Enclosure (A) to
CO U.S.S. INDIANA CONF. LTR.
A 13-3, serial 032 of
05 March 1945.

PART I Brief Summary;
A. On February 10,1945, this ship left Ulithi in Task Group 58.1 and with Task force 58, and participated in the Tokyo strikes on February 16 and 17, 1945. The Task group then proceeded to make strikes on Chichi Jima, and as air support for the capture of Iwo Jima on February 20 to 22, 1945.
On February 26, 1945, this Task Force made air strikes on Tokyo and then preceded to position for striking Kobe, Osaka, and Kyoto. These strikes were canceled due to bad weather.
On March 01,1945, this Task Group carried out air strikes and photographic reconnaissance on Okinawa. This ship's senior aviator, Lt. R.W. Stanley, (Al), U.S.N.R., #124177, rescued First Lt R.E. Washbon, U.S.M.C.R, #026506, from VMF-217 after his plane had been shot down in flames three miles to the westward of Naha, Okinawa.
On the night of March 1-2, 1945, Cruiser Division Fourteen and Destroyer Squadron Sixty-One bombarded Okino Daito Shima as the Task Force retired towards Ulithi.

PART II Preliminaries.
A. This ship was in Task Unit 59.1.2 (Rear Admiral J.E. Shafroth, Commander Battleship Division Eight) as part of Task Group 58.1 (Rear Admiral J.J. Clark, Commander Carrier Division five) composed as follows.

B. This ship operated as part of the support unit of Task Group 58.1. Tactical exercises were held with Task force 59 on February 13, 1945, and on March 3 and 4 1945. Main Battery firing practices were held February 10, 1945, and March 04, 05, 1945. Anti aircraft firing practices were held February 10, 11, 12, 19, 23, 27, and March 03, 05, 1945.
C. The mission was to support and defend disposition against enemy air or surface attack and to provide VSO rescue teams.
D.
E. Enemy forces encountered- none.

PART III Chronological Account.
A.
10 February 1945
Underway with Task force 58.1.2 (Support Unit) en route Tokyo. Fired A.A. practice at towed sleeves and drones. Fired main battery and secondary battery at surface targets. Joined Task Force 58.1.

11 February 1945
En route Tokyo. Fired AA practice. Fueled three destroyers.

12 February 1945
Joined Task force 58. Fired A.A. practice

13 February 1945
Exercised with Task force 59 and returned to Task Group 58.1. Fueled in afternoon.

14 February 1945
Fueled in afternoon. Picket destroyer sighted mine.

15 February 1945
Fueled destroyers. CAP from Task Group 58.4 shot down one Betty. Destroyer sighted and sank a possible mine

16 February 1945
Air strikes on Tokyo. CAP shot down one Tony, one Jill, and one Oscar.

17 February 1945
Air strikes on Tokyo. CAP shot down one Zeke. Retired towards Iwo Jima at 1330 due to bad weather,

18 February 1945
CAP shot down one Nick. Afternoon air strike on Chichi Jima. Refueled destroyers.

19 February 1945
Fueled in afternoon. AA practice firing at towed sleeve. Amphibious Landing on Iwo Jima.

20 February 1945
Air strikes on Iwo Jima.

21 February 1945
Air strikes on Iwo Jima.

22 February 1945
Air strikes on Iwo Jima in morning canceled due to bad weather.

23 February 1945
Fueled in afternoon. A.A. practice firing at towed sleeve. En route Tokyo for second raid.

24 February 1945
En route Tokyo, fueled destroyers.

25 February 1945
During morning, launched air strikes on Tokyo, afternoon strikes canceled due to bad weather.

26 February 1945
En route launching position for strikes on Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto. Strikes canceled due to bad weather.

27 February 1945
Retiring southward. Fueled from tanker. Fired A.A. practice. 1821 En route Okinawa for air strikes and photographic reconnaissance.

28 February 1945
En route Okinawa, fueled destroyers.

01 March 1945
Air strikes on Okinawa. Lt. R.V. Stanley (A1), U.S.N.R., Senior aviator, led air-sea rescue team in rescue of First Lt. R.E. Wabhbon, U.S.M.C.R. #026506 from VFM 217 shot down three miles to the westward of Naha, Okinawa. 1729 #3 boiler ruptured superheater tubes and was secured, limiting maximum speed to 26 knots.

