USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG
November 5, 1944 .
Zone time ( - ) 9
At
1030 got underway in accordance with C.T.U. 79.15.4 (Captain Allen) secret
mailgram 032245 of November 1944. Patrolled sortie station until
completion of sortie at which time Task Unit 79.15.4 formed special cruising
disposition, PICKING in station #1 of antisubmarine screen plan #55, and
set course for Biak Island. OTC and disposition guide in U.S.S. LAMAR.
Positions:
0800 - Latitude 02°-34.6’ S;
Longitude l40°-44.9’ E.
1200 - Latitude 02°_3l.O’ S;
Longitude l40°-50.O’ E.
2000 - Latitude
0l°-45.5’ S;
Longitude l39°-37.O’ E.
November 6, 1944 . Zone
time ( - ) 9
Arrived
at Biak during early afternoon and transports anchored in assigned anchorage
area. Screening
ships, began patrolling assigned area,
PICKING patrolling area between Roerbaseba
Island and point “ABLE”, Latitude OlO°-l6’ S, Longitude 136°-05’ E. A
strong west wind made anchoring difficult
and at sunset C.T.G. 79.15.4 declared anchorage unsatisfactory. Transports were
ordered to get underway and retire in area South and West of
Positions:
0800 - Latitude
0l°-22.5’ S;
Longitude 137°-24.O’ E.
1200 - Latitude O1°-23.l’ S;
Longitude l37*-59.5’ E.
2000 - Latitude
0l°-23.9’ S;
Longitude 137°-56.O’ E.
November 7, 1944 . Zone time ( - ) 9
Positions:
0800 - Latitude
0l°-l8.7’ S;
Longitude l36°-lO.2’ E.
1200 - Latitude 0l°—l7.O’ S; Longitude 135°-06.O’ E.
2000 - Latitude
0l°-l8.2’ S;
Longitude 136°-07.8’ E.
November 8, 1944 . Zone time ( - ) 9
At noon
changed patrol area in accordance with CDs 49 orders; new area between the west
tip of Owi Island and Point “Baker”, Latitude l°—l5.5’
S. Longitude l36°-04.O’ E.
Positions:
0800 -
Latitude 0l°—l7.2’ S;
Longitude l36°-06.l’ E.
1200 -
Latitude 0l°-l7.S’ S; Longitude l36°-OS.6’ E.
2000 -
Latitude 0l°-l6.6’ S; Longitude l36°-09.3’ E.
November 9, 1944 . Zone
time ( -)9
During early
morning left patrol area to escort U.S.S. DOYEN from Mios
Woendi to Biak. Upon completion of escort duty,
returned to patrol area and continued patrolling previously assigned station.
At 1600 changed patrol station to area southeast of Impenia
between Sarnbersberi Point and Tamao
Point.
Positions:
0800 - Latitude 0l°-23.O’ S;
Longitude l36°-2l.8’ E.
1200 - Latitude 0l°-lS.6’ S; Longitude
l36°-O5.O’ E.
2000 - Latitude 0l°-lS.3’ S; Longitude l36°-OO.7’ E.
November 10, 1944 . Zone time ( - ) 9
At
0800 ceased patrolling station and escorted U.S.S. ALCYONE from Biak to MiosAnchorage. Upon arrival at Mios Woendi fueled ship, after
completion of fueling, got underway enroute to Biak
to escort U.S.S. DOYEN from Biak to Mios Woendi.
About 1500 joined with DOYEN and set course for
Mios Woendi. After
completion of escort duty, anchored in Mios Woendi
Anchorage.
Positions:
0800 -
Latitude - 0l°-12.9’ S; Longitude - l36°-OO.8’ E.
1200 - Latitude - 0l°-20.4’
S; Longitude - l36°-23.5’ E.
2000 -
Latitude - 0l°-l6.O’ S; Longitude - l36°-20.3’ E.
November 14, 1944 .
Zone time ( - ) 9
At
0740 got underway in accordance with C.T.U. 79.15.4 secret mailgram 130330 of
November and commenced patrolling sortie station. Upon completion of sortie,
formed special cruising disposition and set course to Leyte Island, P.I. in
accordance with C.T.U. 79.15.4 movement order of 3 November 1944. PICKING in
station #1 of antisubmarine screen plan #55. O.T.C and guide in U.S.S. LAMAR.
O.T.C., ComTaskUnit 79.15.4., Captain Allen. About sunset, rendezvous with NOEMFOOR and HOLLANDIA
groups of Task Unit. All groups formed special cruising disposition ‘ABLE”,
with O.T.C. and guide in U.S.S. LAMAR. PICKING in station #1 of
anti-submarine screen plan #58.
Positions:
0800 -
Latitude - 0l°-l9.O’ S; Longitude - l36°-24.O’ E.
1200 - Latitude - 0l°-02.5’
S; Longitude - l36°-26.5’ E.
2000 -
Latitude - 00°-25.O’ N; Longitude - l36°-04.O’ E.
November 15, 1944. Zone time(-) 9
Steaming to Leyte, zig-zagging
during daylight hours. At sunset simulated a “FLASH RED”, (air attack). Formed
anti-aircraft “cruising disposition in which the screening ships
closed in around the transports to 1500 yards, PICKING’s
station 1500 yards ahead of the guide, U.S.S. LAMAR.
Positions:
0800 -
Latitude - 02°-37.O’ N; Longitude - l35°-1l.O’ E.
1200 - Latitude - 03°-12.8’
N; Longitude - l34°-48.5’ E.
2000 -
Latitude - 04°-53.O’ N; Longitude - 134°-35.O’ E.
November 16, 1944. Zone time—(-)9
During
early morning shortly after sunrise, U.S.S. KIMBERLY and U.S.S. YOUNG
joined the formation. Screening ships formed a circular screen, equally spaced
on the 5000 yard circle around the transports. PICKING in
station #1 on fleet axis.
Positions:
0800 -
Latitude - 07°-08.O’ N; Longitude - 133°-l3.O’ E.
1200 -
Latitude - 07°-29.O’ N; Longitude - 132°-32.O’ E.
2000 -
Latitude - 08°-l2.O’ N; Longitude - l3l°-05.O’ E.
November 17, 1944 Zone description (-) 9
Steaming enroute to Leyte. During the morning made radar contact on an unidentified aircraft bearing 335° T., distance 16 miles. Ship went to general quarters. Aircraft was later identified as a fighter from a friendly carrier group operating in the area and furnishing fighter cover for convoys entering and leaving Leyte area.
One
hour before sunset, formed a special anti-aircraft cruising disposition in
which the screening ships closed into 2000 yards around the transports.
PICKING in station 2000 yards ahead of the guide.
The O.T.C. ordered all ships to general quarters in preparation for probable air
Positions:
0800 -
Latitude - 09°-18.O’
N; Longitude - l28°-42.O’
E.
1200 -
Latitude - 09°-36.O’
N; Longitude - l27°-58.O’ E.
2000 - Latitude - 1O°-l3.O’ N; Longitude - l26°-39.O’ E.