Shannon (DM 25) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 52 text:

,f OKINAWA In addition to the capture of the Kerama Retto group, establishing therein a logistics supply and naval repair base and a seaplane base, the small island of Keise Shima, about 20,000 yards from the landing beaches and 11,000 yards from Naha city was seized, landing Army artillery there to command the lower end of Okinawa. The island of Okinawa, which is about 65 miles long, is roughly divided into almost equal northern and southern parts. The northern area is generally rugged, mountainous, wooded, and undeveloped.-The southern area, which is gen- erally rolling but frequently broken by deep scarps and ravines, is the developed part of the island, containing the greater number of towns, roads, and cultivated areas, the capital city of Naha, all tive of the island's airfields, and the strongest defenses. ' In the early morning hours of Love Day CApril lj, the main attack force moved within striking distance and stood by waiting for H-Hour, Admiral R. K. Turner, USN, Commander Task Force Sl, assumed command of all forces in the area, and directed the operations. The preferred plan called for our ground forces to land on six miles of beach on the southwestern shore, a location best protected from the wind and weather, and closely bordering the island's Yontan and Kadena Airfielcls. Four divisions were to be landed abreast on these beaches. XN7ith the two center divisions advancing directly across the island to the east coast, and with the left and right Hank divisions pivoting toward the north and south respectively, the Japanese forces in the south- ern part of the island would be isolated and were then to be overcome by attack from the north. Coincident with the main troop attack, there was planned for the southeast coast a demonstration landing, and an actual landing if necessary. The first wave of assault troops, embarked in amphibious vehicles of all sorts, hit the beach just south of point Bolo in the Hagushi area, precisely at the 0830 H-hour, and stormed rapidly inland. The Marine Corps and the Army landed side by side-the 6th and lst Marine Divisions north of Hagushi town, and the 7th and 96th Divisions of the XXIV Corps, Official US. Navy Phofograplt Our troops met surprisingly little resistance on the landing beaches, capturing Yontan and Katena Airfields in the first two and one-half hours. Prior to dark, with 50,000 troops ashore, they had established an eight and one-half mile long beachhead and had driven two and one-half miles inland. As the attack progressed from day to day, it became evident that the Japanese, having made no attempt to stop us at the beaches where we had landed, had withdrawn most of their forces into the southernmost part of the island, and had estab- lished their defenses in depth on terrain admirably suited for defense and delaying action tactics. The enemy defense COU' sisted of blockhouses, pillboxes, and caves, protected by barbed wire and minefields. Here the enemy used his artillery 1111- stingily, and his defensive tactics were described as artful and fantastic. At Kerama Retto the Shannon was assigned to 9. Hlgllf retirement group as part of a six-ship screen for the APALS and APD's of TransRon 17. The retirement course waS lald out to the southwest, following almost exactly the route Howl' by Jap planes from Sakishima and Formosa. We soon discovered this, for each night that we were in thlS SYOUD Our Sleep was continually and unpleasantly interrupted by the presence of bogies. Many, but not all, passed us for the blggfif game at Okinawa. The morning of April 2 we were at CHQ- for seven hours with only a slight break. Several plHI1e5 were taken under fire, two of which were identified by emergency means as friendly. The retirement unit WHS 415' Solved Upon return to the area, and we took a screening staflfm south of the island while waiting our turn to load ammunition in the afternoon. 