25 March 1945
Air strikes against Okinawa and Hinani and special air strikes against Japanese convoy consisting of small merchant ships. This convoy was made up of 8 ships.

26 March 1945
Refueling from tanker.

27 March 1945
0418 CAP shot down one Emily. 0620 Air alert. 0640 Fired on enemy plane, later shot down by CAP. 0720 U.S.S. MURRAY shot down enemy plane, which had launched a torpedo, torpedo passed through the MURRAY above the water line, and exploded clear of the ship. 0728 Secured General Quarters. During the day air operations carried out against Mimani Gunto. 1452 Launched air and sea rescue teams with fighter escort from carriers. Lt. R.V. Stanley, piloting rescue plane with back seat empty. 1829 Stanley returned with ID of Bill "J" Pettigrew, U.S. Navy, no rank or serial number.

28 March 1945
Drills for preinvasion of Okinawa Gunto. During day search for U.S.S. INDIANA's missing plane, by air and submarine. All results negative.

29 March 1945
0802 Passed floating mine. Air searches for Japanese forces proved negative, except for 2 CL's, 2 CA's and 9 DD's reported in Bungo Suido by Army aircraft but not seen by our aircraft, during the day launched air strikes on Islands, North of Okinawa.

30 March 1945
Refueling and rearming northeasterly of Okinawa.

31 March 1945
Operating with Task force 58.1 East of Okinawa

01 April 1945
During the day provided air support for invasion of Okinawa.

02 April 1945
0412 Night CAP shot down one "Betty"

03 April 1945
Operating in support of Okinawa invasion by air strikes on Saki Shima.

04 April 1945
With Task Force north of Okinawa.

05 April 1945
With Task Force 58.1 east of Okinawa. During the day carriers launched air support of Okinawa invasion. 3 DD's joined Task Force 58.1, U.S.S. SAMUEL MOORE (DD-747), U.S.S. JOHN ROGERS (DD-547), U.S.S. HARRISON (DD-573).

06 April 1945
With Task force 58.1 East of Okinawa. Providing air cover for troops on Okinawa. Task Force 58.3 carriers reported 35 planes repulsed at pre-dawn attack. Air alert from 1053-1136 and 1152-1636 results as follows: CAP shot down 145, with 3 probables, ships shot down 5, radar picket destroyers got 3, a total of 153. Direct attacks an all four carriers, and on U.S.S. TAUSSIG (DD-746) no damage to any surface craft. This ship did not bag any.

07 April 1945
With Task Force 58.1 operating east of Okinawa, providing air cover for ground troops. Japanese task force reported west of Kyushu consisting of one battleship, two cruisers and thirteen destroyers, reported by air search. Task force launched 380 planes against the enemy forces sinking the battleship, two cruisers and eight destroyers. Two destroyers were left burning. Three reported straffed and bombed but undamaged, and got away. Air alert from 1209 to 1930. This Task Group provided CAP for Okinawa during the day. At 1541 this ship assisted in shooting down one Japanese plane, (Francis). 1812 This ship shot down one Francis unassisted which dropped its bomb over the formation. No damage. CAP reported shooting down 30 planes.

08 April 1945
Refueling and rearming. Fueled from USS AUCILLA and rearmed from USS WRANGELL (AE-12). Operating east of Okinawa.

09 April 1945
With Task Force 58.1, refueling destroyers.

10 April 1945
Operating east of Okinawa in support of Okinawa ground troops.

11 April 1945
2342 air alert. 0001 night fighter shot down Japanese plane.

12 April 1945
With Task Group 58.1. 0150 One plane shot down. 0340 Task group night fighter shot down 1 Betty. 0821 Set condition 1 Easy. 1526 Opened fire on enemy aircraft. One probable Tojo shot down 3000 yards ahead. 1528 One Zeke which attempted to strafe this ship and dive on the pilot house, crashed 50 yards from the ship. 1530 Fired at one Oscar that circled ahead, being chased by F6F. He also attempted to crash into the ship but did not when it went over the ship. He landed in the sea, having been shot down by this ship. 2152 Fired at planes dropping flares, this time no results. 2249-2326 Air alert. Secured from General Quarters. During action the following injured, Hall, J.A. Pfc, USMCR, 851-399, fragment (shell), in the thigh; Gribbin, G.B. S1c, # 920-78-72, USNR, burned about the face by gun flash.

