO, Captain Michael H. KERN- ODLE, U.S. Navy, taking command. Assuming command of one of the Navy's fast aircraft carriers is a notablevoccasion under ordinary circumstances, accompanied by much pomp and ceremony. But the conditions under which this change of command took place were anything but ordinary. None the customary inspections and drills simulating combat conditions, to acquaint the new Captain with the fighting characteristics of 'his new ship, were necessary. The ship was actually engaged in battle before, during, and after the occasion. On this date, the SAN JACINTO, with her Air Group FIFTY-ONE, was operating against the enemy as a part of famous Carrier Task Force THIRTY-EIGHT, in the waters just east of FORMOSA. The Task Force was supporting the capture of LEYTE by launching air attacks against OKINAWA, FORMOSA, and LUZON, and in so doing, preventing the enemy from using them as bases for staging or reinforcement. , 1 ' The SAN JACINTO and other units of the Task Group to which she was attached, had sortied from SEEADLER HAR- BOR, MANUS ISLAND, on 24 September, to take part in these operations. On 8 October, while the SAN JACINTO was en route to this area, Captain KERNODLE landed on board in a Navy airplane from another aircraft carrier in the Force. Two days later, 10 October, ,aircraft of 'the SAN JACINTO struck the first of at series of all-out blows against OKINAVVA, catching the enemy by surprise and consequently receiving little opposition. Her aircraft strafed and burned twenty-four enemy planes on the ground at NAHA Airiieldg shot down one airborne enemy aircraft,,strafed, bombed, and set afire much of the town of YONABARUQ and torpedoed and sank two cargo ships in NAHA Harbor. On the 12th the japs searched for and found us,'and attacked. SAN JACINTO fighters shot down one single-engined torpedo plane and two twin-engine bombers. Snoopers trailed us throughout the night, and the next day, while the aircraft of our force were attacking FORMOSA in strength, the japs launched their heaviest counter-attacks, the SAN JACINTO being subjected to a par- ticularly violent one. During the day many planes were shot dowii by our fighter patrols, but some enemy aircraft pene- trated the Task Force screen, and at dusk, about eighteen enemy torpedo planes conducted an aggressive coordinated attack against the Task Force. Two picked the SAN JACINTO as their target. Both were promptly shot down by her guns, but not before they had l-aunched their torpedoes. By rapid and skillful maneuvering, the ship evaded both, one passing very close ahead and one close by the stern. However, the day was not over yet. About an hour later, a twin-engine bomber made an attack on our port quarter. The SAN JACINTO, assisted by a destroyer, shot it down before its bomb could be released. This was the new Captain's shakedown. The events of this day presaged accurately many to follow in the months ahead. The new Captain received no respite. The tense atmosphere of action continued. On the morning of the 15th, while the air,- craft of the Force were heavily pounding LUZON, enemy dive bombers again attacked the ship. During a melee in the sky over the formation, our pilots shot down four fighters. Later in the day SAN JACINTO Air Group accounted for five more M12 fighters, making a total of nine for the day. Afteria day of' relative inactivity, the Task Force resumed all-out attacks against LUZON' on the 17th, and our fighter pilots took the measure, of two Jap fighters off the coast of Central LUZON and shot them down. It was on this day that a tragic event' the history of the ship occurred. A fighter plane, landing on deck from a combat mission, bounced heavily and all machine guns accidentally fired, strafing the flight deck and island structure, killing one officer, one man, and wounding twenty- seven others. Captain KERNODLE was among those woundedl Deeply moving and impressive funeral services were held the morning of the l8th,for Lt. fj.g.j R. P. NAMES and T. FQ ROBINSON, Slc. The crew assembled at quarters and stood at rigid attention as Chaplain CORDES performed the final rites. Our colors and those of accompanying ships were at half- mast. A Marine Honor Guard fired the traditional volleys as the flag-draped shrouds were consigned to the deep. The mournful notes of Taps echoed in the stillness of their ship- mates' grief. - Operations against LUZON were continued on the 18th and 19th. On the 20th, our aircraft flew effective missions in sup- port of the landings on LEYTE which began that date. We departed the area on October 21 to rendezvous with another Group and proceed to ULITHI for replenishment, but on 'the' 23rdiword was received that major units of the Jap Fleet were on the move ,and that the long awaited showdown was in the ofling, so we reversed course and returned to the vicinity ofLEYTE and SAMAR. It was on the 23rd that Ensign W. H.