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4 May 1942

Battle of the Coral Sea

Allies Forces in the area on 4 May 1942.

The Allied forces in the area were made up of the following units;
Task Force 11; aircraft carrier USS Lexington (Capt. F.C. Sherman, USN, flying the flag of R.Adm. A.W. Fitch, USN), heavy cruisers USS New Orleans (Capt. H.H. Good, USN), USS Minneapolis (Capt. F.J. Lowry, USN, flying the flag of R.Adm. T.C. Kinkaid) and the destroyers USS Phelps (Lt.Cdr. E.L. Beck, USN, with Capt. A.R. Early, USN, commanding DesRon 1 on board), USS Farragut (Cdr. G.P. Hunter, USN), USS Dewey (Lt.Cdr. C.F. Chillingsworth, Jr., USN), USS Worden (Lt.Cdr. W.G. Pogue, USN), USS Monaghan (Lt.Cdr. W.P. Burford, USN), Aylwin (T/Cdr. R.H. Rodgers, USN) and the tanker USS Tippecanoe (Cdr. A. MacOndray, Jr., USN).

Task Force 17; aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (Capt. E. Buckmaster, USN, flying the flag of R.Adm. F.J. Fletcher, USN), heavy cruisers USS Chester (Capt. T.M. Shock, USN), USS Portland (Capt. B. Perleman, USN), Astoria (Capt. F.W. Scanland, USN), and the destroyers USS Morris (T/Cdr. H.B. Jarrett, USN, with T/Capt. G.C. Hoover, USN, commanding DesRon 2 on board), USS Sims (Lt.Cdr. W.M. Hyman, USN), USS Anderson (Lt.Cdr. J.K.B. Ginder, USN), USS Hammann (Cdr. A.E. True, USN), USS Russell (Lt.Cdr. G.R. Hartwig, USN), USS Walke ( Lt.Cdr. T.E. Fraser, USN) and the tanker USS Neosho (T/Capt. J.S. Phillips, USN). The heavy cruiser USS Chicago (Capt. H.D. Bode, USN) and the destroyer USS Perkins (Lt.Cdr. W.C. Ford, USN) were also temporary attached to Task Force 17, these two ships were units of Task Force 44.

Early on the 4th (0805KL/4), Two more units of Task Force 44, the Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Australia (Capt. H.B. Farncomb, RAN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral J.G. Crace, CB, RN) and Australian light cruiser HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.L. Howden, CBE, RAN) had made rendezvous with Task Force 11.

Prelude up to 4 May 1942.

Task Force 11 and Task Force 17 had met earlier, around 0615LM(-11.5) on 1 May 1942 in position 16°16'S, 162°20'E. Task Force 17 had just spent seven days of upkeep and provisioning at Tonga.

Task Force 11 was then ordered to join the heavy cruiser USS Chicago, destroyer USS Perkins and tanker USS Tippecanoe in position 16°00'S, 161°45'E and with those ships rejoin Task Force 17 the next morning which they did.

It was desirable to take as much fuel out of USS Tippecanoe as possible before she was to return to Port Vila, Efate in accordance with orders from the Commander-in-Chief, US Pacific Fleet and to hold as much fuel as possible in USS Neosho as a reserve.

Intelligence reports meanwhile indicated that the long awaited Japanese attack on Port Moresby, New Guinea, might start very soon. Task Force 17 completed fuelling on May 2, but Task Force 11 did not expected to complete fuelling until noon on the 4th. Rear-Admiral Fletcher therefore ordered Rear-Admiral Fitch to fuel his destroyers, if practicable, on northwesterly course at night and rejoin Task Force 17 at daylight May 4 in position 15°00'S, 157°00'E. This was the same rendezvous as had been arranged with Rear-Admiral Crace, RN, which was to join with the heavy cruiser HMAS Australia and light cruiser HMAS Hobart.

At 1545LM/2, an air scout from USS Yorktown sighted an enemy submarine on the surface in position 16°04'S, 162°18'E, just 32 miles north of the Task Forces at that moment. The submarine dived but surfaced shortly afterwards as it was again sighted and depth charges by three planes sent out to locate it. Two destroyers were then ordered to search the area but no contact was made. It was thought possible that the Task Forces might have been reported by the enemy. [The enemy submarine in question was the Japanese I-21 (offsite link) en-route from Rabaul to Noumea. She reported the attack but did NOT report that the attacking aircraft were CARRIER BASED aircraft, so the Japanese were still unaware of the American carriers that were operating in the Coral Sea.]

Task Force 17 with USS Neosho continued to the northwestward during the night and topped off destroyers from Neosho on the third. It was intended to top off other ships requiring it after effecting rendezvous with Rear-Admirals Fitch and Crace the next morning. The former had been directed to sent USS Tippecanoe to Efate with a destroyer escort, this he did after his entire force had topped off with fuel. The destroyer USS Worden was ordered to escort the tanker to Efate.

Task Force 17 consistently kept in readiness for action on short notice by topping off destroyers from the tanker, cruiser and the carrier whenever they could receive as mich as 500 barrels of fuel. This condition of readiness paid dividends on the night of May 3 and 6.

At 1900LM/3, Rear-Admiral Fletcher received intelligence reports from the Commander Southwest Pacific Forces stating that five or six enemy vessels had been sighted at 1700 hours on 2 May, off the southern end of Santa Isabel Island possibly heading to Tulagi and that two transports were unloading into barges at Tulagi at an unspecified time. This was just the kind of report he was waiting for. It was regrettable that Task Force 11 was not available yet but it was fortunate that Task Force 17, fully fuelled, was able to stike at daylight on the 4th. USS Neosho, escorted by USS Russell was ordered to proceed to position 15°00'S, 157°00'E to meet Rear-Admirals Fitch and Crace at 0800 hours on 4 May and the combined force was then to proceed eastwards and join Task Force 17 in position 15°00'S, 160°00'E at daylight on 5 May.

Japanese landings at Tulagi on 3 May 1942 and the American response on 4 May 1942.

Tulagi had been evacuated by the Australians based there on 2 May 1942 and the Japanese landed there the following day. The Japanese force that had arrived there and had landed troops and supplies was made up of the minelayer Okinoshima, auxiliary minelayer Koei Maru, destroyers Kikuzuki, Yuzuki, auxiliary submarine chasers Toshi Maru No.3 and Tama Maru No.8, auxiliary minesweepers Wa-1, Wa-2, Hagoromo Maru, Noshiro Maru No.2 and Tama Maru. The transport Azumasan Maru (7623 GRT, built 1933) is also part of the force. (All links are offsite links).

At 2030LM/3, Task Force 17, currently made up of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, heavy cruisers USS Chicago, USS Chester, USS Portland, USS Astoria and the destroyers USS Perkins, USS Sims, USS Anderson, USS Hammann, USS Walke and USS Morris changed course to the north and increased speed to 24 knots and two hours later to 27 knots. At 0701LM/4, USS Yorktown launched a six plane combat air patrol and the first attack group. Combat air patrol was maintained throughout the day and cruisers maintained inner air patrol. The surface force maneuvered south of Guadacanal Island. Three air attacks were made on the Japanese at Tulagi. No enemy ships or aircraft were sighted from the ships of Task Force 17. The last attack group landed back on USS Yorktown at 1702LM/4.

One torpedo plane and two fighters failed to return due to being lost and running out of gasoline. The fighter pilots were recovered from Guadalcanal Island by USS Hammann that same evening. Six scout bombers and two torpedo planes were slightly damaged. USS Perkins was also detached to search for the missing torpedo plane but found no trace of it.

Enemy losses were reported by returning aircraft as two destroyers, one cargo ship and four gunboats sunk. One light cruiser beached and sunk, one destroyer, one heavy cruiser or aircraft tender severely damaged. One cargo ship damaged. Various small craft destroyed. Five single float planes shot down. [Actual damage inflicted on the enemy was as follows; During the first strike the destroyer Kikuzuki was sunk. During the second strike the auxiliary minesweepers Wa-1, Wa-2 were sunk. The Okinoshima , escorted by the Yuzuki were attacked but managed to dodge all torpedoes by radical maneuvering. She sustained some minor damage though, from near misses and strafing. Also the Yuzuki, Azumasan Maru, Koei Maru were damaged as was the Tama Maru which sank two days later as a result of the damage. Also five float planes were destroyed.]

Events between the action of Tulagi and the action of Misima.

During the night of May 4 - 5, Task Force 17, less USS Perkins and USS Hammann, proceeded southeast and south at 23 knots to rendezvous as previously arranged. The two detached destroyers rejoined Task Force 17 in the morning.

At 0825LM/5, USS Yorktown launched four fighters to investigate a radar contact bearing 252°, distance 30 miles. Interception was completed 15 minutes later and an enemy patrol plance was shot down. At this time the patrol plane was fifteen miles from USS Lexington and twenty-seven miles from USS Yorktown, so it might have been trailing Task Force 11 and not Task Force 17. Shortly before rejoining USS Hammann sighted the patrol plane. At 0845LM/5 Task Force 17 made rendezvous with Task Force 11 and HMAS Australia and HMAS Hobart.

Task Force 17 fuelled from USS Neosho on 5 and 6 May 1942. Task Force 11 and Task Force 44 now joined Task Force 17.

The heavy cruisers USS Minneapolis, USS Astoria, USS Portland, USS New Orleans, USS Chester and five of the destroyers were assigned as ' Attack Group ' in case enemy surface ships were to be attacked during a surface action.

HMAS Australia, USS Chicago, HMAS Hobart and two destroyers were assigned as ' Support Group '.

The carriers were assigned four destroyers as close escort.

The remaining two destroyers were assigned to escort the tankers, though one destroyer and one tanker were at Efate.

Intelligence reports were received on a large amount of various types of enemy vessels in the Salomon Sea between New Guinea, New Britain and the Solomon Islands. It was also reported that three enemy carriers were in the area.

It was decided to be in attack position at daylight on 7 May. Tanker USS Neosho was detached to the southwards escorted by USS Sims.

Action of Misima Island, 7 May 1942.

The morning air search was planned to locate the most suitable objective for attack and to obtain positive or negative information regarding enemy carriers of whose movements no information had been received since the previous afternoon. It was quite possible that three enemy carriers might be within striking distane. Unfortunately the search to the east-north-eastward was not completed due to bad weather. A scout searching to the north-westward reported two carriers and two cruisers north of Masima Island. After launching the attack groups, the scouts were recovered and it was learned that an error had been made in using the contact pad and that the pilot had not sighted any carriers. About the time this error was discovered, Army aircraft reported an enemy carrier group close to Misimi and the attack groups were diverted and made contact. The carrier and a light cruiser were claimed sunk in position 10°29'S, 152°53'E. The large number of torpedo and bomb gits and the rapidity of her sinking (within five minutes) must have resulted in the loss of practically all personnel and aircraft aboard the carrier. The light cruiser was reported to sink so quickly that there must have been great loss of life in her also. The attack groups returned to USS Yorktown and USS Lexington around 1338LM/7.

The Japanese carrier sunk was the Shoho, which had been part of the cover force for the Port Moresby landing group. The cover force had been made up of the already mentioned Shoho, the heavy cruisers Aoba, Furutaka, Kako, Kinugasa and the destroyer Sazanami.

The main assault force for the Port Moresby landings was made up of the light cruiser Yubari, minelayer Tsugaru, destroyers Oite, Asanagi, Mutsuki, Mochitsuki, Yayoi, minesweeper W-20, auxiliary minesweepers Hagoromo Maru, Noshiro Maru No.2 and Fumi Maru No.2, the fleet tanker Hoyo Maru (8692 GRT, built 1936) and ten transports with troops and supplies, these were the naval transport Shoka Maru (4467 GRT, built 1935), Mogamigawa Maru (7509 GRT, built 1934), Goyo Maru (8469 GRT, built 1939), Akibasan Maru (4670 GRT, built 1924), Chowa Maru (2719 GRT, built 1940) and the army transports Matsue Maru (7061 GRT, built 1921), Taifuku Maru (3520 GRT, built 1939), Mito Maru (7061 GRT, built 1921), China Maru (5870 GRT, built 1920) and Hibi Maru (5873 GRT, built 1921).

Thoughts were given to launching another strike or search but it was unlikely that another suitable objective was to be found near the location of the attack of this morning. The location of the Japanese 5th Carrier Division was still unknown but it was thought possible that these were within striking distance. Radar contacts and radio interceptions showed that our position was known to the enemy. One four engined enemy patrol bomber had been shot down by fighters from USS Yorktown.

It was decided to head westwards during the night to be in position if the enemy would pass through the Jomard Passage by morning heading for Port Moresby.

At 1659LM/7 an enemy seaplane was sighed but fighters failed to intercept.

At 1747L/7 (clocks had been set to zone -11 at 1700 hours), radar showed a group of planes to the south-eastward on a westerly course. Fighters were sent to intercept and between fifteen and twenty enemy planes were claimed to have been shot down. American losses were three fighters. When American aircraft were landing after dark, three enemy aircraft circled showing light and they made no sign of hostility probably having mistaken our forces for their own. It was realized that the enemy carriers must be in the area for such a mistake to happen. One of these enemy aircraft was shot down by AA gunfire.

Loss of USS Neosho and USS Sims.

While all of the above was going on, at 1051LM/7, a signal, repeated several times, was reveived from USS Neosho that she was being bombed by three enemy aircraft in position 16°50'S, 159°08'E. Later at 1600LM/7, USS Neosho reported that she was sinking in position 16°38'S, 158°28'E.

A subsequent signal from the Commander-in-Chief, US Pacific Fleet indicated that USS Sims had also been sunk. Unfortunately, nothing was received as to the type of aircraft which attacked them. It would have been extremely valuable information if it had been reported that they were carrier planes. The destroyer USS Monaghan was detached during the night of May 7-8 to search the next morning for survivors. While well clear of the Fleet, she was also to sent radio signals to the Commander-in-Chief, US Pacific Fleet and others. This left seven destroyers and five cruisers with the two carriers.

According to survivors of the USS Sims around 0910LM/7, a lone Japanese twin engined bomber had dropped a single bomb which hit the water rather close to port abreast the forward guns. On man at No.2 gun mount was injured by a fragment but no furher damage was done. The plane then kept shadowing USS Sims and USS Neosho. Weather was clear and the sea smooth.

USS Sims had numerous radar contacts and about 0930LM/7, sixteen high level bombers came in to attack USS Sims and USS Neosho. They dropped bombs but missed the Sims wide, Neosho reported being near missed, but neither ship was damaged.

