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USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG December 31, 1944 Zone description (-) 9
Steaming
as before enroute MANUS ISLAND to the assault of LUZON ISLAND, P.I. At
1120 P.C. 1418 reported sonar contact southwest of the Contact proved During
the evening there were three reports by various ships of the screen all of
which proved negative. Positions: 0800 - Latitude — 03°-30.0’
N; Longitude - 138°-39.0’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 03°-47.0’
N; Longitude - 138°-11.0’ E. 2000 — Latitude - 04°-09.0’
N; Longitude - 137°-20.0’ E. January 1,1945 Zone description (-) 9 PICKING operating with the SEVENTH
Fleet under Commander Task Force 79, Vice Admiral T. S. Wilkinson, USN,
Commander Third Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet
in accordance with CANF, SWPA, operation plan 17-44. Assigned to Task Unit
79.11.3 in accordance with Commander Task Force 79 attack plan A305-44.
Commander Task Unit 79.11.3 is Captain E. R. McLean, Sr., USN, Commander
Destroyer Squadron 49, U.S.S. PICKING, flagship. Proceeding in
company with Task Group 79.5, Task Group 79.6 and Task Unit 79.11.3 (Tractor
Group of T.F. 79) to the assault of LUZON ISLAND, P.I. In a special cruising
disposition with guide and O.T.C. in PICKING. O.T.C. is C.T.U. 79.11.3 Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 04°-51.0’ N; Longitude -
136°-04.0’ E 1200 - Latitude - 05°-07.0’ N; Longitude - 135°-38.0’ E. 2000 - Latitude -
05°-28.0’ N; Longitude - 134°-30.0’ E. January 2, 1945 Zone description (-)9 Steaming
enroute MANUS ISLAND to the assault of LUZON ISLAND, P.I. At 0700 made
rendezvous with and assumed station 9 miles astern of Task Force 78.
During the morning one unidentified aircraft was contacted bearing Oll° T.,
distance 44 miles. The remained in the area about 15 minutes, then
opened range and faded. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 06°-00’ N;
Longitude - 132°-49’ E 1200 - Latitude - 05°-07’ N;
Longitude - 135°-38’ E (error) 2000 - Latitude - 05°-28’ N;
Longitude - 134°-30’ E (Error) January 3, 1945 Zone description(-) 9 Steaming
enroute MANUS ISLAND to the assault of LUZON ISLAND, P.I. During the morning,
ships of the screen fueled from the tanker accompanying the disposition. At
0910 the O.T.C. ordered all ships of the disposition to general quarters in
preparation for possible air attack by unidentified aircraft reported to be
approaching the disposition. No enemy aircraft closed within visual range; at
0945 secured from general quarters and set the normal cruising condition of
readiness. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 08°-01’ N;
Longitude - 129°-37’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 08°-14’ N;
Longitude - 129°-06’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 08°-48’ N;
Longitude - 128°-12’ E. January 4, 1945 Zone description (-) 9 Steaming
enroute MANUS ISLAND to the assault of LUZON ISLAND, P.I. During the afternoon
there were several reports of unidentified aircraft contacts but no planes
attacked or closed within visual range of the disposition. At 1800 formed a
special cruising disposition for passing through SURIGAO STRAIT; the screening
ships on each flank closed in to 1000 yards of the main body. At 2100 entered
SURIGAO STRAIT between HOMONHON and DINAGAT ISLANDS. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 09°-33.0’ N; Longitude -
126°-54.0’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 09°-47.0’ N; Longitude -
126°-30.0’ E. 2000 - Latitude
- 10°-32.0’ N; Longitude -
125°-51.0’ E. January 5, 1945 Zone description (-) 9
Steaming
enroute MANUS ISLAND to the assault of LUZON ISLAND, P.I. During the morning
passed from SURIGAO STRAIT into MINDINAO SEA. At various times during the day,
unidentified aircraft contacts were reported by ships of the disposition but
none closed within visual range. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 09°-31.2’
N; Longitude - 124°-42.5’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 09°-19.0’
N; Longitude - 124°-14.0’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 08°-55.0’
N; Longitude - 123°-10.0’ E. January 6, 1945 Zone description (-)9
Steaming
enroute MANUS ISLAND to the assault of LUZON ISLAND, P.I. During the early
morning passed from MINDINAO SEA into the SULU SEA. There were only two
definitely unidentified aircraft contacts during the day. Once at sunrise which
closed to 16 miles on bearing 353° T., and again at 0940 closing to 25 miles on
bearing 205° T. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 09°-29.0’
N; Longitude - 122°-05.0’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 09°-59.0’
N; Longitude - 121°-5l.0’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 10°-52.5’
N; Longitude - 121°-37.0’ E. January 7, 1945 Zone
description (—) 9
Steaming
enroute MANUS ISLAND to the assault of LUZON ISLAND, P.I. During the morning
ships of the screen fueled from tankers that joined the formation at daylight.
There were no alerts during the day until about one hour before sunset at which
time unidentified aircraft were reported approaching the disposition. This raid
did not close within visual range. A half an hour later another raid was
reported closing the disposition from the west. This raid, consisting of three TOJO
type Japanese aircraft, was sighted at a distance of 3 miles, approaching
from the sun. The planes closed the disposition to 1500 yards, then two of them
banked sharply to the right and made dive bombing attacks on the landing craft
group. The third plane turned left and attacked the ISHERWOOD in
screening station #1, 7000 yards ahead of the guide. There was no damage to any
ships. One plane was observed shot down over the landing craft group, the other
two retired. PICKING did not fire as range was fouled when planes were
seen. PICKING was stationed as guide in center-of disposition. During early
darkness, formed a cruising disposition for repelling surface attacks in which
the destroyers present of DesDiv 97, under tactical command of CDS 49, took
station 1500 yards broad on starboard bow of disposition center and the
destroyers present of DesDiv 98, under tactical command of CDD 98, took similar
station on the port side. At 2230 observed starshell illumination bearing 350°
T., 3500 yards. During the period from 2230 to 2255, observed gun fire and
occasional heavy explosions in the vicinity of the starshells. A few minutes
after the firing ceased, a message was intercepted on the T B.S. to the effect
that friendly forces had sunk a SHIGURE class Japanese destroyer in the
vicinity of the previously observed firing. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 12°-11.7’
N; Longitude - 120°-56.2’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 12°-42.8’
N; Longitude - 120°-42.2’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 13°-37.0’
N; Longitude - 119°-45.0’ E. January 8, 1945 Zone description (-)9
Steaming
enroute MANUS ISLAND to the assault of LUZON, P.I. One hour before sunrise the
carriers accompanying TASK FORCE 78 launched the CAP. Soon after the carrier
planes had been launched, unidentified aircraft were reported to the east; dog
fights between friendly and enemy planes were observed in the direction of land
bearing 030° T., 15 miles. Several enemy planes were reported destroyed. Two of
the Japanese aircraft, possibly ZEKES, broke through and made bombing
attacks on ships of the disposition ahead. One Japanese aircraft made a suicide
crash into the CVE KADASHAN BAY, causing damage. The other plane,
having released bombs, retired under heavy AA fire with no damage observed.
There were no other attacks during the day although several unidentified
aircraft were reported. One raid, after darkness, closed to within 8 miles of
the disposition, then retired. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 15°-02.0’
N; Longitude - 119°-05.0’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 15°-40.5’
N; Longitude - 119°-08.5’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 16°-40.0’ N; Longitude - 119°-20.6’ E. |