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Contents
Diary
of Donald R. Pond
Diary
of John Roulet
Diary
of Charles Vonderau
Diary
of Edward Capraun
October 30/43
October 30 to November 17/43
November 18/43
November 19 to December 15/43
Final inspection on December 15. Underway for Roosevelt Base in San Pedro.
December 16/43
January 10/44
January 12/44
January 19/44
Saw first ships back from fighting fronts. Amphibious convoys leaving almost daily.
It is pretty hot here. The scuttlebutt is that we may be operating out of Pearl for four months or longer.
January 25/44
January 30/44
February 5/44
Detached at Makin to proceed Tarawa for duty with CTF 57. ComAirCenPacFor in AV 4 Curtis.
February 6 - 18
Off shore patrols from Tarawa.
February 21/44
Arrive Roi. Still blasting Jap pillboxes. Mostly mopping up operations. Marines could not be housed on beach due unsanitary conditions and destruction of barracks by Jap air attack.
One explosion killed six hundred CB'S at one spot. New Jersey is SOPA here.
February 23/44
February 25/44
Made beach party on small island. First time on beach since Pearl.
Went to Mass on Tarawa. Had good look at damage inflicted. Trees just about nonexistent. Several natives at Mass.
March 22/44
Made beach party. Many natives on islands. Living pretty much as they did prior to the war.
Boy the flies are terrible. They dive at you in squadrons.
Some of the Marines and CB's are pretty chummy with the natives. The natives lay around just about like cattle. They smell identical.
March 23/44
Received orders from Fox (radio) to leave convoy and proceed to Majuro for further assignment.
March 24/44
On various off shore patrols around harbor.
March 27/44
We didn't sight a ship on this whole operation. Received order by radio to get out quick. Back to Majuro.
April -May 10/44
Escorted sub into Majuro (Grouper) supposed to have sunk Jap CV as it was launched in Tokyo Harbor.
Convoys to 180 degrees and back. This is what is known as getting nowhere fast.
May 10/44
May 22/44
Some say we may have to go to the states. Damage can be repaired here.
Drydock. Liberty.
June 3/44
Next operation to be Marianas.
June 11/44
Target still unidentified when sighted by OOD as it cleared a rain squall. Challenged visually and positively identified as enemy submarine. Crash dived when challenged.
General quarters called on PA. Regained contact on sound. To use hedgehogs. Hanson on sound gear. McKeon on hedgehogs.
Made three runs but no definite indication of hits. Sub diving deeper, using various tactics to get away,
Sub rising. Made fourth run. Fired charges followed by tremendous underwater explosion. Depth charges put on "Safe".
Everybody thought our fantail was gone. Only damage: one cracked seam.
Air noises indicating sub trying to surface. Lost contact. Very dense oil slick. Boy, that oil really stinks.
Notified Kwajelein of contact and other amplifying data via radio.
Remained in area remainder of night. At dawn very large oil slick. Sharks are numerous around area of last contact with sub.
Proceeding to Roi when ordered by radio to return and await relief. Planes arrived on scene and CTLT 57.7.5 upon arrival said it looked like a very definite kill.
June 12/44
June 13/44
June 15/44
June 16-25/44
Fueling invasion fleet.
June 28/44
July 13/44
July 30/44
August 2/44
August 4/44
Watched fighting through long glasses. Naval units bombarding shore. Aircraft almost continually over island.
Fueling fleet units off Guam. Chief Radioman Tweed picked up off island
by DD 400 Mc Call. (Tweed has been living in the hills since Japan took Guam)
August 11-16
Town in Saipan destroyed completely by bombardment.
On off shore patrol around Saipan. Sea calm. Sighted first Hari Kari
victim. Small boy about twelve. Head was either cut or blown off. Feet
were tied with red piece of clothe. Weighted body and sank it.
Now the number of bodies floating around us is sickening. Ship on patrol
between two islands can't keep clear of floating bodies.
Up and down the coast line you frequently get the stench of decaying
flesh intermingled with a smell something like fresh water melons.
Finally detached. Enroute to Eniwetok for reassignment, some think, to the South Pacific.
August 19-26
August 26/44
August 30/44
August 31/44
September 1/44
September 2-11
Beach parties on Ra Ra Island. This is about the best beach recreation center so far.
September 2-11
September 11/44
It is ironical I guess. The captain of one of the oilers is the one who has been handing everybody lip for the last four months.
September 15/44
September 16/44
September 17-18
September 19 to October 1/44
October 1-5
October 6/44
October 10/44
October 14/44
Upon being detached from oiler with a "Well Done", she ran aground.
SOPA called for extra life jackets or mattresses. A "can" hit a mine in harbor. A large portion of the harbor was mined by Japs.
USS Wadleigh hit mine. One killed. Several air raids made on island by American planes.
At night one lone Jap bomber came over evidently for reconnaisance. Ship is blacked out at night. Standing regular sea Watches. Movies in Mess Hall.
Great number of PT Boats in here. They are going from here to the Philippines. We had one alongside. They eat all "K" Rations.
Dispatched back to Manus after quite a long stay. I guess they forgot about us.
October 21/44
Scuttlebutt is that we are going to operate out of Ulithi in the Western Carolines.
October 21-25/44
October 25/44
October 28/44
October 29 to November 7/44
November 7/44
November 8/44
November 12/44
November 12-20
November 24/44
Torpedoed AO 56 Mississinewa just before dawn. Only guys saved were those on watch. Escorts really must have ripped around the harbor dropping charges. One can rammed and sank a sub at the channel entrance.
Final result. Three Jap subs known sunk. Exact number of subs in attack not known.
November 24 to December 10/44
December 10/44
ComScreen in Alywin gave us a lot of stormy weather and called us a six hour DE." Back to Ulithi.
December 11/44
December 12/44
December 13/44
December 13/44
December 14/44
Went to general quarters this afternoon . One of the tugs had a contact. We went to look but no soap. Trug said that they had screw noises.
December 15/44
December 16/44
December 17/44
Looks like a big blow. Things are tossing around something awful. Can't sleep.
Convoy breaking up. Everybody for himself. In company with DE 740 Waterman and USS Monaghan.
December 18/44
Our present course will bring us into Luzon or Samar Pliilinpines. Ship rolling very badly. 40 to 50 foot waves. Wind 120 knots.
Alvwin dead in water and out of fuel. Sent out SOS. Other destroyers also out of fuel. USS Hull is supposed to be sinking. A CVE out of fuel and afire on her flight deck.
This afternoon they said that we should be out of it by ten tonight. Were able to come to new course at 220 degrees. Things look a little better.
Spotted light in water evidently survivors but were unable to make contact. Everybody is pretty happy that we came through it all right.
December 19/44
DD Alywin in bad way. We are standing by to assist. Weather good. Alywin finally taken in tow by another destroyer.
ComScreen transferred from aboard Alywin. We are to join fueling unit. Everyone seems to be going back to Ulithi.
I Remember Alywin was the bird who called us a "six hour DE."
December 20./44
We are to rejoin an oiler unit.
December 21/44
This is the nearest we have yet been to Luzon. Late evening joined
I
Rudyard Bay also on search. To continue tomorrow. No word from the Monaghan yet.
December 22/44
December 23/44
Two fighters intercepted as he orbited convoy. Two destroyers opened up as fighters pursued. Very fast plane. Possible Zeke ( Zero) Last seen on screen at 49 miles. He got away.
Everybody is expecting attack either tonight or in early morning. We are only half hour or so flying time from Luzon. Headed south with no return of planes as yet.
December 24/44
Christmas Eve. Some of the guys sang Christmas carols. We are all in good spirits and thank God that we are all safe.
December 25/44
Lots of mail today. Swearer DE 186 came alongside.
Spoke to stewards mate from Spence. He is one of only about Seventy five survivors. He told us his story thus ....
The ship was out of fuel and about two minutes after the generators stopped, she took a roll and didn't recover.
He was thrown down but managed to open a hatch and made his way out onto starboard side of hull of the ship.
He jumped and grabbed a kopak life jacket in water as waves washed him away from ship. The Spence went down with practically all handsin about seven minutes.
There were two others with him in the water and they spent three days floating on life jackets.
He said the others kept seeing ships on the horizon. He admits he saw a task force unit although he knew it never existed.
After being passed up one night by Swearer, they were picked up on late afternoon of next day.
Boy, there is one guy with a lot of guts.
Sharing watch with Swearer. Had a pretty good Christmas and are thankful we made out all right.
December 26/44
December 27/44
December 28/44
December 29/44
December 30/44
December 31/44
Put on show. Everything went off very well. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Very Happy New Year. McKeon sang Irish songs. He's high.
January 1/45
Put on show after prize fights. Went over pretty well. They are really a swell bunch of guys. We may buy the drums ... I hope.
January 2/45
January 3/45
January 4/45
January 5/45
January 6/45
Have new commanding officer of USS Healy on board for further transfer.
