| Watch | Remarks |
|---|---|
| 4-8 | .....0558-Underway in accordance with CTG 78.3 secret dispatch
100502 of December 1944..... ...H. N. West, Lt.(Jg), USNR. |
| 8-12 | .....0810 Rendezvoused with convoy off Dulag, Leyte Island.
0858-Convoy formed as follows: port column, HMAS RESERVE and tow, LCT 675,
U.S. ARMY ST 381, YO 14, center column, USS WHIPPORWILL(guide) and tow,
U.S. Army TP 113 and tow, starboard column, U.S. Army TP 121 and tow, and
U.S. ARMY LT 1 and tow. Screen formation special screen V-1, USS BUSH(OTC)
station #1, USS RADFORD, station #2, USS JOBB, station #3,, USS HOLT,
station #4, and USS HALFORD, station #5. ...N. P. Foss, Lt.(jg), USN. |
| 12-16 | ..... Screening ships commenced circling convoy at 12 knots(118 rpm)
in clockwise direction on a 1000 yard circle from nearest point of convoy..... ...E. E. Sechrist, Lt.(jg), USNR. |
| Watch | Remarks |
|---|---|
| 12-16 | .....1457 Twin engine Japanese bomber passed overhead from starboard
to port in a bombing attack attack on USS RADFORD astern of USS BUSH.
Two bombs reported dropped between USS RADFORD and USS BUSH. Went to
general quarters. 1458-Screen changed speed to 20 knots(203 rpm).
1500-Second Japanese plane sighted bearing 130o,
identified as twin engine bomber, crossed convoy on course
020oT at altitude of
approximately 2000 feet. Commenced firing with all batteries. All
ships firing. Plane disappeared in distance after dropping one bomb well
clear of convoy streaming thin trail of black smoke, apparently hit.
1501-Fifteen knot breeze from northeast. Cirrus cumulus clouds covering
90% of sky. Ceiling about 5000 feet. Choppy sea without swells.
Visibility good to 10 miles. 1501.5-Ceased firing having expended 61
rounds 5" AA common, 61 rounds smokeless powder, 152 rounds 40MM and
115 rounds 20MM. ...H. N. West, Lieut., USNR. |
| Watch | Remarks |
|---|---|
| 4-8 | .....0431-Formation speed changed to 2 knots(25 rpm). Starboard
column falling astern of convoy. USS HALFORD and USS HOLT screening
starboard column. 0541-Changed formation speed to 5 knots(53 rpm).
TP 129 having repaired engineering casualty.....0550-Went to routine
sunrise general quarters. 0623-Starboard column on station...... ...E. E. Sechrist, Lt.(jg), USNR. |
| 8-12 | .....0805-Unidentified planes approached formation from
095oT. Went to general quarters. 0806-Screen
changed speed to 20 knots(203 rpm). 3 enemy planes unidentified as to
type attacked formation. 0807-...Various units of task unit opened fire.
USS BUSH did not fire. Combat Air Patrol in pursuit of enemy planes.
0808-Two enemy planes knocked down. Remaining enemy planes withdrew......
0946-Column of smoke sighted bearing 063oT over
beach. Dog fight reported in progress in that vicinity.....1152-Area
clear of unidentified planes..... ...H. N. West, Lieut., USNR. |
| Watch | Remarks |
|---|---|
| 8-12 | .....1054-Unidentified aircraft reported at
160oT, distant 8 miles. Went to general quarters.
Screen changed speed to 20 knots(203 rpm). Radar contact on unidentified
aircraft bearing 010oT distant 23 miles.....
1057-Commenced swinging with full rudder to unmask the battery while
coming around stern of convoy. Changed speed to 25 knots(252 rpm).
1058-Twin engine enemy plane, (identified as "Lily") made run on convoy
from 340oT. 1059-Commenced firing on "Lily" with
all starboard batteries. Changed speed to 20 knots(203 rpm) to avoid
overtaking USS JOBB. 1100-"Lily" commenced diving on USS BUSH.
Illuminated Lily with 36 inch searchlight in an attempt to blind pilot.
1101-"Lily" hit repeatedly. "Lily" dropped bomb which hit close aboard
USS BUSH on starboard quarter. "Lily" passed overhead starboard to port
and crashed in flames about 120 yards off port beam, no survivors.
Ceased firing having expended 30 AA projectiles with Mk 32 fuses,
14 AA common projectiles, 44 smokeless powder cartridges of mixed
lots and indices, 282 rounds of 40MM and 186 rounds of 20MM of mixed
lots..... ...N. P. Foss, Lt.(jg), USN. |
| 12-16 | ..... 1243-Formation changed speed to 2 knots(20 rpm). USS
WHIPPOORWILL has engineering casualty. 1310-Formation changed speed to
5 knots(53 rpm). USS WHIPPOORWILL repaired engineering casualty.....