Survivors from the USS Sims reported that the ships 5" DP gunfire apparently disturbed them with the above result. During these fist two actions 328 rounds of 5" ammunition was expended.

The horizontal bombers disappeared from sight but USS Sims continued to pick up planes on her SC radar. None were sighted, however, until twenty-four dive bombers, appeared around 1130LM/7 [USS Neosho gives the time as 1201/7, but it might be she kept another time zone]. As soon as these aircraft appeared, USS Sims went to flank speed and turned left to take position on the port quarter of the tanker. Fire was opened with the 5" guns in director control when the planes came within range. The attacks were directed promarily at the tanker and came in from various bearings astern in three waves. The planes approached at about 15000 feet and dove close to the ship in shallow dives of about 30°. Bombs were released quite close aboard. Survivors stated that some dive-bombers were destroyed by the blast of their own bombs. USS Sims obtained one direct hit on one of the dive bombers and the plane exploded in the air. The 20mm AA guns fired continuously at the dive bombers as they passed overhead and tracers were seen to pass through the planes, but the projectiles failed to burst and destroy the aircraft. One of the forward 20mm guns jammed early in the action and was not cleared during the remainder of the engagement.

Four aircraft broke off from one wave of Neosho attackers and directed their attack at USS Sims, diving on their succession from astern. All of these planes were single motored, had fixed landing gear, and had a silhoutte similar to that of Japanese dive bombers. The first released a bomb wihch landed in the water about amidships to port. The second released a bomb which landed on no.2 torpedo mount and exploded in the forward engine room. The third released a bomb which apparently hit the after upper deck house and went down through diagonally forward, exploding in the after engine room. The fourth plane is believed to have made a direct hit on No.4 gun but this can not be definitely established.

Numbers three and four gun mounts and the after 20mm guns were put out of commission by the bomb hits, but the forward mounts in local control and one 20mm gun forward continued firing at the planes untill all of them were out of range. The total of rounds fired by the Sims cannot be ascertained, but one survivor states that over 200 rounds were fired from number two mount alone. During this last attack, the paint on the barrel of number one mount blistered and caught fire. The crew, however, continued to fire with the complete length of the barrel in flames. Several planes were brought down by gun fire during this attack. It is believed that the bombs dropped were of about 500 pounds size. USS Sims broke in two and sank around noon.

Though there are only thirteen survivors of the Sims, these men are from widely separated battle stations and it was possible to reconstruct a fairly accurate account of her last moments. The survivors of the USS Sims then made for the USS Neosho was had been abandoned but was still afloat.

USS Neosho meanwhile had also been dive bombed. The majority of the dive bombers had been forced to released their bombs early due to effective AA gunfire which claimed to have shot down three of the attackers. One of these planes made a suicidal run into the ship hitting no.4 gun enclosure. Non the less the ship was hit by about five bombs, three near the bridge and two aft. It is also believed that at least two of the ships boilers exploded.

The Commanding Officer gave order to ' prepare to abandon ship ' but some must have misunderstood the order or only heard ' abandon ship ' some personnel in some part of the ship began to do so. Neosho's motor whale boat and the motor whale boat from the Sims were then dispatched to round these up. They picked up men and put them on raft so they could continue their search for more men in the water. After the boats were then full they returned to the ship. It was however to close near sunset to sent the boats out again to collect the rafts as it was also feared that the Neosho could sink at any moment due to her listing badly. The liferafts then drifted away with their occupants.

A muster roll was held and with the known casualties it was established that 4 officers and 154 men were missing. Accounted for were 16 officers and 94 men. The survivors on Neosho had been joined by only 15 survivors from the Sims. To righten the ship from it's 30° list, three valves in starboard wing tanks were opened, three other valves could not be opened due to them being damaged. Power could however not be restored.

During the night of 7/8 May, two surivivors (wounded), one from the Neosho and one from the Sims died. They were buried at sea in the morning of the 8th.

On the 9th, three more men (all from the Neosho), were buried at sea.

Shortly after noon on the 10th, an Australian Hudson aircraft was sighted and information was passed. Also on this day, three more men (all from the Neosho), were buried at sea.

Shortly before noon on the 11th, a Calatina aircraft was sighted and 1.5 hours later, the destroyer USS Henley (Lt.Cdr. R.H. Smith, USN) arrived on the scene. Just as well as by now the Neosho would not have held out much longer. The survivors were then taken on board the destroyer, a total of 123 officers and men. At 1522L/11, USS Neosho slid underneath the waves with her colors flying after having been scuttled by a torpedo and gunfire from the Henley. Position was 15°35'S, 155°36'E.

USS Henley then set course for Brisbane arriving there on the 14th. On the 12th an ex Sims survivor had died from his wounds as did an ex Neosho survivor on the 13th. Both were buried at sea on the 13th.

On 16 May 1942, the destroyer USS Helm (Lt.Cdr. C.E. Carroll, USN), which had also been searching in the area picked up four survivors from a life raft. One of these however died shortly afterwards. These survivors were also taken to Brisbane where the Helm arrived on 18 May 1942.

As a result of the confusion on board USS Neosho the Commanding Officer suggested to change the order ' prepare to abandon ship ' Navy wide to ' fall in at boats and raft stations ' and to only use the words ' abandon ship ' if this was actually to be done.

Carrier battle, 8 May 1942.

As shore based aircraft had not detected the two Japanese carriers and our intelligence was not sure of their position either with reporting that they could be either east or west of Task Force 17, a 360° degree search was launched at dawn. At 0828L/8, a scout from USS Lexington reported two carriers, four heavy cruiser and three destroyers. This was amplified seven minutes later as two carriers, four heavy cruisers and many destroyers bearing 028°, 175 miles from our own force (enemy approximate position would then be 11°51'S, 156°04'E). An intercepted radio transmission showed that Task Force 17 had been sighted by the enemy at 0822L/8.

The Japanese carrier force was made up of the aircraft carriers Zuikaku, Shokaku, heavy cruisers Myoko, Haguro and the destroyers Ushio, Akebono, Airake, Yugure, Shiratsuyu and Shigure.

Around 0900LM/8, attack groups were launched. Cruisers and destroyers were around the carriers in a circular screen. During the morning two radar contact resulted in no interception. One visual contact resulted in the destruction of a four engine enemy bomber / scout. At 1055L/8, radar indicated a large group of enemy aircraft bearing 020°, range 68 miles. Fighters were sent to intercept them.

American aircraft commenced to attack the enemy carriers out twenty minutes earlier then the Japanese aicraft commenced their attack on Task Force 17. The attack group from Yorktown arrived ahead of the attack group from Lexington although the almost attacked around the same time. The Yorktown bombers and torpedo planes made a coordinated attack on the northernmost enemy carrier. They reported six 1000 pound bomb hits and three, possibly four torpedo hits. When leaving they reported the enemy carrier ablaze forward and obviously severely damaged. The Lexington group reported three bomb and five torpedo hits on an enemy carrier of the Shokaku-class. When last seen she was on fire, settling and turning in a circle. It was thought that both enemy carriers had been severely damaged. In fact both air groups had attacked the same carrier.

The Japanese attack on Task Force 17 started around 1115L/8. USS Yorktown was hit by one bomb and suffered many near misses. USS Lexington suffered at least two torpedo and two bomb hits besides many near misses by both torpedoes and bombs. Both ships remained operational immediately following these attacks and damage they had sustained. There were troubles with the elevators in USS Lexington though.

Following the Japanese air attacks and the return of our aircraft an informal estimate of the situation was made. Consideration was given to making another attack or sending in the Attack Group for a surface attack. A returning Lexington pilot had reported that one enemy carrier was undamaged.

At 1422L/8, a report was received that an additional enemy carrier may have joined the enemy force. Three boilers in USS Yorktown which had been out of commission, were placed in use again and the ship was capable of 30 knots. Damage had reduced the speed of USS Lexington to 24 knots.

Radio interceptions showed that some aircraft of the Shokaku had landed on Zuikaku, this must mean that the Shokaku was damaged and that the aircraft were unable to land on her. The idea of making another attack was abandoned when it became apparent that USS Yorktown had only eight fighters, twelve bombers and eight torpedo planes serviceable. The idea of making a surface attack was also abandoned due to the fact that they then would not be with the carriers to provide protection against enemy air attack. Course was therefore set to the southward. It was intended to transfer operational aircraft from the Lexington to the Yorktown and then sent the Lexington to Pearl Harbor to effect repairs, however it was not to be.

At 1445L/8, USS Lexington reported that she had suffered a serious explosion and seven minutes later it was reported that the fires could not be controlled. The explosion was caused by leaking gasoline and the forming of fumes which eventually ignited. At 1610L/8, USS Lexington reported that they were abandoning lower deck spaces and at 1657L/8 they reported that all power had been lost. At 1710L/8, they started abandoning ship. Around 1737L/8, a big explosion ripped through the ship, possibly caused by ammunition exploding.

Rear-Admiral Kinkaid was then tasked to take charge of the rescue operations with USS Minneapolis, USS New Orleans, USS Phelps, USS Anderson, USS Hammann and USS Morris. They rescued over 2700 officers and men. USS Lexington was beyond salvage and was eventually scuttled by torpedoes from USS Phelps in position 15°05'S, 155°16'E. Five torpedoes were fired of which at least three hit.

Operations by Task Force 17.3 / Task Force 44.

At daylight on the 7th (0645LM/7), Rear-Admiral Crace, Royal Navy, had been detached with the ' Support Force ' made up of HMAS Australia, USS Chicago, HMAS Hobart, USS Perkins and USS Walke and reinforced with the destroyer USS Farragut. They were to proceed to the Jomard passage to destroyer enemy transports and light cruisers heading towards there. The group was known as Task Force 17.3.

Around 1130LM/7, an enemy shadowing aircraft was sighted by this group.

At 1506LM/7, Task Force 17.3 was attacked by eleven enemy torpedo bombers. No hits were obtained and five of the attackers were shot down. One torpedo passed close down the Port side of HMAS Hobart.

At 1513LM/7, they were attacked by nineteen high level bombers. Bombs fell close to HMAS Australia but no hits were obtained.

At 1519LM/7, three high level bombers attacked but they did no damage. It was later found out that this had been Allied aircraft which had attacked in error.

At 1055LM/8, a single shadowing aircraft was sighted.

In the afternoon of the 18th, HMAS Hobart fuelled USS Perkins.

At 2013LM/8, HMAS Hobart and USS Walke were detached to proceed to the Grafton Passage and then onwards to Australia.

At 1235LM/9, HMAS Hobart and USS Walke entered the Grafton Passage.

At 0045KL/10, HMAS Hobart and USS Walke parted company with each other. HMAS Hobart set course for Brisbane while USS Walke proceeded to Townsville.

Meanwhile USS Farragut fuelled from HMAS Australia in the morning of the 8th.

At 1947LM/9, a signal was received that Task Force 17.3 was released from operations with Task Force 17 and reverted to being Task Force 44 under operational command of ComSoWesPacFor.

Around 0735LM/10, Task Force 44 set course for the Grafton Passage which they entered around 1745LM/10.

Task Force 44 arrived in Cid Harbour around 1145KL/11 where they fuelled. The cruisers from the Australian Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker Kurumba (3798 GRT, built 1916), and the destroyers from the cruisers. Around 1900KL/11, USS Chicago and USS Perkins departed for Sydney where they arrived in the morning of the 14th. HMAS Australia and USS Farragut proceeded to Brisbane where they arrived in the afternoon of the 13th.

25 Aug 1942

Continued operations in the Guadacanal - Tulagi area following the Battle of the Eastern Solomons.

25 August 1942.

During the night of 24 August/ 25 August, Task Forces 11 and 16 retired to the south to refuel or retire from the area for repairs respectively. Task Force 18 had completed fuelling and now proceeded northwards to take their place.

The composition of Task Force 11 was as follows; the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (Capt. D.C. Ramsey, USN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.J. Fletcher, USN), heavy cruisers USS Minneapolis (Capt. F.J. Lowry, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.H. Wright, USN), USS New Orleans (Capt. W.S. Delany, USN), HMAS Australia (Capt. H.B. Farncomb, RAN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral V.A.C. Crutchley, VC, DSC, RN), light cruiser HMAS Hobart (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN) and the destroyers USS Phelps (T/Cdr. E.L. Beck, USN, with Capt. S.B. Brewer, USN on board), USS Farragut (Cdr. G.P. Hunter, USN), USS Dewey (T/Cdr. C.F. Chillingsworth, Jr., USN), USS Macdonough (Lt.Cdr. E. van E. Dennet, USN), USS Worden (T/Cdr. W.G. Pogue, USN), USS Bagley (T/Cdr. G.A. Sinclair, USN) and USS Patterson (Cdr. F.R. Walker, USN).

Task Force 16 was made up of Enterprise (Capt. A.C. Davis, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral T.C. Kincaid, USN), battleship USS North Carolina (Capt. G.H. Fort, USN), heavy cruiser USS Portland (Capt. L.T. Du Bose, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral M.S. Tisdale, USN), AA cruiser USS Atlanta (Capt. S.P. Jenkins, USN) and the destroyers USS Balch (T/Cdr. H.H. Tiemroth, USN, with Capt. E.P. Sauer, USN on board), USS Benham (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Taylor, USN), USS Ellet (T/Cdr. F.H. Gardner, USN), USS Maury (T/Cdr. G.L. Sims, USN), USS Grayson (T/Cdr. F.J. Bell, USN) and USS Monssen (T/Cdr. R.N. Smoot, USN).

Task Force 18, made up of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (T/Capt. F.P. Sherman, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral L. Noyes, USN), heavy cruisers Salt Lake City (Capt. E.G. Small, USN), USS San Francisco (Capt. C.H. McMorris, USN), AA cruiser USS San Juan (Capt. J.E. Maher, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral N. Scott, USN) and the destroyers USS Selfridge (T/Cdr. C.D. Reynolds, USN, with Capt. C.W. Flynn, USN, on board), USS Farenholt (T/Cdr. Lt.Cdr. E.T. Seaward, USN, with Capt. R.G. Tobin, USN on board), USS Aaron Ward (T/Cdr. O.F. Gregor, USN), USS Buchanan (T/Cdr. R.E. Wilson, USN), USS Lang (T/Cdr. E.A. Seay, USN), USS Stack (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Greenacre, USN) and USS Sterett (Cdr. J.G. Coward, USN).

The battleship USS North Carolina, the AA cruiser USS Atlanta and the destroyers USS Grayson and USS Monssen were ordered to detach from Task Force 16 and join the other Task Forces.

