Lingayen Gulf Action - Philippines

January 5, 1945 to January 12, 1945

Watch	Remarks
12-16	..... 1329-Comdesdiv48 in USS BUSH with USS BUSH and USS STEMBEL reported to CTG 79.2 for duty by visual dispatch 050429 of January 1945. 1335-USS BUSH and USS STEMBEL proceeding independently to take stations in screen of Task Groups 79.2 and 79.4..... ... H. N. West, Lieut., USNR.

Watch	Remarks
8-12	..... 0907-Enemy bomber reported over formation astern of our group. 0908-Went to general quarters. Observed AA firing astern of formation. 0916-Formd anti-aircraft screen 4CV. Took station No. 1. 0920-Several unidentified aircraft in vicinity. 0942- Area clear. Secured from general quarters. Set condition 1E..... ... E. E. Sechrist, Lt.(jg), USNR.
18-20	.....1806-Unidentified aircraft in vicinity. Went to general quarters. 1811-2 Japanese Vals reported sighted under attack by CAP..... 1850-2 Japanese Oscars crossed ahead of formation on course 220oT at high altitude. 1854-Comenced firing to port as one enemy plane closed formation on course 040oT. 1857-Ceased firing with enemy plane out of range having expended a total of: 43 rounds 5"38 Mark 32 projectiles, 29 rounds 5"38 AA common projectiles, 72 rounds 5"38 smokeless powder cartridges of mixed lots and indices, and 7 rounds 40MM service projectiles of mixed lots and indices. Enemy plane circled and went into a dive for port side of formation. 1858-Observed convoy firing. 1859-Enemy plane crashed into USS KITKIN BAY. 1903-Enemy planes attacked convoy from 150oT. Heavy AA fire observed astern on starboard quarter of formation. 1930-Ceased zigzagging. 1932 Area reported clear of unidentified aircraft..... ... E. E. Sechrist, Lt.(jg), USNR.

Watch	Remarks
4-8	..... 0611-Observed AA firing bearing 160oT. 0614-Transports in formation formed approach disposition No. 1. 0620-Changed speed to 10 knots (98 rpm). 0622-Screening ships maneuvering to starboard side of formation. 0630-Enemy plane passed over formation dropping bomb in formation. No damage observed. Heard plane pass overhead..... ... E. E. Sechrist
8-12	..... 0844-Comenced patrolling the entrance to Lingayen Gulf in company with TG 77.7. Patrol extends 10 miles in direction 240oT from a point bearing 240oT, 5 miles from San Fernando Point. Ships in anti-aircraft disposition on following stations. USS BUSH .6000, USS HALFORD .6270, USS STANLEY .6090, USS DASHIELL .6180..... ... H. N. West, Lieut., USNR.
16-18	.....1728-Friendly aircraft sighted engaged in dog fight with enemy aircraft bearing 110oT, distance 12 miles. Went to general quarters. 1732-CAP reported splashing 2 Zekes...... ... E. E. Sechrist, Lt.(jg), USNR.
18-20	.....1820-Combat air patrol left for base. 1836-Two unidentified aircraft reported bearing 295oT, 18 miles, closing. 1837-Went to general quarters. Emergency ships right to OOOoT., 350opsc. Commenced high speed maneuvers at radical speeds to unmask battery. 1838-Other ships commenced firing as planes passed overhead. Planes identified as Zeke type. 1841-Commenced firing with all batteries as planes separated. One plane cleared vicinity and other dived on USS BUSH from 150oT. 1842-Plane crashed off port quarter with fragments of fuselage landing on fantail. Ceased firing having expended 38 rounds of AA common and smokeless powder, 100 rounds of 20MM and 65 rounds of 40MM ammunition. 1846-Plane reported closing from 070oT..... 1923-Anti-aircraft fire observed over transport area. 1952-Ceased high speed radical maneuvers. Ships proceeded to night patrol stations..... ... H. N. West, Lieut., USNR.

