A U.S. Naval vessel never sleeps while underway. This is particularly true during wartime. And so, through the darkness Princeton continued "Steaming as before in company with Task Group 58.4 en route Marshall Islands," her forward progress interrupted continuously by orders from the OTC to zigzag, proceed on course, and zigzag again.
As dawn approached, the horizon line behind her becoming increasingly distinct, preparations for flight operations were underway. Today would see Princeton's aircrews flying what in my day would be described as a "mirror image" strike. Specifically...
"At 0626 commenced launching aircraft, completing at 0650, having launched 6 VT and 16 VF for simulated attack group 1-A, in exact duplication of first scheduled strike on Wojte Island."
The Japanese occupation of the "the Federated States of Micronesia," to include the Marshalls, was the result of post-WWI agreements negotiated by the League of Nations. The United States had been attacking the Marshalls, and Wojte, since early 1942.
SOC aircraft flew over Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands, during attack on Japanese airfields by gunfire from cruisers Salt Lake City and Northampton, 1 Feb 1942
CINCPAC's daily summary, known as "The Graybook," details photo surveillance of the Marshalls beginning in January, followed shortly thereafter by Army Air Corps bombing missions originating from an American base established on Canton Island, a group of eight atolls that make up the Phoenix Islands, known today as the Republic of Kiribati.
The entry for January 3rd would focus the mind of any combat aviator:
I doubt that Princeton's fliers had access to this intelligence, but I hope they did.
The sun descending to the horizon line that lay ahead, the Task Group continued southwesterly and her "carriers commenced zigzagging independently together in line abreast with USS SARATOGA as guide on right flank, USS LANGLEY in center, and this vessel on left flank, separated by 1000 yards, and 2000 yards astern of fueling units." It was time to UNREP.
It's not easy to explain...but this mental image, and the Naval power it represents, makes me smile.
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