Another Task Force, Task Force 17, made up of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (Capt. C.P. Mason, USN , flying the flag of Rear-Admiral G.D. Murray, USN), heavy cruisers USS Northampton (Capt. W.D. Chandler, Jr., USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.H. Good, USN), USS Pensacola (Capt. F.L. Lowe, USN), AA cruiser USS San Diego (Capt. B.F. Perry, USN) and the destroyers USS Morris (Lt.Cdr. R.B. Boyer, USN, with Capt. G.C. Hoover, USN on board), USS Hughes (T/Cdr. D.J. Ramsey, USN), USS Anderson (T/Cdr. R.A. Guthrie, USN), USS Mustin (T/Cdr. W.F. Petersen, USN), USS Russell (T/Cdr. G.R. Hartwig, USN) and USS O'Brien (T/Cdr. T. Burrowes, USN) were approaching the New Hebrides area from the eastward. With them was also the tanker USS Guadalupe (T/Capt. J.S. Freeman, USN). Originally intended as reinforcements but they now could take the place of Task Force 16. USS Guadalupe parted company with Task Force 17 on this day as did USS Hughes which was detailed to escort the tanker.

Shortly after midnight during the night of 24/25 August, enemy destroyers shelled our positions in the Guadalcanal / Tulagi area but they inflicted almost no damage. Casualties among our troops were two killed and three wounded. Some dive bombers took off from Henderson Field and claimed to have obtained on hit on an enemy destroyer. The Japanese destroyers which were operating in the Guadalcanal / Tulagi area this night were the Kagero, Isokaze, Kawakaze, Mutsuki and Yayoi. Our positions on Guadacanal were also bombed by high level bombers shortly before noon this day.

After daylight on the 25th, Task Force 11 and part of Task Force 16 commenced fuelling from the tankers USS Cimarron (T/Capt. R.M. Ihrig, USN), USS Platte (Capt. R.H. Henkle, USN) and USS Sabine (T/Capt. H.L. Maples, USN) which were escorted by the destroyers USS Clark (T/Capt. M.T. Richardson, USN), USS Dale (Cdr. H.E. Parker, USN) and USS Gwin (Cdr. J.M. Higgins, USN).

On completion of the fuelling USS Enterprise, USS Portland, USS Balch, USS Benham and USS Ellet parted company to leave the operations area. USS Maury was ordered to proceed to Tulagi. She rejoined on the 28th. Task-Force 16 arrived at Tonga on 30 August 1942.

Meanwhile Task Force 18 was operating in support of the Marines on Guadalcanal. Three enemy reconnaissance aircraft were shot down by fighters from USS Wasp. In addition aircraft from USS Wasp reconnoitred Rakata Bay which was suspected to be used by the enemy but the Bay was found to be empty.

Two submarine contacts were obtained by Task Force 18 on the 25th. The destroyer USS Grayson sighted a ship on the horizon and was detached to invesitigate. The ' ship ' turned out to be a large submarine which submerged. USS Grayson then attacked with several patterns of depth charges. She was later joined by USS Patterson. When USS Grayson ran out of depth charges USS Monssen took over from her. In the end the Japanese submarine, which was the I-9 (offsite link), managed to escape damaged. The other submarine contact was attacked by a dive bomber from USS Enterprise which claimed a direct hit.

26 August 1942.

Shortly after midnight Task Force 11 (Saratoga Group) completed fuelling and reinforced by USS North Carolina, USS Atlanta, USS Grayson and USS Monssen proceeded northwards to join Task Force 18 (Wasp Group).

At 1215L/26, our positions on Guadacanal were raided by sixteen twin engined enemy bombers supported by twelve Zero fighters. Allied land based fighters intercepted them and shot down seven bombers and five fighters for the loss of one fighter including its pilot.

On joining up both Carrier Task Forces operated during the night of 26/27 August on the parallel of 11°S, between San Christobal Island and the Santa Cruz Islands.

27 August 1942.

During the day the carrier groups had steered to the southward and by sunset had reached position 12°00'S, 165°00'E. In the afternoon the CAP had shot down a large four-engined enemy flying boat which attempted to shadow the carrier forces.

Allied reconnaissance aircraft from Ndeni again found enemy naval forces to the north-east of the Solomons. The forces comprised a battleship, cruisers and destroyers. They were reported on various courses during the day but always in the vicinity of position 02°00'S, 162°00'E.

According to intelligence more and more units of the Japanese Fleet were known to be in the area as were a lot of the Japanese senior naval commanders. This indicated the magnitude of the effort the Japanese are preparing to make in the area.

The Allied Commander South Pacific (Vice-Admiral Ghormley) decided that every effort should be made to reinforce our positions in the Guadalcanal - Tulagi area.

During the day the seaplane tender (former destroyer) McFarland (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Alderman, USN) relieved the destroyer minelayer USS Breese (T/Cdr. H.F. Staut, USN) at Ndeni thus joining the seaplane tender USS MacKinac (T/Capt. N.R. Hitchcock, USN) there.

In the Guadalcanal - Tulagi area there were no reports of enemy activity. A large patrol had been sent to attack a Japanese outpost at Kukumbona (seven miles west of Lunga Point). In the afternoon four additional fighters landed at Henderson Field. On their way in they had damaged and hopefully destroyed a large four-engined enemy flying boat.

During the night Task Forces 11 and 18 cruised around latitude 12°00'S between meridians 165°00'E and 162°00'E.

28 August 1942.

At daylight the two carrier groups were sixty miles south of San Cristobal Island and operated throughout the day to provide cover for a convoy en-route to the Guadacanal - Tulagi area from the New Hebrides area.

This convoy was made up of the transports USS William Ward Burrows (AP 6) (4577 GRT, built 1929) (T/Cdr. E.I. McQuiston, USN) and Kopara (New Zealand, 679 GRT, built 1938). They were escorted by the destroyer minelayers 2157 Gamble (Lt.Cdr. S.N. Tackney), 2368 Tracy (Lt.Cdr. J.L. Collis, USN) and the high speed transports (former destroyers) USS Colhoun (T/Lt.Cdr. G.B. Madden, USN), USS Gregory (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bauer, USN) and USS Little (Lt.Cdr. G.B. Lofberg, Jr., USN).

Reconnaissance aircraft found no enemy naval forces in the area north-east of the Solomon Islands. Enemy submarine activity in the area between 05°S and 15°S, and 160° to 170° has greatly increased during the last few days and it is estimated that there area now at least ten enemy submarines in the area. It would appear that the enemy is aware of the approximate vicinity of our forces and is andeavouring to achieve some success against our carriers with this concentration of submarines. However, the carrier forces have an ample number of screening destroyers and strong A/S air patrols which are maintained during daylight and have been keeping the submarines down and scoring some successes against them.

During the day Rear-Admiral Scott transferred from the USS San Juan to the San Francisco. The USS San Juan then parted company to join Task Force 16 (the Enterprise Group) as she had a defective gun mount for which she needed to undergo repairs.

In the Guadalcanal area, the US Marines patrol returned after dealing with the enemy detachmentt at Kukumbona. US casualties had been five killed and ten wounded. Enemy casualties uncertain.

An afternoon air patrol from Guadalcanal located an enemy force comprising three large destroyers and one smaller one seventy miles to the northward and steering south. Eleven dive bombers took off and attacked this force resulting in one large destroyer blowing up and sinking, one large destroyer being hit amidships and set on fire and the smaller destroyer being hit and left proceeding at slow speed and in distress. The remaining large destroyer escaped. One of our dive bombers failed to return. It was reported that these destroyer had carried considerable quantities of gear on deck. The destroyer attacked were the Asagiri which was sunk while the Shirakumo and Yugiri sustained heavy damage and the Amagiri sustained minor damage. [All these destroyers were the same size as all belonged to the Fubuki-class, all links are offsite links.]

It was learnt that about 100 Japanese had landed on Mahige Island (South end of Isabel Island) the previous afternoon from two rafts. It is probable that this party consised of survivors from the transport which had been sunk about 120 miles to the northward on the 25th by our aircraft.

During the night of 28/29 August 1942, both carrier groups proceeded to the northward.

29 August 1942.

At daylight the carrier groups were in approximate position 10°00'S, 163°00'E, able to cover the arrival at Guadalcanal of the convoy mentioned earlier. In this position Task Forces 11 and 18 were joined by Task Force 17. During the day they operated to the southward reaching latitude 12°S by sunset.

At 0440L/29, our position in Guadalcanal was bombed by 6 enemy aircraft and at 1155L/29 our position was again bombed. In this raid, which was carried out by 18 twin-engined bombers, supported by 9 fighters, our shore based fighters intercepted and shot down at least three enemy bombers and four enemy fighters (Type Zero). In addition one bombers was brought down by AA fire. Two Allied fighters were destroyer on the ground and two were damaged in aerial combat. Some ammunition and AA material had been destroyed. Allied casualties were 3 killed and 9 wounded.

The Commanding General Guadalcanal has reported that only the F4F Wildcat fighters are able to compete against the enemy's bombing formations owing to the great height at which they approach.

At 1250L/29, our convoy arrived in the Tulagi area with a much needed cargo of ammunition, rations, aviation spirit and stores. After unloading, the three high speed transports (former destroyers) will remain in the area to transport Marine raider detachments in mopping up operations against outlying enemy detachments.

The next movement of supplies to Guadalcanal area began today with the departure from Esperitu Santo of the destroyer USS Helm (T/Cdr. C.E. Carroll, USN) escorting the patrol tenders YP 239, YP 284 and YP 326 and of the destroyer USS Henley (Lt.Cdr. E.K. van Swearingen, USN) escorting the Naval Cargo Ship USS Betelgeuse (AK 28) (6198 GRT, built 1939) (T/Capt. H.D. Power, USN).

A report was received the enemy cruisers or destroyers have left Faisi (Shortland Islands) to proceed to Guadalcanal at high speed. Orders were therefore given for the USS William Ward Burrows, Kopara and their escort to retired to the eastward through the Lengo Channel and to return to the area the next day to complete unloading. Indeed the Japanese destroyers Isokaze, Kawakaze, Suzukaze and Umikaze had departed followed by the Fubuki, Hatsuyuki and Murakumo. They landed Japanese troops near Cape Taivu during the night of 28/29 August 1942.

During the night of 29/30 August 1942, the Carrier Groups cruiser in the vicinity of position 12°00'S, 164°00'E.

30 August 1942.

At daylight the light cruiser USS Phoenix (Capt. H.E. Fischer, USN) finally joined the Carrier Forces which at 0800M/12 were reorganized as follows;
Task Force 61 (Vice-Admiral F.J. Fletcher, USN)
Task Group 61.1, under Vice-Admiral Fletcher was made up of the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, battleship USS North Carolina, heavy cruisers USS Minneapolis, USS New Orleans, AA cruiser USS Atlanta and the destroyers USS Phelps, USS Farragut, USS Dewey, USS Macdonough, USS Worden, USS Grayson and USS Monssen.
Task Group 61.2, under Rear-Admiral G.D. Murray, USN, was made up of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, heavy cruisers USS Northampton, USS Pensacola, light cruiser USS Phoenix, AA cruiser USS San Diego and the destroyers USS Morris, USS Anderson, USS Mustin, USS Russell, USS O'Brien, USS Bagley and USS Patterson.
Task Group 61.3, under Rear-Admiral L. Noyes, USN, was made up of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp, heavy cruisers HMAS Australia, USS San Francisco, USS Salt Lake City, light cruiser HMAS Hobart and the destroyers USS Selfridge, USS Farenholt, USS Aaron Ward, USS Buchanan, USS Lang, USS Stack and USS Sterret.

During the day the combined Task Force operated in the vicinity of position 12°30'S, 164°00'E.

In the Guadalcanal area there was an aerial engagement in the forenoon in which Allied fighters shot down 8 land-based enemy type Zero fighters for a loss to themselves if 4 aircraft of which 1 pilot was rescued. Around 1500M/30, 18 enemy bombers attacked Allied ships unloading of Kukum during which the high speed transport USS Colhoun was sunk. No other ships were hit. During the night of 29/30 August the transport William Ward Burrows had grounded on Sylvia shoal off Tulagi. She was towed off, with great difficulty, the following day. It was believed that USS Gamble and USS Little each destroyed an enemy submarine in the area on the 29th. [USS Gamble indeed sunk the I-123 (offsite link).]

In the afternoon 17 F4F fighters and 4 scout dive bombers arrived as reinforcements at Henderson Field.

During the afternoon an enemy force of four cruisers was located between Isabel and New Georgia Islands, proceeding to the north-west. They were then bombed by the aircraft which made the sighting but no hits were obtained. [More likely this were destroyers though.]

During the night of 30/31 August 1942 the combined carrier forces steered to the northward. Task Force 18 / 61.3 ('Wasp'-Group) was to be detached during the night to proceed to Noumea for fuel, provisions, ammunition and a few days of in harbour. Task Forces 11 / 61.1 and 17 / 61.2 would reach latitude 10°S at daylight to continue the operations.

31 August 1942.

Shorty after midnight, Task Group 61.3 turned to the southward to proceed to Noumea as planned.

However, at 0748M/31, in position 10°34'S, 164°18'E, USS Saratoga was hit by a torpedo from the Japanese submarine I-26 (offsite link) which had fired a salvo of six. The torpedoes were spotted by USS Macdonough which alerted the carrier which was able to dodge the other torpedoes, one of which had broken surface as well. The carrier came to a standstill. Prior to the attack, at 0310M/31, the new SG radar of USS North Carolina had detected a surface contact and at 0337M/31, USS Farragut had been detached to investigate but she could not find anything [obviously, the submarine had submerged and tried to get into an attack position.]

Towing gear was then rigged and USS Minneapolis and USS New Orleans were ordered to make ready to take the disabled carrier in tow but at 0835M/31, USS Saratoga was able to get underway on one shaft and commenced to leave the area. the destroyer USS Monssen was left behind with orders to keep the sumbarine down until sunset and then rejoin. At the same time USS Phelps obtained a contact. While maintaining contact USS Macdonough came in and dropped depth charges. USS Monssen then took over.

Around 1018M/31, the destroyer USS Bagley joined from Task Force 17 / 61.2 to reinforce the damaged carrier's destroyer screen. Eight minutes later a second shaft could be used to propel the damaged carrier which by now was back on an even keel.

At 1043M/31, all power was however lost and she was dead in the water again. At 1204M/31, a towline was established with the cruiser USS Minneapolis and towing commenced around half an hour later.

