10 JUN 44
We've noted previously that as the proximity to danger closes, the natural human reaction is an increased focus and attention of at least similar proportion. Therefore it was not a surprise that at 0130 on the 10th of June USS Dewey reported a sound contact and dropped a depth charge which necessitated a formation 90˚ turn to starboard. Dewey chased the contact for 25 more minutes before she "reported contact not believed to be a submarine and rejoined the formation."
As mid-day approached, "received a report from friendly B-24 search plane that the B-24 had just shot down one Japanese VBM aircraft, type BETTY, bearing 255˚, distant 65 miles from this Task Force."
The War Diary then noted that "Land based air searches from Eniwetok covering the sectors between this force and enemy bases at TRUK and SAIPAN had been doubled this date in order to destroy Japanese search planes and prevent detection of the approach of this force to the MARIANAS. The results of this plan were proved to be of great benefit."
There it is. Princeton's next combat would be against Japanese forces on Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan and the many other smaller island outposts of the Marianas chain that stretch northward.
By sundown on 10 June, TF 58 had closed to a point roughly 800 miles due west of the Mariana Islands.
11 JUN 44
Further proof that action was imminent came at 0500 as the force's destroyers commenced maneuvering to top off their fuel tanks from the "heavy ships."
At 0615 came word from the TG Commander that "all boilers would be required at 0930."
"At 0842 received information that CAP of Task Group 58.1 had shot down one enemy fighter bomber aircraft, type HELEN, bearing 165˚, distant 35 miles from this formation."
Shortly before 1300 the entire fleet turned into the wind, leaving dozens of geometrically perfect half-circles as it maneuvered in synchrony from course 290˚ to 105˚.
"At 1300 all carriers commenced launching aircraft for long range fighter sweep over Japanese base at SAIPAN ISLAND, MARIANAS; Task Groups 58.1, 58.2, and 58.4 similarly having been directed to launch fighter sweeps against GUAM, ROTA, TINIAN, SAIPAN, and PAGAN, with the object of destroying enemy aircraft in the air and on the ground."
The Air Group’s Action Report for 11 June shows a predawn launch of 12 Fighters and 8 Bombers, with an additional 12 Fighters taking flight shortly before 1300. On this day the early bird did indeed get the worm and Air Group 27's morning fighter sweep — flying under tactical command of the Enterprise Air Group Commander — “shot down 2 Zekes and 1 Betty.”
The first Zeke was shot down by Lt. J.L. "Patty" McMahon 3 miles west of Charah Kanoa, a small settlement on the southwest coast of Saipan. According to the Action Report's description "McMahon's first burst, fired from 250 yards, blew away a major portion of the Zeke's tail assembly. McMahon then held fire until within 50 yards of his target and fired another burst to within 50 feet of the Zeke which went into a sharp wingover and was seen to crash into the sea at the western end of the Saipan-Tinian channel."
Ten minutes later, Lt. McMahon shared credit with Ensign H.D. Lillie for the downing of a second Zeke that was spotted maneuvering to attack a division of F-6F's from another carrier. Scoring hits to its right wing and engine 5 miles west of Ushi Point on the northernmost tip of Tinian "Lillie saw the Zeke roll over and crash into the sea."
A further ten minutes elapsed before Lt R."Dick" Stambook destroyed a Betty that had "apparently just taken off from Aslito Airfield...The Betty flying at about 100 feet turned from its original course of due east to the south and Stambook made his attack from astern and above. His burst struck the starboard engine, which caught fire and...the Betty exploded and crashed into the sea three miles south of Kagman Point, Saipan."
The remaining fighters and bombers launched during the 11th focused on Aslito Airfield (Isley Field on map above) on southern Saipan, strafing and bombing parked aircraft, hangars and support buildings.
Combat action was not the only excitement described in the War Diary:
"At 1652 USS LEXINGTON reported a man overboard. At 1709 on VF from USS ENTERPRISE made a water landing near that vessel; pilot was rescued by a destroyer. ... At 1750 USS KNAPP was ordered by ComDesRon 50 to search for the man lost overboard from USS LEXINGTON for 15 more minutes and then to return to formation unless otherwise directed by ComTaskGroup 58.3."
