18 FEB 44
Even though amphibious landings had taken place yesterday, D+1 proved to be significantly more ambitious on the 18th. Princeton was a hive of activity in the predawn hours during preparations for the first strike of the day in support of the Marines' assault on Engebi's southwest shore. At 0655 Princeton turned into the eastern wind and by 0700 was launching the day's initial strike of 7 Avenger bombers and 12 Hellcat fighters. The bombers would hit the landing beach while the fighters would CAP over Engebi itself.
At 0705 during the launch, the bridge watch standers noted sighting "friendly ships hull down on the horizon bearing 180˚, distant 11 miles, identified as Carrier Division TWENTY-TWO with four destroyer escorts."
"Hull Down" is a term that applies not only to life at sea...
...but to land battle as well...
"At 0706 sighted gun flashes on the horizon, bearing 180˚, from the vicinity where fire support units were supporting the initial landings on ENGEBI Island."
By 0919 the second strike had been launched and within 32 minutes the 19 aircraft of the first cycle of the day had been recovered, the Avengers having delivered "84 100-pound general purpose bombs on the landing beach and installations assigned" as the Marine landing craft approached.
The Ensign's in the Fighter Squadron continued to outdo each other:
At 1421, plane VF-18, with Ensign F. JAMES, A-V(N), USNR, as pilot, missed all arresting wires and crashed through all barrier wires, tail of plane falling into port walkway and slightly injuring one man. Plane suffered major damage, pilot uninjured; no damage to the ship."
By 1846 all aircraft had been recovered and Princeton retired north for the night and began preparing for more of the same tomorrow. Air Group 23's bombers had delivered 84 100-pound bombs during the day.
Interestingly, TG 58.4 was detaching cruisers and destroyers in pairs to refuel inside the very lagoon of the atoll they were shelling and bombing.
The War Diary closed February 18th's entry on a positive note:
"During this date's operation, it was possible to determine from radio conversations between tanks operating with the landing parties, as well as from the reports of the air coordinators and strike pilots, that landing operations were progressing satisfactorily with scattered enemy resistance being met at some points."
What they didn't know was that 85 Marines had been killed and 166 wounded taking Engebi, which was declared secured by 1450.
1,276 Japanese had been killed and 16 captured.
Two battalions of the Army's 106th Regimental Combat Team will lead the assault on ENIWETOK ISLAND proper, at the southern end of the atoll, tomorrow morning.
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