Around 1310M/31, both usable shafts were back 'online' and she was able to propel herself again. Towing was still continued though and the ship was towed into the wind and at 1330M/31, 29 aircraft were flown off to Esperitu Santo. Tow was casted at 1637M/31.

During 1 September 1942, 5 more aircraft were flow off to Esperitu Santo while 2 returned from there. Also an A/S patrol was maintained throughout the day. Around 1842M/1, the tug Navajo (T/Cdr. J.A. Ouellet, USN), escorted by the destroyer Laffey (Lt.Cdr. W.E. Hank, USN) joined.

On 2 september USS Saratoga flew off 2 aircraft to Esperitu Santo and a total of 32 fighters to Efate. also the Task Group, less the Saratoga fuelled from the tanker USS Guadalupe which had arrived escorted by the destroyer USS Dale. Also during the day personnel and bagage were transferred to the destroyers USS Monssen and USS Grayson. Early in the afternoon 17 aircraft landed on from Esperitu Santo for gear, torpedoes, etc.. These aircraft later took off again to return to Esperitu Santo but one crashed on taking off, the pilot being rescued by USS Navajo. Again A/S patrols were maintained throughout the day.

On 3 September fuelling was completed and USS Guadalupe and USS Dale were detached around 1245M/3. As usual air patrols were maintained throughout the day. Task Force 11 arrived at Tonga on 6 September 1942.

Meanwhile around 1200M/1, Task Force 18 / Task Group 61.3 turned around. The destroyers then fuelled from the bigger ships.

On 31 August 1942, in the Guadalcanal area, moonlight air patrol had located two enemy cruisers and two destroyers near Cape Taivu. They were close inshore and are thought to have been discharging troops and cargo. Dive bombers then attacked them forcing them to withdraw. [In fact during the night of 31 August / 1 September, 1000 troops and stores were landed by the Japanese destroyers Kagero, Kawakaze, Suzukaze, Umikaze, Fubuki, Amagiri, Hatsuyuki and Murakumo.]

In the afternoon the USS Betelgeuse escorted by USS Henley arrived at Guadalcanal. On board were much needed stores including aviation spirit. Also on board were 200 Navy construction personnel to assist in unloading operations. On their departure these two ships were to evacuate 400 POW's. Also on this day the Kopara completed unloaded and departed escorted by the USS Tracy.

Around 1800M/31, HMAS Australia, HMAS Hobart and USS Selfridge parted company with Task Group 61.3 with orders to proceed to Brisbane, Australia.

Around 1900M/31, USS Phoenix, USS Bagley and USS Patterson parted company with Task Group 61.2 also with orders to proceed to Brisbane, Australia. All these ships were to revert to the control of the Commander-in-Chief South-West Pacific.

22 Apr 1944

Operations Reckless and Persecution.

These operations were amphibious landings at Hollandia and Aitape in New Guinea.

Forces involved.

Task Force 77 (with T/Rear-Admiral D.E. Barbey, USN in command) was the Attack Force and was made up of the following units;

Task Group 77.1 was the Western Attack Group and was made up of the following ships.
The destroyer USS Swanson (T/Cdr. E.L. Robertson, Jr., USN, flying the flag of T/Rear-Admiral D.E. Barbey, USN) was the flagship of Task Force 77 (and Task Group 77.1), further ships in the Task Group were the following; amphibious transports USS Henry T. Allen (T/Capt. J. Meyer, USN), HMAS Manoora (Cdr. A.P. Cousin, RANR(S)), HMAS Kanimbla (A/Cdr. N.H. Shaw, RAN), dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Harris, USNR), attack cargo ship USS Triangulum (T/Cdr. F.W. Parsons, USNR), LST's USS LST-467 (Lt. M.B. Taylor, USNR, with COMLSTGR 19, T/Cdr. T.C. Green, USN, on board), USS LST-171 (Lt.Cdr. H.A. West, USNR), USS LST-220 (Lt. C.J. Goode, USNR), USS LST-245 (Lt. M.J. McCabe, USNR), USS LST-468 (Lt. I.K. Stevenson, USNR), USS LST-470 (Lt. D.J. Guthridge, USNR) and USS LST-475 (Lt. M.S. Whitsett, USNR), LCI(L)'s USS LCI(L)-71 (?, with Lt.Cdr. J.P. Hurndall, USNR on board), USS LCI(L)-72 (Lt.(jg) S.Z. Kepner, USNR), USS LCI(L)-74 (Lt.(jg) R.J. Liechti, USNR), USS LCI(L)-340 (Lt.(jg) H.F. Eckenrode, USNR), USS LCI(L)-343 (Lt.(jg) C.T. Roberts, USNR) and USS LCI(L)-344 (Lt.(jg) H.W. Griswold, USNR), USS LCI(L)-361 (Lt.(jg) A.J. Hawkes, USNR), USS LCI(L)-362 (Lt. J.R. Sawtell, USNR), USS LCI(L)-363 (Lt. R.E. Sargent, USNR), USS LCI(L)-364 (Lt.(jg) L.D. Sloane, USNR), USS LCI(L)-429 (Lt. R.V. Hughes, USNR), USS LCI(L)-430 (Lt. P.C. Hill, Jr., USNR), USS LCI(L)-431 (Lt.(jg) F.M. Slatinshek, USNR), USS LCI(L)-447 (Lt. J.C. Craig, USNR), USS LCI(L)-448 (Lt.(jg) R.H. Flowers, USNR), destroyers USS Hobby (T/Cdr. G.W. Pressey, USN, with T/Capt. COMDESDIV 38, W.S. Veeder, USN on board), USS Grayson (T/Cdr. W.V. Pratt, 2nd, USN), USS Wilkes (T/Cdr. F. Wolsieffer, USN), USS Nicholson (T/Cdr. W.W. Vanous, USN), USS Gillespie (T/Cdr. J.S. Fahy, USN), USS Kalk (T/Cdr. H.D. Fuller, USN), patrol vessels USS SC-736 (Lt.(jg) F.A. Marsteller, USNR), USS SC-738 (Lt. J.S. Munroe, USNR), landing craft rocket USS LCI(G)-31 (Lt.(jg) T.J. Morrissey, USNR), minesweepers USS YMS-8 (Lt. F.L. Comley, USNR), USS YMS-10 (Lt.(jg) H.H. Goodman, USNR) and the tug HMAS Reserve (T/Lt. D. Morrison, RANR(S)).

Task Group 77.2 was the Central Attack Group and was made up of the following ships.
The destroyer USS Reid (T/Cdr. S.A. McCornock, USN, flying the flag of T/Rear-Admiral R.A. Fechteler, USN) was the flagship of Task Group 77.2), further ships in the Task Group were the following; amphibious transport HMAS Westralia (Cdr. A.V. Knight, RD, RANR(S)), dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (Cdr. D.E. Collins, USNR), attack cargo Ganymede (Lt.Cdr. G.H. Melichar, USNR), high speed transports USS Humphreys (T/Cdr. F.D. Schwartz, USN), USS Brooks (Lt.Cdr. C.V. Allen, USNR), USS Gilmer (Cdr. J.S. Horner, USNR), USS Sands (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Brogger, Jr., USNR), USS Herbert (T/Cdr. J.N. Ferguson, Jr., USN), LST's USS LST-466 (Lt. R.E. McCarthy, USNR, with COMLSTFLOT 7, T/Capt. R.M. Scruggs, USN on board), USS LST-118 (Lt. C.W. Lundberg, USNR), USS LST-454 (Lt. E.R. Swanton, USNR), USS LST-457 (Lt. W.P. Sullivan, USNR), USS LST-458 (Lt. F.W. Hinrichs, USNR), USS LST-463 (Lt. A.W. McWorter, USNR), USS LST-465 (Lt.Cdr. R.T. Murphy, USNR), LCI(L)'s USS LCI(L)-28 (Lt.(jg) N. Molyneaux, USNR, with COMLCIFLOT 7, T/Cdr. H.F. McGee, USN, on board), USS LCI(L)-25 (Lt.(jg) W.R. Maliek, USNR), USS LCI(L)-26 (Lt. H.J. Adams, Jr., USNR), USS LCI(L)-27 (Lt.(jg) H.G. Hibbard, USNR), USS LCI(L)-29 (Lt. T.R. Hopkins, USNR), USS LCI(L)-30 (Lt. C.B. Faunce, Jr., USNR), USS LCI(L)-224 (Lt.(jg) P.O. Olafsson, USNR), USS LCI(L)-225 (Lt.(jg) W.S. Ogilvy, USNR), USS LCI(L)-226 (Lt.(jg) O.L. Miles, USNR), USS LCI(L)-227 (Lt.(jg) J.J. McNeilly, USNR), USS LCI(L)-228 (Lt.(jg) W.A. Steiger, USNR), USS LCI(L)-230 (?), USS LCI(L)-337 (Lt.(jg) M.D. Skelton, USNR), USS LCI(L)-338 (Lt.(jg) C.M. Goodman, Jr., USNR), USS LCI(L)-342 (Lt.(jg) R.A. Smith, USNR), USS LCI(L)-432 (Lt. M.D. Coppersmith, USNR), destroyers USS Stevenson (T/Cdr. F.E. Wilson, USN, with COMDESRON 19, T/Capt. R.F. Stout, USN on board), USS Stockton (T/Cdr. W.W. Stark, Jr., USN), USS Thorn (T/Cdr. E. Brumby, USN), USS Welles (T/Cdr. D.M. Coffee, USN), USS Radford (T/Capt. G.E. Griggs, USN), USS Taylor T/Cdr. N.J.F. Frank, Jr., USN), USS Roe (T/Cdr. F.S. Stich, USN), high speed minesweepers USS Hogan ( T/Lt.Cdr. W.H. Sublette, USN), USS Long (T/Lt.Cdr. R.V. Wheeler, Jr., USN), patrol vessels, USS SC-703 (Lt.(jg) R.M. Baird, USNR), USS SC-734 (Lt. R.B. MacLean, USNR), USS LCI(G)-34 (Lt.(jg) J.F. Keefe, USNR), USS LCI(G)-73 (Lt.(jg) N.M. Taylor, USNR), minesweepers USS YMS-46 (Lt.(jg) H.J. Topping, USNR), USS YMS-47 (Lt.(jg) A.W. Busbee, USNR) and the tug USS Sonoma (Lt.(jg). G.I. Nelson, USN).

Task Group 77.3 was the Eastern Attack Group and was made up of the following ships.
The destroyer USS La Valette (T/Cdr. W. Thompson, USN, flying the flag of T/Rear-Admiral A.G. Noble, USN) was the flagship of Task Group 77.3 which was further made up of the high speed transports USS Kilty (Lt. L.G. Benson, USNR, with COMTRANSDIV 22, T/Cdr. D.L. Mattie, USN, on board), USS Talbot (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Morgan, USNR), USS Dent (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Wilhelm, USNR), USS Schley (Lt.Cdr. E.T. Farley, USNR), USS Ward (Lt.Cdr. F.W. Lemly, USNR), USS Crosby (Lt.Cdr. W.E. Sims, USNR), USS Dickerson (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Cain, Jr., USNR), USS Kane (Lt. F.N. Christiansen, USNR), USS Noa (Lt.Cdr. H.W. Boud, USNR), dock landing ship USS Epping Forest (Cdr. L. Martin, USNR), attack cargo ship USS Etamin (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Stedman, Jr., USCGR), LST's USS LST-452 (Lt. G.W. Miller, USNR, with COMLSTGR20, Lt.Cdr. D.M. Baker, USNR on board), USS LST-38 (Lt. W.T. Roberts, Jr., USNR), USS LST-122 (Lt. S.C. Pirie, USNR), USS LST-221 (Lt. J.H. Church, USNR), USS LST-241 (Lt. A.N. Firestone, USNR), USS LST-270 (Lt. O.W. Barber, USN), USS LST-456 (Lt. G.W. Prue, USN), destroyers USS Nicholas (T/Cdr. R.T.S. Keith, USN, with COMDESRON 21, T/Capt. F.X. McInerney, USN on board), USS Jenkins (T/Cdr. M. Hall, Jr., USN), USS O'Bannon (T/Cdr. R.W. Smith, USN), USS Hopewell (T/Cdr. C.C. Shute, USN), high speed minesweepers USS Perry (Lt.Cdr. I.G. Stubbart, USN), USS Hamilton (T/Cdr. R.R. Sampson, USN), patrol vessels USS SC-637 (?), USS SC 648 (?), USS SC-742 (Lt. R.H. Blake, USNR), USS SC-981 (Lt.(jg) R.A. Campbell, USNR), minesweepers YMS-48 (Lt. R.C. Lynch, USNR), YMS-51 (Lt. F.P. Allen, Jr., USNR) and the tug USS Chetco (Lt.(jg) R.E. Gill, USN).

Task Group 77.4 was the First Reinforcement Group and was made up of the following Units.
Task Unit 74.4.1 was the Western Unit under T/Capt. E.M. Thompson, USN, and was made up of the following ships; attack cargo ship USS Virgo (Cdr. C.H. McLaughlin, USNR), LST's, USS LST-18 (Lt. C.W. Radke, USCG), USS LST-22 (?), USS LST-26 (?), USS LST-66 (Lt.(jg) W.H. McGowan, USCG), USS LST-67 (?), USS LST-68 (?), USS LST-227 (Lt. J. Molnar, USNR), destroyers USS Stevens (T/Cdr. W.M. Rakow, USN, with COMDESRON 25, T/Capt. E.M. Thompson, USN on board), USS Harrison (T/Cdr. C.M. Dalton, USN) and the frigate USS Coronado (Cdr. N.W. Sprow, USCG).
Task Unit 74.4.2 was the Central Unit under T/Cdr. J.J. Greytak, USN, and was made up of the following ships; LST's USS LST-459 (Lt. N. Waggener, USNR), USS LST-41 (Lt. W.B. Dundon, Jr., USNR), USS LST-276 (Lt. P.J. Bergeaux, USNR), USS LST-476 (Lt. C.A. Boyer, USNR), USS LST-479 (Lt. D.J. Guthridge, USNR), destroyers USS McKee (T/Cdr. J.J. Greytak, USN), USS John Rodgers (T/Cdr. H.O. Parish, USN) and the frigate USS San Pedro (Lt.Cdr. C.O. Ashley, USCG).
Task Unit 74.4.3 was the Eastern Unit under T/Capt. H.O. Larson, USN, and was made up of the following ships; attack cargo USS Bootes (Lt.Cdr. H.P. Bacon, USNR), LST's USS LST-469 (Lt. L.E. Green, USNR), USS LST-181 (Lt. R.J. Wilson, USNR), USS LST-474 (Lt. R.W. Langworthy, USNR), USS LST-478 (Lt.(jg) J.C. McCormick, Jr., USNR), USS LST-481 (Lt. G. McGuire, USN), USS LST-482 (Lt. G.T. Wharton, USNR), destroyers USS Fletcher (T/Cdr. J.L. Foster, USN, with COMDESDIV 42, T/Capt. H.O. Larson, USN), USS Murray (T/Cdr. P.R. Anderson, USN) and the frigates USS Long Beach (Lt.Cdr. T.R. Midtlyng, USCG) and USS Glendale (Cdr. H.J. Doebler, USCG).

