USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG

January 9, 1945                      Zone description (-) 9

Steaming enroute MANUS ISLAND to the assault of LUZON ISLAND, P.I. At 0215 entered LINGAYEN GULF and formed the approach disposition; PICKING remained disposition guide. After steaming for about three hours in the approach disposition, the screening ships departed and proceeded to assigned screening stations in the assault area, PICKING proceeded to station #85. A half hour before sunrise the SOPA ordered all ships to general quarters to repel enemy air attacks. At sunrise the first raid, consisting of about 3 ZEKES and 1 BETTY, approached from the east. As soon as the planes were within gun fire range, all ships opened fire. This ship opened fire with the 5” battery on a ZEKE bearing 175° T., about 7500 yards away. A few minutes later the machine guns opened fire on another ZEKE that had closed in over head. Both planes were fired on until out of gun fire range. The 5” battery target was believed badly damaged by many ships firing and later crashed over land. Ammunition expended: 47 rounds of 5” special ammunition, 31 rounds of 40mm and 1 round of 20 mm. Two planes of this raid made suicide dives into ships of the assault force. Shortly after eight o’clock, arrived in assault screening station (#85) and commenced lying to in accordance with the Screen Commander’s Screen Plan. Bearing location of station #85: PORTUGUESE PT:229½° T.; LEFT TANG . CABALITIAN ISLAND 252° T. CENTER CAMOS ISLAND 206½° T. The fire support ships continued the bombardment until shortly before the troops began to land at 0930.

 

          At noon this ship proceeded to the eastern side of the screening area to deliver guard mail to ships of DESRON 49 in that area. While in the area, two Japanese aircraft, one TONY and one VAL, were sighted approaching from SAN FABIAN. The aircraft made bombing attacks on ships in the vicinity and immediately made suicide dives, the VAL into the USS MISSISSIPPI and the TONY into HMAS AUSTRALIA. Upon completion of the mail delivery, proceeded back and resumed assigned screen station.

 

At 1800 the first transports, T.U. 79.14.1, commenced retirement. CDS 49 in PICKING was ordered as Screen Commander for this unit. While enroute to rendezvous location, several enemy aircraft were reported in the area and at various times heavy AA fire was observed throughout the area. Just before sunset, two Japanese aircraft were sighted attacking ships bearing 350° T., 10 miles. At 1856 this ship opened fire on a twin engined believed to be SALLY type Japanese bomber bearing 010° T., range 8000 yards. The plane went out of gun fire range with no apparent damage. A few minutes later fire was opened on a Japanese TOJO type plane bearing 163° T., range 8000 yards. This plane passed out of visual range quickly because of darkness. At 1926 intensive AA fire was observed off the starboard beam at a range of about 4 miles. This ship was able to pick up the target with the fire control radar and fired with the 5” battery in full radar control while the target remained within range. Ammunition expended during the raid: 96 rounds of 5”, 37 rounds 40mm. At 2100 the “ALL CLEAR” sounded, secured from general quarters and set the normal cruising condition of readiness. Upon completion of sortie, 2300, formed a special cruising disposition with TASK UNIT 79.14.1 and set course for LEYTE ISLAND, P.I., PICKING in station 6000 yards ahead of the guide on the fleet axis. OTC and guide in USS LEONARD WOOD. OTC is CTU 79.14.1

 

The sortie of T.U. 79.14.1 from the transport area was a dangerous and difficult operation which included weaving through formations of battleships in utter darkness during their emergency turns to avoid air attack. This ship narrowly averted colliding on two occasions. None of the raids were detected by air search radar. The noon raid surprised the entire harbor and made their attacks before the ships could be alerted to repel them. This is a prime example of the inability of air search radar in landlocked harbors to give early warning and the importance of look-outs as the primary means of detection while in such places.

Positions:

0800 - Latitude - 16°-07.9’ N; Longitude - 120°-10.3’ E.

1200 - Latitude - 16°-07.5’ N; Longitude - 120°-13.3’ E.

2000 - Latitude - 16°-16.0’ N; Longitude - 120°-12.O’ E.

 

January 10, 1945                     Zone description (-) 9

Steaming enroute LUZON ISLAND, P.I. to LEYTE ISLAND, P.I. Shortly after midnight the USS LOUISVILLE joined the disposition. Shortly before sunrise unidentified aircraft contacted bearing 115° T., 8 miles, ship was at dawn general quarters. About five minutes later one ZEKE type Japanese aircraft was sighted as it commenced to dive in an attack on the WICKES. Bombs were released at an altitude of about 3000 feet and resulted in a near miss off the WICKES’ port beam. The plane was fired on by ships in that vicinity as it retired in the direction of MANILA, but apparently no damage was caused. There were no other alerts during the day. CAP was maintained by Army P-38 planes and fighters from the KADASHAN BAY.

Positions:

             0800 - Latitude - 16°-02.0’ N; Longitude - 119°-00.0’ E.

             1200 - Latitude - 15°-18.0’ N; Longitude - 119°-05.0’ E.

             2000 - Latitude - 13°-32.0’ N; Longitude - 119°-22.7’ E.

 

January 11, 1945                     Zone description (-) 9 11, 1945                     Zone description (-) 9

Steaming enroute LUZON ISLAND, P.I., to LEYTE ISLAND, P.I.

Positions:

0800 - Latitude - 11°-46.0’ N; Longitude - 121°-03.0’ E.

1200 - Latitude - 10°-59.5’ N; Longitude - 121°-28.0’ E.

2000 - Latitude - 09°-23.1’ N; Longitude - 122°-13.0’ E.

 

January 12, 1945                     Zone description (-) 9

Steaming enroute LUZON to LEYTE.

Positions:

0800 - Latitude - 09°-17.0’ N; Longitude - 124°-25.0’ E.

1200 - Latitude - 09°-42.6’ N; Longitude - 125°-10.7’ E.

2000 - Latitude - 11°-12.5’ N; Longitude - 125°-04.0’ E.

 

January 13, 1945                     Zone description (-) 9

Lay at anchor in the inner anchorage, SAN PEDRO BAY, throughout the day except for about two hours while going alongside the tanker to fuel and returning to berth.

Positions:

0800 - Latitude - 11°-05.4’ N; Longitude - 125°-06.5’ E.

1200 - Latitude - 11°-09.9’ N; Longitude - 125°-08.9’ E.

2000 - Latitude - 11°-09.9’ N; Longitude - 125°-08.9’ E.

 

January 14, 1945                    Zone description (-)9

At 0200, the U.S.S YOUNG, while conducting an anti-submarine patrol in the area east of the transport anchorage off TAYTAY POINT, LEYTE, reported a positive submarine contact and after several depth charge attacks, reported a possible “KILL’. At noon a periscope was reported sighted in Latitude - 1l°-O0’ N.; Longitude - l25°-30’ E. by an army patrol plane; this ship, accompanied by the EDWIN A. HOWARD, proceeded immediately to the vicinity of the sighted periscope and searched the area. During the afternoon and night, both ships conducted the retiring search procedure in area between MANICAN, SAMAR and HOMONHON ISLAND, results negative.

Positions:

             0800 - Latitude - 11°-09.6’ N; Longitude - 125°-05.6’ E.

             1200 - Latitude - 11°-02.3’ N; Longitude - 125°-14.5’ E.

             2000 - Latitude - 10°-59.2’ N; Longitude - 125°-35.2’ E.