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USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG January 26, 1945
Zone description (-) 9 At 0945 got
underway and proceeded to the transport anchorage off TAYTAY POINT, LEYTE. Upon
arrival in the anchorage area, formed an anti-submarine screen with TASK UNIT 78.3.5, screening
ships, to seaward of the transports and awaited their sortie. After the
transports had completed sortie, formed
a special cruising disposition with TASK GROUP 78.3 and proceeded from LEYTE
GULF enroute to the assault of Southern LUZON ISLAND, P.I. in
accordance with CTG 78.3 Operation Plan 1-45. PICKING in station #1 of
circular anti-submarine screen, 4500 yards ahead of fleet center on the fleet axis.
Disposition guide is U.S.S. HARRIS (APA-2). OTC is CTG 78.3 (Rear
Admiral A.D. STRUBLE, USN) in U.S.S. MOUNT McKINLEY. There were no unidentified
contacts, air or surface during the day. Army P-38s furnished CAP during day
light hours. U.S.S. WICKES acting as fighter director ship. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 11°-06.O
N; Longitude - 125°-03.O E. 1200 - Latitude - 10°-50.O
N; Longitude - 125°-13.O E. 2000 - Latitude - 09°-33.O
N; Longitude - l24°-47.O E. January 27, 1945 Zone description (-) 9 Steaming
enroute LEYTE, P.I. to the assault of Southern LUZON, P.I. At 1238 contacted an
unidentified aircraft bearing 200° T., distance 48 miles.
The OTC ordered all ships to general quarters in preparation for enemy air
attacks. Formed an anti-aircraft cruising disposition in which the screening
ships closed in to 1500 yards around the transports. Twenty minutes later the
aircraft was identified, visually, as a friendly B-24 type bomber.
Secured from general quarters, set the normal cruising condition of readiness
and formed the regular cruising disposition. Twice during the following
two hours unidentified aircraft were reported approaching the disposition, and
in each case, identified as friendly after closing within visual
range. CAP was furnished by Army and Navy fighters directed by the WICKES. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 09°-OO.5
N; Longitude - 122°-45.O E. 1200 - Latitude - 09°-27.O
N; Longitude - l22°-l6.O E. 2000 - Latitude - l0°-32.O
N; Longitude - l21°-42.O E. January 28, 1945 Zone description (-) 9 Steaming
enroute LEYTE, P. I. to the assault of Southern LUZON, P.I. At 1511 contacted
TASK UNIT 78.3.4, landing craft of the assault force, bearing 300° T., 15
miles. About three hours later, over took and passed the landing craft in
accordance with the Operation Plan. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - l2°-l6.O
N; Longitude - l20°-55.6 E. 1200 - Latitude - l2°-50.3
N; Longitude - 120°-31.7 E. 2000 - Latitude - l3°-49.5
N; Longitude - 119°-27.8 E. January 29, 1945 Zone description (-) 9 Steaming
enroute LEYTE, P.I to the assault of Southern LUZON, P.I. Arrved in the assault
area, (SAN NARCISCO BEACH) at 0515 and all ships were ordered to take assault
stations. The PICKINGs task was to furnish fire support (preliminary
bombardment and call fire if needed) in area between RED and BLUE landing
beaches. As the ships were proceeding to their assault stations, natives came
to meet them in outrigger canoes and insisted there were no Japanese in the
area and that the guerrillas were in control; further investigation proved this
to be true and at daylight U. S. flags were observed at several places along
the beach. On order of the OTC, the bombardment was called off and the fire
support ships lay to in their assault stations, the PICKINGs being 2000
yards off shore between RED and BLUE boat lanes, as the troops landed. The
first waves landed at 0830. Many natives were observed congregated along the
beach line as the troops landed. In the afternoon, the DENVER with two
DDs as escorts, was ordered to proceed to SUBIC BAY and bombard GRANDE ISLAND.