02 March 1945
Retiring toward Ulithi, during early morning hours Cruiser Division 14 and Destroyer Squadron 61 bombarded Okino Daita Shima, rejoining at dawn. Fired A.A. practice at sleeve.

03 March 1945
Light forces fueled from tanker. During afternoon carrier groups proceeded to Ulithi. Support units formed Task Force 59 for tactical exercises under Commander Battleship Squadron Two

04 March 1945
Tactical exercise as part of Task force 59, fired main and secondary batteries, surface practice.

05 March 1945
En route to Ulithi. Anti-aircraft firing practice. Anchored in Ulithi.

05 March to 14 March 1945
Anchored in Ulithi Atoll. Rest, relaxation, replenishment, rearmed, reprovisioned, refueled.

12 March 1945
While anchored in Ulithi, enemy plane crashed on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Randolph, causing an explosion and fire

14 March 1945
Underway from Ulithi for air operations on southeastern part of Japan

14 to 16 March 1945
Held various drills in preparation for coming action.

17 March 1945
En route Kyushu for air strikes. 2300-2357 Air alert. CAP shot dawn one Betty.

18 March 1945
En route Kyushu for air strikes. 0450 Air alert. 0652 Flares dropped around formation. 0520 This ship shot down one unidentified enemy plane. 0528 Assisted in shooting down unidentified enemy plane which attempted unsuccessfully to crash into U.S.S. HORNET. 0541 Launched air strikes against Kyushu. 0608 Unidentified enemy plane shot down on opposite side of formation. 0726 One Judy dropped a bomb near U.S.S. HORNET and was shot down. One Judy shot down by Task Group. 1311 one Judy shot down by U.S.S. HORNET as plane attempted to crash dive on U.S.S. HORNET. 1528 BRUSH (DD-725) shot down one Zeke. 1514 Commenced retiring southward. 1230 U.S.S. HORNET shot down one unidentified plane.

19 March 1945
En route Kyushu for air strikes on ------. 1310 Repelled enemy air attack by ships gunfire. 0318 Picket DD shot down one Betty. 0536 CAP shot down one Betty. 0711 U.S.S. WASP (CV-18) Hit by bomb. 0742 Unidentified plane shot down by Task Group. 0833 U.S.S. WASP shot down one unidentified Japanese plane. 1557 Air strikes on Nagoya. 1810 CAP shot down three (3) Betty's. 1843 Commenced retirement. This Task Group provided escort and CAP for U.S.S. FRANKLIN (CV 13) which had been damaged and was being towed by the U.S.S. PITTSBURGH (CA-72).

20 March 1945
Steamed southward escorting U.S.S. FRANKLIN (CV-13). 1310 Air alert. 1522 Air alert 2114 to 0056 Air alert.

21 March 1945
Steaming southward escorting U.S.S. FRANKLIN (CV-13). 0202 to 0252 Air alert. 0335 CAP shot down twin engine enemy plane. 0907 to 0936 Air alert. 1018 CAP shot down two Betty's. 1040 to 1117 Air alert. At 1420 CAP engaged 25 Betty's, shooting down 11 and repelling others.

23 March 1945
En route Okinawa for bombardment. 1332 to 1432 Air alert. 1608 Picket shot down one Myrt.

24 March 1945
Formed with Task Force 59 for bombardment on Southeast Okinawa. 0752 Task Unit 59.7.3 U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.S. INDIANA, U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS (CA-35), plus destroyers started approach on the southeastern track. 0900 to 1415 Bombardment of Southeast Okinawa. 1943 Rejoined Task Group 58.1.