January 7/45
January 8/45
January 9/45
January 10/45
January 11/45
January 12/45
January 13/45
Underway for Leyte. Captain rather worried about Jap PT Boats. Breaking out extra small arms.
During night orders changed. We are to proceed to China Sea. As Fibber Magee said, "This Is It."
January 14/45
Entered Leyte Gulf. Here's where the Princeton and the St Lo went down not so long ago. Dale left us last night to proceed ahead to Leyte for charts and further information.
Division Commander gave orders for all hands top side to wear life belts. Also doubled ready gun watches.
We are supposed to get air support from Army all the way through. Good old "Dugout Doug".
Two destroyers and a five inch DE had sub contact and were on "Hunter Killer." They got oil. Were dropping charges all day. Believe it was a midget sub.
Sighted Leyte Island. After seeing all these other atolls, these islands look very much all right. Reminds you of the California coast.
Two more oilers joined us. Also the Dale.
Passing through quite a few various islands all day. Most of them are Jap-held but I guess they haven't very much on them from a military standpoint.... I hope.
The water is infested with a snake smaller than an eel. They are yellow and black and have rattlers. Some said they were poisonous. That's a happy thought.
Just after chow this evening, we sighted a native in his outrigger. We sighted him through the long glass. All eves are trained on the little native in his canoe. Suddenly he stands up, takes off his hat and proceeds,, shall we say, to make wee wee over the side. All secure he dons his sombrero and heads toward us.
Whether the load off his mind or the sight of the USS Navy and the "Almighty B" prompted it, he breaks out into a big smile and waves his weather-beaten hat at us.
Maybe the Japs made him wave at all the ships that went by. Anyway, it was good to get some recognition.. So we saw our first native in the Philippines.
Four Thunderbolt fighters went overhead today but other than that we have seen nothing of our air support.
I hope we get through all right. They are taking all precautions possible. We are the first unit of the Third Fleet to use this route and it's hard to tell what lies ahead. Let's hope that is all for today.
January 15/45
We are almost continuously within sight of land. All Jap-held and some have airfields, or what's left of them.
Watched Corsairs dive bombing Panay this morning. One must have hit an oil tank, flames leaped up followed by dense black smoke.
So far we are lucky. Last night the "Old Man" reported to OTC that we had been hit by two "dud" torpedoes. he's really cracking now.
The Kyne reported six torpedo wakes but "ole Mac" topped them... They hit us.
At midnight went to GQ. Enemy planes bombing Lindinao so they say. It looks like a couple of big fires burning just off the island. Secured and still no definite dope.
We are supposed to arrive tomorrow. Passed a convoy of LST's this morning. Also another convoy at midnight during 00.
It is really nice tonight. What a lovely night for a raid. The fathometer is doing loop dee loops.
January 16/45
This morning we entered the China Sea. It feels good to be out in the open again.
Met CTG 30.8 at about noon. They took our convoy and Vice Versa.
Ordered to return Ulithi via same route in company with four escorts and six oilers. Dale and Weaver left us.
Everything going fine. Sighted six motor torpedo boats off Panay. I wonder where the guys are that we met in Bablethuape. There are several fires burning on Panay.
Went to GO right after chow. They had a "bogie". Later identified. One lone Liberator dropped a couple on shore installations on Panay and started fires.
Sea is very calm. Almost too calm. We're able to get news tonight. It looks pretty good on Luzon. Today we were only 80 miles off Manila when we met other oiler unit.
Saw some "Black Widow" fighters today.. They look pretty sharp.
January 17/45
Passing between Negros and Mindinao. There seem to be several fires burning on Negros.
Just before we sighted a long line of objects all along the horizon between Negros and Mindinao.
Bangust was ordered to investigate what appears to be native outriggers. We neared one to find two natives aboard evidently bringing some supplies from Mindinao. It looked like two bags of rice and a watermelon.
They waved a hurried greeting as we again went on to join the convoy. There were about fifteen or twenty of these outriggers and they made quite an impressive sight on the horizon.
A visual message from OTC informs he will give us several Chinese survivors to be delivered to Naval Intelligence at Leyte. So we may get a chance to see Leyte harbor after all.
Nobody seems to want to claim Cohen, the prospective commanding officer of the Healey. I guess we will have to drop him off at the Jewish USO in Leyte.
January 18/45
They sure are quite a sight. From all indications they were on a fishing schooner when she capsized and they were picked up by an American ship in the China Sea.
As planes went overhead, they made motions indicating that American planes dropped food to them before they were picked up.
They are always bowing with their hands held as if they were-praying. I guess that is their way of thanking someone,
At chow, they ate cake and bread with forks. Before they began they said Grace. After they had finished, they bowed to everyone in the mess hall before leaving.
The one rather old one of the group was sobbing almost continuously. I guess he really had been through a lot.
It was very sad in a way, they had no idea of what was going to happen to them and they seemed so humble and helpless.
We entered harbor. Quite a few landing craft and amphibious craft in here. This is about the best harbor we have ever been in.
Chinese were taken off and delivered to Seventh Fleet Intelligence officer on dock.
January 18/45
One boat had one girl about fifteen years old and she was quite a beauty.. Most of the natives speak English.
We remained alongside all night. Had general quarters at about four in the morning. It turned out to be a phoney.
No movies here. All ships pretty well -blacked out.
All types of Army planes are in the air almost all day long. Islands look pretty nice but it's pretty hot here.
January 19/45
He really gave us a lot of information about the natives, their customs and also about the Japanese.
He seemed pretty well up on current events but he had never heard of Sinatra although he liked Bing Crosby.
He practically quoted one of President Roosevelt's speeches to the Philippine people.
When we asked if he had killed any Japs, he merely replied "I'm not a soldier." That just about summarized the feeling of the majority.
He said the natives carried on quite a lot of guerilla warfare from the hills. He estimated that about two hundred Japanese soldiers were killed in his town along.
Before bombardment by American planes, the Japs told the natives that there were going to be practice air raids held on the outlying islands.
Went to General quarters about nine this evening.. Started smoke generators and it all blew back at us.. Nothing happened. Air Flash White about an hour later. Secured.
General quarters again at eleven or a little before. Lasted almost half hour. Boy, what a night.
Air Flash Blue almost all remainder of night. I take back what I said about this being the best harbor we have hit out here.
January 20/45
January 20/45
Just after chow, a real sharp young lady was in one of the boats alongside. If you ask them to marry you, they say "Okay". This one incidentally is going to marry Freddie Harris.
Let's hope that we have no General Quarters after eleven when I get off watch. Guess what? GQ at 330 this morning.... Oh well.
January 21/45
Our orders to join an oiler unit going to Point Varnish received. Departed Leyte at 1300. Joined unit just returning from China Sea.
Went to GQ about four in the afternoon. They had a "bogie" but he proved to be friendly. Boy... We are off to a good start.
GQ again after "Darken Ship". Air Flash Red in Leyte which was about 15 miles away. it was the OTC's idea. He must be a drip.
January 22/45
Two of the oilers had something go wrong during the night. They will definitely be sent back to Ulithi.
Received orders ComThirdFleet. Return to Ulithi immediately to report to Eniwetok by February 6/45 for duty with Fifth Fleet. Here we go again.
Returning Ulithi. The other escorts have been out 27 days. They sure got a rotten deal.
January 23/45
January 24/45
"Bogie" this morning at 0930. Turned out to be PBM. He was not observing proper procedure for approaching surface vessels.. OTC said he was going to report him.
I hear via the grapevine that Leyte was bombed twice while we were there. One night by a single plane and by two planes the next night.
They came over the air strip ... dropped their bombs and scrammed. Maybe that was what all the AA firing was about.
I always said "There's nothing like knowing what's going on." Supposed to arrive about 1230 tomorrow in Ulithi.
January 25/45
Next operation to be Iwo Jima. 'Fueling and supply units to remain in area of operations until objective is secured.
ComCortDiv 32 and staff reported aboard Bangust on February 1/45.
January 26 to February 8/45
February 8/45
February 9/45
February 10/45
February 11/45
February 12./45
February 13/45
Fueling fleet. They are all out here. The Alaska on down. Also the Guam.
February 14/45
One DE boarded a Japanese fishing schooner. Took five prisoners. All in Jap army uniforms. Sunk schooner.
February 15/45
Passed three floating mines prior dark. Oh Boy...Stationed bow look-out. If we hit one of these ... Bango.
February 16/45
February 17/45
Patuxent (AO) had a fire this morning. Started in paint locker. One man killed. She and Silverstein(DE) to Saipan. DE 740 helped in putting out fire when "can" refused to go alongside.
February 18/45
February 19/45
332 planes downed. 177 on ground and 157 probables. 30 to 40 American airmen lost. Also bombed harbor installations.
We were 65 miles from Iwo Jima at one time today. Neosha (AO) and Dewey to Iwo Jima.
February 20/45
Storm warning out. I guess we will miss it though. Fueled in Afternoon.
