San Jacinto (CVL 30) - Naval Cruise Book

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damaged Our ship s individual score that day was a sizeable fraction of that for the whole THIRD FLEET. Some months before when the number of Jap planes en- countered in the air and seen on the ground began to dimin- ish the question was asked Where are they hiding them? It was a widely accepted theory that out of the way fields in North HONSHU were being utilized to conceal the better part of the Jap airforce so that it would be available to meet our invasion forces whenever they might come. It remained for the SAN JACINTO to prove the validity of that theory. It was on this occasion that we were nrst given the name of The Little Giant The llth and 12th were spent refueling and replenishing ammunition and supplies. On the 13th we went back in to strike airiields and industrial targets in the TOKYO area. We followed the same tactics as on the 10th, our pilots going in low, with almost as good results. Sixty-nine enemy aircraft were destroyed and an additional twenty-four more were prob- ably destroyed or damaged. Extensive damage was also Hicted on airfield installations and industrial targets. Late in the afternoon a number of enemy planes began to close the Force and the SAN JACINTO launched an emergency patrol to intercept them. One of our lighter pilots shot down one enemy plane. . On the 14th we retired out of range to refuelhand await the outcome of peace rumors, meanwhile remaining doubly alert lest the Japs practice any of their well-known treachery. And the 15th is a separate story by itself. ' Officers and men have spirited volleyball games on the forward elevator U in port and underway when operating conditions permit. Our 2000th landing was made on 15 June 1944 ID-Day in the MARIANAS Campaignl by Ensign S. P. BUTCHART, USNR, Vice Admiral l. S. M CCAIN aboard for an informal visit. IGP deSirOyer blown up by our planes off PALAU.

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CHAPTER X ' 1,5 AUGUST-v1CToRv DAY at OTHIN G having developed in regard tothe peace rumors of the previous day it was decided to keep on carrying the war to the enemy with everything we had. And so it was that on the day which would go down in history as Victory Day, the SAN JACINTO launched two early morning strikes within a short interval of time against the TOKYO area. Our first strike reached the coast where it met up with a group of about 20 Jap lighters. Our pilots shot down 7 and damaged 2, the other Jap planes being accounted for by planes from another carrier. This air battle had hardly been completed and our sec- ond strike wasestill on the way when the order to cease offensive action was given, the second strike jettisoned their bombs and returned to the ship. Our actions on 15 August were such that we will never be accused of quitting the war early. We were lighting up to the very last minute and we shot down seven enemy planes prac- tically at the last minute. It was a Fitting climax to a long and illustrious combat career-we had never pulled our punches It is hard to describe just how the SAN JACINTO to the news, announced by the Captain, that the war was There was a momentary feeling of elation and a very feeling of relief and, then, there was a sense of numbness' of emptiness. Total war is so horrible that the people in it became unable, after a time, to think except in terms total war. When it is over they have a diflicult time in themselves to a new order of things And in was with a real 8 - . sense of thanksgiving and devotion that-all heads were bowedi as the Chaplain led us in prayer. p f ' 1 We did not have long to analyze ourvfeelings because enemy aircraft, either not knowing or caring that the war was over, began to come in close and we manned battle stations as we had daily for all the preceding days of the war. The Force patrols quickly took care of the intruders and we were troubled no more. , The war was over. And now the skill and energies of ollicers and crew, which for sixteen long months had been directed, day and night toward the defeat of the enemy, could be turned' and we didn't pull them on Victory Day. to the less exciting but more profitable pursuits of peace. W U.S.S. San Iacinto, bow starboard view showing camouflage. u 0