This attack appeared to be an attempt at a coordinated low level and glide attack. It is believed that the two planes approached together at low altitude but that the second plane in gaining altitude for it's run fall behind the first plane sufficiently that the attacks separated.

Numerous friendly planes were in the air in the immediate area. CIC reported a low flying plane sharp on the port bow at about the time the other ships opened fire. The formation executed an emergency left 60* turn at this time. This plane, the first to attack was sighted bearing 015* relative and fire was opened with the 40mm battery. The plane believed to be a Francis crashed in flames about 10 seconds after fire was opened. This ships 40mm tracers were observed going into the plane before it crashed. An assist was claimed. The second plane was sighted diving out of the clouds in a shallow glide. It was first sighted by a 20mm gunner who recognized it as an enemy and immediately opened fire. The starboard machine gun battery opened fire a few seconds later. Tracers were observed going into the plane, believed to be a Francis, and it burst into flames. It appeared to be heading for a carrier in the formation but when it flamed, released a bomb about 3000 yards short of the carrier. The bomb, estimated to be 250 kg, hit about 1500 yards from this ship causing no damage. The plane did a wing over and appeared momentarily to be attempting to dive on this ship, but crashed in flames into the sea about 1000 yards, about 170* relative. No other ships were observed hitting into the plane although one DD fired several 5"/38. An assisted kill is claimed.

Four enemy planes were taken under fire about five minutes later, three of them were shot down; the fourth plane turned away sharply and is not believed to have been hit.

These planes were believed to be remnants of a group of about 25 which closed on the formation from the northeast. They were originally picked up at a range of 70 miles. Carrier based fighters , which were vectored out, shot down about 20. Our fighters reported that a few enemy planes had broken through and warned the formation to be on the alert.

Bogies were reported closing and fire control radars picked up planes at about 15 miles, and at about 12 miles they were sighted optically.

Formed F-01, AA-01, attached indicated that only the first plane was picked up by radar. Actually, only the first plane was tracked in from long range by fire control radar. The others however were known to be in the vicinity and all hands were alert. Visibility was perfect, with no clouds and a calm sea. After the first attacking plane had been shot down, other planes were picked up optically as they came in.

One Zeke and one Oscar were shot down by this ship, using 5"/38 gunfire unassisted. One Zeke was shot down probably by 40mm although 5"/38 and 20mm batteries were firing on the plane. The Zeke was also fired on by a cruiser and a destroyer but credit to the U.S.S. INDIANA is claimed, because the first shots seen to hit the plane were 40mm from this ship. This started one fire in the right wing and another in the fuselage.

The second and third attacking planes passed directly over this ship. They may have been attempting a suicide dive into this ship. Although it is possible that they were heading for the carriers inside the screen. The second plane passed about 25 feet over the forecastle and crashed close aboard to the starboard quarter. The third plane passed about 300 feet over the main deck aft, and crashed about 600 yards on the starboard quarter. A large splash appeared about 100 yards on the port bow just before a second plane passed over the forecastle, indicating that a bomb had been dropped. The bomb was probably a dud as no concussion was felt and only a white spray was seen.

Another plane was first seen diving out of the clouds on a carrier slightly aft of our port beam. It had been previously picked up by this ship's radar, but the Task Group Commander had warned all ships to be alert overhead as bogies were believed to be in the clouds.

This plane dove on the carrier but did not release a bomb and pulled out at about 1000 feet. This ship could not shoot at the plane as it passed down the port side because of other friendly ships in the line of fire.

The plane headed away from the formation at high speed, jerking violently and crossed astern of this ship, at which time U.S.S. INDIANA opened fire with the 5"/38 starboard battery, range 3500 yards, position angle 11*. 40mm and 20mm batteries on port quarter were able to get in some shooting, and 20mm battery on the starboard quarter took the plane under fire. The plane disappeared on a course opposite of the formation and did not seem to be hit.