1455-US Army tug broke towline to tow. Formation changed speed to
2 knots(20 rpm). US Army tug lying to repairing towline..... ...E. E. Sechrist, Lt.(jg), USNR. |
| 18-20 | .....1903-Screen ceased circling and maneuvered to take station
in special screen V-1. 1905-Seven LCI's detached themselves from TU
78-3.2 and TU-78-3.3 in accordance with verbal orders of CTU 78-3.3
and fell in alongside starboard column of TU 78.3.12..... ...N. P. Foss, Lt.(jg), USN. |
| Watch | Remarks |
|---|---|
| 4-8 | .....0727 Four unidentified aircraft sighted circling formation.
Changed speed to 20 knots(203 rpm). 0730-Aircraft identified as
friendly attacking unidentified aircraft. Screen changed speed to 15
knots(150 rpm). 0731-CAP reported shooting down one "Betty" while
reporting on station. ...N. P. Foss, Lt.(jg), USN. |
| 8-12 | .....0821-Single enemy plane passed close ahead of formation from port
to starboard at high altitude. 0822-Commenced firing to starboard.
Enemy plane out of range for guns. 0823-Ceased firing having expended
a total of 18 rounds of 5"38 Mk. 32 projectiles, 5 rounds 5"38 AA common
projectiles, and 23 rounds 5"38 smokeless powder cartridges of mixed lots
and indices. Enemy plane plane left area on course
030oT. 0827-Several enemy planes reported
in vicinity. 0839-Identified 3 Zeke Japanese aircraft bearing
305oT, distance 8 miles. 0847-Japanese plane
identified as possible Zeke made a run on formation from bearing
350oT, flying very low. Enemy plane strafed
Y14 and attempted to crash dive on Y14. Enemy plane approached from
opposite side of the convoy from USS BUSH. USS BUSH fired a few rounds
of 40MM but ceased firing as enemy plane was to close to other units of
convoy. Enemy plane showed friendly IFF, but was definitely Japanese.
Expended a total of 6 rounds of 40MM service projectiles of mixed lots
and indices. 0849-Japanese plane crashed in flames very close aboard
small tanker Y14. 0904-Y14 lying to. 0919-Changed formation speed to
2 knots(20 rpm). 0920-Y14 reported 5 men missing and minor structual
and engineering damage to the ship. Screen changed speed to 15
knots(130 rpm). 0940-Secured from general quarters. Set condition
IE. 0956-Y14 able to make 5 knots. Changed formation speed to 5
knots(53 rpm). 1000-3 men reported missing by Y14 rescued by units
of convoy leaving 2 men missing..... ...E. E. Sechrist, Lt.(jg), USNR. |
| 12-16 | .....1317-USS HOLT made sound contact and deployed to investigate.
1321-USS HOLT commenced dropping depth charges..... ...H. N. West, Lieut., USNR. |
| 16-20 | 1640-Maneuvering independently to receive USS SAUNTER alongside.
1652-AM 295 moored alongside to starboard. 1654-In accordance with
verbal orders of the Commanding Officer, Lt. G.M. Johnson,(MC),
USNR; KOZA, W.F., 726-19-89, SC2c, USNR; SHARP, R.A., 730-84-14, Bkr2c,
USNR; KLEINFELDER, A. P., 608-74-54, MM2c, USNR; GERRIETS, L. E., 660-02-90,
SC1c, USNR; PELNAR, J., 342-51-52, PhM2c, USN were transferred to the
USS SAUNTER in order to give medical attention to wounded patients......
1701-USS SAUNTER got underway from starboard side and resumed station
in convoy. Screen changed speed to 20 knots(203 rpm). USS BUSH
resumed station in screen..... ...H. N. West, Lieut., USNR. |
| 20-24 | .....2237-USS SAUNTER came alongside starboard side and
transferred.....men for medical treatment.....2344-Took station 1 in
cruising formation V1 modified with USS HOLT, USS JOBB, USS RADFORD and
USS HALFORD on 2000 yard circle. OTC and guide in USS BUSH..... ...H. N. West, Lieut., USNR. |
| Watch | Remarks |
|---|---|
| 16-18 | .....1800-Half masted colors for sea burial aboard USS SAUNTER.
1805-Hoisted colors at completion of sea burial service..... ...E. E. Sechrist, Lt.(jg), USNR. |
| Watch | Remarks |
|---|---|
| 18-20 | .....1843 Unidentified aircraft sighted bearing
255oT, distant 7 miles. Screen commenced
circling convoy at 20 knots(203 rpm). 1843-Possible "Val" made a
run down port side of convoy. USS HALFORD and several ships of
convoy commenced firing..... 1957-Area clear..... ...N. P. Foss, Lt.(jg), USN. |
| Watch | Remarks |
|---|---|
| 12-16 | .....1310-Task Unit 78.3.12 dissolved in accordance with previous
instructions by visual signal of CTU 78.3.12. USS BUSH proceeding
independently on various courses at various speeds in San Pedro Bay,
Leyte Island, Philippine Archipelago to close USS MERCY in order to
transfer stretcher case. 1346-In accordance with Hospital Form "G"
the following stretcher case: GRUDEN*, E. M., F2c, 894-72-93,
USNR was transferred to USS MERCY. 1500-Maneuvered on various courses
at various speeds to go alongside USS MURZIM to receive ammunition..... ...H. N. West, Lieut., USNR. *Editors note: F2c E. M. GRUDEN was one of the wounded transferred from USS SAUNTER. |
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