Received orders to proceed Ulithi. Underway Ulithi just after dark. Ammo ship and escort to Iwo.
They had three Jap "snooper" planes yesterday. OTC claims they were intercepting our TBS (voice radio).
February 21/45
February 22/45
February 23/45
Oilers fired just out side harbor. We have only two escorts. Kyne to make emergency repairs in Ulithi. Hilbert to return to Ulithi and wait for oiler and then rejoin us.
February 24/45
Hilbert and Guadaloupe (AO) rejoined.
February 25/45
Some ship opened up on 500 KCS (radio) and OTC was pretty sore about it.
February 26/45
Sound gear on the bum. Necessary to rotate dome by hand from lower sound room.
February 27/45
February 28/45
March 1/45
March 2/45
Fired at 1330. Bangust got two sleeves. Some one said that we were supposed to go back on the fourth.
March 3/45
We are enroute to Ulithi to arrive about the fifth. Sound gear out altogether. Standing hydrophone watches only.
March 4/45
Arrived Ulithi. Anchored in Southern Anchorage.
Search 5/45
March 6/45
March 7/45
March 8/45
March 11/45
March 12/45
Our orders to Alaska have been canceled.
March 13/45
March 14 to March 17/45
March 16/45
New Radio Tech 2/C on board. Lane to make Ensign.
In March 11 Air Flash Red, two Jap suicide planes. One crashed into CV26 Sagamon and the other mistook island for large shed and crashed into said island.
Next operation to be Okinawa.
March 25/45
March 26/45
March 27/45
March 28/45
Bombardment of next objective started ! Monday March 26.
March 29/45
Bombardment of Ryukyu Islands continuing.
March 30/45
March 31/45
April 1/45
Invasion of Okinawa began today. Last Easter we were in Tarawa.
April 2/45
April 3/45
Dewey to Okinawa with AK. Kyne and oilers back to Ulithi.
One escort spotted and exploded floating mine this afternoon. Quite an explosion. Sun came out this afternoon.
April 4/45
Fueling TG 58.2 comprising new battle cruisers Guam, and Alaska. Saw Iowa, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Missouri also.
We were ordered back to Ulithi. To depart tomorrow. Heading east again. We still haven't fueled.
April 5/45
April 5/45
All oilers turned on lights. ComScreen Bangust sent to aid. Survivors were picked from water and Thornton taken in tow by tug.
Somebody is going to get it for this 'Little episode. Thornton had radar and TBS but they didn't seem to be in use. Also hearing devices.
LST went through all right. Was challenged visually but failed to reply. That helps things out.
April 6/45
Welles has three survivors from Thornton on board.
April 7/45
April 8/45
April 9/45
April 10/45
April 11/45
April 12/45
April 13/45
April 14/45
April 15/45
Five minutes of silence in memory of late President Roosevelt after colors this morning.
April 16/45
April 17/45
April 18/45
I hear that an albatross landed on the ship the night of the Thornton collision. The Thornton and LST999 just missed us before crashing into oiler. I hope our luck holds out.
The last time and albatross landed on the mast was June 10. On June 11 we got the sub.
April 19/45
News tonight told of Ernie Pyle being killed by Jap machine-gunner on Ie Shima Island just off Okinawa.
April 20/45
Scuttlebutt is that Wessen and Riddle (DE's) both took suicide planes at Okinawa.
April 21/45
Fueled this morning and then assigned plane guard for CVE87 Saro Island. Passed mail to Tappahanock (AO).
Loss of 15 ships at Okinawa announced. Mostly by suicide planes. Pringle (DD) one of five destroyers sunk.
The last beach party in Ulithi, I met a guy from Maspeth who was on the Pringle. That's how it happens I guess.
Some empty oilers to return to Ulithi tomorrow.
April 22/45
Very cool just prior to dark tonight.
April 23/45
Replenishing TG 59.3.. We were assigned to Detroit for odd jobs today.
Detroit fueled this morning. Some one said we are going back to Ulithi tomorrow.
April 24/45
April 25/45
Sighted floating mine and sank same just after noon chow. Used rifles from bridge. Finally sank. We were expecting explosion.
Tadman and Konniam came aboard from A073 Millocoma. We passed them over in a bag.
April 26/45
Destroyers and destroyer escorts fired about four this afternoon. Pretty lousy.
Yesterday one of the carrier planes shot down Jap plane at 20 miles. I guess he was just looking around.
April 27/45
Captain's Inspection at 1000.
April 28/45
April 29/45
Supposed to fire this morning at 0900.
Yesterday DD390 Talbot was hit by two suicides. Cunningham (cook) is from the Talbot. I hear she is pretty well banged up.
Early this morning the hospital ship Bountiful joined convoy. it sure looks odd out there. I guess they aren't taking any chances.
Fired at 1530. Forty got a sleeve. Hospital ship Bountiful left convoy.
April 30/45
Fired this afternoon. To fuel TG 59.3 tomorrow. I-We hear that 29 killed and 33 wounded on hospital ship Comfort.
May 1/45
May 2/45
May 3/45
Transferred "Mac" to CVE 100 Bouganville at 0900. No strain.
As of today we have steamed 86745 miles since commissioning.
May 4/45
No fueling today. Inspection at 1000.
Following message received from Capt Taylor of DE741 Weaver: Quote... Date: May 3/45 Msg Commodore. Unless war situation causes. change, four CortDivs returning to States ahead of us, for yard overhaul of about forty five days, at intervals of less than a month. Will give source of info personally.
May 5/45
Went alongside Weaver for ALNAV 64. We rate campaign ribbon. Philippine Liberation with one star.
May 6/45
Transferred VHF Aircraft receiver from CVL 29 Bataan to CL 8 Detroit.
May 7/45
Went alongside Detroit for mail. Received orders to proceed to Apra, Guam to arrive May 10. Replenish and return to TG 50.8.
Plane guard this morning. Pretty busy morning. Picked up mail from Detroit and Windham Bay at 1400.
l600 Underway for Guam in company Dale 353 and CVE92 Windhim Bay. MacAllister on CVE 100 had appendix removed and doing fine they informed us today.
May 6/45
May 9/45
May 10/45
These islands sure look good for a change. Several ships standing in unescorted. Fueled from beach.
May 11/45
Quite a few subs in harbor. "Scoop" Hamilton transferred to Naval Hospital on beach with appendicitis.
May 12/45
May 13/45
May 14/45
May 15/45
May 16/45
May 17/45
May 18/45
May 19/45
May 20/45
Mike Preseren and "Greek" Platos left Bangust for States.
Undenway at 1300 with CVE92 Windham Bay and DD353 Dale. Able Able firing. Dale returned Guam for fuel.
May 21/45
May 22/45
May 23/45
May 24/45
May 25/45
May 26/45
May 27/45
.May 28/45
Merchant ships are having a hard time of it trying to understand Naval Operating Procedure.
May 29/45
Hutchison doesn't believe it at all. He doesn't think we will go back.
Screen of main unit conducted torpedo firing runs this morning. Merchant ships carrying bombardment ammunition.
May 30/45
Merchants aren't very handy with transfer at sea. Picked up officers at 1200.
May 31/45
I hear they have been out of the States one month.
June 1/45
Still with merchants. Some one said we may go to Okinawa. I hope not. They have been hitting a ship a day up there lately. The Eisele and O'Neil (DE's) got it.
June 2/45
Transferred mail to DE Lewis.
June 3/45
June 4/45
June 4/45
At 6PM looks as though we will pass by typhoon. Fueling resumed prior dark. Course 110.
Storm getting worse. High Water. Fueling discontinued. Merchant ships are having quite a time. OTC ordered 90 degree turn and new course of 240.
Finally left merchants for themselves. They are helpless. I'm glad I'm not in the Merchant Marine tonight. For that matter, the Navy too.
June 5/45
It is impossible to sleep. Over TBS this morning heard several men lost from various ships. One was washed over on one and picked up by a ship right behind almost immediately.
CVE lost 20 planes on deck last night. DD611 Kalk in bad way. No sound, radar or radio.
DE740 must have gone south. One of the merchant ships located. OTC locating ships and reforming.
It is now 10.45AM and still pretty rough but I think the worst is over. Had Spam and coffee for breakfast this morning.. All topside watches secured except bridge. Repair parties standing by.
Boy, the guys prayed last night and everybody agrees that he was pretty scared. I was. Well, this makes number two for the "B". I wonder how many she can stand.
Lewis (5" DE) lost it's mast. Clearing up at noon. TC 30.8 rejoining. Fueling fleet units prior dark.
We lost one charge, boat canopy, flag bag cover, "GI" cans and various items but ship fared pretty well.
June 6/45
It looks like someone else will have the merchant ships for a while. Rope yarn this afternoon. Two merchant ships to Okinawa
June 7/45
Ordered to Guam with four carriers, two destroyers and three destroyer escorts. Capps DD550 is with us. They were ComScreen of oiler group during Mariana's Operation last year.