4 Kgihat evening as theiretirement group rendezvoused south' gf F'-yldlnft Fetto, a warning of approaching planes was receivek- AW? as Ofe the Hmup could form up, we were'und-er attach- . P AUC from the first raid to approach started its dive-b0m,' mgqfllllkxirllef Sky became a plaid pattern of tracers and 525 ion E .lout half WHY down the plane was lnt. It swervl ITNCCISIOH and then picked out '1 target to suicide-tie Tenth Army, to the south. i I 1 luckless Henrico CAPA-155 only 3000 vardsito our starboard. The Shannon's assignment in this Easter Sunday parade was A second, then a thitd Nancy foncmjed an the tail of the in an anti-submarine patrol, screening the demonstration land- hi-st. Number two was turned bv our hre only to crash the ings, The demonstration force did not land, butimade a feint Dickerson CAPD 315 while the tim-d - I 'def from the be' to draw enemy troops away from the actual landing. All boats ginning, crashed the' Goodhue QA1-,A'1557iuici . returned to their ships soon after H-l-lour, their mission hav- ln the short qwwc of Evo mimlt Q 1 , - tl .G fifteen minlflle ing been accomplished. The transports withdrew shortly he- mir attacli three ,,.OO,!hdCn Qhiwol fairflm 111' blazing Dy,-qs, fore noon and the Shannon was ordered to Kerama Retro for Five ,l?1l3,Dl?1llCS had IbeienAdestrbyeddluitebiilve two were new assignment. down without completing their infamous missions. is 46 tti.'i i . if

Page 51 text:

W ' ,,, V Y m' ' ,' .1 mv .ff W 113' .a ' -1' ,Q - - W n .,-- bvvw - - - - .. - ,,,, .. -- - -M: .- - - f ..,. , .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ..,, .... .... .Tn .... an .... fm .... :H .... .,.. .... .... .... 3: ...A .... fr: .... . - M I .- l ,. A 1 -n ,, 'YUM' N In ' -v -' 'I' B I xmzssx sumo on. soumwssrssw usuams M L - N ,X 1 I ,, H- - .f 'vu ' in V X. nhuwyu 1. . .. M: ,,.-wx 1w.,,, ... : . m 1 V X 9 .,, 1 f, .. -. , -. x 199 Ill 1.1 'Qi 0' , N ' v' I af, yfy, m .., 'W pf. -3 .1 ' .. w- , yt ,+ 4, M W ' , H- -I 1 V. 1.- 4 S . -v 'rw ' M m ru f ,,-I -4 , n r- my xxx In u M w- 9. 1' 1- H1 -'y '..'L '5 l I' 5 - 54- -YV I flyv, ik In - '- ' L' .. .1 ,- H, ,,, -' ,. ,, 1.11. , P- , m ix xx , Q . 1- ., .. ' ' . , .. ,Q . u - S N 1, 4 .1 ,- n.mJ.P..m..,...nv-mxszs . m ,. W ,,, . .-1 ?,.- H , 3 ,7 X ff L4 .. - - H M m .- vm.un...-.-..-...-,.-anno H X ,, v 'H np, A M D I I-ve gy, W Q if H , 1- pw, M El 1' ' A. ., . ' . H ' - s C' .Q- lv., . a 4 V. 1- ff . M ,.,.. , -,,., 2 ,msfx ,hu , 4 E ... ,, V .,,,,,,,., ....Y...,... .Q ,,, - '..,.:.S.1.'.: -1 , 52 5 G-,Z , , A .M , ,.......,,.......,1,.....1..,-.., ,xv ,.f .- ,, -1, ,, , - , . f no , ,,. U-gm L. , 11' '- M1 f w- - ' F l - Q n... ff, 4 wx : -1' .--.-n-.uu..m.-A--uma ' ,,, ..., n .1 ..- N-Wu ' 1 M -4 ,- -4,- 4 L-19, . my V- -jp .. -' 3 Q ,U M N , 'f ,Jn . gif., 'fjj uf 2 1 ,, Q ...Ie 'lfrxfrfx '.. .. -- -1- : a..................,........ fm ... -Q. -4 1--, ,'L'.g.g ..5, ,., , ,, ,U , if , Q ,M 4 1- Sm .- 1... - .......-.-.-.,..............,... .,. ., - -1 I' ,, fu n, ,u,,......::. , 2 if ., ,, Y 59. M 'g,.5.-yn,- 1 , u . I i . 0 - f- -Q .1 na g, ,r-H 'L' 'M ,., 32 f 1'-Q-. '.. ,gn .., ,N -.. e H f ,-. - f............... .,.