Shangri La (CV 38) - Naval Cruise Book

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destroyer escort, Stcmfeld, joined up oif Eniwetok on the 17th to escort the soli- tary carrier to Ulithi, providing plane guard for routine flight operations the remainder of the trip. r Approaching Ulithi Lagoon on April 20th, the bridge watch made out a sea of masts which appeared like a fire-darkened forest on an otherwise barren island. Closer inspection revealed one of the greatest armadas of ships ever assem- bled under one flag. a Rounding the beetle-browed net tender stationed at the buoyed entrance, the carrier steamed down columns of anchored ships to its assigned berth. There in the blue-green waters of a tropical salt-water lagoon lay the ammunition ships, refrigerator ships, tenders, tankers, supply ships and floating drydocks compris- ing the Service Squadron base for the Navy's many-fingered, invasion-bound Task Groups. A There fat merchant tankers brought their loads of thick, black fluids from the oil fields of far-off Caracas to fuel sister Navy oilers as they returned from a fueling rendezvous with thirsty carriers, battleships, and cruisers. There the submarine nets opened to deep-laden ships heading for combat areas to the north and west, and to high-riding merchants, steaming eastward, emptyholds lifting screws from the spreading white wake with each gentle ocean swell. L L i I ! 2 ! ll u i I 5 . Q is

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Shangri-La beading for the forward area. deep in water and debris, until she made good her escape from death and retreated under her own power. Pearl Harbor provided a refuge and temporary repairs for the gallant ship before she commenced the long voyage to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The ShlIl?g!'l,-1,61 proceeded westward from Pearl on April lOth, setting course for Ulithi Lagoon, in the Western Carolines. Drills and damage control prob lems took on new interest for the crew with the memory of the Big Ben fresh in mind. The sun soared higher and higher each noon as she steamed within fighter range of the equator toward the low coral atolls comprising the Western Marshalls. At l605, April 13th, she crossed the International Date Line. The

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als - M urderefs Row -- Ulitbi Q i l i E OPERATION ONE. The Shangri-La sortied Ulithi April Zlst, in company with the new battle- ship Iowa and destroyers Stembel and Haggard, en route to fueling rendezvous off Okinawa. Joining up on the morning of the 24th, she fueled from a fleet tanker, as Task Group 58.4 steamed off Okinawa on the 24th day of siege. In company with the new Yorktown, the light carriers Bataan, Langley, and Inde- pendence, she prepared for her iirst strike against the enemy. Antiaircraft protection was afforded by the Iotua's sisters, the Missouri and W'isconsin, ably assisted by the Alaska and Guam, high-stepping halfbacks of the new carrier task group. Riding herd over three destroyer squadrons were two sleek antiaircraft cruisers, the Flint and the battle-wise San Diego.