DE381 Wyman sighted mine and ordered to destroy it. Result unknown. No Field Day today. Inspection tomorrow may be called off due to work necessitated by storm
June 8/45
June 9/45
June 10/45
Fifteen planes sent up from CVE's this morning about 0730. One had fuel line trouble and had to crash. Pilot picked up by Capps. He was uninjured.
Arrive Guam about 1130. Unable to enter due crowded conditions. Pittsburgh came in with bow torn off by storm.
Berthed alongside DE740 and DE749.
June 11/45
One year ago tonight at 2300 we got the sub.
June 12/45
Scuttlebutt has it that Jefferson (CTG 30.8) has disbanded and is in Leyte. No verification on NPM.
Quite a few submarines operating out of Guam.
June 13/45
Lots of mail today. Zuercher is getting transferred. Saw four subs go out this morning.. Installing Loran.
June 14/45
June 15/45
June 16/45
June 17/45
June 18/45
June 19/45
June 20/45
June 21/45
June 22/45
June 23/45
June 24/45
June 25/45
June 26/45
June 27/45
June 28/45
June 29/45
June 30/45
July 1/45
July 2/45
July 3/45
July 4/45
Held AA firing at 1300. To rendezvous with "Garfield" tomorrow.
July 5/45
July 6/45
Went alongside Steamer Bay to pick up hand set for TBS radio. Destroyer sank mine off our port beam.
July 7/45
Supposed to meet units of the Third Fleet carrier task force tomorrow. Given a bit of a pep talk by the Gunnery Officer.
July 8/45
July tenth is to be big day. Operation is to last until August 15.
July 9/45
July 10/45
July 11/45
July 12/45
July 13/45
July 14/45
July 15/45
July 17/45
Went alongside APA84 Garrand to pick up mail for various ships in screen. Went alongside A053 Caliente for fuel and mail. Pick up mail for Bangust.
Delivered mail to DD491 Farenholt and DD662 Bennion. Secured and took up station in screen.
Yesterday Anzio and five inch DE's of Group Able enroute back to Guam sighted sub and sank same after quite a battle. Message said they recovered planking, cork; Japanese magazine, clothing and letters. Anzio is with us now.. Posit 36 degrees north 152 degrees east.
July 18/45
Orders received to go to Ulithi with empty oilers. Underway at 0930. Thetis Bay, Crowley and Bebas to report to Guam. Bebas to go to States.
Sorm warnings out for this area. Getting pretty windy and with SOA of 15 knots into the wind, we are really pitching around. We were under about as often as we were above during the night.
July 19/45
July 20/45
July 21/45
July 22/45
Bangust ComSreeen. We are only ship with sound gear operative. Oh well. Waterman DE740, DE441 Severing and Bangust screen. Six oilers. Rope yarn.
July 23/45
July 24/45
July 25/45
July 26/45
July 27/45
General quarters at 0745. Bogie identified as friendly. This OTC is like and old woman.
July 28/45
July 29/45
During fueling this morning, a mine floated close past our starboard side. A tug crossing our bow just missed it. I thought they were sure to hit it.
Another oiler while fueling sighted a mine dead ahead and just pulled away from the escort, parting lines and all.
Rope yarn this afternoon.
July 30/45
July 31/45
August 1/45
Hospital ship USS Rescue joined us last night. Heavy units held AA fire.
August 2/45
DE692 Underhill attacked and sunk by three Jap subs in Luzon waters.
August 3/45
August 4/45
Steaming at 16 knots. Operation extended until the 12th.
August 5/45
DD645 Stevenson alongside at 1030 to pick up mail. One of the carriers reported Jap balloon but later identified it as one of our own weather observation balloons.
August 6/45
August 7/45
Present course 270 degrees. Speed 8 knots. Fueling units of TC 38.3.Concluded fueling at about 0130. Rejoined "Garfield One."
Fueled from A060 at 0230. Resumed course. To remain on course all night and resume fueling tomorrow.
I guess there are supposed to be strikes on coast tonight. Sighted a school of over 100 porpoises today. They were with us until we changed course.
Starboard lookout says he thought we hit a school last night. He saw them scatter and you could feel them hit the bow. Posit at 2000 is 37.20 north 147.55 east.
August 3/45
New "Atomic Bomb" used on Japan. Posit at 2000 35 north 153 east. Course 255 degrees at midnight.
August 9/45
DD449 Micholas alongside to trade movies at 0900.
August 10/45
Rather choppy in afternoon and evening. Rain squalls. Typhoon six hundred miles south of here. Posit 37 north 149 east.
USS Borie DD704 hit by suicide in fleet raid on mainland. Borie passed us at 1300 today in company DD Abbott who had lost screw.
Borie suffered hit on signal bridge with heavy casualties. Was attempting to make contact with hospital ship in this area.
Since July fourth, we have been in port only two days.
August 11/45
USS Rescue passed through convoy at 1000. Joined. Typhoon moving north at ten knots.
August 12/45
Storm moving north northeast. Our present course will bring us right into typhoon area.
Typhoon at 32 146 at 1200. Moving east at last. We may miss it. Our position about 37north and 148 east.
Japanese surrender offer rejected and United States will accept it only if we will have supreme commander in Japan who will give orders to Jap Emperor. Other than that, both sides are agreed on "Potsdam Terms"
August 13/45
"Kings Row" reported "snooping" Japanese aircraft this afternoon (VHF).
Clearing toward evening. I guess we have passed typhoon with little to spare.
USS Rescue steaming in company. No lights. Empty tankers dispatched to "Horror" (Ulithi) prior dark.
August 14/45
August 14/45
Hospital ship USS Rescue and several other ships detached prior dark.
Just before chow this evening, a report from San Francisco radio indicated that Japan has accepted the surrender terms but as yet the Allied Government have not been notified.
"And so to bed."
August 15/45
Alongside A087. While standing off to starboard of oiler,"Garfield" reported "bogie" at ten miles. Came in very low hence was not picked up on radar.
Came in, took good look and scrammed. Planes from CVE finally airborne and pursued to 60 miles.
Plane gave all indications of being Japanese. So the Japs now must have our position.
At 0900 President Truman broadcast acknowledgment of receipt of Jap surrender.
Alongside AK19 at 1100 for stores At approximately 1130 Halsey reported "Kings Row" TF 38 under Jap air attack. No further dope.
It is sure a wonderful day for a "Kamakasi" attack. TF 38 is 138 miles from us.
Alongside DE7 at 1245. Jap resistance to stop at 1200 August 15/45.United States order to "Cease Firing" issued shortly after.
At 0415 DE 740 Waterman sank mine off our starboard quarter. Quite an explosion.
Mac Arthur is to make peace negotiations. No further dope on today's air attack on "Kings Row."
August 16/45
Hospital ship and Limey sloop "Rock bottom" joined late in afternoon. Scuttlebutt has it that we will be assigned to special duty in Tokyo Bay.
Rumor about special assignment confirmed by Capt Ashford, Operation Officer TG 30.8. Waterman, Bangust, Weaver and Kyne to be included
Halsey shot down 16 planes in yesterdays air attack. Later info indicates special assignment may not pan out after all.
August 17/45
APD's and DM's and LSV detached. To proceed to point north and remain in area. We are to join them on the 19th.
August 18/45
Mac Arthur gave Japs until Monday to "Quit stalling" or suffer the consequences,
August 19/45
August 20/45
ATF's 118 and 105, LST648, ARS10, APL24, AD17 Piedmont and AS19 Proteus. Also to have three hospital ships, AH4 Tranquility, AH13 Benevolence and IIS3 Tjibalenga (Dutch) ... OTC Capt Robbins in Piedmont.
Alongside CL65 Pasedena to pick up Operation Orders. Alongside A037 Merrimack for fuel and stores.
Typhoon at 23 north 149 east. As yet Piedmont has not joined unit. At 1630 sank mine. Remaining within TBS (voice) radio range of "Garfield" to await orders
August 21/45
Alongside hospital ship AH14 Benevolence before chow. While alongside hospital ship AH13 Tranquility, something went haywire and our fantail smacked ship. No damage. We made it on a second try.
Made mail deliveries to Duluth, hospital ship, R9 Delta, AD17 Piedmont which joined at 1000 this morning.
Also alongside A096 Tamalpais and ATF105. Typhoon at 26 north 144 east.
While going alongside Kyne, we scraped their side with our anchor. Damage to Kyne whaleboat. Rumor has it that Kyne was not on right course, "Batting one thousand."
August 22/45
AV's and AVP's also joined today. Typhoon at 30.1 north 144 east. Our 0600 posit 32.15 north 142.12 east.
Alongside GC4 Ancan at'1300 to transfer Oboe Mike mail. Rather choppy this afternoon with high wind generally subsiding toward evening.