- - I H ,, T- I kymr.-1T,, u N ,fn 5 in ,, una . , .. .. -0 .v:.. .'1 ' , - ,, 2 1 ', ws .r x - 1-1 ., '. 1. .f,. ... .L....4x...4x-mu. ' 1- L f--f5V- - ' 1 P . K 4 X E . ' ,1S.::'f:...........,,... fu. 1- -51-ffwp-,iff n, 'HHH HHTTO QE ,lf W X NX -- mmy ,, ,, .. 3 n U n M :Q 4 'ugh H Lum-N n- .H . jj aa ,mf .U t xm y 6 H ,,, M H m n -.N......,...,....,,.'.. 1 . -V3 -1. ',.,, n .. H. Im. ., ,mv V 1-N -1 W' na . IL ,V n g, r - -pw. , W 'ra A .Q ww W m X. -1' - - ,. 4 f- ' - - s. W. 2. N 2- W , I ,Q wx .,. - , ..... . M H 1- 2- 1, fn mf. ' ' 1. My .. .. xv- 1 ,,, ,M l'.:'. ..'3 .Z '...-...L'.L.. ',.....'!.... ' ma -' T VJ-1'-f '.i'.1 W H .. A 1- .. ......,.........................4 fox H -1 .. 1- ' .v S .y, A ' 111 M 'U an u. .,.,,.....--.,....., ,, -.2 H Q u ,, X 1-.-sh,-M W no .., ,. ,L ,, ., - M .. H ' -1- K., .. 5, -1 H-ii , ,.. ,. f W Ju' HP ' ,.. B., ,,,. '- ,, ' - -f ..,, :,.,:g, - ,.. N ,, - N M , H ':1-Tl-Ii fn 3 uf: .. ul N ,ug mm ... m N -1' H ' U . , - , , -u rn ' , ., f .,. V N gl' .. 1 J .3 P, 'f' ,, .. '- nav. mb -Y , A . f .,. 1 M N .U -A--a -fl ,. ., :I vw M 'S' -2- T. .. If U, N. -4 ,,, - ' ,ff , ' JK .4 vu f .v .1 .,., n 1414?-..m '1. K .1- ... M M- Mg - '- -1- ' u ,, ,. Wiix H' V., A - vu ' ' - ' Y' u f ' 3' ' Ah. n in ' .. -H .., .,. m , .. ,.-,rw - 11. ,M 'Y' 1 U. ., w ,. M 1. ' avi, mg' ',. u ,W N ,,, W, 1 .. N H . .. , ,, , 0 nm ,. ., .H K, .4 M ' ,x .fy mf w .. - ,. f.- ' -4 ll ... D. m -, -1 -4 , , . - ,N 2 :M W 3' ' . f vu I m , N r I .. . .. 21 ,. -. r ..... f,. H .,. M...W-vm.w,H.W,,,,, T. .ML N N M ,. M M ' ' ' ' '91 r 'ho .. .1 H .. I if 'L Sir. T. .. ' 1 1 mn.. -w 'V ' 1 1 ' --W Aw'5. ' .! wM --. f' ,, -0 M f- 2- ,. ' u Y .film ,, , 1- H gm! ,A ,gf mql -1 - V. 4- Q , ,, L- -vu. , 5 -1 N n I I -- -.2 U. .. ,, W H 1 a. -- V, I :V 1231- ,,,. .-0 . QQ 14... SQL 9 xvxxyx xlllll, I sh UQ? .. .mfix ..,... I., N he , :',,.. W M -- ,N .. V U .N ,I . 1, N, H f?uw,- 2.552-A 9, ,E-fx' IL. in -A ' X ff' ... .. L N '- -N - M , --1 .. - - an -- L-.Aw .f -ff' ,N 11 f - 522.2 ,,,,,,,, SX' XQQXX f 711 1' .,. ..,.. JJ ..'f'n U W 'Zi -fu My .. -- -'I ' J -- E ,. ',, ,. B Q., 567' '-' Q J- N ' .,--... ., 'I L 1. .,: Q- --. . 51 Q Q 6 -- ,., 'g ,V C b ' 'Rf up-2 - ZH '..'-wg' '- ,. . -I H 3 1: '.? .f ' I 'Ng L - .fc-' ' - S N ' ,.- , V A U. .,- .. my -' ,. 1. 1 .1 r q, V 1.-,rf .- w- ,, H ,. it .rp........ 5' SX ' 2 1 4 ....y-.--f': 1. ,I :. .,,, L .. 'i -W ' ,, ,.V.:':'7' 1, J' -- ., -kgx fgn ZA':vxM4 l 92 I ., W I Im 5 X H -, 4 2 ' '- 1' N 4 3 SQ.' WL! 5 nn- 5, ,Q'!A ' N 'YQ'-25' ' -'V 5 wine, Y 7 - ' T. - sg 5 . 4. 4 me E H -' 22 ,-' H k. . .,, 1, , . E . g - . ,, , ,fl --, ,--', Q f , .. .. M .,, .. 1 . ,. 3 X , f N -Q NH A, ' -H v - 1. H 11.-in . nu .-ye ,u,.if'-Y of 1. U - r ,,,,,, 5 1 F1 1 , 5-gg 2, ,,: -. 1- '-'...'a11,L fy:-'gg Wig. Q. ,gf 'f. 5'.,.'.'5 f I : -gg .. .. ,. H' --- 2' 4 - 1 1- -we H 2 M- ' ,Z ':'51' n z.-'11 Q -.ff ff M , 5 1 9 J m Qs. fi F' ., .If f-1-1' - N-- 'w w A ,ALP if -if.-, : Mm M 'W ,W 1' Ji- 2' f ' H ru -' ... ' '- ,.. M ,, ,., 9 2 ,. S N M ff-Hg .,,, bfi 5, , '-f -,.... '- ,QW Regis Q, f -, . ... .U 2' 2 Q 9 -- ,.. 2 ... 1' ,g,-Aw 'g ,mg',,,,0, , fl 2 ,, yr'E -.ig-'--',g'LLg'5'p'f wh: 2' .-L 1' .,, .H i -. -' -- H, 4' ' - 'H 7 1-: 5 Y M? ' M ' , ,y' 'U-,-T,L '5 , lid! 1 'WT '3'.' Q-H' -if V. - :, ' Q. vu - n- uv .. ,,, . , g ff RQ , S ,,, ' .. ,,,, .H X. ,fmv . . 1 fK.:7g.- -5 .If ,,, .1-. u M - an - ...Y -.5 - uv 21.1 , x +f -IN J., ,M ,:..l3-4,.g . - Q , f.,.?rX12?V .:'- ,,.. H -N , A . m -J .,. ,. 