Watch

Remarks

4-8

..... 0713-Unidentified aircraft bearing 170oT, 3 miles. 0714-Val sighted making vertical dive on USS DASHIELL. 0715-Commenced firing to port. Val crashed in water well off port quarter of USS DASHIELL. 0716-Ceased firing having expended 5 rounds Mark 32, 1 round AA common, and 6 rounds of flashless powder..... 0737-Unidentified aircraft at 250oT on opening course. 0740-Unidentified aircraft commenced circling. 0741-Commenced firing to starboard. 0743-Plane disappeared in clouds. Ceased firing having expended 27 rounds of Mark 32, 16 rounds of AA common and 43 rounds smokeless powder 5" ammunition. 0744-CAP overhead chasing enemy plane which opened to north..... ... H. N. West, Lieut., USNR.

Watch	Remarks
12-16	.....1535-In accordance with voice radio dispatch of CTF.77, TG 77.7 maneuvered to proceed to San Fernando, Luzon Island, Philippine Archipelago to conduct bombardment of enemy shipping estimated to consist of 23 Sugar Charlie or Sugar Fox, 20 landing craft and 1 large merchant ship.....Combat air patrol to be provided. Went to general quarters.....Ships formed in column as follows: USS BUSH, USS HALFORD, USS STEMBEL, USS DASHIEL and USS STANLEY. CTG 77.7, OTC and guide in USS BUSH..... ... H. N. West, Lieut., USNR.
16-20	..... 1600-Sky 95% overcast with thin cirro clouds and scattered cumulus, ceiling 4000 feet, 16 knots wind and moderate swell from north and visibility 20 miles. 1606-CAP reports 3 medium AK's, 10 barges and 20 other small craft in San Fernando Bay..... 1640-All ships commenced firing to starboard on various craft and ships in San Fernando Bay.....1651 Checked fire. 1654-Ships right..... 1702-Resumed fire.....1714-CAP reports no craft, left afloat. 3 ammunition dumps explosions observed and several fires. Ceased firing having expended 350 rounds AA common and 350 rounds of smokeless powder of mixed lots and indices...... ... N. P. Foss, Lt.(jg), USN.

Watch	Remarks
4-8	.....0505-USS HALFORD, USS STEMBEL, USS BUSH and USS DASHIELL directed by CTG 77.7 to cease patrol and form A.A. screen...... 0648-Commenced steaming on various courses at various speeds proceeding into transport area of Lingayen Gulf, Luzon Island. 0659-Observed ship hit by Japanese suicide crash bearing 130oT. 0713-Visibility reduced greatly by smoke layed in area. 0722 All engines stopped. 0723-Commenced steaming on various courses at various speeds to avoid ships and reef ahead. ...E. E. Sechrist, Lt.(jg), USNR.
8-12	.....0807-Enemy aircraft bearing 270oT under heavy AA fire from ships in vicinity. Out of range of our group. 0817-Visibility limited to 500 yards due to smoke. 0830-Visibility increased to 3 miles as smoke cleared. Stood in to bombardment area. 0850-Sky 95% overcast with cirrus cumulus. Ceiling 4000 feet. Surface visibility, except areas obscured by smoke, good to 15 miles. 8 knot wind from southeast. Calm sea. 0853-USS HALFORD commenced bombardment. Spotting plane over target area. 0854-Lying to. 0907-USS DASHIELL and USS STEMBEL on station. 0927-USS HALFORD ceased firing. 0928-USS STEMBEL commenced firing. 0929 Commenced firing. USS DASHIELL commenced firing. 0945-Ceased firing having expended 203 rounds AA common, 5 rounds white phosphorous and 208 rounds smokeless powder 5" ammunition. 0946-All ships finished firing. 0952-USS DASHIELL ordered to resume firing..... 1047-Commenced maneuvering in a circle in vicinity of bombardment area. Voice radio report received from spotting plane of battle damage. "Seven houses completely destroyed. Four large fires started. Area generally neutralized. Many houses hit. Many partially destroyed." 1100-USS DASHIELL completed firing and took station astern of column. Proceeding on various courses and speed to transport area. ... H. N. West, Lieut., USNR.

All USS BUSH deck logs for the above dates were examined by the ship's Navigator (Executive Officer), P. A. Lilly, jr., Lieut., USN and approved by Commanding Officer, R. E. Westholm, Cmdr., USN.