August 22/45
During heavy rains just after dark quite a time was had by all. Visibility about Zero Limey with no radar and hospital ship with steering casualty. Put these together and add the OTC and boy, what a mess....
Hospital ship AH18 Rescue joined unit.
August 23/45
Alongside AV15 Hamlin at 1330 to pass mail. Weaver rejoined just after sundown.
ARL and LST to rendezvous with us have collided and ARL to return to Saipan
Two women war correspondents on Rescue will be transferred to fleet units.
August 24/45
"Usherette" had sound contact at about 1130 but it proved to be fish.
The USS Pennsylvania was hit by Jap torpedo plane August 12.
Storm warnings out for following areas. 27.5 north 137.3 east and 30.3 north and 130 east. General low pressure area from Iwo Jima to Hianan Island in China Sea. Pond plotted.
Our position this morning about 32 north 144 east.
August 25/45
At 1230 AGC14 Teton and PCE's 848 and 849 joined. Kyne left to deliver mail.
Night intentions canceled our orders to leave for Priest. To remain in area. Plenty rough.
August 26/45
Nimitz released. list of ships in occupation force. Bangust Listed. Generally clearing toward evening.
Occupation operation delayed two days due to typhoon conditions from Okinawa to Japan.
August 26/45
Storm center last reported at 27 north 133 east. LST Group to be at 32.30 north 144.15 east.
DE740 Waterman returns to convoy. No LST's as yet. DD564 Bowe joined this morning.
August 27/45
At 1420 DE741 Weaver detached to proceed to rendezvous with Jap sub and put prize crew from Proteus aboard.
At 1505 Bangust designated to proceed to pick up another Jap sub at 37.30 north 145 east.
In vicinity of Proteus and took-prize crew aboard from sub tender. Six officers and about forty men.
Underway for rendezvous at 18 knots. Course 352.
August 28/45
Changed course when in to 100 fathoms. All area beyond this point is heavily mined.
Proceeding to intercept Jap submarine but with little luck. Talked with planes on VHF; they are dropping food on POW camps.
0800 posit 37.07 north 141.28 east. On orders from Com Third Fleet, changed course to 192. Speed 19 knots.
Made radio contact with USS Murray who is escorting sub at 0230.
Murray to change course to intercept. Sub about 60 miles away.
At 1600 made radar contact and also TBS radio contact with Murray DD576. Approaching sub at 1640. All hands at GO. Dead in water and lowered boat. Pretty tricky business.
The Murray has a boarding party of four officers and twelve enlisted men on board sub.
Transferred prize crew to sub. Murray is circling us with all guns trained on sub. Several American planes came over and dived low.
Brought about thirty six Jan POW's and one officer aboard Bangust. POW's given thorough examination and taken to after engineers compartment. Fed eggs and Spam and secured for night.
Underway at 2015 for Sagomi Wan with sub at 9 knots. Course 247. At 2250 made contact with Weaver and her submarine.
August 29/45
Sighted Fujiyama at 0550 sticking out of the clouds. Several ships on mine sweeping duty and patrol.
Alongside DD Frank Knox to pick up SOPA instructions. At 0945 entered Sagomi Wan. Looks pretty nice.
It is odd to come into some place that so resembles a thousand spots back home. Beach is very beautiful with mountains and various signs of civilization.
Units of American and British fleets in here. Our unit that we left at sea is in here. The DE's from our division are the only ones here.
At Condition One. SOPA finally relaxed orders permitting movies and securing Condition One.
The subs I14 and H400 are alongside Proteus. The Weaver's sub was five thousand tons, eight tubes forward and carried about 125 men.
The subs are to be sent to Pearl as soon as possible. Someone said they are two of the largest subs in the world.
We are about 15 miles from Tokyo Bay. Movies on the fantail. Beach is fully lighted and resembles Far Rockaway.
At about 1300, LCVP came alongside to remove prisoners. They all waved when they left the ship. As much as to say, "We're home and you guys aren't."
Received 40 bags of mail from USS Chicago.
August 30/45
August 31/45
Arrived Tokyo Bay in afternoon. Various evidences of American bombing damage. Several sunken ships in harbor channel.
Anchored about 2500 yards from Missouri. Yokosuka Naval Base looks pretty good from here.
September 1/45
Underway at 1445 in company with DE744 Kyne and APA's 172, 138, 125, 156, 203 and AKA 84. Speed 15 knots.
September 2 to 5
September 5/45
September 6/45
September 7/45
September 8/45
September 9/45
September 10/45
September 11-12
September 13/45
Quite cool and foggy with rain squalls.
September 14-15
September 16/45
"Hot Hockey"... ComCortDiv 32 is to be ordered back before the expiration of our availability. Granted an additional six Days to expire September 20.
September 17/45
September 23/45
September 27/45
September 29/45
October 1/45
October 2/45
October 3/45
October 4/45
October 5/45
October 6/45
Fox message informs us that we will have Charleston, South Carolina as our home port... Ouch. Transmitted two messages on Ship/Shore radio circuit.
October 7/45
October 10/45
Nested with Waterman and DE740 at DesPac Anchorage.
October 11/45
October 12/45
October 13/45
Underway at 1680 with Escort Division 32 less Lamons. SOA 15 knots. To arrive October 20 at 0800.
Division Commander is "stinko"... Really raising a lot of H---.
October 14/45
October 15/45
October 16-19
Comdr Hutchison received his orders to report to RecShip Philadelphia. Duty: Executive Officer.
Taylor on Weaver to be DivCom. Have transmitted nine times since leaving Pearl Harbor.
October 20/45
Shifted to berth Dog 12 and anchored. Liberty about 1400. To be in Long Beach until November 6th.
October 21 to November 5/45
November 5/45
November 6/45
November 8/45
Stayed in vicinity overnight awaiting reply to our request to ComVestSea Frontier for tug. Other ships remained on course enroute Panama.
Ordered by CWSF to take Mulege in tow and proceed to Magdelena Bay. SOA 3 knots. Due to arrive tomorrow at Magdelena Bay.
November 10/45
November 15/45
Began transit at 1300. Finally tied up in Cristobal at 2330. Passengers came aboard. About forty five.
November 16/45
November 22/45
Walker relieved by Lind. Yerxa to be Executive Officer.
November 28/45
That was how Roulet's diary ended. Perhaps he was transfered for discharge. (drp 1999)
Scanned and Uploaded to the Bangust Pages in April 1999. (drp)
1943
1944
Mar. 29 - Tank Unit 50-17.1 left Majuro to rendezvous with Task Force 58.
5 DE's including Bangust - 6 fleet oilers - SARANAC - NEOSHO
LACKAWANNNA - NESHANIC - CLIENT - TALLULAH. TG 58.1
conducting air strikes on Yap and Ulithi.
Apr. 5 - Back to Majuro. Fleet of 5 Battleships - 7 Cruisers - 5 carriers
and 70 destroyers came in from air strikes.
May 17 - Underway for Pearl Harbor. Boiler problem. Rough Seas.
Jun. 1 - Out of dry-dock - taking on stores.
Jul.19 - At 0600 we passed ROTA island - Jap held - our planes were bombing.
Oct. 6 - Into dry-dock - sound gear problem.
Nov. 25 - Jap subs sunk in Ulithi anchorage. Miniature type.
Dec. 17 - Typhoon hit. At 2000 Navy flier crashed ahead of us. Too rough
lost his flare in darkness at 1000 yards. Winds 125 mph.
1945
Feb. 4 -TU 50.8 organized with CL 9 Detroit as CO.
17 -AO 43 on fire.
Mar. 11 -During movie on fantail - Jap suicide plane bombed CVE 26. He
then dove in to ASOR Island thinking it another carrier.
Apr. 5 -At 2300 Thornton (DD) and an LST were on a collision course
toward us. Passed by 400 ft. but hit AO Escalante. Several
men overboard. Searchlights on - looks like a city all lighted up.
DD645 Stockton sank a sub. DE644 Vammen hit a mine.
Jun. 6 -Typhoon over DE439 Conklin lost her mast. 3 CVE's not operational.
Decks are split.
Jul. 4 -Underway with 4 CVE's.
Aug. 5 -Now 300 miles from Tokyo. Carrier planes making strikes from
here. Passed many mines. DD687 Bristol collided with AC Ashtabula
and tore off 50 feet of port side.
Sept. 1 - Underway with Kyne and 5 ships to Saipan.
Oct. 2 - ComCortDiv 32 less Lamons underway for Pearl Harbor. Going
home pennant flying from yardarm past the fantail.
Nov 6 - Underway for Panama Canal.
1946
My last glimpse of the Mighty B was on 17 April 1946 when I left
the starboard side of the quarter-deck on my way to Great Lakes Naval
Station for discharge from the US Navy. The six ships of the
original Escort Division 32 were left anchored in a nest together
in the St. Johns River at Green Cove Springs, Florida, an inactive
reserve fleet area.
But that wasn't "The End". While trying establish myself in the
civilian life, I did think of the Bangust just like many others did.
