WWII Pg 32

USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG

October 22, 1944 Zone time ( - ) 9( -)9

During mid-watch, enemy aircraft contact reported bearing 205° T., distance 52 miles. Aircraft remained on screen for 10 minutes, then opened range and faded. 0530 Held routine general quarters, all ships commenced laying smoke. Shortly after, enemy aircraft reported bearing 260° T, 30 miles from reference point “Molly”. At this time the harbor was partially covered with smoke, visibility was good except on bearings toward the beach area. 0622 Small ships bearing 215° T., distance 15 miles reported under air attack by Japanese bombers identified as Vals. AA fire was observed in the vicinity of the small ships and later in a northward direction, range about five miles, no planes were reported shot down. Various ships in the harbor reported near bomb misses. No planes were sighted by this ship. 0643 Ceased laying smoke at which time the harbor was covered with a dense smoke screen, visibility about 500 yards. 0700 Area was clear of enemy aircraft. By 0930 the smoke screen had been carried away by a moderate breeze to seaward. 1030 Shifted berth to point ‘Baker”, bearing as follows: Catmon Hill 310-1/2° T, Vigia Point 326-3/4° T, Tangbo Point 209° T, right tangent of Samar Island 0342° T. At 1433 U.S.S. MACDONOUGH reported a sound contact, bearing 265° T, distance 2 miles. PICKING got underway to assist in developing the contact. Both ships searched the area for two hours but did not regain contact. PICKING then returned to screening station at point “Baker”, and anchored. At 1816 all ships commenced laying smoke and about twenty minutes later, we held routine general quarters. Enemy aircraft reported bearing 27l° T, distance 10 miles. The harbor was partially covered by clouds of smoke, visibility poor in smoke areas. AA fire was observed on bearings 315° T at 2 miles, and 225° T at 3 miles. At 1848 U.S.S. MACDONOUGH on bearing 190° T, 2 miles reported one enemy aircraft, believed to be Val, crashed in flames, as result of MACDONOUGH fire. 1856 Enemy aircraft reported bearing 180° T, distance 6 miles and 350° T, distance 5 miles. AA fire observed in both directions but no planes reported shot down or damaged. Other enemy aircraft were reported on various bearings within a radius of 4 miles, at varying times, until about 2000 when area was reported clear of enemy aircraft. At 2000 secured from general quarters, and stopped making smoke.

October 23, 1944 Zone time(-) 9

At 0515, all ships commenced making smoke. One hour before sun rise, this ship went to general quarters and shortly thereafter, unidentified aircraft were reported approaching from 230° T, distant 14 miles. About one-half hour later, the U.S.S. HARADEN reported a near bomb miss from a single engine aircraft; no damage done. AA fire was observed on various bearings until shortly after sunrise, at which time, the area was declared clear of enemy planes; secured from general quarters and stopped making smoke. No planes were sighted by PICKING during this period. Early in the afternoon, got underway and proceeded to the center of area “Howe”, the inner transport area, where we anchored while CDS 49 went aboard MOUNT OLYMPUS (Flagship of CTF 79, Vice Admiral Wilkinson) for conference. Upon the return of CDS 49, PICKING weighed anchor and proceeded back to screening station at point “Baker”. Enroute to point “Baker”, a floating mine was sighted and sunk by small arms fire of this ship, bearing 270° T, distant 3 miles from point “Baker”. After sinking mine, proceeded to screening station and anchored. Commencing about 1800, many unidentified planes were reported closing on transport area from the west, at first report, ship went to general quarters and all ships commenced making smoke. Neither aircraft nor A~A fire was observed, although smoke screen covered but a small portion of the harbor. About an hour later, “All Clear” was signaled, and we secured from general quarters and ceased making smoke.

October 24, 1944 . Zone time (- ) 9

About one hour before sunrise, the first enemy planes were detected in the area, the ship went to general quarters. SOPA ordered all ships to make smoke. The planes remained in the area for about an hour but did not attack, nor were they fired on, they then opened range and faded, all clear was reported, the ship secured from general quarters and ceased making smoke. At 0800 several unidentified aircraft were reported in area, ship went to general quarters for air attack and all ships began making smoke in accordance with SOPA orders. Shortly after alert, several enemy planes were sighted bearing 270° T, distance 8 miles, ships in that vicinity fired on the planes but did no damage. Twice, during the next hour, groups of enemy planes were reported approaching from a westerly direction, and were driven away. Several enemy planes and one friendly fighter were reported destroyed. Several single plane raids closed over the formation from all directions but attacks were broken up by AA fire. One plane, later identified as friendly, was slightly damaged by AA fire. At 0900 ships bearing 315° T, distance 6 miles reported they were under air attack by several Japanese bombers, identified as Vals. Intense AA fire was observed in that direction. Shortly hereafter, U.S.S. LEUTZE reported a near bomb miss and being strafed during this attack and that there had been a few minor casualties. Of the attacking group, one plane was reported probably shot down and one damaged. By this time the transport area was covered with a dense smoke screen which extended out about five miles. A breeze from seaward was slowly carrying it inland. Shortly after the previous attack, PICKING weighed anchor and steamed at various courses and speeds to remain in screening station. Planes continued to attack, usually in groups of one or two. At 0905 LCI 105 reported a direct bomb hit and that she was sinking. Several of the attacking planes were reported damaged by AA fire but none shot down. At 0918 a group of enemy planes were reported approaching from 285° T., distance 47 miles. Fighters were vectored out, and intercepted the raid. The enemy retired having several planes shot down by friendly fighters. SOPA ordered smoke to be ceased. At 0930 all clear was reported, secured from general quarters and anchored in screening station. About 1100 the harbor was clear of smoke except for a short distance off the shore line. At 1105 got underway in accordance with CIDS 49 verbal orders and began proceeding to area HOWE, where transports were anchored. Shortly thereafter enemy aircraft were reported closing on bearing 230° T., distance 30 miles. The raid was intercepted by friendly fighters before it could attack and was driven away. About 15 minutes later another raid was reported closing from the same direction, distance 80 miles. This raid was also driven away by friendly fighters, each time several Japanese planes were reported destroyed with out loss to our fighters. At 1140 U.S.S. ERBEN reported that she was under attack by single enemy aircraft. The plane was fired at by ships in that area but no damage was reported to ships or the plane. Shortly after this an unidentified plane, believed to be enemy reconnaissance, closed at a high altitude, circled the North end of the harbor and retired. Single enemy aircraft continued to close the formation from all directions until 1330. No planes attacked, all that closed within gun range were fired on, but none were destroyed. Early afternoon formed sortie screen for Task Unit 79:14.8. Upon completion of sortie, formed special cruising disposition and proceeded from Leyte Gulf enroute to Hollandia, N.G. in accordance with ComTask Force 79 secret dispatch 240124. PICKING in screening station number one, U.S.S. CLAY guide, OTC was Commander Task Unit 79:14.8, Rear Admiral Royal, in U.S.S. ROCKY MOUNT. About 1700 many unidentified aircraft were reported in Leyte Gulf Area, ships went to general quarters. Plane did not close within 100 miles of formation but remained in area for about an hour at which time they retired. About an hour later unidentified aircraft were reported bearing 255° T., distance 40 miles from formation, planes opened range and faded. Secured from general

NEXT PREVIOUS