12 JUN 44
Japanese forces in the Marianas, now fully aware of the American naval presence and understanding that daytime offered no sanctuary, made the decision to press ahead with night attacks. And no matter how futile on their part, the chaos of night combat is impressive:
"At 0333 an aircraft bearing 140°, distant 10 miles, dropped two flares. At 0335 formation executed emergency turn 90° right
to course 025˚. At 0336 an unidentified aircraft dropped nine flares
directly over this formation, on the port bow of this vessel. At 0343 went to General Quarters. At 0347 fleet course changed left to 285˚. At 0355 unidentified aircraft, consisting of 3 or 4 planes, designated Raid I, bearing 120°, distant 9 miles, taken under fire by Task Group 58.2 at 0358. At 0359 enemy aircraft dropped one flare dead ahead of this formation. At 0401 formation executed energency turn right to 305°, at 0403 emergency turn right to 345°, and at 0405 emergency turn right to 075°. At 0405 sighted what appeared to an aircraft burning on the water, bearing 130°, distant about 20 miles. At O407 the screen ahead commenced firing on an eneny aircraft bearing 090˚ over the formation; no hits observed; firing ceased at 0409. At 0411 fleet course changed right to
120° for flight operations."
For those keeping track, in 38 adrenaline-filled minutes the many dozens of ships of the various Task Groups made six emergency formation turns (Right-Left-Right-Right-Right-Right) totalling 375 degrees of maneuver, all while determining from which ships which guns could be brought to bear on the enemy while not threatening friendly vessels.
Again, I can't stress enough the impressiveness of accomplishing this at night.
Having experienced being in the bowels of a carrier while it is making full-rudder turns, I have to wonder what might have been going through Dad's mind at the time. I imagine him at his GQ station in the medical spaces, reaching an arm out to steady himself or carefully swaying a coffee cup in the air to prevent spilling.
As with the previous day, non-combat related casualties continued to occur:
"At 0820 observed a VSB aircraft from USS ENTERPRISE crash into water during launching; personnel reported rescued at 0830."
"At 1040 a plane from USS LEXINGTON made water landing ahead of formation; destroyer searched area and reported at 1057 that no personnel were sighted."
"At 1042 a VF aircraft crashed into barriers while landing; barrier wire whippped and broke radio antenna; plane damaged, pilot uninjured.
In between these operational incidents, combat action was taking place just a few miles away. USS Alabama had reported a low-flying, unidentified aircraft 15 miles southeast of the formation. Sighted by personnel aboard Princeton the Fighter Director Officer ordered the overhead CAP (Combat Air Patrol) to investigate. Making contact at 0857 the CAP "pursued and shot down one Japanese twin-engine fighter, type NICK."
This CAP consisted of 4 Hellcats and was led by VF-27 XO, Lt. Cmdr Fred Bardshar, who shared the kill with the three Ensigns — T.J. Conroy, G.A. Stanley, L.A. Erickson — that made up his Division.
The narrative of the kill begins with a description of performance:
"Nick was overtaken after ten minute tail chase by the F6F's, which had to exceed 280 knots indicated at sea level. The Nick may have been employed as a photographic reconnaissance plane as rear seat crewman was observed tossing out black objects which resembled camera gear. Only evasive action was a gain of about 200 feet altitude from low over the water followed by a shallow glide
to gain speed, much in the manner of a roller coaster."
It continues with the tactical description of the kill itself:
"The division of F6F pilots listed under section V were vec-
tored out after a bogey. When the bogey was sighted, it was proceeding west, which would have taken him south of the Task Group. The F6F's split into sections and bracketed him. The Nick then made a 90 degree turn to the left, which enabled one section of the F6F's to make a run from seven o'clock and above without apparent results. A ten minute stern chase then ensued. Eventually one section gained sufficient ground to place them in a position to make flat side runs. At the same time the other section of F6F's fired from astern, setting fire to the Nick's starboard engine. That damage and heavy fire from the other attacking section of F6F's caused the Nick to burst into flames, pull up sharply to the right, roll over and crash into the sea."
In a previous entry I mentioned that during my time in the Medium Attack/A-6E Intruder community, we had a core set of beliefs, one of which was:
You win the war by killing the bastards by the thousands, not one at a time at twenty thousand feet.
With that in mind, I am happy to report that while the fighter guys were having the time of their lives dispatching the enemy by singles, the Princeton’s attack missions were doing their best to make life easier for the young Marines who would have to actually occupy the ground and face the enemy eye-to-eye.
The last paragraph of the above report may as well be the description of the photograph below from the National Archives:
Title: Saipan Invasion, June 1944. Catalog #: 80-G-238357
Caption: Fires rage at a fuel dump (left center) and the Charan-Kanoa sugar refinery (right) during strikes on Saipan at the time of the invasion in center is the Aslito Airfield.
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