23 APR 44
With surface winds "extremely light and variable", all carriers of Task Group 58.3 began launching at 0815. With enemy resistance equally weak, no specific targets were assigned. Fighters were tasked with CAP over the landing beaches and ships of the task force, while the bombers flew patrol missions over land as well as the waters surrounding the task force.
"At 1400 received information from ComTaskGroup 58.3 that approximately 7,000 troops had landed unopposed, now five miles inland. Neither force meeting resistance."
The landings at Tanamerah Bay to the West and Humboldt Bay to the East, by the 24th and 41st Army Divisions respectively. would form two arms of an enveloping pincer. With the Cyclops Mountains to the north and Sentani Lake to the south, even an armchair Private like me recognizes the hopeless situation any remaining enemy have.
As the day progressed, Task Group leadership reduced scheduled target sweep missions to patrols and cancelled some missions outright. By the end of the afternoon, the fighter patrol missions dedicated to protecting the vessels of the Task Force were given to the OS2U Kingfishers of the Battleships and Cruisers.
In our modern world we often take for granted the incredible technology we use in our daily lives. The ability to instantly locate a person, find a place or learn about a thing was the stuff of science fiction in 1944. In today's American military, the tools for enhancing one's "situational awareness" is orders of magnitude better than what our amazing personal devices can do. In 1944, even aboard the most modern ships with the best technology in the world, unanswered questions and confusion were often the order of the day. With that in mind, imagine you are standing the Second Dog Watch on the bridge in USS Princeton and during your time on duty you record the following events:
- "At 1903 an unidentified aircraft was reported bearing 240˚, distant 32 miles."
- "At 1948 observed a flare bearing 300˚, distant approximately 15 miles."
- "At 2029 observed several flashes on the horizon, bearing 160˚, believed to be gunfire originating in the vicinity of HOLLANDIA, New Guinea."
Having access to no amplifying information about the events that are, quite literally, going on all around you, your watch ends and you are relieved. You head to your rack or to the mess decks secure in the knowledge that you have pretty much no idea what is going on.
What you do know is that another day at sea is complete, and you presume you are another day closer to going home.
24 APR 44
April 24th was similar to the previous day. As the Army Divisions ashore consolidated their gains, the air support required by the Task Force continued to consist of Air and Surface Patrols instead of strike missions. So relaxed was the atmosphere that one of the destroyers began collecting and delivering official mail among the ships of the Task Force.
"At 1005 observed a column of smoke on the horizon, bearing 020˚, source not known."
"At 1015 CAP from this vessel made contact with an unidentified aircraft bearing 235˚, distant 55 miles, over the target area, and at 1020 identified the aircraft as friendly."
Immediately after this false alarm...
"At 1024 received information that the column of smoke previously sighted on the horizon came from a Japanese aircraft shot down in flames by aircraft from the USS HORNET in Task Group 58.1."
So the enemy was not completely routed after all.
Around noon, OTC directed Princeton that tomorrow she would be refueling "to 95% capacity."
"At 1214 a VT from USS LANGLEY made a forced landing in the water near formation."
The next several hours were unremarkable until, at 1725 "ComTaskForce 58 informed Task Group that information received that 20 Japanese aircraft airborne from BIAK ISLAND, probably forming for an attack on this force."
Princeton was at General Quarters stations from 1909 until 2136, as multiple formations of unidentified aircraft were reported on various headings in and amongst the three Task Groups. Absent a night fighter capability, The P recovered all her aircraft and prepared to defend herself and TG 58.3 with her deck guns. Very few intercepts were conducted, although one night fighter from Enterprise reported downing an enemy plane 25 miles to the south. GQ was secured at 2136 "after having determined that the enemy aircraft had evidently made a raid on either shore targets at HOLLANDIA or shipping in close vicinity and were all now well clear and headed westward to return to their bases."
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