Being together for at least two years is difficult to forget.
Sometime in 1951, I decided to contact Herman Meakin, our Chief
Boatswains Mate. When he left the Bangust in February of 1946 for
inactive duty, he gave me his home address in Philadelphia, so I
wrote a short letter to find out what happened to him during those
five years that passed.
A few weeks later I received a letter from Meakin with a return
address from the Naval Training Station at Bainbridge, Maryland.
With the Korean War on, Meakin was called back to active service and
he wrote saying he was going to be training recruits just as soon as
he completed his own training program. He said the navy was trying
to teach him to stop using "cuss words". He didn't say but I'll
bet they never broke him of the habit. He knew too many of the words
and used them too often to forget, so a few were bound to leak into
any conversation he ever had.
He sent me a clipping that started my inquiry of the Bangust.
It read:
"The U.S. recently transferred three Destroyer Escorts
to the Government of Peru as part of the Mutual Defense
Assistance Program. The ships transferred were USS BANGUST
(DE 739), USS WATERMAN (DE 740) and USS WEAVER (DE 741)".
(The above transfer took place on 26 October 1951)
My first follow up letter was to the U.S. Embassy at Lima, Peru.
Comdr. Jay W. Land wrote back confirming the above transfer mentioning
that after a complete modernization program at Jacksonville, Florida,
all three ships arrived at Callao, Peru on 24 May 1952. The Mighty B
appeared much as when she was new but the torpedo tubes had been re-
moved, replaced by 2-40MM, anti-aircraft guns. One on the port side,
the other the starboard side. Bumper guards were installed on each
side of the fantail, something destroyers had all along. All exposed
deck areas were fitted with strips of abrasive materials to prevent
slipping. The Bangust crew never had that luxury at any time. Finally
a big number "61" was painted on her bow with the name "CASTILLA"
lettered over the Bangust name on her stern. The Peruvian flag flew
from the fantail right behind the smoke generators.
From 1952 to 1958 the Castilla sailed to San Diego, California
once each year to train with the U.S. Navy in anti-submarine
exercises. Three months of each year, usually in the summer time,
she trained new men of the Peruvian Navy. Sometimes the training
cruise included a trip to Panama or Columbia. In 1958 she went to
Argentina to take part in the ceremonial change of government.
Under command of C6mmander Aurelio-Masias of the Peruvian Navy,
the Castilla remained as the Bangust - Flagship of the three ship
Escort--Division. The Castilla did well in various training cruises
for the officers and enlisted men were considered professional and
excellent sailors. Their fleet at that point consisted of the three
DE's, two old cruisers, four modern submarines, two AMS's and two
recently acquired Fletcher class destroyers plus auxiliary ships.
In 1959 the Castilla participated in ASW maneuvers with the U.S.
Navy task force 88 and task force 86 in 1960 and 1961. Exercises
were held off the coast of Peru and Chile.
In 1960 the Castilla sailed on a mercy mission to Chile to bring
medicine and supplies to the people of Chile after a devastating
earthquake. The Castilla went because of her superior rating in
training.
In one of my letters to Captain Masias I asked what the little
room off the radio shack was used for. He replied the same as on
the Bangust - the decoding room. He said the Communication Officer
laughed when he read my letter thinking of the little decoding work
done at that moment compared to the many hours I spent each day and
night decoding everything and anything so Captain MacNish could be
kept up to date with everything happening in the entire Pacific area.
Christmas of 1962 brought me a card from Captain Masias with the
notation "to a member of our big navy".
Again in 1963 another with Christmas wishes from the crew of
the Castilla.
Peru was beginning an era of trouble in the political area and
Captain Masias became unavailable to me. Shortly after he was
relieved of his command and I never heard from him again. To this
day every time I read anything about the armed forces of Peru, I
look to see his name but many years have passed so he may be retired
or passed away - who knows. From this point, I directed my letters
to the U.S. Embassy at Lima. The Naval Affairs officer mentioned
that future commanding officers of the Castilla would not and could
not correspond with me due to the political situation.
From 1964 - the next 15 years found the Castilla operating in,
and about Callao training men for the newer and larger ships of the
Peruvian Navy. In 1970-1971, she patroled. off the coast of Peru to
prevent U.S. fishermen from fishing in waters that Peru thought of
as protected waters. Several arrests were made during this time.
Towards the end of this period of time, she became a service and
berthing ship only at Callao.
Sometime in 1979 to show strength of the Peruvian Government in
the Interior, the Castilla sailed north along the coast of Peru,
Ecuador and Columbia where she entered the Panama Canal for the
third and last time. The East past Venezuela British Guinea,
Surinam, French Guinea and Brazil where she entered the Amazon River.
If you check a map of this area, you can see what a spectacular
journey she made on her way to Iquitos, the final destination. The
Castilla traveled about 5700 miles to reach Iquitos whereas it was
only 625 miles from Callao to Iquitos as the crow flies.
At Iquitos she again became a training ship for new men selected
from the interior areas of Peru. Usually Peruvian sailors were
recruited from the coastal regions since they were more familiar
with the Pacific Ocean and wanted to become sailors.
In 1981 I inquired of a Cleveland travel agent about going to
Iquitos to see the Mighty B. For years I thought of seeing her
again. The first thing that enters ones mind mentioning the Amazon
River are snakes, piranhas and other creatures. Imagine my surprise
when the travel agent contacted me a few days later and said that a
large motel chain had located right across the river from the Iquitos
Naval Station. The manager of that motel could see the Castilla right
from his desk and window. With this information in hand, my daughter
Betty was all for going to Iquitos with me, but again I thought about
the political situation and I decided to pass the trip up. I guess
I visioned Betty and myself locked up in some horrible place accused
of being spies trying to find out secrets of a 38 year old Destroyer
Escort.
V-200-1776................................28 June 1985
This is for the purpose of making reference to your earlier
letter concerning the ship EX-USS BANGUST -- EX-BAP CASTILLA.
In this connection, be advised that this ship has been completely
dismantled and the only thing left is the hull, which is moored in
Iquitos, Loreto.
We would like you and the rest of the former crew members of the
EX-BANGUST to visit the ship, but you would find very little or
nothing of her.
With good wishes, I remain,
Very truly yours,
Julio De Los Rios
USS BANGUST (DE 739) A 1985 end to her history.
USS WATERMAN (DE 740) Everything above the boat deck dismantled.
She is decommissioned at Callao but serves
as a power ship to active units of the Peruvian
Navy.
USS WEAVER (DE 741) - She is still in commission at Callao serving
the submarine fleet of the Peruvian Navy as
a tender.
In may of 1972 my wife Nellie, daughter Betty, son George and
I drove to the Philadelphia Naval Yard to see the HILBERT, LAMONS
and KYNE which were brought up from Green Cove Springs, Florida for
scrapping. At least 50 DE's were moored in the yard at that time.
We selected the LAMONS to inspect and were given the services of a
young sailor as tour guide. But it soon became apparent he didn't
know too much about a DE so remained in the background as I explained
the sister ship of the BANGUST to my family. We went over every inch
of the ship and I left the Navy Yard quite pleased. I thanked the
officer in charge and said "OK go ahead with your scrapping'. They
did as follows:
USS HILBERT (DE 742) Sold to Boston Metals Co., Baltimore, Md.
for $60,666.66.
USS LAMONS (DE 743) Sold to Boston Metals Co., Baltimore, Md..
for $62, 866.66.
USS KYNE (DE 744) - Sold to North American Smelting Co., of
Wilmington, Del. for $67,567-00.
October 29/43
Arrived aboard USS Bangust docked in San Pedro Lumber Yard.
Cormnissioning at 11.30. Charles F. MacNish Commanding Officer, Lloyd L Keesling Executive Officer, Roland Groff Commander Escort Division 32 on board.
Fitting for shake down. Various trial runs off Terminal Island Naval Base.
Our destination after shake down to probably be Pearl Harbor. Some seem to think that we may go to the East Coast. That was me.
Arrive San Diego Repair Base for shake down tests.
Shake down. Operating with Manlove, Long Beach (PF), Forman, Reynolds, Fair and Brockett. Fair (DE) Reynolds (DE42) Brockett (DE41)
Arrive Roosevelt Base. Entered dry dock for final checkup before sea.
Arrive Treasure Island, California. Whitehurst, Witter and Reynolds here. Weather squally.
Underway for Pearl Harbor in company DE42 Reynolds. Sea very choppy. Everybody sick.
Arrive Pearl Harbor. Just about fed up with sea duty. Hawaii is some hole. No hula girls or nothing. Just good old terra firma.
Underway for destination. Believed to be Funafuti. Sea very calm. In company with USS Pastores (supply ship)
Initiation of Shellbacks. Very good weather. Quite an affair. The ship is full of grease and hair from initiation. Result .... Field Day.