- HILE made the 5000th landing aboard. , f 1 The three-day engagement, since designated variously as the Second Battle of the PHILIPPINE SEA, and the Battle df LEYTE GULF, began on the 24th of October with attacks on the two Southernmost of the three widely separated eneiny forces, viz., a Northern, Central, and Southern Force. The Southern Force consisted of two battleships and escorting cruis- ers and destroyers. It was heavily attacked as it moved east- ward in the SULU SEA toward SURIGAO STRAIT, by air- craft from our Task Group. Other Task Groups of our Task Force attacked the larger Central Force of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, and were themselves heavily attacked by enemy land-based aircraft, the PRINCETON being damaged 'Qand subsequently sunk by our own forcesjf s To the keen disappointment of our pilots the SAN JACINTO was assigned only defensive patrols over the Force on the 24th -our Air Group Commander's gripes must have been heard in SAN FRANCISCO! Two enemy reconnaissance planes, how- ever, were intercepted and destroyed. Aircraft from the large carriers in our group heavily damaged the two Nip battleships and one cruiser of the Southern Force and inflicted less severe damage on a cruiser and a destroyer. Our pilots and our men on the ship listened to these accomplishments with pride and envy. . During the night of 24-25 October, our Task Group madf? a rendezvous with the other Task Groups of Task ForCC THIRTY-EIGHT and the entire Force sped northward t0 intercept and engage the enemy Northern Force Qof' four carriers, two battleships, five cruisers, and ten destroyersj, leav- x v I ,f ,j:j.?.fg'2t:f'r?i':j.1:ex29z:fr-sL.i-H-..-iwmzfn-sv1ss'.s2f'm -4 rf --1:-'sv-we-an-uwrw'r-.v..:v.:- 1- azz'-.:.-,--, .--.. . .'- '..'.:::' B

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ing the Southern Force to meet their fate at the hands of the Seventh Fleet, mistakenly, believing that the Central Force had turned in retreat. Heavy long-range air strikes were launched at dawn and continued throughout the day as the Force maintained high speeds northward in an attempt to close the fieeing enemy force. Observation planes had reported the enemy carriers launching at dawn, but the attacking Air Groups encountered negligible airborne resistance and enemy aircraft failed to attack our Task Force. The Combat Air Patrols did encounter a group of enemy planes at extreme range, but they fled before our fighters could close. SAN JACINTO aircraft scored three torpedo hits in the Jap Light Carrier ZUIHO, plus two 500-pound bomb hits, in her upper works. VVe are officially credited with sinking her. The ZUIHO was the exact counterpart of the SAN JACINTO. Also infiicted were one torpedo hit on the SHOKAKU-Class Carrier and one torpedo hit on each of two heavy cruisers. A light carrier, a heavy cruiser, two light cruisers and three destroyers were heavily strafed, with considerable damage. Thus in this now famous naval battle, the SAN JACINTO justified the faith of her builders and the pride of her crew. She more than paid for herself on this one day alone, neatly presenting the Mikado with a bill many times over her own cost, a bill it must have hurt him grievously to pay. One of our lighter aircraft, piloted by Ensign H. E. MAT- THEWS, was lost to anti-aircraft fire fpilot is missing in actionj. One torpedo plane was also shot down in flames, but the pilot, Lt. R. B. PLAISTED and his aircrewmen W. M. TOMES -and J. S. SMITH, JR., managed to get clear. and into their life-raft. They had a miraculous escape floating through the Jap battle formation, being fired upon by a Jap destroyer, which fortunately for them was diverted from its mission of destruction by the appearance of friendly fighter aircraft. That night, American warships which had closed to finish off the cripples, fired over their heads and sank a Nipponese light cruiser. At dawn the following day they were rescued by the destroyer CAPERTON, after search planes had located them and directed her to the scene. ' Two other torpedo planes were badly damaged by anti-air- craft fire, one having the tip of the port wing shot away, the other being skillfully piloted home by Lt. BOREN, after the port elevator and stabilizer were completely shot away and the rudder riddled. Late in the morning of the 25th, word was received that the Central Force had sortied through SAN BERNARDINO STRAIT and was attacking our escort carriers off LEYTE GULF, while ships of the Southwest Pacific Fleet were en- gaging the Southern Force. One of our fast Carrier Groups and