Task Group 77.5 was the Second Reinforcement Group and was made up of the following Units.
Task Unit 77.5.1 was the Western Unit and was made up of the following ships; amphibious transports USS Zeilin (T/Cdr. T.B. Fitzpatrick, USN), USS Windsor (Capt. D.C. Goodward, USNR), LST's USS LST-168 (Lt. H. Twiford, USCG), USS LST-170 (Lt. T.N. Kelly, USCGR), USS LST-202 (?), USS LST-204 (?), USS LST-206 (Lt. C.O. Opperman, USCG), USS LST-269 (Lt. V.T. Finch, USNR), USS LST-447 (Lt. T. Peckelder, USNR), destroyers USS Sigsbee (T/Capt. B. van Meter Russell, USN), USS Dashiell (T/Cdr. E.A. Barham, USN) and the destroyer escorts USS Lovelace (Cdr. R.D. de Kay, Jr., USNR) and USS Manning (Lt.Cdr. J.I. Mingay, USNR).
Task Unit 77.5.2 was the Central Unit and was made up of the following ships; LST's USS LST-395 (Lt. A.C. Forbes, USNR), USS LST-339 (Lt. J.J. Croft, USNR), USS LST-397 (Lt. W.R. Hitch, USNR), USS LST-460 (Lt.(jg) H.E. Robinson, USNR), USS LST-472 (Lt. W.O. Tally, USN) and the destroyers USS Ringgold (T/Lt.Cdr. W.B. Christie, USN) and USS Schroeder (T/Cdr. J.T. Bowers, Jr., USN).
Task Unit 77.5.3 was the Reserve Unit and was made up of the following ships; amphibious transports USS Harry Lee (T/Cdr. J.G. Pomeroy, USN), USS Ormsby (Capt. L. Frisco, USNR) and amphibious cargo ship USS Centaurus (Capt. G.E. McCabe, USCG).

Cover for the landings was provided by ships from Task Forces 74, 75 and 78.

Task Force 74, under Rear-Admiral V.A.C. Crutchley, VC, DSC, RN, was made up of the heavy cruisers HMAS Australia (Capt. E.F.V. Dechaineux, DSC, RAN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral V.A.C. Crutchley, VC, DSC, RN), HMAS Shropshire (Capt. J.A. Collins, CB, RAN) and the destroyers HMAS Arunta (Cdr. A.E. Buchanan, RAN), HMAS Warramunga (Cdr. N.A. Mackinnon, RAN), USS Ammen (T/Cdr. H. Williams, Jr., USN) and USS Mullany (T/Cdr. B.J. Mullaney, USN).

Task Force 75, under Rear-Admiral R.S. Berkey, USN, was made up of the light cruisers USS Phoenix (T/Capt. J.H. Duncan, USN, flying the flag of COMCRUDIV 15, Rear-Admiral R.S. Berkey, USN), USS Nashville (Capt. H.A. Spanagel, USN), USS Boise (Capt. J.S. Roberts, USNN) and the destroyers USS Hutchins (T/Cdr. C.B. Laning, USN, with COMDESRON 24, T/Capt. K.M. McManes, USN, on board), USS Bache (T/Lt.Cdr. R.C. Morton, USN), USS Beale (T/Capt. J.B. Cochran, USN), USS Daly (T/Cdr. R.G. Visser, USN), USS Abner Read (T/Cdr. T.B. Hutchins, 3rd, USN, with COMDESDIV 48, T/Capt. J.B. McLean, USN) and USS Bush (T/Cdr. T.A. Smith, USN).

Task Force 78, under Rear-Admiral R.E. Davison, USN, was the air cover force and was made up of the following Task Units;
Task Unit 78.1.1 was made up of the escort carriers USS Sangamon (T/Capt. M.E. Browder, USN, with COMCARDIV 22, Rear-Admiral V.H Ragsdale, USN, on board), USS Suwanee (T/Capt. W.D. Johnson, USN), USS Chenango (T/Capt. D. Ketcham, USN) and USS Santee (T/Capt. H.F. Fick, USN).
Task Unit 78.1.2 was their escort made up of the destroyers USS Morris (T/Cdr. G.L. Caswell, USNR, with COMDESRON 2, T/Capt. E.A. Solomons, USN, on board), USS Hughes (T/Cdr. E.B. Rittenhouse, USN), USS Mustin (T/Cdr. M.M. Riker, USN), USS Ellet (T/Cdr. E.C. Rider, USN), USS Lansdowne (T/Cdr. W.S. Maddox, USN, with COMDESDIV 24, T/Capt. J.L. Melgaard, USN, on board), USS Lardner (T/Cdr. J.D. Parker, USN) and USS Black (T/Cdr. E.R. King, Jr., USN).
Task Unit 78.2.1 was made up of the escort carriers USS Manila Bay (T/Capt. B.L. Braun, USN, with COMCARDIV 24, Rear-Admiral R.E. Davison, USN, on board), USS Coral Sea (T/Capt. H.W. Taylor, Jr., USN), USS Corregidor (T/Capt. R.L. Bowman, USN) and USS Natoma Bay (T/Capt. H.L. Meadow, USN).
Task Unit 78.2.2 was their escort made up of the destroyers USS Erben (T/Cdr. M. Slayton, USN, with COMDESRON 48, T/Capt. J.T. Bottom, Jr., USN), USS Walker (T/Cdr. H.E. Townsend, USN), USS Hale (T/Cdr. D.W. Wilson, USN), USS Abbot (T/Cdr. M.E. Dornin, USN), USS Bullard (T/Cdr. B.W. Freund, USN, with COMDESDIV 96, T/Capt. C.E. Carroll, USN), USS Kidd (T/Cdr. A.B. Roby, USN) and USS Chauncey (T/Cdr. L.C. Conwell, USN).

Chronology of the passage towards the operations area.

1000K/16, Echelon R-1, Group B, made up of USS LCI(L)-71, USS LCI(L)-72, USS LCI(L)-74, USS LCI(L)-340, USS LCI(L)-343, USS LCI(L)-344, USS LCI(L)-361, USS LCI(L)-362, USS LCI(L)-363, USS LCI(L)-364, USS LCI(L)-429, USS LCI(L)-430, USS LCI(L)-431, USS LCI(L)-447, USS LCI(L)-448, USS LCI(G)-31, USS SC-736, USS SC-738 departed Goodenough Island for the operations area via Seeadler Harbour. USS Gillespie and USS Kalk were to join off Cape Sudest.

0400K/17, Echelon R-1, Group C, made up of USS LST-479, USS LST-171, USS LST-220, USS LST-245, USS LST-468, USS LST-470 and USS LST-475 departed Goodenough Island for Cape Sudest where USS Ganymede and USS YMS 8 and USS YMS 10 were to join and subsequently proceed to the operations area.

1000K/17, Echelon R-1, Group E, made up of USS LCI(L)-28, USS LCI(L)-25, USS LCI(L)-26, USS LCI(L)-27, USS LCI(L)-29, USS LCI(L)-30, USS LCI(L)-224, USS LCI(L)-225, USS LCI(L)-226, USS LCI(L)-227, USS LCI(L)-228, USS LCI(L)-230, USS LCI(L)-337, USS LCI(L)-338, USS LCI(L)-342, USS LCI(L)-432, USS LCI(G)-34, USS LCI(G)-73 departed Cape Cretin for the operations area via Seeadler Harbour. They were escorted by USS Stockton, USS SC-637, USS SC-648, USS SC-703, USS SC-742, USS SC-743 and USS SC-981.

1000K/17, Echelon R-1, Group A, made up of USS Henry T. Allen, HMAS Manoona, HMAS Kanimbla, USS Carter Hall departed Goodenough Island for the operations area. They were escorted by USS Swanston and USS Hobby. USS Grayson was to join off Cape Sudest.

2100K/17, USS Ganymede and HMAS Reserve departed Cape Sudest to join Echelon R-1, Group C. They were escorted by USS Wilkes and USS Nicholson.

0001K/18, USS Grayson departed Cape Sudest to join Echelon R-1, Group A.

0700K/18, Echelon R-2, Western Attack Group, made up of USS Virgo, USS LST-18, USS LST-22, USS LST-26, USS LST-66, USS LST-67, USS LST-68, USS LST-227 departed Goodenough Island for the operations area. Their escort, USS Stevens, USS Harrison and USS Coronado were to join off Cape Sudest.

1200K/18, Echelon R-1, Group F, made up of USS Triangulum, USS LST-466, USS LST-118, USS LST-454, USS LST-457, USS LST-458, USS LST-463, USS LST-465, USS Sonoma, USS Hogan, USS Long, USS YMS-46, USS YMS-47, USS Stevenson, USS Taylor and USS Roe departed Cape Cretin for the operations area.

1300K/18, Echelon R-1, Group H, made up of USS Etamin, USS LST-452, USS LST-38, USS LST-122, USS LST-221, USS LST-241, USS LST-270, USS LST-456, USS Chetco, USS SC-637, USS SC-648, USS SC-742, USS SC-981, USS YMS-48, USS YMS-51, USS Perry, USS Hamilton, USS Nicholas and USS O'Bannon departed Cape Cretin for the operations area.

1400K/18, Echelon R-1, Group E, arrived at Seeadler Harbour from Cape Cretin.

1430K/18, Part of Task Force 75, USS Phoenix, USS Boise, USS Hutchins, USS Beale and USS Daly departed Cape Sudest for the operations area.

1500K/18, Echelon R-1, Group B, arrived at Seeadler Harbour from Goodenough Island.

1800K/18, Echelon R-1, Group D, made up of HMAS Australia, USS Gunston Hall, USS Humphreys, USS Brooks, USS Gilmer, USS Sands and USS Herbert departed Cape Cretin for the operations area. They were escorted by USS Reid, USS Welles and USS Radford.

1900K/18, Echelon R-1, Group G, made up of USS Epping Forest, USS Kilty, USS Talbot, USS Dent, USS Schley, USS Ward, USS Crosby, USS Dickerson, USS Kane, USS Noa departed Cape Cretin for the operations area. They were escorted by USS La Vallete and USS Hopewell.

2200K/18, USS Stevens, USS Harrison and USS Coronado departed Cape Sudest to join Echelon R-2, Western Attack Group at sea.

0700K/19, USS Jenkins departed Seeadler Harbour to escort the submarine USS Dace (T/Cdr. B.D. Claggett, USN) northwards and then join Echelon R-1, Group H on completion of this duty.

0700K/19, Echelon R-3, Western Attack Group, made up of USS Zeilin, USS Windsor, USS LST-168, USS LST-170, USS LST-202, USS LST-204, USS LST-206, USS LST-269, USS LST-447 departed Goodenough Island for the operations area. They are to be joined off Cape Sudest by USS Sigsbee, USS Dashiell, USS Lovelace and USS Manning.

1100K/19, USS Nashville, USS Abner Read and USS Bache departed Cape Cretin for Borgen Bay, New Britain where they arrived around 1715K/19. They departed from there for the operations area around 1950K/19. On board USS Nashville was General MacArthur and his staff.

1300K/19, Echelon R-2, Hollandia and Aitape Groups, made up of USS LST-459, USS LST-41, USS LST-276, USS LST-476, USS LST-479, USS LST-469, USS LST-181, USS LST-474, USS LST-478, USS LST-481, USS LST-482, USS Harry Lee, USS Ormsby, USS Centaurus and USS Bootes departed Cape Cretin for the operations area. They were escorted by USS McKee, USS John Rodgers, USS Fletcher, USS Murray, USS San Pedro, USS Long Beach and USS Glendale.

1730K/19, Task Force 74, made up of HMAS Australia, HMAS Shropshire, HMAS Arunta, HMAS Warramunga, USS Ammen and USS Mullany departed Seeadler Harbour to provide cover for the landing forces and bombardment duties in the operations area.

1800K/19, Echelons R-1 Group B and Group E (see above) departed Seeadler Harbour for the operations area.

2345K/19, USS Sigsbee, USS Dashiell, USS Lovelace and USS Manning departed Cape Sudest to join Echelon R-3, Western Attack Group at sea.

0700K/20, Groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H (of Echelon R-1) all made rendezvous to the north of the Admiralty Islands and then continued on towards the operations area.

1300K/20, Echelon R-3, Central Attack Unit, made up of USS LST-395, USS LST-339, USS LST-397, USS LST-460, USS LST-472, USS Schroeder and USS Ringgold departed Cape Cretin for the operations area.

1730K/21, The Eastern Attack Group parted company with the other two Attack Groups and proceeded towards Aitape without incident.

1800K/21, The Western Attack Group and Central Attack Group parted company with each other and proceeded without incident towards Tanahmerah Bay and Humboldt Bay respectively.

Chronology of the actual landing operations on 22 April 1944.

Western Area, Tanahmerah Bay.

0500K/22, The Western Attack Group arrived in the transport area according to schedule and commenced lowering of boats and disembarking troops.

0600K/22, The naval bombardment of the two 8" cruisers (HMAS Australia and HMAS Shropshire and six destroyers () commenced until 0645K/22. All ships stood well in to insure good observation. 600 rounds of 8" and 1500 rounds of 5" and 4.7" were fired without response. The air bombardment was cancelled owing to the absence of any indication of the presence of the enemy.

0700K/22, Landings at Red Beach 1 and 2 were made according to schedule. No opposition was encountered although small parties of Japanese were found in the hills behind Red Beach 2. Landings of troops and supplies continued on this day as scheduled and without enemy air or naval reaction.

Central Area, Humboldt Bay.

0500K/22, The Central Attack Group arrived in the transport area according to schedule and troops were disemraked rapidly and the landing craft stood toward the beach as scheduled.

0600K/22, The naval bombardment was conducted according to plan, three light cruisers (USS Phoenix, USS Nashville and USS Boise) and six destroyers ( USS Hutchins, USS Bache, USS Beale, USS Daly, USS Abner Read and USS Bush) delivered intense fire against the assigned targets until 0645K/22.