PART II Preliminaries
A. U.S.S. INDIANA formed with Task Unit 59.7.3 which was composed as follows:

U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS (CA-5), flagship of Commander Fifth Fleet, joined Task Unit 59.7.3 for the bombardment. The next higher operational commander was Commander Task force 59 Vice Admiral W.A. Lee, Jr., U.S.N. flagship U.S.S. SOUTH DAKOTA.
B. U.S.S. INDIANA departed Task Group 58.1 with Task Unit 59.1.3, cleared the Task Group and formed with Task Group 59.7.3 at 0752. Task Unit 59.7.3 cleared the Task Group and proceeded to approach southeastern Okinawa for main battery bombardment of the island. The bombardment consisted of 180 rounds of 16"/45 caliber high capacity projectiles with reduced charges fired between 0942 and 1058; and from 1241 to 1413. Paravanes were streamed at 0816 and recovered at 1413.
C. Mission "Bombard the southeast coast of Okinawa Shima in order to destroy coastal defense installations, cover mine sweeping operations of Task Group 52.3, in preparations for Blue landings".

PART III Chronological Account Of Action
A. March 24, 1945, 0500 departed Task Group 58.1 with battleship division 8 to join Task Group 59.7. 0657 Formed cruising disposition 4V1OB. 0152 Departed Task Group 59.1 with Task Unit 59.7.3 plus U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS to commence approach to southeastern Okinawa for bombardment. 0802 Streamed paravanes. 0804 Launched two aircraft to spot for bombardment. 0900- 0 hour. 0911 Ordered commence firing. 0943.5 Fired first salvo, on course 270* and speed 15 knots. 1004 Changed course to 090*. 1028 Changed course to 270*. 1037 Changed course to 090*. 1058.5 Ceased firing and changed course to 180*. 1100 Changed course to 270. 1105 Changed course to 180*. 1106 changed course to 220*. 1101 Changed course to 300*. 1118 Changed course to 330*. 1119 Changed course to 240* and speed to 16 knots. 1120 changed course to 060*. 1124 changed course to 090*. 1136 Changed course to 270*. 1142 Changed course to 180* and speed to 18 knots. 1145 Changed speed to 15 knots. 1151 Changed course to 135*. 1153 Changed course to 065* and recovered aircraft. 1156 changed course to 000*, speed 17 knots. 1159 Changed speed to 18 knots. 1200 Changed course to 340*. 1202 changed course to 065*, speed 10 knots, own air craft recovered. 1206 Changed course to 330*, speed 15 knots. 1210 changed course to 015*, speed 18 knots. 1213 Changed course to 280*. 1220 Changed speed to 20 knots. 1227 Changed course to 010* speed 15 knots. 1229 Catapulted two aircraft to resume spotting for bombardment. 1232 U.S.S. INDIANA resumed station for bombardment. 1241 resumed bombardment course 085* speed 12 knots. 1245 U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS recovered aircraft. 1255 Changed course to 270*. 1257 U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS plane capsized during recovery. 1337 Changed course to 090*. 1342 Changed speed to 15 knots. 1413 Bombardment completed, course 180*. 1425 Formed on line bearing 325* from U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS, on course 165*, speed 17 knots. 1430 Changed course to 000*, speed 20 knots. 1433 Changed course to 095*, speed 10 knots. Recovered one plane. 1440 changed course to 000*, speed 18 knots. 1442 Speed to 10 knots, recovered second plane. 1443 recovered paravanes. 1450 Formed column astern of U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS, course 075*, speed 10 knots. 1501 Formed with Task Force 59 in cruising disposition 4V10B, axis 000* course 145*, speed 18 knots, U.S.S. SOUTH DAKOTA as guide. 1549 Changed speed to 23 knots. 1559 Zigzag in accordance with plan #6, base course 145*. 1636 Ceased zigzagging. 1640 changed course to 130*. 1645 rotated axis to 060*. 1717 Changed course to 090*. 1734 Changed course to 340*, speed 18 knots, formed column astern U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS. Task Unit departed Task Force 59. 1933 U.S.S. INDIANAPOLIS departed Task Unit 59.7.3.

PART IV Results
A. There was no battle damage to our own unit
B. Damage inflicted to enemy shore units.
1. Six buildings were destroyed in the village of Makabe during the morning firing.
2. Five buildings hit in the village of Kueanga during the afternoon firing.
3. One warehouse and five buildings set on fire and burning when last seen in the target area #7456.
C. The above damage report was observed by the ships air spotter. It is not known whether any other damage was inflicted. The long range and haze precluded more detailed observation by ships spotter.

Last Updated 22 October 1999

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