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Notable events involving Natoma Bay include:

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.

23 Apr 1944
Around 0730K/23, Task Force 74, made up of 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) made rendezvous with Task Group 78.2 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) and 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).

They remained in company until they all arrived at Seeadler Harbour in the morning of the 28th.

On the 24th the destroyers were fuelled by the bigger ships; HMAS Australia fuelled HMAS Warramunga and HMS Arunta, USS Corregidor fuelled USS Ammen and USS Mullany. USS Natoma Bay fuelled USS Hale , USS Abbot and USS Chauncey, USS Manila Bay fuelled USS Walker and USS Erben, USS Coral Sea fuelled USS Bullard and USS Kidd. (1)

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