'Le -..e.. N ' 4 X, i X -f 0. .,. MS H .f , MV , 1:5 .x- f,. ,,,,.:.....n , N , ., 'f ' 1' 4 '- - ... m w -.-I - 1-4 Q5 ff f X 3 .Q .H M. H 1 H H, -Y-1 .L v J f V: 4 f-1 ,,,, L' .- V. .1. fl' v-+- w N' ' .,. -L M 'h--1fS-w- 2, mf X .N 5-:SX ... .U M ... I ... ' X' ,,. -, Ts .: . '..1- EP . ,ff 'Sb ,,,',.H nn, ': .. ,, ,, .1 an ' 1- M N 1... .H .., -1 wi 'lffm .xx W Q -'34, W M' -' - ..-f '-.-J' ' 314 -' in '-mm. . . .. :. , ,Q ' .5 - .. .. ,,, V- .- ,, .. ' H' ,.. M N .- M - my ...,, -I . f, . Q -:. ,,.f,- ..- 1..- .. .. ' I - ,, -w ,H . -6. 114, -, , 1, - N M -- M - -. 1,.p,.., ,,,, 'x ,. f - e-.1 . L., ,ff . .1 . ll N rn ,,, A H .. -4 L ww! ,, M ,,, NM ,,, ,,, V., -1 1, p,,Q , , , .1 .A .. n -'-2 ... w 4 m fmfn 1 Wx in W ., .-1 , .. -- . U. D 1 H V--2 - X. . -.2 1. ' .- -E-H -1 .. -' . , W. '4 Q u 3. D. Hr uulunuuhnl 1' NL ,., pu M N, .V 'J , AQ ' A 3 Ay- Is, 1 4. N M Q n ' ' lv we an n- ,M , , M -.J .u n- -1 ,Y 1 '-V ,gf x. , .P - if M v -- .U - ., ,, nf ..-, ,.. .. N- ., ,Q ,. .n 1 , Q, yu.,-A X- J .. ., A' u I - .Q ... .H N ., ... M M --v .. -'-H f. .Ne ' 1. ., H ,. .. - ,. I ... an .M N I.. 2' ,.. .. - -1 f , ww- .M . 3: ,- as ,- A - ,,, ... M. 1. ..-... 'lily-' .- - . - fn ,,. .,. U. 1- 'G' ,.-7 JF .zf 'W V'-1' ..rfH - '7Z'. h.p- ' Q- -1' M in N m ,A m W 1- N an .n. mm ,.. My ig f. 51. .nL,sV,, W 'Il ,, S H .af-..,m'v- ,, R v1 f -an ... lv 4, 'W-. , ,vi 1 yu - r-nina.. H Mn. . W m ,., U- N w 1--N, W..-ls. Y pr fax - 3:30 2, .. . H , u N . ., . . N ,f ,V .. -,- 1 ..., M . ,, n M M H ' I m ... N ,.. m ,, ... H M vb do 4.,-K6 in ,, it V, Q! i,.n 1- H ,VM ,, t in ,, N -I: m '- N M N - 1-1 m A ... lb mJ,l,..m,.f.-nu- .gh .f : :. N R -- Ig .:- , H, -.. N' ' ... -H -1' ' ,. ,.. ' 'M '-' - -'I 1:-Fgh53 '1 h '-:.1g,. rw. ,f-1-H - , -' OKINAWA SHIMA ns n ,, N .u f .1 . , A , 'ua ,.,'. gg ya 4 p...1.., H :I .A 4. - - - H M N ' 'H N ,. Q' . , - w '.,,w .' , ' ,, .. .f M - 0 nn ' 1.4 PU NI L.: ' ' ' ft Q' ' Z 4 1 1 ' ,' Q' nl' n ,FQ 4' W , 4 . -- ny ., ,., N 1-2 N .. M ...f n K, ,, 4 , 1 ,,,,-'-N ,, ,.,-:..,, ,, . ,.x -- m .. .- W.,-,.. , ... 5 1 4 , . ,. 4 H ,M W, ,, ,., N .f Wd-, .. . ,M -,J.1, ,,, -.U ,I ... U ,-' ,, ,. 'W- 'N ,.. In .,. U. ,. .5 - X , - -:Hi -5 u,......,. ,, H ,. N L. , ....-.... -.-,.h,,i1,:- X n. Vf 5' N k vv -' ., .., N' .1 1- I U, -, ' 1 X 3 - 1.51 N '2 WU , ' .4 ' ...-, .-.. Q--V-..-..... ,:, ... -,,,fL,,-, V .5.,,, '.., -' -1- ' ,.. 'M in of-.c... 1 A f- W ,, mx! ' 2 ' ' A 'bf 1112, -5:1 - 3- H ' -' . ' ..fq.. .Q-if - P. f '- -' ff-N. -XX ,. -v .. 'sm :T 'H .--4 ,, , W.. , -1' -X ,,, 1. ' ,,, N ,., X 1 I v- ,an ,Iwi 11.3. 'I .wnvn gm - -v--3, - 5-I 1 g 3 7 - - . ,.. - ,.,' . - ,. 4 .. -1 ff, -NA ,Q 4. I, n--,N , ...... , , 5 m ,ru I - . um- N -Y . Us-V n:...l. - .1 7 :J ll, 0 lan-Q., ,,, -N .,. W vs MWMMKMN 1. tg ,, N . ,A-.J ,,- :I .. we u iq E... . .- L, : . nu- .. -.,.. ' ' LH- 3 - -3- 51.1, . w 5 A , W-f 3, ,pe .U ' u ' 3 , 1 - v Q, -'I .. . . - . - H - - ,- . .H N N .. .., ,.. ...K fm, , , ' -,-'.,..:W .' M zz-: : . : . . X' - w. -1 -- - -f x --5-Q' g ' . U w V' ,M 1' .. N .. - -W 1 L. .r L A V- JL.. ' W , H ,. ,qv,-...'?f,!44-fy --. ' .-- , ,gf un .. , - -1 ,, M -- , M-1 vi... N ' My ,., .. ,.. 'H' ,..-L-7-rfr- ,iamwf v V Y Q- 1. W '9T'1- . ,I - .,. , M ' 1 .. x .. 4.1-: wwf ' 0- -I .. '- ' :W , w ' - - - Q ff' if ... -Q ' ' .nff----M 2 mx w .f f 1. V., 'WM ... .,,. I 1- .. Sm 537511 My 2 ff : .. . ,.',, ..,., -.,, 31,5 : U .. ,. 2 'XA H- 'H m ,. ,, .. ., , ,,, H .. H Q - g vs. TJ' ,az-.:, 5 I.,-, M- gy., 'Q M ... .-..,...,.. ... ' ...,.. V - ... . .' . I.. ' '. -1 y cf -. , , W - ,.f A, 1 . 1- - - - , , - mu... -.- .