0645K/22, Naval aircraft delivered effective bombardment and conducted strafing missions on Beaches White 1 and 2.

0700K/22, Assault waves hit the beaches and quickly secured both sides of the entrance to Jautifa Bay. The landing came as a complete surprise and the Japanese abandoned their beach defences, rifle pits and weapons at the commencement of the naval bombardment. Sporadic resistance was encountered later in the day but the assault force secured the heights overlooking Challenger Cove, the tracks between Hollandia and Pim, Leimok Hill and Pim itself by nightfall. Unloading of LST's and transports progressed favourably despite the congested beach area. No enemy reaction was made to the Allied operations.

Eastern Area, Aitape.

0100K/22, The high speed minesweepers proceeded ahead of the Eastern Attack Group to sweep the transport area. The YMS minesweepers were slow in leaving formation and due to rain squalls, did not arrive in the transport area in sufficient time to complete sweeping operations before the arrival of the transport group. The DMS's were able to make one sweep before the transports arrived in the area.

0500K/22, The Attack Group arrived in the transport area as scheduled and the transports commenced lowering their boats and disembarking troops. As soon as loaded, the landing craft from the high speed transports formed on the SC's which were used as control vessels, and proceeded towards the beach.

0600K/22, The naval bombardment commenced and continued until 0630K/22, at which time the naval air delivered a bombardment on previously assigned targets, followed by a strafing attack on the beach until 0640K/22.

0645K/22, Two SC's, fitted with rockets and stationed on either flank on the landing craft approaching the beach, delivered their fire as the landing craft approached the beach and landed. Due to the difficulty in identifying the proper beach, the landing was made about 800 yards to the eastward of Blue Beach 1 at a small village called Wapil. The landing was made without oppostiion and only slight opposition developed later. It is believed that the landing was a complete surprise as breakfast was found on the stoves cooking and in several huts clothes were left by the bunks were Japanese left hurriedly. No enemy air or naval reaction was encountered in the initial landings.

Further movements on 22 April 1944.

0900K/22, USS Schley, USS Ward, USS Kane and USS Noa departed Aitape to effect rendezvous with Echelon R-2 and join as escorts.

0900K/22, Return Group I, USS Carter Hall, USS Gunston Hall, USS Humphreys, USS Brooks, USS Gilmer, USS Sands and USS Herbert departed the operations area for Cape Cretin.

0900K/22, Return Group M, USS Epping Forest, USS Kilty, USS Talbot, USS Dent, USS Crosby and USS Dickerson departed Aitape for Cape Sudest. (USS Epping Forest was to part company at Cape Cretin).

0930K/22, Return Group J, made up of 15 LCI's from Red Beaches and 16 LCI's from White Beaches made rendezvous and set course to proceed to Cape Cretin.

1600K/22, Return Group K, USS Henry T. Allen, HMAS Kanimbla, HMAS Manoora, HMAS Westralia having completed unloading at Tanahmerah Bay and Humboldt Bay departed for Cape Sudest escorted by USS Nicholson, USS Gillespie, USS Welles, USS Hogan and USS Long.

1800K/22, Task Forces 74 and 75 were released from their close support mission and reported to the Commander 7th Fleet. Task Force 74 joined Task Unit 78.2 the following morning while Task Force 75 left the operations area.

1900K/22, Return Group N, made up of 7 LST's and 2 SC's departed Aitape for Cape Cretin escorted by USS O'Bannon, USS Hopewell, USS Stembel, USS Hamilton and USS Perry.

2000K/22, Return Group L, made up of 6 LST's from Red Beach and 6 LST's from White Beach, and USS Sonoma departed the operations area for Cape Cretin. The LST's from Red Beach were to continue to Cape Sudest. They were escorted by USS Kalk, USS Hobby, USS Radford, USS Stevenson and USS Stockton.

23 April 1944.

All land forces continued consolidation of their respective areas encountering only slight enemy opposition. Allied casualties were slight.

0430K/23, The Commander Eastern Attack Group rendezvoused with the Reserve Group transporting elements of the Aitape Landing Force scheduled to land on Tumleo and Seleo Island and also Korako. The landings on these two islands were made according to schedule. The landing craft from 4 APD's were sent to USS Ormsby for the troops that were to land in the assault waves, eight LCP's going to each island. No opposition was encountered on landing and only slight opposition develiped at Seleo. Several Japanese were killed and a few natives were captured. No Allied casualties were suffered.

0700K/23, Echelon R-2 arrived in the Aitape-Humboldt Bay-Tanahmerah Bay area as scheduled and commenced unloading.

1500K/23, USS Phoenix, USS Boise, USS Hutchins, USS Beale and USS Daly arrived at Seeadler Harbour from the operations area.

1900K/23, Return Group O, made up of 7 LST's from Tanahmerah Bay and 6 LST's from Humboldt Bay had completed unloading and departed for Cape Cretin escorted by USS Stevens, USS Harrison, USS Taylor, USS San Pedro and USS Coronado.

1930K/23, Return Group P, made up of USS Harry Lee, USS Ormsby and USS Centaurus departed Aitape for Cape Cretin. They were escorted by USS Fletcher, USS Jenkins, USS Long Beach and USS Glendale. USS Jenkins later sank an enemy barge to the east of Hollandia, killing nine Japanese.

1940K/23, a single enemy aircraft attacked White Beach 1 at Humboldt Bay. A fire was started in the dump area. The result was that LST's were unable to beach at this point due to the lage fire which lasted for several day amongst our supplies.

24 April 1944.

Hollandia village was captured and patrols were now working towards the enemy airfields. Aitape village was also captured as was Tumleo Island.

0700K/24, Echelon R-3, Western and Central Units arrived at Humboldt Bay and commenced unloading which was completed around 1930K/24 and the Echelon, joined by USS Virgo, USS Ganymede, USS YMS-8 and USS YMS-10, then left for Cape Cretin escorted by USS Grayson, USS John Rodgers, USS Taylor and USS McKee.

2045K/24, USS Schroeder, on patrol 20 nautical miles north of Humboldt Bay was attacked by twelve enemy torpedo aircraft but she sustained no damage.

[Operations continued in the Hollandia area but will be dealth with on individual ships pages from the 25th.]

Operations in the area continued but will not be further listed here.

17 May 1944

Operation Straightline.

This operation was an amphibious landing Arara, northern New Guinea and also on Wadke Island.

Forces involved.
Task Group 77.2 was the Attack Group under T/Rear-Admiral A.G. Noble, USN.
Task Unit 77.2.1 was made up of the flagship was the destroyer USS Reid (T/Cdr. S.A. McCornock, USN, flying the flag of T/Rear-Admiral A.G. Noble, USN). A second destroyer was also part of this Task Unit as relief flagship, this was the USS Wilkes (T/Cdr. F. Wolsieffer, USN).
Task Unit 77.2.2 was made up of the amphibious transports USS Henry T. Allen (T/Capt. H.B. Brumbaugh, USN) and HMAS Manoora (Cdr. A.P. Cousin, RANR(S)).
Task Unit 77.2.3 was the LCI Group under T/Cdr. H.F. McGee, USN, and was made up of USS LCI(L)-28 (Lt.(jg) N. Molyneaux, USNR, with T/Cdr. H.F. McGee, USN on board), USS LCI(L)-25 (Lt.(jg) W.R. Maliek, USNR), USS LCI(L)-26 (Lt. H.J. Adams, Jr., USNR), USS LCI(L)-27 (Lt.(jg) H.G. Hibbard, USNR), USS LCI(L)-29 (Lt. T.R. Hopkins, USNR), USS LCI(L)-30 (Lt. C.B. Faunce, Jr., USNR), USS LCI(L)-71 (?, with Lt.Cdr. J.P. Hurndall, USNR on board), USS LCI(L)-72 (Lt.(jg) S.Z. Kepner, USNR), USS LCI(L)-74 (Lt.(jg) R.J. Liechti, USNR), USS LCI(L)-224 (Lt.(jg) P.O. Olafsson, USNR), USS LCI(L)-338 (Lt.(jg) C.M. Goodman, Jr., USNR), USS LCI(L)-340 (Lt.(jg) H.F. Eckenrode, USNR) and USS LCI(L)-342 (Lt.(jg) R.A. Smith, USNR).
Task Unit 77.2.4 was the LST Group under T/Capt. R.M. Scruggs, USN, and was made up of USS LST-466 (Lt. R.E. McCarthy, USNR, with COMLSTFLOT 7, T/Capt. R.M. Scruggs, USN on board), USS LST-170 (Lt. T.N. Kelly, USCGR), USS LST-181 (Lt. R.J. Wilson, USNR, with Lt.Cdr. A. Schlott, USNR on board), USS LST-202 (?), USS LST-245 (Lt. M.J. McCabe, USNR), USS LST-456 (Lt. G.W. Prue, USN), USS LST-457 (Lt. W.P. Sullivan, USNR) and USS LST-458 (Lt. F.W. Hinrichs, USNR).
Task Unit 77.2.5 was Fire Support Group A under Rear-Admiral V.A.C. Crutchley, VC, DSC, RN, and was made up from ships of Task Force 74, the heavy cruisers HMAS Australia (Capt. E.F.V. Dechaineux, DSC, RAN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral V.A.C. Crutchley, VC, DSC, RN), HMAS Shropshire (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN) and the destroyers HMAS Arunta (Cdr. A.E. Buchanan, RAN), HMAS Warramunga (Cdr. N.A. Mackinnon, RAN), USS Ammen (T/Cdr. J.H. Brown, USN) and USS Mullany (T/Cdr. B.J. Mullaney, USN).
Task Unit 77.2.6 was Fire Support Group B under Rear-Admiral R.S. Berkey, USN, and was made up from ships of Task Force 75, the light cruisers USS Phoenix (T/Capt. J.H. Duncan, USN, flying the flag of COMCRUDIV 15, Rear-Admiral R.S. Berkey, USN), USS Nashville (T/Capt. C.E. Coney, USN), USS Boise (Capt. J.S. Roberts, USN) and the destroyers USS Hutchins (T/Cdr. C.B. Laning, USN, with COMDESRON 24, T/Capt. K.M. McManes, USN, on board), USS Bache (T/Cdr. R.C. Morton, USN), USS Beale (T/Capt. J.B. Cochran, USN), USS Daly (T/Cdr. R.G. Visser, USN), USS Abner Read (T/Cdr. T.B. Hutchins, 3rd, USN, with COMDESDIV 48, T/Capt. J.B. McLean, USN) and USS Trathen (T/Cdr. J.R. Millett, USN).
This force was further divided into three Fire Support Units.
77.2.61 was made up of USS Phoenix, USS Boise, USS Daly and USS Bache.
77.2.62 was made up of USS Hutchins and USS Beale.
77.2.62 was made up of USS Nashville, USS Abner Read and USS Trathen.
Task Unit 77.2.7 was Fire Support Group C under T/Capt. R.F. Stout, USN, and was made up of the destroyers USS Stevenson (T/Cdr. F.E. Wilson, USN, with COMDESRON 19, T/Capt. R.F. Stout, USN on board), USS Gillespie (T/Cdr. J.S. Fahy, USN), USS Hobby (T/Cdr. G.W. Pressey, USN, with T/Capt. COMDESDIV 38, W.S. Veeder, USN on board), USS Kalk (T/Cdr. H.D. Fuller, USN), USS Stockton (T/Cdr. W.W. Stark, Jr., USN), USS Grayson (T/Cdr. W.V. Pratt, 2nd, USN), USS Wilkes, USS Nicholson (T/Cdr. W.W. Vanous, USN), USS Russell (T/Cdr. L.R. Miller, USN), USS Roe (T/Cdr. F.S. Stich, USN).
This force was further divided into four Fire Support Units.
77.2.71 was made up of USS Hobby and USS Kalk.
77.2.72 was made up of USS Gillespie and USS Stockton.
77.2.73 was made up of USS Stevenson and USS Russell.
77.2.74 was made up of USS Wilkes, USS Nicholson, USS Roe and USS Grayson.
Task Unit 77.2.8 was the Beachmaster Unit.
Task Unit 77.2.9 was the Special Service Group. This force was further divided into three Units.
77.2.91 was the Control Unit and was made up of the patrol vessels USS SC-703 (Lt.(jg) R.M. Baird, USNR), USS SC-699 (Lt.(jg) J.W. Foristel, USNR), USS SC-734 (Lt. R.B. MacLean, USNR) and USS SC-736 (Lt.(jg) F.A. Marsteller, USNR).
77.2.92 was the Rocket Unit and was made up of LCI(R)'s, USS LCI(R)-31 (Lt.(jg) T.J. Morrissey, USNR), USS LCI(R)-34 (Lt.(jg) J.F. Keefe, USNR) and USS LCI(R)-73 (Lt.(jg) N.M. Taylor, USNR).
77.2.93 was the Minesweeping and Salvage Unit and was made up of the munesweepers USS YMS-8 (Lt. F.L. Comley, USNR), USS YMS-46 (Lt.(jg) H.J. Topping, USNR), USS YMS-47 (Lt.(jg) A.W. Busbee, USNR), USS YMS-51 (Lt. F.P. Allen, Jr., USNR) and the tug USS Sonoma (Lt.(jg). G.I. Nelson, USN).

Chronology of the passage towards the operations area.

1500K/15, Task Force 74 (Task Unit 77.2.5) and Task Force 75 (Task Unit 77.2.6) departed Seeadler Harbour for the operations area.

1900K/16, Echelon S-1, Section 1, which was made up of USS LCI(L)-28, USS LCI(L)-25, USS LCI(L)-26, USS LCI(L)-26, USS LCI(L)-29, USS LCI(L)-30, USS LCI(L)-71, USS LCI(L)-72, USS LCI(L)-74, USS LCI(L)-224, USS LCI(L)-338, USS LCI(L)-340 and USS LCI(L)-342, Echelon S-1, Section 2, which was made up of USS Henry T. Allen and HMAS Manoora and Echelon S-3, which was made up of USS LCI(R)-31, USS LCI(R)-34, USS LCI(R)-73, USS SC-699, USS SC-703, USS SC-734 and USS SC-736 departed Hollandia for the operations area. They were escorted by the destroyers USS Reid, USS Russell, USS Gillespie, USS Hobby, USS Kalk, USS Stockton and the destroyer escorts USS James E. Craig (Lt.Cdr. E.F. Andrews, USNR, with COMCORTDIV 37, T/Cdr. M.W. Firth, USN, on board), USS Manning (Lt.Cdr. J.I. Mingay, USNR) and USS Eichenberger (T/Lt.Cdr. N. Harrell, USN).

