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USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG March-17, 1945 through March 20, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 Made final
preparations for coming operation; fueled and took aboard ammunition and
stores. March 21, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 Got
underway at 1130 in accordance with COMPHIBGROUP 7 Movement Order No. A702-45 and patrolled
assigned station in sortie area. The transports formed up in four columns and
the PICKING took screen station #1 in cruising disposition 1-K . The Task Group set course to pass through
SURIGAO STRAIT enroute to the assault on KERAMA
RETTO, RYUKYU ISLANDS. This attack will precede and support the main landings
on OKINAWA SHIMA. This WESTERN ISLANDS ATTACK FORCE is commanded by C.T.G.
51.1, Rear Admiral KILAND, in the MT. MC KINLEY, AGC-7. Screening ships
are patrolling stations when the convoy is not zigzagging. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - l0°-08.9
N; Longitude - l25°-09.8 E. 1200 -
Latitude - l0°-55.48 N; Longitude - 125°-ll.8 E. 2000 - Latitude - l0°-34.6
N; Longitude - l26°-07.8 E. March 22, 1945. Zone description () 9 Formation had
AA firing practice in the morning; tactical exercises in the afternoon. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - l1°-44.3
N; Longitude - l27°-50.6 E. 1200 -
Latitude - 12°-08.O N; Longitude - 128°-27.5 E. 2000 -
Latitude - l3°-08.O N; Longitude - l29°-33.9 E. March 23, 1945. Zone description (-)9 A deviation in
course towards the north was made so as to shorten the proposed route slightly.
Apparently this was done to put the convoy back on its time schedule. Tactical
maneuvers were held in the afternoon. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - l4°-54.O N; Longitude - l3l°-08.5 E. 1200 - Latitude -
l5°-44.8 N; Longitude - l3l°-30.8 E. 2000 -
Latitude - l7°-l7.O N; Longitude - l32°-07.O E. March 24, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 Fueled at sea from transport U.S.S. CHILTON in the morning. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 19°-47.6 N; Longitude - l32°-Ol.5 E. 1200 -
Latitude - 20°-4l.O N; Longitude - l3l°-32.8 E. 2000 -
Latitude - 22°-Ol.9 N; Longitude - l30°-37.O E. March 25, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 Made radar contact with tractor group ahead of this formation in the afternoon.aircraft Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 23°-47.8 N; Longitude - l28°-l5.O E. 1200 -
Latitude - 23°-55.4 N; Longitude - l28°-44.O E. 2000 -
Latitude - 24°-36.2 N; Longitude - 127°-4l.3 E. March 26, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 Just after
midnight made radar contact on RYUKYU ISLANDS bearing 001°; range, 75,000
yards. The transports arrived in their assault areaPICKING
went south
of KERAMA RETTO to patrol K-l4 southern end of TOKASHIKI-SHIMA. At dawn, eight
enemy aircraft were reported in the area. None of these approached the PICKING, but
ships to the west were attacked, and KIMBERLY was reported hit by suicider. Relieved on
station by U.S.S. KINZER APD91, about 1800; proceeded to transport area
to take station in the screen and depart with 51.1
in the MT. MC KINLEY. A southerly route was taken
initially. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 26°-l8.61
N; Longitude - l27°-l4.6 E. 1200 - Latitude - 26°-18.6
N; Longitude - 127°-14.6 E. 2000 - Latitude - 25°-55.0
N; Longitude - 127°-00.0 E. March 27, 1945. Zone description (-)9 Returned to
transport area at dawn and proceeded to patrol station south of TONAKI-JIMA.
Enemy planes were in the area at sunrise
Retired
to sea as last night; PICKING in station #1 of a ten-ship screen. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 26°-l8.2
N; Longitude - l27°-lO.0 E. 1200 - Latitude - 26°-l8.5
N; Longitude - l27°-10.3 E. 2000 - Latitude - 25°-43.8
N; Longitude - 127°-l2.9 E. March 28, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 Returned to
KERAMA RETTO at dawn; left the transports and took station in patrol sector R-8
south of KUBA-SHIMA. Retired to sea Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 26°-07.3 N; Longitude - 127°-11.l E. 1200 -
Latitude - 26°-07.5 N; Longitude - l27°-lO.0 E. 2000 -
Latitude - 25°-46.4 N; Longitude - 127°-ll.0 E. March 29, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 Enemy planes were near the formation all evening; just after midnight, one closed to two miles. Several others appeared during the night; none closed the formation within gun range until four oclock when one approached from astern of transports and dropped a bomb. The U.S.S. WYANDOT AKA92, reported a near miss on her starboard bow. She took an 8° list but reported the machinery intact. This plane approached from a sector where DD gun range was fouled by transports. After this attack, one DD was stationed astern of approached the area at dawn and later
in the morning, but did not come within effective gun range of this vessel. Relieved on station at 1200 by U.S.S. REEVES, APD52, in
order to fuel. Fueled from tanker in West Anchorage, KERANA RETTO, and
relieved the KIMBERLEY in patrol station R-7. Commenced
nightly retirement with transports in the evening; O.T.C., COMTRANSRON 17 inU.S.S. CHILTON.
About eleven oclock an enemy plane closed the formation to seven miles,
opened, and returned to within two miles. Evasive emergency turns were ordered
by the O.T.C. PICKING opened fire with main battery with no visible
results. Expended 78 rounds 5 in full Radar Control.
The plane opened and disappeared from radar screen on a southerly course,
without attacks on transports. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 26°-l0.0
N; Longitude - l27°-22.8 E. 1200 - Latitude - 26°-18.5
N; Longitude - l27°-10.3 E. 2000 - Latitude - 25°-43.8
N; Longitude - 127°-12.9 E. |