almost all of our battle line immediately turned south and sped to their assistance. The rest of us continued our north- ward pursuit until dusk, when we also turned about. Of the Northern Force, all four carriers, two light cruisers, and one destroyer were sunk, while two battleships, three cruisers, and several destroyers were damaged but escaped. For gallantry and intrepidity in action in this decisive engagement of war, Captain KERNODLE was awarded the Silver Star Medal by Vice Admiral S. McCAIN, Commander, Second Carrier Task Force. Our Task Group remained within striking distance of the area of the previous day's engagement on the 26th, while SAN JACINTO planes searched for cripples and survivors. Planes from other groups of our Task Force pummeled the Jap Cen- tral Force retiring through the VISAYAN SEA. The searches proved negative and we retired toward SAMAR to undertake a support aviation role for MacARTHUR'S ground forces on the 27th. A crippled Jap heavy cruiser was spotted in the VISAYAN SEA and sunk by planes from our Group. J On the 28th we again furnished support for the Army troops. Combat Air Patrols over the target did a thriving business, but Force patrols were negative except for a witness role played by a SAN JACINTO anti-submarine patrol plane as the destroyer HELM scored a positive kill on an enemy sub- marine skulking in our vicinity. We commenced retirement toward the fueling area onthe 29th but being advised that the Japanese were ferrying air- craft into CEBU and LOS NEGROS we reversed course at midnight and returned to the vicinity of SAMAR. On the afternoon of 30 October the screening destroyers in our Task Group were being refueled by the large carriers and battleships when a squadron of Jap planes was reported closing from the West. Fueling operations were suspended at once and all carriers began scrambling their fighters. Our Combat Air Patrol shot down four Jap aircraft but six broke through the air patrols and made aggressive suicide attacks on our ships. This was our first experience with the vicious and fanatic Kamikaze. Both the FRANKLIN and BELLEAU WOOD were hit andlarge fires started. Two enemy planes in -quick succession peeled off from their formation and-made suicide dives on the SAN JACINTO. The first began his run on our starboard beam and never varied as he plunged straight down, repeatedly hit- by our anti-aircraft fire. Our evasive turns pulled us out of his line of descent and he crashed flam- ing into the sea just forward of our portside amidship. The second plane also began his run from starboard but made a radical change of course attempting to follow our maneuvers, his final approach almost paralleled our length. Anti-aircraft fire also repeatedly hit this aircraft, causing smoke but not fiaming him. He crashed very close aboard our starboard bow. We suffered no material damage but salt water and debris showered the full length of the ship and one man was slightly wounded. Only expert handling saved the ship from the fate of its sisters. No one who witnessed 'the attack could believe we had escaped. We shot a wing off the sixth plane, as it crossed overhead' making its run on the ENTERPRISE, flaming it and causing it to fall well short of its target. For their parts in our successful repulse of the enemy, Com- mander C. S. COOPER was awarded the Silver Star Medal: Lieutenant Commanders G. M. WINNE, L. S. SWEPSTON, P. E. HARTMANN and C. L. MITCHINER, the Bronze Star Medal. Several officers and enlisted men of the Gunnery Department received Letters of Commendation from Admiral HALSEY. U D On 31 October we commenced retirement toward ULITHI. in the Western CAROLINES, arriving there on 2 November. After a three - day' period of replenishment the SAN JACINTO sortied from ULITHI on 5 November with a re- organized composite Task Group and set course for the LEYTE-SAMAR area. Adverse weather slowed our advance and, prior to our arrival, orders were received to poceed in- stead to the vicinity of SAN BERNARDINO STRAITS, where we arrived on ll November. SAN JACINTO planes flew de- fensive combat patrols, intercepting and destroying a twin- engine bomber and a single-engine torpedo tplane, while air- craft'from the large carriers were attacking an enemy convoy of four transports, a light cruiser, and three destroyers west of LEYTE en route to ORMOC BAY. All except one destroyer were either sunk or heavily damaged. On 13 and lfl November, a series of strikes were conducted against enemy aircraft, airfields, and shipping in the M ANILA BAY area. On the 13th, SAN JACINTO torpedo planes scored - -..-...,....-.-.,....-.,.,..., ,,.,,-,-.-Q.-.-W., ,, 1 , , N , , MMM, , - M, , 'Ct?1f1f'Qf:'i:?f':t cszf zrszavsiitfz --4. 5'.s2fa11Q'.-1'E's':x'F'-wir