1900K/16, Echelon S-2, which was made up of USS LST-466, USS LST-170, USS LST-181, USS LST-202, USS LST-245, USS LST-456, USS LST-457, USS LST-458 and USS Sonoma departed Tanahmerah Bay for the operations area. They were escorted by the destroyers USS Stevenson, USS Grayson, USS Wilkes, USS Nicholson and USS Roe.

All echelons arrived in the operations area around 0515K/17.

Chronology of the actual landing operations near Arara on 17 April 1944.

0600K/17, The naval bombardment was commenced by the ships of Task Forces 74 and 75. These also bombarded Wadke Island. Several fires were started ashore by the bombardment and off Wadke several Japanese barges were sunk. No enemy reaction followed on the bombardment.

On completion of the bombardments, around 0700K/17, the troops from the two amphibious transports went in and landed according to plan. They were followed by waves of troops from the LCI(L)'s.

Already at 0630K/17, having launched their boats, USS Henry T. Allen and HMAS Manoora departed the area escorted by USS James E. Craig, USS Manning and USS Eichenberger.

0835K/17, The first LST was beached. By now all LCI(L)'s had completed unloading and commenced to return to Hollandia where they arrived around 2200K/17.

1143K/17, troops were landed on Insoemanai Island (off Wadke) without enemy opposition.

1200K/17, Task Force 75 was released from the operation. They arrived at Humboldt Bay around 1745K/17.

2200K/17, Three of the LST's of Echelon S-2 had completed unloading and departed for Hollandia escorted by USS Stevenson, USS Stockton and USS Russell.

0130K/18, The remaining five LST's of Echelon S-2 had completed unloading and departed for Hollandia escorted by USS Kalk, USS Hobby and USS Gillespie.

Chronology of the landing operations on Wadke Island on 18 May 1944.

1700K/17, Echelon S-4, made up of the LST's USS LST-18 (Lt. C.W. Radke, USCG), USS LST-67 (?), USS LST-206 (Lt. C.O. Opperman, USCG) and USS LST-465 (Lt.Cdr. R.T. Murphy, USNR) departed Humboldt Bay for Wadke. They were escorted by the destroyers USS Morris (T/Cdr. G.L. Caswell, USNR, with COMDESRON 2, T/Capt. E.A. Solomons, USN, on board), USS Hughes (T/Cdr. E.B. Rittenhouse, USN), USS Mustin (T/Cdr. M.M. Riker, USN) and the destroyer escorts USS Lovelace (Cdr. R.D. de Kay, Jr., USNR), USS Neuendorf (T/Cdr. J.N. McDonald, Jr., USN) and USS Whitehurst (T/Lt.Cdr. J.R. Gray, USN).

0900K/18, Echelon S-4 arrived off Wadke, and troops were then landed on Wadke covered by gunfire from the LCI(R)'s and USS Wilkes and USS Roe. USS LCI(R)-31 and USS LCI(R)-34 were both damaged by enemy fire and sustained 1 dead and 5 wounded and 1 dead and 3 wounded respectively. On the island the troops encountered stiff Japanese resistance. Early in the afternoon Allied troops had captured the air strip but enemy resistance remained strong.

[Later, follow up echelons proceeded to the Arara / Wadke area but these will be dealt with seperately.]

30 Jul 1944

Operation Globetrotter.

This operation was amphibious landings on Middelburg and Amsterdam Islands (east of Cape Sansapor) and to the west of Cape Sansapor and later also to the east of Cape Sansapor.

Forces involved.

Task Force 77 was the Attack Force under T/Rear-Admiral R.A. Fechteler, USN.
Task Group 77.1 was the Force Flagship, the destroyer USS Swanson (T/Cdr. W.K. Ratliff, USN, flying the flag of T/Rear-Admiral R.A. Fechteler, USN).
Task Group 77.2 was the Main body and was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Unit 77.2.1 was Fire Support Group A and was made up of the destroyers USS Morris (T/Cdr. G.L. Caswell, USNR, with COMDESRON 2, T/Capt. E.A. Solomons, USN, on board), USS Hughes (T/Cdr. E.B. Rittenhouse, USN), USS Mustin (T/Cdr. M.M. Riker, USN) and USS Russell (T/Cdr. L.R. Miller, USN).
Task Unit 77.2.2 was Fire Support Group B and was made up of the destroyers USS Fletcher (T/Cdr. J.L. Foster, USN, with COMDESDIV 42, T/Capt. A.E. Jarrell, USN on board), USS Radford (T/Capt. G.E. Griggs, USN), USS Jenkins (T/Cdr. M. Hall, Jr., USN) and USS La Valette (T/Cdr. W. Thompson, USN).
Task Unit 77.2.3 was Fire Support Group C and was made up of the destroyers USS Stevenson (T/Cdr. F.E. Wilson, USN, with COMDESRON 19, T/Capt. J.R. Pahl, USN on board) and USS Welles (T/Cdr. D.M. Coffee, USN).
Task Unit 77.2.4 was the High Speed Transport Unit and was made up of the high speed transports USS Kilty (Lt. L.G. Benson, USNR, with COMDESDIV 22, T/Cdr. D.L. Mattie, USN) on board), USS Schley (Lt.Cdr. E.T. Farley, USNR), USS Ward (Lt.Cdr. F.W. Lemly, USNR), USS Crosby (Lt.Cdr. W.E. Sims, USNR) and USS Herbert (T/Cdr. J.N. Ferguson, Jr., USN).
Task Unit 77.2.5 was the LCI Unit and was made up of the LCI's, USS LCI(L)-546 (Lt.(jg) W.B. Campbell, USNR with, COMLCIFLOT 8, T/Cdr. F.B.C. Martin, USN, on board), USS LCI(L)-544 (Lt.(jg) L.V. Sternberg, USNR), USS LCI(L)-545 (Lt.(jg) T.B. King, USNR), USS LCI(L)-547 (Lt.(jg) J.S. Peacock, USNR), USS LCI(L)-548 (Lt.(jg) J.B. Reeves, USNR), USS LCI(L)-577 (Lt.(jg) E.J. Morgan, USNR), USS LCI(L)-578 (Lt.(jg) W.D. Rounds, USNR), USS LCI(L)-579 (Lt.(jg) J. Wood, USN), USS LCI(L)-661 (Lt.(jg) P.B. Pylant, USN), USS LCI(L)-957 (Lt.(jg) J.F. Hartmann, Jr., USNR), USS LCI(L)-958 (Lt.(jg) W.R. McCracken, USNR), USS LCI(L)-961 (Lt.(jg) R.P. Games, USNR), USS LCI(L)-962 (Lt.(jg) R.L. Steele, USNR) from LCI Flotilla 8 and USS LCI(L)-430 (Lt. P.C. Hill, Jr., USNR, with COMLCIFLOT 7, T/Cdr. H.F. McGee, USN on board), USS LCI(L)-62 (Lt.(jg) J.M. Roye, USN), USS LCI(L)-334 (Lt.(jg) M.E. Staed, USNR), USS LCI(L)-335 (Lt.(jg) J.A. Latimer, USNR) and USS LCI(L)-519 (?).
Task Unit 77.2.6 was the LST Unit and was made up of the LST's, USS LST-18 (Lt. C.W. Radke, USCG, with COMLSTGR 21, Cdr. F.D. Higbee, USCG, on board), USS LST-26 (?), USS LST-28 (Lt. B.D. Quirk, USNR), USS LST-66 (Lt. W.H. McGowan, USCG), USS LST-170 (Lt.(jg) J.C. Baquie, USCGR), USS LST-202 (Lt.Cdr. T.N. Kelley, USCGR), USS LST-206 (Lt.(jg) J.D. Robertshaw, USCGR) and USS LST-466 (Lt. R.E. McCarthy, USNR).
Task Unit 77.2.7 was the Special Service Unit which was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Unit 77.2.71 was the Control Section which was made up of the patrol vessels, USS PC-1120 (Lt.Cdr. C.S. Molitor, USNR), USS PC-1132 (Lt. W.E. Quint, USNR), USS PC-1133 (Lt. J.C. Chandler, USNR) and USS PC-1134 (Lt. D.J. Callaghan. Jr. USNR).
Task Unit 77.2.72 was the Rocket Section which was made up of the LCI(R)'s, USS LCI(R)-31 (Lt.(jg) L.J. Haidet, USNR), USS LCI(R)-34 (Lt.(jg) R.J. Sponsler, USNR) and USS LCI(R)-73 (Lt.(jg) N.M. Taylor, USNR).
Task Unit 77.2.73 was the Salvage Section which was made up of the tug USS Vireo (Lt.(jg) S. Delamater, USNR).
Task Group 77.3 was the First Reinforcement Group and was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Group 77.3.1 was the LST Unit which was made up of the LST's USS LST-452 (Lt. G.W. Miller, USNR, with COMLSTGR20, Cdr. D.M. Baker, USNR on board), USS LST-171 (Lt. L.H. Smiley, USNR), USS LST-395 (Lt. A.C. Forbes, USNR), USS LST-397 (Lt. W.R. Hitch, USNR), USS LST-456 (Lt. G.W. Prue, USN), USS LST-458 (Lt. F.W. Hinrichs, USNR), USS LST-462 (Lt. W.D. Gregory, USNR) and USS LST-463 (Lt.(jg) A.E. Grounds, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.2 was the Escort Unit which was made up of the destroyers USS Hobby (T/Cdr. G.W. Pressey, USN, with T/Capt. COMDESDIV 38, W.S. Veeder, USN on board), USS Gillespie (T/Cdr. J.S. Fahy, USN), USS Anderson (T/Lt.Cdr. J.F. Murdock, USN) and USS Stockton (T/Cdr. W.W. Stark, Jr., USN).
Task Group 77.4 was the Second Reinforcement Group and was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Group 77.4.1 was the LST Unit which was made up of the LST's USS LST-469 (Lt. L.E. Green, USNR), USS LST-181 (Lt. R.J. Wilson, USNR), USS LST-204 (Lt. C.W. Radke, USCG), USS LST-245 (Lt. M.J. McCabe, USNR), USS LST-457 (Lt. W.P. Sullivan, USNR), USS LST-468 (Lt. I.K. Stevenson, USNR), USS LST-470 (Lt. D.J. Guthridge, USNR) and USS LST-475 (Lt. M.S. Whitsett, USNR).
Task Group 77.4.2 was the Escort Unit which was made up of the destroyers USS Wilkes (T/Cdr. F. Wolsieffer, USN, with COMDESDIV 24, T/Capt. A.J. Greenacre, USN on board), USS Nicholson (T/Cdr. W.W. Vanous, USN), USS Grayson (T/Cdr. W.V. Pratt, 2nd, USN) and USS Stack (T/Cdr. R.E. Wheeler, USN).

Cover Forces.

To provide cover for the operation, Task Forces 74 and 75 were deployed.

Task Force 74 was made up of the heavy cruiser HMAS Shropshire (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN, flying the flag of Commodore J.A. Collins, CB, RAN) and the destroyers USS Hutchins (T/Cdr. C.B. Laning, USN, with COMDESRON 24, T/Capt. K.M. McManes, USN, on board), USS Bache (T/Cdr. R.C. Morton, USN), USS Beale (T/Capt. J.B. Cochran, USN), USS Ammen (T/Cdr. J.H. Brown, USN) and HMAS Arunta (Cdr. A.E. Buchanan, RAN).

Task Force 75 was made up of the light cruisers USS Phoenix (T/Capt. J.H. Duncan, USN, flying the flag of COMCRUDIV 15, Rear-Admiral R.S. Berkey, USN), USS Boise (Capt. J.S. Roberts, USN) and the destroyers USS Abner Read (T/Cdr. T.B. Hutchins, 3rd, USN, with COMDESDIV 48, T/Capt. J.B. McLean, USN), USS Daly (T/Cdr. R.G. Visser, USN), USS Mullany (T/Cdr. B.J. Mullaney, USN) and USS Trathen (T/Cdr. J.R. Millett, USN).

Chronology of the passage towards the operations area.

0800K/27, Task Force 75 (see above) departed Seeadler Harbour, Manus for the operations area.

2300K/27, Task Force 77 (TF 77.1 and TF 77.2, see above) departed Maffin Bay for the operations area. This was known as Echelon G-1.

1000K/28, Task Force 74 (see above) departed Humboldt Bay to make rendezvous with Task Force 75. Rendezvous was affected around 1500K/28. Both Task Forces now operated in company as Task Force 78, Covering Force.. A naval bombardment for the landings was not planned, Task Force 78's orders were to just provide cover for the landings.

0800K/29, USS LCI(L)-958 parted company to proceed to Mios Woendi as reserve. One of the other LCI(L)'s also parted company as there were 16 LCI(L)'s present during the landing operations.

2330K/29, Echelon G-2, made up of Task Group 77.3 (see above) departed Maffin Bay for the operations area. The four escorting destroyers from Destroyer Division 38 had actually departed Humboldt Bay around 2245K/28 and joined the convoy of LST's on leaving Maffin Bay having first conducted an A/S patrol in the area. 2315K/29, Echelon G-3, made up of Task Group 77.4 (see above) departed Maffin Bay for the operations area. The four escorting destroyers from Destroyer Division 24 had arrived at Maffin Bay from Humboldt Bay earlier in the day.

Chronology of the landing operations in the operations area.

0700K/30, Task Force 77, (TF 77.1 and TF 77.2) commenced landing operations east of Cape Sansapor and on Middelburg and Amsterdam Islands. No enemy opposition was encountered.

0830K/30, Task Force 78, was released and set course to proceed to Mios Woendi. Around the same time the LCI(L)'s departed the operations area to return to Maffin Bay escorted by USS PC-1122 and USS PC-1133.

1800K/30, The LST's, having completed unloading, departed the area to return to Maffin Bay. Tug USS Vireo was with them. They were escorted by USS Swanson, USS Fletcher, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, USS La Vallette, USS Stevenson and USS Welles.

0800K/1, Echelon G-2 arrived commenced beaching the LST's to unload which was completed later the same day following which they set course to proceed to Mios Woendi having been joined by the three 3 LCI(R)'s and the tugs USS Whippoorwill (T/Lt. C.L. Knopp, USN) and HMAS Sprightly (Lt. G.S. Duck, RANR(S)). They were escorted by USS Morris, USS Hughes, USS Mustin, USS Russell, USS Hobby, USS Gillespie, USS Anderson and USS Stockton.