The DENVER reported there was no sign of enemy action and bombardment
was deemed unnecessary. The OTC issued an attack plan in which the APDs of the
TASK GROUP would land one battalion of troops on GRANDE ISLAND the following
morning. At 1900 the
transports that had completed unloading formed TASK UNIT 78.3.20 and stood out
to sea. There were no air attacks or unidentified aircraft contacts during the
day. CAP was furnished by Army and Navy fighters directed by the MOUNT McKINLEY
and WICKES. The ship remained at general quarters the entire day during
daylight hours, securing one hour after sunset. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 15°-OO.O
N; Longitude - l20°-03.O E. 1200 - Latitude - l4°-59.6
N; Longitude - 120°-02.8 E. 2000 - Latitude - l4°-59.8
N; Longitude - 120°-03.O E. January 30, 1945 Zone description (-) 9 At 0530 the APDs stood out,
enroute to the assault of GRANDE ISLAND. At sunrise proceeded from assault
station to the anti-submarine screen and commenced lying to in accordance with
orders of the screen commander, CDS 49. During the afternoon, commencing at
1400, fueled from the CAPRICORNIUS (KA-59). Upon completion of
fueling, returned to the screen and anchored in assigned station. At 1730, the SPROSTON,
having returned from a trip to SUBIC BAY, reported that GRANDE ISLAND was
under control of U. S. troops. The troops landed with no opposition and
reported no Japanese on the Island. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 14°-59.3
N; Longitude - l20°-Ol.2 E. 1200 - Latitude - 14°-59.3
N; Longitude - 120°-Ol.2 E. 2000 - Latitude - 15°-Ol.3
N; Longitude - l20°-Ol.6 E. January 31, 1945 Zone description(-)9 Maintained station in
anti-submarine screen until noon at which time proceeded to SUBIC BAY to pick
up Commodore CARLSON, CTS 13, in accordance with CTG 78.3 (Rear Admiral
STRUBLE) verbal orders. Arrived in SUBIC BAY at 1300 and lay to in area North
of GRANDE ISLAND while the Commodore and his staff came aboard. After the Commodore
was aboard, proceeded back to transport area off SAN NARCISO. At 1200 CTG 78.3
transferred his flag to the U.S.C.G.C. INGRAM. in the transport area at
1600, let the Commodore off and resumed regular station in the screen. At
sunset the remainder of the transports, screened by some units of DESRON 49 and
available DEs formed TASK UNIT 78.3.23 and stood out to sea. PICKING remained
in area.
Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 15°-Ol.3 N; Longitude -
l20°-Ol.6 E. 1200 - Latitude - l4°-48.6 N; Longitude -
l20°-03.5 E. 2000 - Latitude - 15°-04.2 N; Longitude -
l20°-O1.O E. February 1, 1945 Zone description (-) 9 PICKING operating with SEVENTH FLEET, attached to TASK FORCE 78 under the command of VICE ADMIRAL D. BARBEY, USN, in accordance with CANF, SWPA Op. Plan 18-44. Assigned to TASK GROUP 78.3 in accordance with CTF 78 Op. Plans 1-45 and 2-45, under command of REAR ADMIRAL A.D. STRUBLE, USN, COMPHIBGR 9. Further assigned to TASK UNIT 78.3.5 in accordance with CTG 78.3 Op. Plan Commander TASK UNIT 78.3.5 is CAPTAIN B. F. BRONN, USN CDS 49, U.S.S. PICKING, flagship. Conducted anti-submarine patrol in area west of transport anchorage off SAN NARCISO. At 1530 CTG 78.3 in USCGC INGHAM, left the area and proceeded to SUBIC BAY: S.O.P.A. is CTU 78.3.5, CDS 49, in U.S.S. PICKING.
Positions: 0800 - Latitude - l5°-OO.2
N; Longitude - l20°-OO.7 E. 1200 - Latitude - l5°-OO.0
N; Longitude - l20°-Ol.2 E. 2000 - Latitude - l5°-OO.0
N; Longitude - l20°-OO.0 E. |