RECOLLECTIONS OF HOLLANDIA INVASION

Jack Sloan 1988

In April 1944, the Swanson with Admiral Barbey embarked was Flag Ship for the invasion of Hollandia, Tanahmerah Bay and Aitape, New Guinea. We traveled from Goodenough Bay to Tanahmerah Bay.

One evening after shooting the evening stars and fixing our position while the Swanson was leading the Task Force on a northerly course approaching the equator, we were scheduled to change to a westerly course some time before midnight. The DRT (dead reckoning tracer) which traced the ships movements on a chart, h ad to be switched from south latitude to north latitude as you crossed the equator, otherwise the motor would grind against the stops and burn out.

As I sat in the Chart House pondering the question about traveling along the equator on a westerly course and the DRT needing to be set either north or south latitude, Dondis, QM2/c walked in and asked what I was studying. So I thought I would see if he could think of a solution. Dondis smiled and said: “That’s no problem, just off set the DRT 10 miles south and put a sign on theDRT that it is off set 10 miles south! ( Too close to the forest to see the trees!) As it turned out we changed to a westerly heading approximately 50 miles south of the equator.

To maintain the element of surprise in the Hollandia invasion, it was essential that a Japanese reconnaissance plane be shot down at approximately 0700 hours when it reached the end of its eastern search pattern, before sighting our invasion fleet. Some of our Carrier planes had set up an ambush for the Japanese plane. Near 0700 the radio silence in our CIC (Combat Information Center) was broken, as our Fighter Pilots sighted the Japanese plane and swung into action. A babble of excited voices from our Fighter Pilots, and in a couple of minutes a very calm deliberate voice stating: “Mother pin a rose on me!” The Japanese plane was shot down and our invasion Fleet was left unreported.

During the early morning hours of darkness as we approached the landing beach area, with Admiral Barbey on the bridge; suddenly a shielded flash light came on. Some one was bending down and moving the light along the bridge deck. We all yelled: “Douse (kill) that light!” Then it was discovered that it was the Admiral. He had dropped his collar insignia!

Our troops landed and caught the Japanese completely by surprise. The Japanese fled into the jungle as soon as the Swanson and other Naval vessels began their bombardment, leaving behind their partially eaten breakfast. As our troops moved inland they reported by radio that they had captured two enemy soldiers. Admiral Barbey immediately ordered that the enemy be delivered for interrogation. There was a long pause on the radio – then – “Sorry they are dead.”

The second night an enemy bomber was over head. It set off our ammo dump near Hollandia. They dropped flares to locate ships and targets. You could read a newspaper on the deck of the Swanson. The flares were excellent but not close enough to us to be effective for the Japanese.

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Jack Sloan 1988

In those stressful times in 1944 as our troops battled their way from Island to Island, or beach head to beach head, a little light hearted humor helped to relieve tension.

Most of the Chiefs in the Chief Petty Officer quarters were aware, that on Chief, would go to a Sound Power phone outside the CPO Quarters, and call the CPO quarters to ask for the Chief Water Tender. He would pretend that he was the “CAPTAIN” and interrogate the Chief Water Tender about Evaporators, water consumption etc……

There was always a puzzled look on the Chief’s face when he hung up; as if to say, “I just don’t know if that was the Captain?” But he did not want to confront who ever it was on the phone, just in case it was the Captain. Some times immediately after our bogus “CAPTAIN” hung up , the real Captain would call to discuss the water situation with the Chief Water Tender, and he would be answering the same questions again. This practical only occurred a few times because the bogus “Captain” wanted it done in fun and not as a harassment. To this day I don’t know if any one ever told the Chief Water Tender about the bogus “Captain”, or , was he aware of the deceit and waiting for an opportunity to deceive the deceiver?

“It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.”

Jean De La Fontaine Fables

15 Century A.D.