Arrive Funafuti. Still hotter. Fueled and left for Makin Island with Ajax (repair ship)
Reported Tarawa. Island is just about demolished. Very Hot. Sea unusually calm.
Dispatched to Roi with sixty Marines on board. Freighter and smaller ships in convoy. Marines very sick.
Arrive Kwajelein to pick up convoy for Makin.
Arrived Tarawa. Curtis SOPA to leave for Eniwetok. Bangust flag to be the Senior Officer Present Afloat. (CTJ 57.7.1)
Underway and arrive at Apamama about 100 miles south of Tarawa. Harbor very shallow. Island not damaged at all.
Underway for 180th. Some think we may go on through to Pearl. Lovett dropped two charges.
Arrive Majoro. Sent to assist Manlove in Hunter Killer Group about fifty miles off Majuro.
In oiler convoy. To proceed south to Truk Island and fuel fleet attacking Truk and Palau.
Various patrols and convoys out of Majuro to Kwajelein,etc.
In port Majuro. Boiler damaged. Alongside Ajax for repairs. We may have to go back to Pearl for new boiler. Underway for Pearl ... Alone ...
Arrive Pearl Harbor. This place looks a lot different to us now after being out to sea.
Underway for Roi for assignment. Three guys "over the hill".
Underway. At 1130 in evening about forty miles east of Roi. "Pip" on radar believed to be small craft, to cross our path. Rain squalls.
Arrived Roi. Fueled.
Underway Eniwetok to join oiler group.
Arrived Eniwetok and departed with oilers for Marianas.
At sea. Sighted Rota on 26th. Air raid in progress. We were pretty close at dawn. I think some one slipped up on this.
In port Eniwetok. One oiler unit of our gang was attacked just over the horizon from us.
Underway for fueling area again. Fueling fleet. Returned to Eniwetok on July 26.
Underway for fueling area with replacement oilers.
Sighted Saipan, Aquajian, Tinian and Rota. Fueling fleet units off Guam.
Sighted Guam. Things still pretty hot here.
Anchored off Saipan. Mopping operations still in progress. Island looks
pretty well civilized compared to the atolls we have seen so far.
In port Eniwetok. We are to join Third Fleet. Our duty will be with oilers as usual.
Underway to Manus in the Admiralties. ComCortDiv 32 is ComScreen. This is our first big screening job. We will cross the Equator on August 30. Another Shellback initiation.
Initiation. Rainy. Electric chair packs an extra wallop in rainy weather. Officers given a good going over. Cmdr Groff took snapshots and movies of ceremony.
Arrive Manus just prior dark. Entered after dark. Island was all lit up and everyone had idea it would be like Pearl Harbor on a smaller scale.
Boy, were we all wrong. The island looks good from a distance but in reality it is just a mass of mud.
In port Manus. We are to be operating in area around Palau. Palau and Ulithi are to be the next operation.
Saw my first game of cricket today Asked one of the "Aussies" explain it. He did. I know less about it than ever.
Underway to fueling area. Two oilers cracked up and we are to bring them in.
Arrive Manus. We will take out two other tankers.
In baseball game on Ra Ra, had collision with another guy. Result ... four stitches over left eye. Purple heart for me.
Underway for fueling area.
In fueling area in and around Palau. We were about 180 miles from Mindanao, Southern Philippines. Captain taking extra precautions against plane attacks.
Arrive Manus. Sound gear is inoperative. Possibly require dry docking.
In dry dock for repairs to sound gear. Scraped bottom. They had a piano on the ADD and we had quite a jam session.
Underway with oilers for Babelthaupe in Palau Group.
Arrive Babelthaupe Island. Island is Jap held but the Navy has taken over harbor. This is primarily a PT Boat base.
Arrive Manus. Next operation to be in the Philippines. Probably invasion of Leyte or Samar Islands.
On port Manus.
Departed Manus. Rainy. In company with Jason (repair ship) and an ammo ship.. Destination Ulithi.
Arrive Ulithi. Sea is pretty choppy. This doesn't look like much of a harbor right now. Storm warning out.
Storm warnings out. In port Ulithi. All ships standing by to get underway at half hour
Storm warnings out.
Typhoon at its peak. We may have to get underway.
Underway from Ulithi with oilers. Area of fueling to be just east of Luzon and Mindanao.
Fueling units of Third Fleet operating around Philippines..
Arrive Ulithi. While we were at sea some small Jap subs, probably two-man. entered Ulithi harbor.
In port Ulithi.
Underway from Ulithi to fueling area. Sound gear fouled up. Request permission to return to Ulithi for urgent repairs.
Arrives Ulithi. Repaired sound gear. We will leave in morning to rejoin TF 50.6 in area.
Underway for fueling area.
Weather clear. Nothing of note. Underway for fueling area.
Steaming as before.
Clear but sea a little choppy. Fueled t-from AO 56 Aucillo this Morning,.
Nothing of note.
Weather fair. With oilers to fuel units of Third Fleet tomorrow.
Windy and squally. Fueling units of TF 38. Fueling stopped in afternoon due to rough seas. Some destroyers not fueled.
We figure storm at its height. 1-7ind over 100 MPH. At 1202 we took a 62 degree roll. We cannot alter course at present. Are riding to storm.
Storm let up this morning. Bangust pretty well shaken up. No great damage. We were very lucky.
All clear after storm. All ships reforming. Some are very badly damaged. Two five inch DE's have lost their masts. So far three destroyers lost, Hull, Spence and possibly the Monaghan.
Clear with rain in evening. On search for survivors of hurricane. In company with CVE 74 Nehenta Bay.
On search. Spotted float and mattresses. No other indications of survivors.
Still on search. Went to general quarters a little after noon. Bogie at 27 miles. We came in at 090 to four miles.
Returning Ulithi. Lost one pilot and were delayed in searching for him. I guess he went right down.
Christmas. Arrived Ulithi at 1030 in morning. Fueled and berthed which took about all day.
In port. Nesting with Swearer.
In port. Not hing of note. Availability til January 3.
In port. We are going to put on New Year's show on fantail.
In port. Still working on show. Hope it comes off all right.
Went alongside Dixie (repair ship). Met two guys from boot camp.
Sunday. Went to Mass on Dixie. Worked on arrangements for show this evening.
In port. We may have to put on show on the Markab AD21. They have a swell set of drums over there. Went to Markab. Worked on some tunes.
GOT DRUMS
Underway with oiler unit. Conducted firing at 1600. Same old thing.
One oiler in trouble and we are supposed to return Ulithi but they fixed it in time. Rejoining convoy.
Oiler still in trouble. Ordered back to Ulithi. Bangust to escort. Arrived Ulithi at 1300. Fueled from A020. To berth near Dixie.
Underway at 1505. Delayed in sortie. In company with 184 Giessen and 186 Swearer. Five oilers. Weather rainy and lousy.
Still rainy and foggy. Rolling moderately. Nothing new.
Rainy and a little rough. Hope it's not another one of those things.
Still rainy and foggy. Nothing of any note. Two more oilers joined us in company with USS Dale. Weather clearing.
Made contact with other fueling units. Two CVE'S. Weather clearing.
Weather very clear. Nothing of note. Still haven't met any units of the fleet. Fleet units made landing on Luzon. We may go to that area via Northern Luzon.
Clear. Nothing of note. I guess the other oiler unit with CTG 30.8 drew the China Sea assignment. We may go to Leyte.
Clear. Got orders to proceed to Leyte in company with 2 CVE's and oilers.. Cape Esperance OTC. Dale ComScreen.
Sighted land. Weather clear. Sea about the calmest we have ever seen. Island looks keen. All green and stuff.
Clear. Sea very calm. Last night we passed through Mindinao Sea. At GQ this morning they reported. "Every plane is in the air" but that was about all.. I guess "Zeke" was-just testing the PA.
Clear. I guess the planes last night were our planes bombing. Anyway, whoever it was did a good job.
Weather clear. Passed Panay this morning. This afternoon we met a convoy of LST's, LCI's, merchant ships and transports ... about fifty ships in all.
After GQ this morning we went alongside oiler and they transferred five Chinese survivors to us.
In afternoon, went alongside Neches for fuel. Natives are all around in their outriggers.. They come alongside the ships to trade various stuff for clothing and mostly for white mattress covers.
Rainy all day. Some outriggers alongside. This afternoon we had a native on board. He was very well educated. He had been through the University of Manila.
Raining intermittently. About fifteen boats alongside at one time today. Got some Jap money and some island money.
Some of these guys claim to have killed Japs but this evening one really convinced me. He had all the soldier's credentials. He was a sergeant.
Sunday. Still raining. still hanging around for orders. We will evidently rejoin oilers in the China Sea.
Weather lousy. Seas a bit rough. I hear it's pretty rugged where we are supposed to be going.
I hear that all units of TG 30.8 have been ordered to Ulithi. Something big is in the wind. Possibly a landing on Formosa.
Weather clearing. We are supposed to be in at 0930 but convoy was delayed yesterday by breakdown of one of the oilers.