--- -.--- -----f 'l -- 'K-T7 HFS - 1 ' T In P' ' -' N --1135--fi- 2 ' H N ' mo '- W- Af..--.5-- - '. 1. - ' 1 ',,-:.i' M' R fx :?f:'f'-'.ff- ,n ' .. ' ' 711- '17 5131 .:: N 1' 1 - '-L:- qs., -ff L- .. , - ' 5 M ,, ' '-uw ,----- .' 6 ' 1' M 1-,,... ' ' x ,L 35.1. ' , 'A .. FT,-qw ,-,. .. -- . ..,.,.. ...,..,.,. -..,,... -.A,- - -- -y.. ' '- .. m , ... ' ,. 1- X---e--J gpgw' ,. vw' -: - .. -,, ...--',,.u...m. 1- -2 .. ..'f.,,': -f . 1 ., ,,n'-Sv..-yi ,-...Ll N Q ,. ....,. ...W . , ' ,Y Q! - - '.. 1534? - P ' Af- -as ' -w '- L3 ' .. .. 2 ', ,,':',5' QQ, ,. -x - .. .. ' . ' R.,m:f'2- .IK -'V 1 ,'f :::wL5 ' .'1i.'..f 9f, :: -fA--- L- 'v,mww' . 7 'V 'yf',, ' 'M' s-. unuhqsaf .. tm -Jw, - u .1 u M ' M I n . 1-I . w....- .3 9-1 , - Z ,v.,x .3v',d.,,, W' -,. ,. ,I . Nw J -1 ,D wg, RP I0 - -1 v ' ,.,, ,nw l 1 'fl.,,,,,,, -N 12, .. ..' - X' - -,F M. ,,'Q':. .:-'-' V. we ,JN 1- f?f,e.- A Lt- Fug.. ff?-. .,.L4. 5' ' ,, ' N39 I I J M, -A--T-A--H , ,, A 1 - W - . ,. ,V ,U 7,, , .. .. n gf ,. g .n 1 I Q- 7-. F7 sa . M sg . V, Q ,v.,. 1, , 1- --... -ff .. 1. MXL, ' ,, 'UW' ... --5 1' V' v- M, I--:WU ,. Ur .. .. ... H Jg,,,,,,g 1- QP-rig-Q J., -' gf, , - 7-21 .r, Q - ,, U :nu ,. - - . , gk x mx' l'I' ,ll Q Q gww.. , V aw., V J, X , - ' M M, i' .W ' .. 1' .. .'-rm' ' 93' 1-vm.: - - wr--: ,U N ' --' -al--.. -f 'A - ,, ., , w1f'Y 1 si -Q A f ff, gm 6sflmJ J C f ,- V M-A-M H L. Q I 9 5 ,, .. - ,Q .. , 1... 1--,hq , 1- -uh., ,. 1 ,f h HJ, .M -1 , 1 ,, 5 .f QX f 1, ,Q ' , J Q XJ X J V Au nn- as-14 xx 1 u ll , 1 . .. - . .. .. ,L .um 1- ,. v- v- , ,, .nuufv uv wf u 77 x N f . .. ,Am QW . -ff N G0 WAN Mr af Amana.. I n. W S -I V0-X X fin' if V ll 5' .1 ,., ' H. J- .3 ,, ,I n vp rv 1 1. l f' nv-u .. ' Q' . .QV -H -. wwf. ...fy 1' 'USL' ' gin xx , f, QQ n H. 3, 4 'rj . I A , A A ' .,,,..mw,,.... ... S3 xXx 77' ,ay ,,, 5 -1-37, L, - U L. ,lv-fag N , N... Q , ,gf .- 5,15-1 - H , -2 ,, H U Ji 'g f, Q W H -.Qu ,,f. A .f- .........- NN O -1-52 -f 1-'.'., if '.' :Ii 1 H -Q E 52' .' f'fT61,4 '5.'sf':J:, U - . 2- , .gl -' : ,. ,, Vs! 5 if M. 1-.,. 2 .. ,,f- 'V 31' R.. . A '13, ........., I ... gh- Q 2 .Q 1. -1 , . L ,,' .' ,. -1 . . f . L- I - W-,gg ,,42,-,gfhg 5. V :fa-A 3 H ' 11-. ...... ini? wg, , 8 wk 1 Q H hm. .,-1 ,, in N - W4 . , ... 5 N M f 2 -: - ,. .. H ., ,. . , fu' ,. .wwf- 1 1 2 .A ,fn .-aw b ,V . ' 'f' ,: r . 4 sf 11 'A' gf- - . - ' : X ,,, 0. 4 ., .. u , . .. ,. 3...-n' .. Q hqp! g - i. n - 2 N . ,, , F .X . x 1 Q- 5 N .ef , - . - - ' ,,. M 1 .. - B, -f . , ,, U. ,. - Z , -- , . A . ,- 1- , se f 1- v ' 5,1 Q ,,. --W, 4 2 '11 ,L Q 2, . '- - '. '- ., ,, - IH-A Z- ,f' h '-,- 95:4 T ,. ,Q,ifH ' .. -ff-A-T.. + -'1-x- ' y 2 1 1 ff -1- ' v- 5 1 ,v A ' 2 .,. fn V v .Q 'f'-,-1, - - ., .. ,ft ,, - ,, , '- -1 ., Q 1 4 - ., 3, : ,1-..,'-...hi -, iff i' L S ' 'S 1 'E 'C .. - il,-,f..',. 11, ..,:',f- .Y A' .. , .. A-U' .. 5?- gfc 'S 5 - -,'.' 'Qjgx f',. ,f' A- any 4' 3, QF Q Fi .. 5 S H-131 '.-.5-14.1-Q , '- 2, l .,. . ---'C-..i -X' . : 1-F 1 4--f - -Q ' - 2.441 f 4 .3 V- L'-.. my . - SV T ' . Q - ,, N 2 -'ff' - ,- .--mx - E - -1- 1 31- 1... - gf, ':.',, -,L B -- .. ,, - -. - I. -- v 5, N A 4-, q5!g:, w A 2 fa 1' 2 v! w A3 , 1' K ,. 1- .. .33 ' 5 5 o - T 5 --4 - - I -3. - - -. - 1 '- Jn dv., yy ,k my ,gn ,nf s. , .,. ' g f Q 3 5 L Lx ' '. -. . fl f 'Q 9-' X 'E mf --, ff'q 0 'Q - - w .. -1 -1 - ., ' - 2 '- ,. Mel ff ' - - ff-I ,.. 21' ff J -'- ,. ri .. 2- ,. -N W1 . ' 1 Y , , - N - -- V.. A 5. . . .. -1. ..- 1 - ,QLKPQ ...... . , 4 f X Q . 1--I - , -1- 2 . Q '-cp E ,S H ul ,, yn , ,I - ,, ... g-7-lm F 'ix' f,w:.Y ff-' .