Saratoga (CV 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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BUKA AND BONIS AIRFIELDS, NOVEMBER I943 'P' Mwnmw, I - . .7 , f--' , A SARA FIGHTER GETS A JAP DINAH IN HIS GUN SIGHTS - I ' SPLASH

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ln late October, l943, Sara twirl r by a new light carrier, the gg and departed from Espiritu 513: ll , ig , if the airfields ot Bulca ana TICIQQS northern tip of Bougainxzle ff, sion Was planned to CGCffZlif', 't't A taclcs against lap airtieias zffgi , fa ings being rnade on Bog -2 N' Empress Augusta Bay. lf' or the first two Clays g:1 - L Sara and the Princeton iiizf assaults on Buka ana 5:1145 1 ing so close to shore EC lapgii ite.: that the twin iielols alibi 1 ' '- from the ships. CAPTAIN JOHN H. CASSADY USN

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Breaking off hurriedly from the two- day strike, because of new orders from l-lalsey, Sara headed south of Bougain- ville to a point near Vella Lavella. lap heavy cruisers and other warships had been reported crowding into Simpson l-larbor, the heavily-defended port at Babaul on New Britain. Since the enemy force was a distinct menace to the troops fighting on Bougainville, Bear Admiral F. C. Sherman sent all available planes from Sara and the Princeton to surprise the foe. he spec- tacular raid of November 5th,-l943, was probably the outstanding day of Sara's glamorous career. Plane after plane swept in over the 'targets at Babaul, a fortress believed to be well out of the range of U. S. naval forces until that day. Air Group Twelve, led by Group Commander l-loward I-l. Caldwell, had one of the best air group records of the war after that strike. Many tons of bombs were poured on the writhing, twisting warships in the harbor as they headed for the open sea. Torpedo bombers, following close -upon the dive- bombers, had a field day, while Com- mander Iumpin' Ice Clifton, with his squadron of Fighting Twelve, engaged swarms of Zeros upstairs, Almost 50 lap planes were destroyed by the fight- ers, and lO2,000 tons of lap shipping were sunk or badly damaged. Lieuten- ant Commander lim Newell, Comman- der of the bomber squadron, and Lieu- tenant Commander Bobert Farrington, Torpedo Squadron Twelve, led the bombers and torpedo planes which damaged eight heavy cruisers. At least two of them sank in the harbor. A num- ber of destroyers and merchantmen were also among the victims. The entire action is summed up in a remarkable combat photograph, hailed COMMANDER H..H..CALDWELL as the finest of the war until that time Cpublished December, l943D. The picture shows the slitherin-g wakes of surprised Japanese ships making a desperate dash for the open sea from the trap of Simpson Harbor. lt was the last picture taken by Paul T. Barnett, Photogra- phers Mate First Class, photographer in the torpedo plane of Group der l-loward l-l. Caldwell. The der's plane had been riddle-ci in a furi- ous assault of enemy fighters Bar- nett, wounded in the hand :ever missed an opportunity with his camera. Seconds after his greatest picture was snapped, he was killed. if P. T. BARNETT vuovoeauuers une mast CLASS