Saufley (DD 465) - Naval Cruise Book

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DALOIA Frank T SC20 DEVINE Francisl Y3c DIBENEDETTO James A S10 DONATO Maury C Slc DOUGHER Albert .l F10 DUPREY James Q D GM3c EABON Anthonyl S10 HORN Edward N Cox JONES Robert E L lV1M1c LEE Ernest F S10 LYON Lloyd L S10 MCCULLOUGH C H S20 PARKER, Andy L , S20 PHIPPS, Lloyd C , S10 PIZZO, Anthony B , S20 SWAN, Robeit H , lV1Mlc WATTS, Carl '6G'7, S20 WILSON, James H , S10 9 n 9 ENGLERARDT, Joseph, MM3C As a result of the attack, the SAUFLEY suffered considerable hull damage on the starboard side of the bow just below the waterline and minor damage on the port side of main deck and superstructure deck below- the bridge. The watertight integrity of the shell was not impaired. The AULICK was under attack by three suicide planes at the same time, and suffered consid- erable damage and loss of life. According to all available information, this was the first concerted suicide attack on a picket ship. Persis- tent firing by the alert, well-disciplined machine-gun crews combined with well-timed hard turns and changes of speed were an unbeatable combination. The Com- manding Oflicer, Commander Dale E. COCHRAN at the conn should be credited with saving the ship by 17

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l752 the AULICK commenced firing with her machine guns. Immediately thereafter, a VAL was seen making a run on the SAUELEY. The ship turned hard left and went to flanking speed. This deception plus the fact the plane was hit with ship's gunfire resulted in the plane with bomb load intact crashing close aboard to starboard, causing an explosion which inflicted con- siderable damage to starboard side forward. All en- gines were stopped to prevent further damage to hull in case of flooding. The ship again went to flank speed as a Zero commenced run from port quarter. The port machine gun battery put the Zero in flames, the ship was turned hard right, and the plane crashed along the port side. About three minutes later another Val ap- proaching from astern was taken under fire as ship turn- ed left. Plane released its bomb which flew between the stacks exploding close aboard to starboard, causing injury to personnel in that area. This Val was believed to be hit as it flew over the ship, caught fire and crash- ed 50 yards off the starboard bow. All three planes came down in about 60 degree dives through the very low ceiling so that extreme visual range was less than 2,000 yards in each case. They all strafed, but without suc- CCSS. Une man, Evan ALLEN, StM2c, USNR, was lost over the side and twenty-sx men received minor injuries, none, however, being hospitalized. The injured were: ALLEN, Raymond W., Lt. Qjgl BOYES, ,lon L., Lt. Qjgl SMITH, Douglas R., Mach. ALARID, Alfonso HB , Slc BAILEY, Lewis E., Elc CYR, Arthur ful, GlVI3c DACE, George W., Cox. 16 Q v X 5 ., 5 1.1.-J 1 1

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maneuvering while Lieutenant Q Daniel B. MICHIE, .I r., USNB of Wasliingtoli Lane and Panther Road, By- dal, Penna., Machine Gun Control Ofiicer and Gunner B. H. BISHOP, U.S.N., 501 HA Street, Bentonville, Arkansas, Assistant Machine Gun Control Officer un- doubtedly sparked their gun crews to do the most dam- age. Individual acts of heroism were commonplace. On 2 December, the SAUFLEY departed for Manus Island, Admiralty Islands to effect repairs of battle damage. . This ship proceeded independently from lVIanus on 1 January 1945 to pick up intelligence photographs at Hollandia, New Guinea and rendezvous with the Lin- gayen Attack Force enroute to the objective area. During evening twilight on the 8th, the formation was attacked by about 8 planes, 4 of which were soon to be shot down by friendly fighters. One Val on our port quarter was taken under fire by all batteries. He circled astern in a steep dive so that the main battery had to check fire because the bearing was not clear. The machine guns followed him down to a position angleof 15 degree when check fire was given. At about the same time, the transports commenced firing. He crashed about 100 yards astern of the nearest transport. The evaluation was at least a sure assist because of our heavier and more accurate fire. The SAUFLEY screened the initial landing at Lin- gayen in Lingayen Gulf, Luzon on 8 January. Shortly after sunset, this ship simultaneously to-ok two planes under fire without results. The next morning, a Val came in from the port quarter, circled the ship, and then made a shallow sui- 18