- M 2 N : ,f ' ,.. aj, my X XXX 56 NT gg, , - . ,. ' 1. W,-' gm 5 a X Q 1 . V. - - . .. - . ----, , . ,J-V' 2 f, . S ' 'M D, 1- - . 1 x x 5 .lv 'O In 4 .1 ll . x . 1 4 in ll x , - I-I 1 f x NX I - 1 f Q- Q W .- ' '- - ' . f -. -uf M QS ff Xa PQ -- . . A I 2 5x 'If . 5 w ,f H ,, ,, J - ' - ,. -1 . v N 'fi fp ' 2' 1 u,..f' ' WA J., 'I ' ' , 3- fi ,, . , -5 ,A . as ,, N .S , . ,.'- , .. ., .,V, .b N .. -Q.. K- -g,s,,,4aL,, ,,. H . ,. y ,- m Q -V 1- m um ,N I ,qxfgsx V , ,, - H N V 4 x Q , - 1 1, .w w ' 1 , ,, ' . A- . Z9 71,1 JK Q5 'S ' ., 3 .. ' 1. M -1-' 'X -, 3. 3 ., - 1. . u ' , k1, ,,,,. ' ,Q .., ' m 'ffmn,,,7L.1,,,:Hl...m,mwx - Q' 1' - '., 7, Lp' 1 Q 'fff l XM X , si- , - ., . ff' ' -f - ., 1- - H .' nf.. ' -- ' .., --1 W U ' , 1- N ,.f N X is 1 . W llr fl .lv ' y 1, 5 'mx ,, . . ,. 3 f . M m ,,, H v . .. 2 ., H g :-.j'J,,.h.' -.W wk-, I WW' QW W - .. .. ,f'.., ... ' -- u ,. . -y In M M ' ,,, - W. ,-. w avi' N S, f 1 - ... WU-Q , 1 0, v W .. 1, - -HX w ,, .. ,, N m W L . ..f ,,.f, V, . . ,. f ' . If - xw - ,f , . ,f 1-1 -Q ' H 1- -1 -A Y , - ,, vi, i m f1,m..l1mm..mllnuxmmm lx H :M 3 ',, ' .U .. ': V. ,7-' N ,. N M 'f ., 'J J , ' QAM M1 H '- . -1 M. ' ' ,- -' ,. ' - 1 .. ' -1 '- se S r V- : ' ' - ,, ' I 'iw tx -u no w m -4 X: -' ' n Af' 'f LL iw Ex . 1 A w- f f - ., ' '-N'--ff' N ,, -' - -' ' ' 1 g , .. , . Y., V V, - , ' N ,fu : ' I -v ., ' ' ' - .rf U f- L , I ' 24 A ll sol wh , 1 ,X , ,.. .. ... M g,.g . I .. '- f 'B-f-I - .mo.m., - ' .F 1 ,.. :.,.....a..-.u.ue.zu '- V... ', I u .n -n '-' vnu-wp-Pnom.-.ns-W---A 'I' . h ,A ........... ................ ..... ..... ..... ....... ----- ----------------mg ---- .4---H - --H ' ,, .W , ,,,, ,, 0 ,,,, -,,, ,,,,,,, , W., ,,,.,,,,,, ..... . .. .... ...... ...-..... -- --- .1 .:--- 4----2----mf----gm :. ---au----4'-' -a 'r' '22 ' 'f --' - - - - -- '- -' '- 0- 1 A .... ........... .. ...... .. ..-- ---- - --- --- ----- .., ------ f 2--rg: ---- :a--- ---f-2-f-u: -- f.- - .- - - D - '-' w ,,, mi. D w QL,-,,,,,r.,,. L U1 .4 - A , A' X 4, 1 VA A - ki is A H vii: A ,, , ggi ., L.5w4,, . , , 1 mg'g,Vg-51? J,1vg:g,::x:E2'?ff '11f-J-1 2 Q ' - ---- ' ' J E152

Page 53 text:

The attack ended abruptly, as it had started. For a moment a death Sll6l1CC Seemed to llflllg' over the ships. Tl1en across the water we could hear clearly the roar of tire-tires fed .bv hundreds of gallons of gasoline from the suicide planes, fires that reached from main deck to yard arms enveloped the superstructures of the crashed ships, These had to be brought under control before the wounded could be reached for treat- ment. Only superb damage control plans and heroic efforts of repair parties kept casualties from soaring much higher. Aid was quickly dispatched to the stricken ships to help with the fires and with the grimmer task of treating the wounded and burned, and caring for the dead. The damaged Ships were escorted into Kerama Retto while the remainder continued to the south on retirement. The next two hours were quiet and the other planes that approached during the night and early morning did not press their attacks. But nerves were a bit unravelled by this pre- view of the coming months of hell. It was not a future that one might anticipate with relish . . . if one could anticipate a future! In the afternoon of Love plus two day, TransRon 17, es- corted by several DM's and DE's, took departure from Kerama Retto, and for the next twelve days steamed in a large square 300 miles southeast of Okinawa. This proved to be a good rest and relaxation period. Some of the crew even resumed the old pre-Okinawa practice