Back from hiatus! I realize my intent of following Princeton's journey in real time is now about two weeks behind. I will endeavor to catch up but honestly, the priority is telling the story as best I can so that will be my focus. I know there will be other periods over the coming months where I will likely fall behind again but I will do my best. Thanks for understanding. And now...onward!
30 MAR 44
Princeton’s destroyer screen was directed to illuminate its red truck lights at 0500, in order to facilitate the launch and rendezvous of night fighters from Lexington and Yorktown.
Operations against Japanese forces on Palau had commenced.
Air Group 23’s day began with the launch at 0650 of a 12 VF fighter sweep, a mission designed to achieve and/or maintain air superiority in order to protect follow-on strike aircraft. The fighter sweep mission is salivated over by fighter pilots the world over given its previously mentioned potential for individual glory. And just such glory came to CAG Miller and his wingman, Ensign L.F. Williams, each of whom bagged Japanese Zero fighters, nicknamed “Zekes,” over Peleliu airfield. Three other Zekes ran away bravely into cloud layers, at which time the fighter sweep strafed parked aircraft, setting six afire and holing ten others.
Peleliu airfield, built largely by Korean slave labor impressed by the Japanese. Photo taken November 1996 from rear seat of a chartered single engine prop aircraft by yours truly.
“At 0948, while returning from first strike against PALAU ISLANDS, aircraft from this vessel sighted a friendly pilot in yellow rubber raft in the water at Latitude 6˚ 47’ N, Longitude 134˚ 00’ E. This pilot was first believed to be a fighter pilot from this ship, but later when strike had returned, all planes accounted for.”
America makes a contract with those it sends into harm’s way which is a direct reflection of the nation’s historically unique founding principles regarding the value of each and every life and the primacy of individual human freedom. Our culture demands that every possible effort be made to recover our citizen soldiers who meet with misfortune, whether that individual be flesh or bone. If this sounds overly dramatic, consider that America is still identifying and recovering veterans from all our wars, including World War II.
And so... “At 0958 commenced launching aircraft, completing launching of 3 VT for ASP and 4 VF for special mission to search for pilot observed in water and direct rescue operations, at 1015.”
In the Action Report submitted after the operations at Palau, Air Group commander Miller commented that “The promptness with which the OS2Us were dispatched on this search, and the fact that the search was conducted both within and outside Palau lagoon, has had a most beneficial effect on morale.”
The OS2U Kingfisher is a single engine float plane adapted for use by the Navy as an observation platform for naval gunfire. Necessity being the mother of invention, the Navy developed an ingenious way to launch the Kingfisher from surface vessels, commonly Battleships but also larger Cruisers.
OS2U Kingfisher floatplane preparing to be launched from USS Alabama, circa January 1943.
Recovering the OS2U was equally impressive. A partly submerged net was towed behind the recovery vessel atop which the aircraft would slowly maneuver, allowing the ship to stabilize the aircraft beneath a crane, which was then attached in order to hoist the aircraft aboard for servicing and preparation for its next mission.
Note the net/sled being towed at bottom right. The back seat radioman/crane man in this photo was most definitely earning his hazardous duty pay.
The Action Report states that the 4 aircraft launched from USS Alabama were “successful in finding the pilot and guiding an OS2U to his rescue, as well as spotting two men from a downed SBD and leading the USS TUNNY to their rescue. It is noteworthy that the gasoline slicks caused by the water-landed planes were the first means of spotting the pilots in the water and of keeping them in sight until their rescue was effected.”
A Kingfisher taxiing with American aviators rescued during attacks on the Japanese stronghold in the Truk Islands.
Destroying bad guys and saving good guys. A solid start to the day for the fighter pilots of VF-23.
Operations continued throughout the morning and into the afternoon. Another wave of 17 aircraft left Princeton’s deck at 1205 and at 1220 the War Diary noted that “All other carriers simultaneously engaged in flight operations.”
I would have paid good money to see this display of American seapower.
Actually...having participated in "PACEX 89", I guess I have seen it:
US Naval vessels in formation during PACEX 89, include the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), the battleships USS New Jersey (BB-62) and USS Missouri (BB-63), the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS Long Beach (CGN-9) and the amphibious command and control ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19). A number of the cutting-edge Ticonderoga class guided missile cruisers are also seen flanking the central lineup of capital ships.
Not included in the photo above are USS Constellation (CV-64) and Air Wing 14, because we were operating in Sitka Sound, trying to hide from the Rooskies. Operating a Supercarrier in a space approximately 5 miles deep and 7 wide was likely high stress for the Skipper and his bridge team. For us pilots, it was really, really fun. Even when it was terrifying. But that's another story for another time.
USS Constellation (CV-64) with Air Wing 14 embarked, underway in Sitka Sound during PACEX 89, 1 January 1989. US Navy Photo: PH1 (Nac) Wilcox
Back on "The P" the excitement of operating under combat conditions continued.
"At 1516 observed on VF aircraft from this vessel crashing into water dead ahead, distant 2000 yards; USS STANLY, stationed astern of USS YORKTOWN and on starboard bow of this vessel, proceeded immediately to effect rescue of pilot. ... At 1540 USS STANLY reported that the pilot of VF-16, Lieutenant (jg) J.M. WEBB, A-V(N), USNR, was safe onboard."
"At 1618 sighted one VSB (Scout Bomber) aircraft making water landing bearing 100˚, distant 3500 yards from this vessel. Destroyer rescued personnel."
This aircraft was not from Princeton but the War Diary does not identify which carrier it was from.
Not all mishaps involved engine-related malfunctions or combat damage. During the 1625 launch of 8 VF and 6 VT, one of Princeton's Avengers was forced to recover immediately, its "radioman having been injured by transformer during catapulting. Radioman replaced and same plane catapulted again at 1652."
Men at war, and the human drama — bravery, selflessness, sacrifice, cowardice — it entails, is what makes armed conflict so compelling. But ultimately, and inevitably, men are mere cogs in the machine.
At 1822 Princeton had recovered the last of her 44 fighters and 22 bombers launched during the day.
But the day was far from over.
1934 brought the call to General Quarters after unidentified aircraft were reported closing on the Task Force and by 1950 they were detected by radar, bearing 175˚ at 28 miles.
"At 1955 an unidentified aircraft was sighted overhead at an altitude of about 20,000 feet; various ships opened fire; plane crossed to port and disappeared from sight."
"At an unrecorded time close to sunset, received a report that the Combat Air Patrol of the USS CABOT had shot down nine out of nine attack torpedo planes."
"At 2040 commenced maneuvering in accordance with emergency turn signals by TBS from OTC while under attack from small groups of Japanese aircraft. This vessel was not under direct attack and did not fire. At 2015 observed gunfiring from other task groups. At 2152 ships in this formation opened fire on attacking aircraft, not more than two in number."
General Quarters was secured at 2303, the task group was ordered to expand to its normal defensive formation, the destroyers opening out to a 7,000 yard circle.
The final War Diary entries note that "No enemy aircraft were observed destroyed by this formation during attacks this night, but one burning plane was observed following the gunfiring by one of the other task groups. No torpedo wakes were observed or reported by any ships, and no ships reported any battle damage."
In addition to the two Zekes, the strafing of parked aircraft and the assisted rescue of downed pilots, Air Group 23's Action Report documents that five of its Avengers scored hits on a medium sized merchant ship in a channel between islands as well as 5 direct hits "on the phosphate plant on Angaur Island."
One day in a long war.
NNNN
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