Saufley (DD 465) - Naval Cruise Book

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About 1600 that afternoon a single plane attacked the USS PHILIP astern of this ship and was taken un- der fire by all batteries as he pulled out. He dropped three bombs off the port quarter and then attempted to pull out of his dive passing astern from port to star- board. Smoking, he dropped close to the water and passed up the starboard side at about 10,000 yards. A friendly fighter reported that it was shot down just before 44Cease Fire was given. The machine guns got the credit. Shortly afterwards three planes with target angle 090 were seen over the beach. The 40MM machine guns took one under fire and the main battery another. Friendly fighters reported that both planes that were seen to drop behind a hill were actually shot down. During these attacks the destroyers were laying smoke screens to cover the landing craft. On 22 August the SAUFLEY, RENSHAW and CUNY proceeded up the slot to interrupt the Tokyo Express. Early in the morning of the 23rd, enemy planes were continuously present. The three destroy- ers were laying smoke screens, and the SAUFLEY, lead- er of the column, was the only ship attacked. Several planes were fired on. At 0305 a torpedo was launched which was avoided by an emergency back full and radi- cal maneuvering. Shorly thereafter, another torpedo passed 20 yards asterng Captain Brown had the conn. On 26 August enroute from Kokumbona, Guadal- canal to Barakoma, Vella La Vella, the SAUFLEY was a re-supply echelon which was bombed by several enemy planes. No damage was done to any ship. The SAU- FLEY was on a similar mission of 31 August when 4- out of 10 to 12 planes attacked this ship. About 6 bombs 8 ,

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with one. Full radar control of the 5 f38 battery was used. The occupation of Vella La Vella began on 15 August 1943. The SAUFLEY screened the first echelon of LC1's and assisted in repelling four to six enemy planes. Six underwater explosions rocked the ship. The next night, the SAUFLEY was ordered to assist in the uAction off Vella La Vellaw, but was recalled when the beachhead was brought under heavy air at- tack. During the attack this ship closed the flaming LST 396 to within 700 yards, and lay to in order to pick up survivors. All rescue nets were lo-wered and the whaleboat was put in the water. The Torpedo Ofli- cer, Lieutenant James Marion Coulling, USNR, of 48 S. Long Beach Ave., Freeport, Long lsland, New York, was in charge of the boat. ln the face of both a heavy air attack and flying debris from the LST, he courage- ously carried out his task. The SAUFLEY rescued 93 men including 10 officers and the SC 1266 picked up the rest of the crew. The only fatality was a pharmacist's mate who died shortly after he was picked up by the SAUFLEY. The next morning the SAUFLEY was attacked by 8 to 10 dive-bombers coming down sun. The machine guns fired at two planes which dropped two bombs close aboard, while the main battery was iiring at two lanes attacking the beachhead The gunnery officers p . slewed on the attacking planes after he saw the bombs, but by then they were almost out of range. He then shifted to a single bomber which was also going out on the starboard side. After a right spot was applied, a 5 burst hit the plane which circled and crashed close to the beach. 7

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were dropped within l0 to 20 yards of the fantail, caus- ing negligible damage to the ship. The SAUFLEY fired without results. Enroute from Purvis Bay, Solomon Islands to Es- piritu Santos, the SAUFLEY established a sound con- tact on l5 September. After the fourth depth-charge attack the submarine surfaced and was taken under fire with both 5 f38 and machine guns. A number of hits were observed. The sub disappeared, but shortly there- after an underwater explosion was heard. The next morning after the fifth attack, there was an oil slick 8,000 yards long, and 500 yards Wide. Also observed were several large wooden fragments and pieces of deck grating and the strong odor of diesel oil. This ship and plane 4341 of VP-23 were given equal credit for probably sinking the sub. The Gunnery Officer during the Vella La Vella campaign was William J. Martin, Lieutenant, USN, of Farmer City, Illinois. His ability to get on targets, con- trol the battery, and make effective spots under air at- tack are ample expressions of his quick reactions, calm- ness, and intelligence, which paid off in ,lap planes shot down. The rest of September was spent in the New Heb- rides, including a five-day availability alongside the USS WHITNEY. The SAUFLEY, in company with the USS RAD- FORD and USS GRAYSUN, participated in the destruc- tion of 24 f50-755 feet long Japanese barges. Return machine gun fire from ,lap barges did no damage to any of the ships. The first of October, with RADFORD, GRAYSON and LAVALLETTE, this ship destroyed 9 9