of taking their clothes off when they went to bed. Nothing interrupted us but a few alarms caused by unidentified friendly planes, false sonar and radar contacts, and the usual hour to hour and is--- one-half long routine G.Q.'s at dawn andk A X ligible. Then a Betty was sighted coming in on a glide-bomb- ing or suicide dive. We opened up immediately, but had fired for only a minute when several Corsair fighters swooped out of the clouds and onto the tail of the Betty. They splashed it and sent seven more japs to Davey Jones before any damage could be done to ships in the area. The Betty had hardly hit the water when a Val, which had been threatening, came' in from the starboard bow in another suicide attempt. Again we ceased fire as the Corsairs took him on. It was practically the same as suicide for the Jap pilot. He didn't get to fire a shot at our fighters. One sprayed the cock- pit then pulled out of his dive to the right, letting a second Corsair go in to finish the Nip. But the second was superfluous- his target was already on his way to the sea in fiames. THE SHEA HAS A FIELD DAY By this time the Shea and the AM had left us to take their screen stations southwest of Ie Shima. The Shea seemed to attract most of the nearby planes-to the Japs' regret, for she splashed no less than seven of them before the raid was over. We finally got to our station at 1045 and patrolled until ordered to the assistance of the Bowers CDE 6371, which had been hit by a suicider. By the time we arrived, the Bowers needed no further assistance for she was under control and proceeded on her own power to the transport area. We re- mained to conduct an unsuccessful forty-five-minute search for survivors. IE BECOMES ERNIE PYLE dusk! -f ri The troops we were escorting were finally A ls, X X-N5 MEMORIAL needed for replacements Zfnd to make a new 1 HS? 'Q xlrqx The Ie Shima attack progressed as sched- landmgy so OH Loveiplub fourteen day our N 5 'Q ' f X Q uled and b f the end of the first dav the air- Task Group returned to Okinawa and Wag Q'T 'TT'--. T i'fQx field' had bizen captured It was during the dissolved. Q- 5 - ' Q '- - +1 --'1 - f first few hours of fighting on Ie that the At 1700 we were assigned to patrol station il , ,, Ti ffifflffd and beloved news Correspondent' 155-A in the anti-suicide boat screen .between X 1' ' X Efme Pyle, WHS kllled by 3 bUfSf Of .THD Okinawa and Kerama Retto. Our principal duty on this station was to provide a group of LCS gunboats with illumination and fire support on their patrol off Naha. between Kezu-Saki and Kiyamu-Saki. Surrounding land-Okinawa, Kerama Retto, Keise Shima, and Mae Shima-provided excellent navigational aids, but at the same time made the station extremely hazardous due to the difficulties of search. WE GET TWO SITTING DUCKS As we arrived on station at dusk several planes were sighted on Jap-held Naha Airfield. General quarters was sounded and, upon receiving permission from Commander Southern Attack Force, the planes were taken under fire. Wie had only twenty minutes in which to work before darkness and smoke made us cease fire. But during that time one Betty was destroyed and another made such a repairmen's headache that it wouldn't take to the air for a long time. By 1915 we were doing our graceful figure eight on station. In our absence the japs had changed their usual time of attack to shortly after midnight-they had found that with even a visage of light our gunners made suckers out of suiciders-and that night they came right on time. General quarters lasted until 