Saufley (DD 465) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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cide dive from the port beam Many hits by the ma chine guns were observed and the plane clashed in the water close aboard to starboard On January 12 the SAUFLEY fired at two planes without results that afternoon this ship departed from Llngayen and proceeded to Leyte Gulf as screening sh1p for returning transpolts The next day enroute the SAUFLEY rescued one man who had been thrown overboard by a suicide crash in the U S S ZEILIN After escorting a convoy to MOIOt31 and then back to Leyte the SAUFLEY escorted the CCC INGHAM January The same day this ship proceeded to the Nasugbu landing to seive as screening vessel On the morning of 1 February the SAUFLEY sank an attacking boat Later the same morning this sh1p neutralized a Japanese pocket of resistance with the main battery The Commanding Officer was Officer in Tactical Command of a resupply echelon to Nasugbu on the 7th and 8th, The SAUFLEY evacuated 8 wounded to Min doro. to the Silbic Bay beachhead, and arrived there on 31 HQ,, 0 . . 2 . . . . ln Subic Bay, on 12 February Lieutenant Comman- der Francis W. SILK, U. S. Navy, relieved Commander Dale E. COCHRAN, U. S. Navy, as Commanding Offi- cer, U. S. S. SAUFLEY. The SAUFLEY participated in the initial landings and the occupation of Mariveles, Bataan and Corregi- dor Island. After the landing at Mariveles on the 15th this ship delivered counter battery fire on Caballo While covering minesweepers. That night, this ship supplied interdiction fire on the roads leading to Mari- 19