13 April 1945
Operating with Task Group 58.1 in support of Okinawa Invasion and Occupation

14 April 1945
Provided air support for Okinawa forces. 1315 to 1103 General Quarters. 1338 CAP shot down one Betty. 1341 This ship shot down one Oscar, distance 1000 yards on port beam. 1342 this ship assisted in downing one Oscar. 1348 CAP shot down one unidentified enemy plane. 1830 to 2122 General Quarters. CAP shot down three unidentified air craft (enemy)

16 April 1945
Provided air support for Okinawa land forces. 0000 to 0129 General Quarters. 0120 CAP shot down one enemy plane. 0414 to 0550 General Quarters. 0735 to 1620 General Quarters. 0940 DD-746 shot down one Zeke. 0959 This ship fired at two F6F's approaching ship on last reported position of enemy planes distant 7000 yards, ceased firing at 5000 yards when planes had turned to identify themselves. No hits. 1159 This ship got assist on one Oscar. 1244 This Task Group shot down one Irving. 1248 Destroyer shot down one Irving to the north. 1334 DD picket shot down one Oscar. 1401 CAP shot down one Zeke. 1556 CAP shot down two Zeke's to the west of the formation. 1836 to 2202 General Quarters. 1907 CAP shot down one unidentified aircraft. 2101 Enemy planes dropped two clusters of flares close to the ship and escaped.

17 April 1945
Refueled and rearmed.

18 April 1945
Provided air support for Okinawa.

19 April 1945
Provided air cover for Tenth Army on Okinawa. Started invasion of Southern Okinawa.

20 April 1945
Provided air support for Southern Okinawa. Provided air support for Northern Okinawa. 0036 to 0152 General Quarters.

21-23 April 1945
Provided support for offensive for Southern Okinawa.

24 April 1945
No night flight operations because of bad weather off Southern Okinawa.

25 April 1945
Provided air support for Southern Okinawa.

28 April 1945
En route Ulithi.

30 April 1945
Anchored in Berth # 4 Ulithi.

01-09 May 1945
In Ulithi anchorage. Rearm, resupply, reprovision, R&R

01 May 1945
Change of Command, Captain Thomas Joseph Keliher, USN was releived by Captain Francis Paxton Old, USN

09 May 1945
0745 Underway.

PART II Chronological Account Of Action
A.
09 May 1945
0703 Underway for training. With Task force 58.1.5, en route Okinawa operating area--day and night target practice at high speed.

10 May 1945
Tactical practice, night and day simulated air attacks on this ship.

11 May 1945
1751 Joined with carriers of Task Group 58.1.

12 May 1945
Departed fueling area for air strikes on Kyushu. U.S.S. ALABAMA (BB-60), U.S.S. MONTEREY (CVL-26), USS HICKOX (DD-673) detached Task Group 58.1 to Task Group 58.3.

13 May 1945
0139 to 0530 Air alert. 0255 Night CAP shot down unidentified air craft, twin float plane. 1121 MCKEE (DD-575) exploded floating mine. 2130 to 2336 Air Alert.

14 May 1945
0130 to 0200 Air alert. 0355 to 0559 Air alert. 0629 to 0931 Air alert. 0729 This ship shot down one Zeke diving on formation. 0855 MCKEE exploded floating mine. 1640 to 1707 Air alert. 1900 Retiring south for fueling.

15 May 1945
Fueled from fleet tankers.

16 May 1945
Finished fueling from Task Group 50.8. A.A. practice. 0828 Sent communications plane piloted by R.V. Stanley, USNR. With U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS rescue plane to rescue Lt. Commander Hershel USN, U.S.S. BENNINGTON pilot forced down off Minani Daito Shima.

17 to 19 May 1945
Task group carrier planes attacked Minani Daito Shima. Carrier operations in support of the Okinawa operations. Fueled destroyers.

20 May 1445
Fueled from tankers, Task Group 50.8. U.S.S. ATLANTA (CL-104) joined Task Group 58.1. A.A. practice.

21 May 1945
Operating in support of Okinawa operations. Afternoon, sent air-rescue planes with strikes on Tokuno and Kikai. No rescues.

22 May 1945
Operating in support of Okinawa operations.

23 May 1945
1350 En route Okinawa operating area. 1410 to 1955 Air alert.

24 May 1945
Operating in support of Okinawa operations. Fueled destroyers. 1325 to 1412 Air alert. 2336 Air alert, ships fired at unidentified aircraft, no results reported.

25 May 1944
Operating in support of Okinawa operations. 0040 Secured Air alert. 0739 to 1032 Air alert. CAP shot down two enemy planes, no results noted because of bad weather. Fueled destroyers

26 May 1945
Operating in support of Okinawa operations. All flights canceled because of bad weather.

27 May 1945
Task Force 58 again became Task Force 38

Last Updated 30 July 2000

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