0605 for, while no planes approached close enough for us to shoot at, there were a great many in the area providing a constant threat. April 16 was D-day at Ie Shima, an island just west of OklH3W2,S Motabu Peninsula. The main objective was to secure an excellent concrete airfield for our own use-an air- field that the japs were using all too effectively for lightning stabs at fleet units. The Shannon's part in the landings was in an anti-aircraft and anti-sub screen just northwest of the island. As we passed to the east of Aguni Shima, enroute with the Shea CDM 30, and an AM to our new station, warning of approaching enemy planes was received. Immediately we went to G.Q. and, at 0937, just after the Shea had opened up, we commenced firing at a Val as it began a suicide run. The plane, thrown slightly off its collision course by the volume of Hre, overshot and crashed close aboard the Shea and thc AM. ' A second Val was taken under tire by all three ships, .but It-soon passed out of range eventually to be splashed as it tried to reach troop transports in the I-Iagushi area. For an hour activity in our immediate area was almost neg- 00YLWe 's machinegun fire. After several days the en- tire island was in our hands. Following two days in this sector, the transports having returned to the anchorage, the Shannon was shifted to a sta- tion off the coast of southern Okinawa to screen the third demonstration landing. At 0345 the transports moved in. Throughout the morning empty boats shuttled between their ships and the shore in feints to draw the enemy away from our hard-pressed front lines. Upon completion of the demonstration, we entered Kerama Retto for ammunition and then joined Task Group 54.2, the heavy defense force. This group, consisting of six cruisers and six destroyers, steamed in an area northwest of Okinawa to intercept any heavy enemy force that might venture into those waters. ORCHIDS AGAIN Throughout our second night as a part of this group, we were under air attack. Many planes came Within range and were taken under fire, while the group maneuvered at high speed. The Shannon's radars were usually the first to spot enemy planes approaching, and her guns the first to fire. This vigilance and speed brought the following message from the Task Group Commander, during a lull in firing: Your reports and action have been excellent. Well done! Combat had kept a continual fiow of information on the location and move- ments of the enemy going out over the radio circuits to the task group, allowing the OTC to maneuver the group more rapidly and efifectively. In addition we had fired some 275 rounds of five-inch pro- jectiles. While the effectiveness of our fire could not be observed, the bogeys had been turned away before they could come close enough to cause damage to the ships in company. It had been a good change for us to operate with big ships, after weeks of slow speed sweeping with ships of limited fire power, speed, and maneuverability. VVith the heavies it becomes a matter of rapid, well executed maneuvers and effective fighting. The speed with which orders were given kept everyone on his toes, but they were so well executed that the operations became easy. VVe were sorry to have to leave their company. The next day was the first of many operating as escort to a tanker, during fueling operations. VVe soon dubbed our- selves Fuel Div 7. This duty entailed first getting fuel ourselves, and then patrolling to protect the tanker as other sltips scheduled for refueling took their turns alongside her. 47