April 20th would be another day closer to combat with Princeton's destination an "operating area north of New Guinea."
Which doesn't narrow it down very much.
As yesterday's shoot down of the lone Betty indicated, the enemy was close and this proximity was likely the reason that at 0832 the OTC ordered all TG 58.3 ships to "have full boiler power at 1200." Being able to maneuver rapidly and with full capability seems a prudent measure.
"At 1042 an A/S patrol plane reported having sighted burning wreckage and oil on the water, bearing 235˚, distant 20 miles from this vessel; wreckage had the appearance of a burning enemy aircraft, and since there had been no report of an [sic] contact by planes of this group, it was presumed that a friendly search plane must have destroyed an enemy search plane at that location."
A few minutes later, the burning wreckage was completely disregarded due to a more immediate threat:
"At 1045 the USS SAN JUAN in Task Group 58.1 reported sighting two submarine periscopes off her starboard quarter. At 1054 USS CANBERRA reported a periscope 1000 yards on her starboard bow. At 1055 executed emergency turn 30˚ to the right to course 305˚ and went to General Quarters at 1056. At 1057 USS LEXINGTON reported periscope 1000 yards to starboard and the formation executed emergency turn 40˚ right to course 345˚."
One can imagine the seconds passing like minutes as bridge teams on all Task Group vessels began hearing multiple reports on the TBS circuit of periscopes in and amongst the formation, focusing the attention and increasing the stress of all hands.
And then...
"At 1101 observed a swab handle, floating vertically and projecting out of the water, close aboard to starboard, believed to be the object reported by other ships as a periscope; reported sighting to ComTaskGroup 58.3 by TBS circuit."
A formation turn back to course 275˚ was promptly executed and General Quarters was secured at 1110. By mid-afternoon Princeton was approximately 250 nautical miles north of the center of New Guinea.
Strikes were scheduled to launch at first light the following morning and with this in mind Skipper Buracker, it seems, wanted an all hands on deck effort:
"At 1730 the Commanding Officer ordered all brig prisoners released, remainder of confinements to be served at a later date."
Shortly after sunset, fleet course was changed to 185˚, turns were made for 20 knots and the Task Group began the final run to a launching position in the vicinity of the next day's targets: Japanese positions at Humboldt Bay and Tanah Merah Bay.
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