San Jacinto (CVL 30) - Naval Cruise Book

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. ...,. , . '....,- -.,-. .,- :'1',:'zEv','f15-,e-14 21.3-g5..,g.,.. asf.: --'- 4.12111-:: - v e' Le '7:': ,.,, ..2. :.' -..:'f 's-, -1 four hits on a floating drydock just north of CAVITE, sinking it in forty-five feet of water. They also bombed a cargo vessel and caused a large explosion at the CAVITE Naval Base. On the 14th, our planes assumed the group patrol duty and shot down an enemy torpedo plane. We cruised well clear of the area from the 15th through the 18th, but returned to attack MANILA on the 19th. Targets were scarce but our Avenger located a Jap destroyer escort off MORON and set it afire with a 500-pound bomb hit. Other aircraft subsequently attacked it, and the vessel appeared to be either sinking or beached. Our fighters on patrol shot down three enemy twin-engine bombers. On 20 November our Task Group commenced retirement toward ULITHI, making experimental Napalm drops in un- opposed strikes on YAP en route. We arrived at ULITHI on 22 November for a week's replenishment period and the op- portunity to give the crew some rest and much-needed recrea- tion. WVe also had the sad duty to perform of conducting mass Memorial Services for those of our pilots and aircrewmen who had made the supreme sacrihce. The tribute included those missing in action as well as those definitely killed. The services were performed on Thanksgiving Day, 23 November, Chaplain CORDES officiating. The entire crew attended and thecolors were at half-mast. ' On 29 November, the SAN JACINTO sortied, under escort of two destroyers, to proceed to APRA HARBOR, GUAM, to effect the relief of Air Group FIFTY-ONE by Air Group FORTY-FIVE. We dropped anchor in APRA HARBOR on the morning of 30 November, the- first light carrier' to visit that port since the recapture of GUAM. We bade adieu to Air Group FIFTY-ONE, which had been aboard since commissioning, and had established itself as one of the foremost Air Groups of the Fleet. It exactly matched its numerical designation by shooting down fifty-one airborne enemy planes. It sank the ZUIHO, two destroyers, two cargo vessels, and three armed trawlers, plus numerous lesser craft. It destroyed and damaged many aircraft on the ground and heaped destruction on enemy airfields and ground installa- tions. Its pilots and crewmen had won six Navy Crosses, one Silver Star, 28 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 49 Air Medals, 2 Purple Hearts. WVe embarked Air Group FORTY-FIVE fCommanded by Commander G. E. SCHECTER, USNQ, and sortied on the afternoon -of 30 November to effect a rendezvous with other units of the Fast Carrier Task Force in the area north of ULITHI at dawn on 2 December. A week's intensive training for the new air group and ship's company followed. We re- entered ULITHI on 8 December to commence preparations for return to sea. X . . . The Iapanese Light Carrier ZUIHO, exact counterpart of the SAN IACIN TO, sunk by our planes on 25 October 1944. zawa.www,,,xvW N ,.,,,. . . Anxious moments for the SAN IACINTO. ICP Plane Phmging down on-us' , We escape miraculously with one kamikaze hitting water on each side. ,. . , -- .-.-.V-.va .-.-.-, U Y XA V I V WNV, W.- RAM,-is --N - .. . .N-. .a---,-,-V., ...,v-.f.-.Q- A,-,.,,.,- .- -.S .--V -v --L-N ,.,., .,.,.,,, ,,H,,.,,.,.,, - ,,,,,.,,,,nh MN- h A. -X .N--- - nv. . ,-.ta-, .,..a,.,.,,-,..,.,--..-w.-t5...,-,ANL.-c-,.- ,-.--..-ffm, 3, . .-.,.-..,.,.-.-.-f--f-a-.-,...N..,.,. N,.,.,,.,..-..f...-.,..x-P..- f-.-X-, aa h.-, ,.,.,,,, ,, , N, 7 ' -'N --fx-ye -N-Av.-.. .. .....--....,w-.Ave-.-f-,.... . wx- --X-,Q --- V .....-.ffl-v-..-.-.-. M-wa-,-v-M.-,fy:.l.:1.:31,.:1LI,7':,.,.7,l,,3-5,111,323-51.3, 9-50- .,.....-...--.- -.... 5. ..... ,..':f1 ,,. :nz-T. .,'5?-'.:'xa2r::x1.r::at:L': n...:-z:1':- '--- - '--I-' - '---'- -- --- - ' -' K

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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