0800K/3, Echelon G-3 arrived commenced beaching the LST's to unload which was completed later the same day following which they set course to proceed to Mios Woendi.

15 Sep 1944

Operation Tradewind.

This operation was an amphibious landing on Morotai.

Forces involved.

Task Force 77.
The force flagship was the Amphibious Force Command Ship USS Wasatch (T/Capt. A.M. Granum, USN, flying the flag of T/Rear-Admiral D.E. Barbey, USN. Reserve flagship was the destroyer USS Russell (T/Lt.Cdr. J.E. Wicks, Jr., USN).

Task Group 77.1 was the Escort Carrier Group under T/R.Adm. T.L. Sprague, USN. It was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Unit 77.1.1 was made up of the escort carriers USS Sangamon (T/Capt. M.E. Browder, USN, flying the flag of COMCARDIV 22, T/R.Adm. T.L. Sprague, USN), USS Suwanee (T/Capt. W.D. Johnson, USN), USS Chenango (T/Capt. G. van Deurs, USN) and USS Santee (T/Capt. R.E. Blick, USN).
Task Unit 77.1.2 was made up of the escort carriers USS Fanshaw Bay (T/Capt. D.P. Johnson, USNflying the flag of, COMCARDIV 25, T/R.Adm. C.A.F. Sprague, USN) and USS Midway / St. Lo (T/Capt. F.J. McKenna, USN).
Task Unit 77.1.3 was made up of the destroyer escorts USS Edmonds (T/Cdr. C.S. Barker, Jr., USN, with COMCORTDIV 63, T/Cdr. J.V. Bewick, USN, on board), USS Richard S. Bull (T/Lt.Cdr. A.W. Gardes, Jr., USN), USS Richard M. Rowell (T/Cdr. H.A. Barnard, Jr., USN), USS Eversole (T/Lt.Cdr. G.E. Marix, USN), USS Dennis (Lt.Cdr. S. Hansen, USNR), USS Shelton (Lt.Cdr. L.G. Salomon, USNR), USS John C. Butler (T/Lt.Cdr. J.E. Pace, USN) and USS Raymond (Lt.Cdr. A.F. Beyer, Jr., USNR).

Task Force 77.2 was the Cover and Bombardment Force under T/Rear-Admiral R.S. Berkey, USN. It was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Unit 77.2.1 was made up of the light cruisers USS Phoenix (T/Capt. J.H. Duncan, USN, flying the flag of COMCRUDIV 15, Rear-Admiral R.S. Berkey, USN), USS Boise (Capt. J.S. Roberts, USN) and the destroyers USS Hutchins (T/Cdr. C.B. Laning, USN, with COMDESRON 24, T/Capt. K.M. McManes, USN, on board), USS Bache (T/Cdr. R.C. Morton, USN), USS Beale (T/Cdr. D.M. Coffee, USN) and USS Daly (T/Cdr. R.G. Visser, USN).
Task Unit 77.2.2 was made up of the heavy cruisers HMAS Australia (Capt. E.F.V. Dechaineux, DSC, RAN, flying the flag of Commodore J.A. Collins, CB, RAN), HMAS Shropshire (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN) and the destroyers HMAS Arunta (Cdr. A.E. Buchanan, RAN) and HMAS Warramunga (Cdr. N.A. Mackinnon, RAN), USS Ammen (T/Cdr. J.H. Brown, USN) and USS Mullany (T/Cdr. B.J. Mullaney, USN).
Task Unit 77.2.3 was made up of the light cruiser USS Nashville (T/Capt. C.E. Coney, USN) and the destroyers USS Abner Read (T/Cdr. T.B. Hutchins, 3rd, USN, with COMDESDIV 48, T/Capt. J.B. McLean, USN) and USS Bush (T/Cdr. R.E. Westholm, USN).

Task Force 77.3 was the Attack Force.
Task Group 77.3.1 was the Attack Force for White Beach under T/Rear-Admiral D.E. Barbey, USN, with USS Wasatch as flagship and was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Group 77.3.11 was made up of the destroyers USS Morris (T/Cdr. G.L. Caswell, USNR, with COMDESRON 2, T/Capt. E.A. Solomons, USN, on board), USS Mustin ( T/Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hughes, USN), USS Russell, USS John Rodgers (T/Cdr. J.G. Franklin, USN) and USS McKee (T/Cdr. R.B. Allen, USN).
Task Group 77.3.12 was made up of the amphibious transport HMAS Kanimbla (Cdr. A.V. Bunyan, RANR(S)).
Task Group 77.3.13 was made up of the high speed transports USS Ward (Lt.Cdr. F.W. Lemly, USNR), USS Schley (Lt.Cdr. E.T. Farley, USNR), USS Kilty (Lt. L.G. Benson, USNR), USS Crosby (Lt.Cdr. W.E. Sims, USNR) and USS Herbert (T/Cdr. J.N. Ferguson, Jr., USN).
Task Group 77.3.14 was made up of the LCI(L)'s, USS LCI(L)-28 (Lt.(jg) W.T. Witt, USNR, with COMLCIFLOT 7, T/Cdr. H.F. McGee, USN, on board), USS LCI(L)-25 (Lt.(jg) G.W. Connelly, USNR), USS LCI(L)-29 (Lt. J.F. McNamara, USNR), USS LCI(L)-30 (Lt.(jg) L.E. Larson, USNR), USS LCI(L)-224 (Lt.(jg) W.K. Bohn, USNR), USS LCI(L)-225 (Lt.(jg) W.S. Ogilvy, USNR), USS LCI(L)-226 (Lt.(jg) W.L. Harned, USNR), USS LCI(L)-361 (Lt.(jg) A.J. Hawkes, USNR), USS LCI(L)-430 (Lt. P.C. Hill, Jr., USNR) and USS LCI(L)-432 (Lt. M.D. Coppersmith, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.15 was made up of the LST's, USS LST-470 (Lt. D.J. Guthridge, USNR, with COMLSTGR20, Cdr. D.M. Baker, USNR on board), USS LST-245 (Lt. M.J. McCabe, USNR), USS LST-459 (Lt. N. Waggener, USNR) and USS LST-474 (Lt.(jg) H.T. Ross, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.16 was made up of the LCT's, USS LCT-947, USS LCT-939, USS LCT-940 and USS LCT-941.
Task Group 77.3.17 was made up of the patrol vessels USS PC-1119 (Lt. J.E. Martin, Jr., USNR) and USS PC-1134 (Lt.(jg). W.B. Marshall, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.18 was made up of the LCI(G)'s, USS LCI(G)-68 (Lt.(jg) J.D. Devaney, USNR), USS LCI(G)-70 (Lt. R.M. Jordan, USNR) and LCI(R)'s USS LCI(R)-72 (Lt.(jg) J.F. Dray, USNR) and USS LCI(R)-73 (Lt.(jg) N.M. Taylor, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.19 was made up of the tug USS Sonoma (Lt. W.R. Wurzler, USNR) and USS LCI(D)-227 (Lt.(jg) A.S. Eskind, USNR) [D = Demolition] ().
Task Group 77.3.2 was the Attack Force for Red Beach under T/Rear-Admiral R.A. Fechteler, USN, with USS Hughes (T/Cdr. E.B. Rittenhouse, USN, flying the flag of T/Rear-Admiral R.A. Fechteler, USN) as flagship and was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Group 77.3.21 was made up of the destroyers USS Fletcher (T/Cdr. J.L. Foster, USN, with COMDESDIV 42, T/Capt. A.E. Jarrell, USN on board), USS Radford (T/Cdr. G.L. Caswell, USN), USS Jenkins (T/Cdr. M. Hall, Jr., USN), USS La Valette (T/Cdr. W. Thompson, USN) and USS Stack (T/Cdr. R.E. Wheeler, USN).
Task Group 77.3.22 was made up of the amphibious transport HMAS Manoora (Cdr. A.P. Cousin, RANR(S)).
Task Group 77.3.23 was made up of the LCI(L)'s, USS LCI(L)-546 (Lt.(jg) W.B. Campbell, USNR, with, COMLCIFLOT 8, T/Cdr. F.B.C. Martin, USN, on board), i>USS LCI(L)-543 (Lt.(jg) L.S. Mosley, USNR), USS LCI(L)-544 (Lt.(jg) L.V. Sternberg, USNR), USS LCI(L)-545 (Lt.(jg) T.B. King, USNR), USS LCI(L)-547 (Lt.(jg) J.S. Peacock, USNR), USS LCI(L)-577 (Lt.(jg) E.J. Morgan, USNR), USS LCI(L)-578 (Lt.(jg) W.D. Rounds, USNR), USS LCI(L)-579 (Lt.(jg) J. Wood, USN), USS LCI(L)-663 (Lt.(jg) F.B. Stimson, Jr., USNR), USS LCI(L)-744 (Lt.(jg) J.B. Vallely, USNR), LCI(L)-746 (Lt.(jg) E.H. Chittenden, USNR), USS LCI(L)-747 (Lt. R.M. Burnes, USNR), USS LCI(L)-748 (Lt.(jg) D.R. Hassell, USNR), USS LCI(L)-750 (Lt.(jg) S.A.R. White, USNR), USS LCI(L)-958 (Lt.(jg) W.R. McCracken, USNR), USS LCI(L)-962 (Lt.(jg) R.L. Steele, USNR), USS LCI(L)-964 (Lt.(jg) H.R. dePue, USNR), USS LCI(L)-965 (Lt.(jg) A.T. Wellman, USNR), USS 967 (Lt.(jg) H.M. Piper, Jr., USNR), USS 968 (Lt.(jg) B. Shaw, USNR), USS 969 (Lt.(jg) J.W. Clement, USNR), USS 971 (Lt.(jg) V. Muse, Jr., USNR), USS 976 (Lt.(jg) W.C. Lawtom, USNR), USS 977 (Lt.(jg) J.T. Morgan, Jr., USNR), USS 978 (Lt.(jg) P. Tackett, USNR), USS 979 (Lt.(jg) M.J. Fleischman, USNR), USS 981 (Lt.(jg) T.J. Bailey, USNR), USS 1014 (Lt.Cdr. R.W. Moncure, USNR) and USS 1015 (Lt. G.Y. Harry, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.24 was made up of the LST's, USS LST-466 (Lt. R.E. McCarthy, USNR), with COMLSTFLOT 7, T/Capt. R.M. Scruggs, USN on board), USS LST-181 (Lt. R.J. Wilson, USNR), USS LST-452 (Lt. G.W. Morris, USNR), USS LST-456 (Lt. G.B. Libby, USNR), USS LST-462 (Lt. W.D. Gregory, USNR), USS LST-467 (Lt. M.B. Taylor, USNR), USS LST-468 (Lt.(jg) L.H. Bellis, USNR) and USS LST-472 (Lt. W.O. Tally, USN).
Task Group 77.3.25 was made up of the LCT's, USS LCT-948, USS LCT-942, USS LCT-943, USS LCT-949, USS LCT-950, USS LCT-951, USS LCT-952 and USS LCT-953.
Task Group 77.3.26 was made up of the Landing Ship Dock USS Carter Hall (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Harris, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.27 was made up of the patrol vessels USS PC-1120 (Lt. H.T. Smith, Jr., USNR), USS PC-1122 (Lt. L.C. Hall, USNR), USS PC-1133 (Lt. J.C. Chandler, USNR) and USS PC-476 (Lt. D. Knapp, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.28 was made up of the LCI(G)'s, USS LCI(G)-69 (Lt.(jg) H.R. Roesti, USNR, with Lt.Cdr. A.M. Holmes, USNR, on board), USS LCI(G)-23 (Lt.(jg) M.L. Russell, USNR), USS LCI(G)-64 (Lt.(jg) F.G. Love, Jr., USNR), USS LCI(G)-65 (Lt.(jg) C.J. Macaluso, USNR) and LCI(R)'s USS LCI(R)-31 (Lt.(jg) L.J. Haidet, USNR) and USS LCI(R)-34 (Lt.(jg) R.J. Sponsler, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.29 was made up of the minesweepers USS YMS-8 (Lt.(jg) E.S. Conway, USNR), USS YMS-9 (Lt.(jg) B.F. Hildes, USNR), USS YMS-46 (Lt. H.J. Topping, USNR) and USS YMS-51 (Lt.(jg) W.F. Montgomery., USNR).

Chronology of the passage towards the operations area.

1000I/10, Task Group 77.1, the Carrier Cover Group, (see above), departed Seeadler Harbour for the operations area.

1300I/11, Echelon M-1, made up of all Task Units of Task Groups 77.3.1 and 77.3.2 (see above) departed Maffin Bay for the operations area.

2300I/11, Task Units 77.2.1 and 77.2.2 (see above) departed Humboldt Bay for the operations area.

1000I/12, Task Unit 77.2.3 departed Humboldt Bay for the operations area. On board USS Nashville General MacArthur and staff is embarked.

Chronology of the initial landing operations in the operations area.

0630I/15, The order ' Deploy ' was given for the landings which were to commence at 0830I/15 (H-hour). The LCT's which had been towed to the operations area by LST's had just been cut loose and were now proceeding on their own. YMS minesweepers commenced sweeping the landing area.

0700I/15, between around 0700 and 0830 hours the ships from Task Force 77.2 bombarded their selected targets near the landing area. Carrier aircraft from Task Force 77.1 conducted fighter and A/S patrols and were also available to attack land targets. Following the bombardment the ships of Task Force 77.2 remained in the area to provide cover for the operation. They were released from the operation at 1800I/16.

0830I/15, H-hour, Landing operations commenced.

0900I/15, USS Carter Hall departed the operations area for Mios Woendi. She was escorted by USS Herbert and USS Crosby. All three ships had completed unloading.

1030I/15, Almost all LCI(L)'s, having completed unloading, departed the operations area for Hollandia. They were escorted by USS Ward, USS Schley and USS Kilty.

2000I/15, Five LST's and four LCI(L)'s, having completed unloading, departed the operations area for Cape Sansapor. They were escorted by the destroyers USS Morris and USS Jenkins.

1800I/15, HMAS Kanimbla and USS Manoora departed the operations area for Hollandia. They were escorted by the destroyer USS Stevens and the patrol vessel USS PC-476.

1700I/16, The remaining seven LST's, having completed unloading departed Morotai for Cape Sansopor. They were escorted by USS Anderson and USS Stack.

More echelons transporting troops and supplies arrived at Morotai during the next days. [These will not be dealth with here.]

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