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CHAPTER VI OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE RECAPTURE OF MINDORO AND LUZON g t HE SAN JACINTO and other units of Task Force' THIRTY-EIGHT sortied from ULITHI on ll December and set course for the vicinity of Eastern LUZON to support the capture of MINDORO 'by pinning down all enemy air operations on- LUZON and intercepting and destroying enemy shipping in the area.- Heavy weather and high seas seriously hampered operations, but SAN JACINTO planes flew fighter sweeps against airfields on Northeastern LUZON on 14 December. No airborne enemy planes were found and only a few were observed on the fields. One fighter destroyed three grounded planes at APARRI and strafed and rocketed dud aircraft and ground installations. Operational losses were heavy, two fighters piloted by Lieu- tenants LENDO and T. P. MCCANN failing' to ,return Qpilots declared missing in actionj, one other making a water landing Qpilot rescued by destroyerj, two more crashing into the barriers Qpersonnel unharmedj. Sweeps were again flown on 15 and 16 December..No air- borne enemy planes were encountered and no aircraft except the wrecks at APARRI observed on the ground. Rockets and ammunition were expended against ground targets. Our tor- pedo planes bombed installations at APARRI on the 16th. destroying buildings and cratering runways. On 17 December the Task Force retired to the fueling area south of Eastern LUZON. The heavy seas and adverse weather forced discontinuation of all fueling and flight operations and a new rendezvous point was designated for the resumption of fueling the following day. Dawn on the 18th found the Task Force and Logistic Units fighting their way through one of the most severe typhoons ever to be encountered and survived by naval units in the Pacific. 'The storm reached its maximum intensity at about 1030 with many ships suffering varying degrees of damage. three destroyers being lost. The SAN JACINTO suffered severe though not crippling damage when the excessive rolling Q42 degreesj and pitching caused a plane on the hangar deek to loosen and snap its heavily reinforced mooring lines. The runaway smashed into other parked aircraft, loosing them in turn, and in short order the hangar deck was a sliding mass of planes, engines, tractors -and other heavy equipment which was smashed from side to side, ripping open and carrying away air intakes and ventilation ducts. Small fires which broke out were quickly extinguished and, by the valiant efforts of repair parties and volunteers, the hangar deck was secured by 1600. The storm gradually abated during the afternoon and repairs were commenced immediately. The ship remained operational and fully able to operate her aircraft, though hangar deck installations were badly smashed and some machinery had suffered salt-water damage. Much of the repair work was accomplished en route by the ship's company as the group commenced retirement toward ULITHI on 19 December. On arrival at ULITHI on 21 December, tender availability was granted and the SAN JACINTO moored alongside the U.S.S. HECTOR from 22 to 27 December to complete repairs. Christmas day was celebrated with religious observances and a mammoth turkey dinner. The repair work on the hangar deck precluded holding the gala smoker planned for the occa- sion, but the wardroom and messing spaces were appropriately decorated and in the morning carol singing was piped over the loudspeaker system. Many Christmas packages from home had arrived well in advance for the most part to contribute greatly toward easing the inevitable heartache of a Christmas away from one's loved ones. On 30 December the SAN JACINTO sortied with other units of Task Force THIRTY-EIGHT for the purpose of once again spearheading an amphibious assault by isolating the prospective invasion point through neutralization attacks on potential enemy staging and reinforcement bases. Mac- AtRTHUR'S troops were to assault the LINGAYEN area of LUZON, in support, we set course for the vicinity of Eastern FORMOSA, and on 3 january 1945, launched strikes against airfields in Central FORMOSA. Our planes encountered no airborne opposition, but ran into accurate though moderate anti-aircraft fire. Two Avengers were lost to flak, but the pilot and crew of one were recovered. The pilot and crew of the other, Ensign C. H. FRISBIE, O. J., GEOFFROY and E. J. PARRISH are missing in action. At least twelve enemy planes on the ground were destroyed and fourteen damaged. Strikes were continued on the 5th in spite of adverse weather, and our planes destroyed four more grounded aircraft, damaged two, and destroyed and damaged numerous ground installa- tions. Again hampered by inclement weather, we directed our attacks on 6 january against Northern LUZON, bombing and strafing installations at APARRI and destroying many enemy small craft at the mouth of the CAGAYAN RIVER. On the 7th, LUZON was again the target. Our planes destroyed two grounded enemy aircraft on BATAN Island and destroyed four of the numerous well-camouflaged and dispersed aircraft at CLARK FIELD, as well as starting numerous fires. On this latter strike, they encountered intense and accurate anti-air- craft fire and one Hellcat returned badly riddled, with the pilot, Ensign D. R. PAUL, wounded slightly by shrapnel. On 9 January QD-day at LINGAYENQ, we returned to the mine-laden waters off FORMOSA and resumed' the attack, our aircraft destroying eleven enemy planes on the' ground and damaging eight others. ' Thatnight, just before midnight, the Task Force dramati- cally threaded BASHI Channel and entered the SOUTH CHINA SEA. We steamed its width and on 12 january launched strikes against CAMRANH BAY and SAIGON, FRENCH INDO-CHINA. Off CAPE ST. JACQUES, our planes obtained torpedo and rocket hits on a destroyer or destroyer-escort, damaged and drove -ashore another and placed two close 500-pound bombs near a moored light cruiser, which was later observed capsized and smoking. They also bombed and fired the Standard Vacuum and Shell Oil plants at SAIGON and scored bomb hits on several cargo ships in- the harbor. They encountered no airborne opposition but flak was. intense and accurate .and one Avenger piloted by Ensign P. LAMBROS was lost near SAIGON. We subsequently learned that he and his crewmen, R. D. FETZER and E. X.