Arrive Ulithi. We will be in until 'bout February 6. Assigned to a CTG 50.8.
In port Ulithi. MacNish received his orders to ConServron 12. Happy day.
Underway. Detroit CL6 is OTC. Twelve oilers and three tugs and ten escorts. Proceeding to area. We are Com Screen.
Underway at sea. Weather very good. Hope it stays this way. Spotted our first B29 today. They sure look sharp.
Invasion to be the nineteenth. Guess we will be out about twenty to thirty days.
Sunday. Clear and a little choppy. Rope yarn today so we fueled this afternoon.
Clear. Cooler. Relieved of ComScreen by five inch DE. Pittsburg and two CVE's plus destroyers joined unit. Total number of ships in convoy 42.
Clear and cooler. Sea very calm. Forming fueling units. To fuel fleet this afternoon.
Weather cooler. Wisconsin and Missouri escorted us all night. Task Force 58 completed fueling. Screen fueled this afternoon.
Clear. Sea very calm. Cruising as before. General quarters this afternoon for AA firing. ComScreen (5" DE) almost knocked the plane down twice.
Sea a little choppy. Much cooler. Raids on Tokyo began today. To last three days.
Clear. Sea Calm. Raids on Tokyo continuing. Really doing a swell job. I heard today that up to June we rate three stars.
Other oilers and ammunition ship joined us. Task Force 58 to return to refuel tomorrow. ComDesRon 19 -on ComScreen replacing five inch DE.
Fueling TF58. Invasion of Iwo Jima started today. All reports Tokyo raid very good.
Clear. Cooler. Sea calm. Passed OMM from DE43 Mitchell this morning.
Sea choppy. Very much cooler. Will provision from oiler tomorrow. Mostly fruit and spuds.
Much warmer. Steaming as before. Kyne DE744 is having trouble with shaft bearing.
Warm, very humid. Arrive off Ulithi. Discharged oilers and took on six more.
Sea choppy. Returning to fueling area at best speed. Raids in Tokyo to be tomorrow.
Sunday. Sea choppy. All hands topside ordered to wear life belts.
Sea a little calmer. Reports indicate that CortDiv 32 is not scheduled in next Fifth Fleet operation.
Fueling units of TF58 that raided Tokyo Sunday. Task Force fired just before dark.
Sea choppy. Rather cool. Fueled this morning. This evening some ships went back. Still quite a bit of talk about our not being in next operation. Sound gear still being rotated by hand.
Cool.- Sea slightly choppy. Marines: on Iwo Jima finally getting started. OTC requesting that our mail be sent to Ulithi rather than Eniwetok.
Fair. Sea calm to choppy. Supposed to fire this morning but postponed until afternoon.
Sea calm. Very much warmer. Fueled units of TF58 including Wisconsin, Missouri,, Hornet, etc....
Sunday. Rope Yarn. Some destroyers collided during night. Tugs were assisting this morning. I understand they were part of TF58.
In port. Be here until about the eleventh. Next operation to be in Bonins I believe. We will probably be included.
In port. Nothing of note.
In port. Those destroyers that collided at sea arrived today. One is pretty well banged up.
In port. We will have to go alongside tender to lift radar antenna.
Went to General Quarters during movie this evening. CVE26 Sagamon afire and still burning. Reported that Jap plane crashed on one of the atolls. No further dope.
Went to GQ at noon. "bogie". Believe it to be radio remote controlled target plane. Plane crashed just off atoll.
Went to General Quarters after quarters. "bogie". That's all ...
Alongside Prairie for repairs. Secured Fox. Inspection.
Comdr Charles Fox MacNish relieved of command by Lt. Walker.
Underway with oiler unit. Departed at 1300. In company Hilbert and Kyne.
Sea very choppy. Rain. Nothing of note. Radio Tokyo claimed today to have attacked four or five carriers in Ulithi on March eleventh.
Sea still very choppy. No dope.
Sea settling some. Sun was out this morning. Exectuive Officer announced over PA this morning that we were slow in manning our dawn alert GQ stations.
Sea calm. Rain squalls. Joined Tf, 50.8 this morning. OTC in Detroit. Two CVE'S, oilers, AK's and tugs.
Sea choppy. Still no sunshine. We may go back to Ulithi if sea quiets down so oilers can dump remaining cargo. Captain's Inspection.
Sea rough. Storm warnings out all around. Fueling of screen canceled today.
Easter. Sea pretty rough. Holiday routine. I guess if this keeps up we will be eating Spam and crackers again.
Rough. Supposed to fuel units of TF 58 but delayed due to rough seas.
Still pretty rough. Fueling delayed further. We are headed west in hopes of finding smoother weather to finish fueling operations.
Clearing seas. Still choppy with pretty big swells.
Calm weather. Improving. We are designated to go back to Ulithi. detached just prior dark.
About 2000 another slower convoy of LST999, A@7Dll Thornton and several others came right through convoy. Result .... Bango. The Thornton was rammed twice. Once forward and second time amidships.
Calm. Steaming as before in company with Borie, Welles and Lamons I believe.
Calm. A little warmer. We are supposed to arrive tomorrow. Commodore thinks we will be in port about three days.
Sunday. Arrived Ulithi about 1000. First trip for mail. In Northern Anchorage until the twelfth.
Nothing of note. Ship being painted according to new camouflage plan.
Nothing of note. We leave on the thirteenth.
In port. General Quarters at 1200. Secured in about ten minutes. Bill Early left today.
In port. GO or rather Air Flash Red followed closely by Flash White. We may go out tomorrow. Hilbert to leave South Anchorage.
In port. Beach party today.
In port. Beach party. Supposed to leave at 1600.
Shifted to North Anchorage and returned before dark to Southern Anchorage.
Underway at 0545 for fueling area. Screen Kyne, Dale (DD), Brockett, Bangust ComScreen. Five oilers and ammo ship Mauna Loa. Sugar Love (SI. Radar) on the blink.
At sea. Calm. Kyne sank: mine this morning. Note: 1600 Japanese planes downed so far around Okinawa.
Sea calm. Stiff breeze. Sligthly cooler. Heard President Truman's speech this morning. Sugar Love radar still crapped out.
Clear and cooler, Sea very calm. Joined TG 50.8 ... Passed mail to Detroit and several other ships (oilers) this afternoon. Two mines sighted this afternoon. One sunk.
Sea choppy. Foggy with rain squalls. Inspection at 1000. Today the all-out offensive to take Okinawa is to start.
Rather choppy. Cooler. Weather clearing. All-out offensive on Okinawa started.
Cool. Sea a little choppy. Fueling units of TG 59.1..Rope Yarn today. There are some nice looking ships out here today. Some one said that the Shangri La was supposed to be out here.
Calm. A little warmer. Atmosphere is very hazy. We cannot see all ships in convoy.
Sea calm. Overcast. Fueling units of TG 59.4 including Alaska, Guam and others.
Sea calm. Sun out today. Fueling units of TG 59.4. New carrier Shangri La is in that unit.
Sea calm. Rather overcast. Field Day. Refueling units of TF 58. TF 58 fired almost all afternoon.
Calm and sunny. Fueling units of TG 59.3... TG held firing (AA) drill. All hands topside ordered to wear helmets as precaution against shrapnel. They are firing right over us.
Rather choppy. Much cooler. Fueling units of TF 58 today. We fueled this morning.
Sunday. Choppy. AH6 Comfort (hospital ship) was bombed last night at 127.30 east 25.30 north. Proceeding on own power.
Slightly choppy. Cool. Passed mail to AO's 58, 59, 74 and Detroit. Went alongside DD610 Hobby for replacement part for sound gear.
Calm. A little warmer. Fueling units of TG 59.3 ...
Calm. Fueling units of TG 59.4... Hitler reported dead in the news tonight. That's the fifth time.
Rainy. Supposed to five at 1300. MacAllister had appendicitis attack last night.
Rain. Unidentified plane at about 25 miles at 0100. General quarters. Plane passed over convoy all lit up. Presumed to be friendly.
Rain. No dawn alert this morning due to rain. No fueling- today.
Sunday. Choppy. Fueling "Lucky and Gang" TG 58.3. Rope yarn. Fueled from A058 Manatee.
Clear. Fueling "Rowdy and Gang" TG 58.4. Transferred officer from CVE Windham Bay to Bouganville CVE 100.
Calm. Very much Warmer. VE Day in Europe. went alongside CVE92 to transfer requisitions etc. They sent plane to Guam today.
Rainy at general quarters this morning but cleared later. Due in Guam tomorrow morning.
Clear. Calm. Much Warmer. Sighted Guam just after dawn alert. Held firing at 0800. B26 for each ship.
Shifted last evening to berth alongside the Egg Harbor. Dale alongside. Stores and ammo all day.
In port Guam. They say the beach parties are good. Red Cross and all.
In port Guam. Berth 6 alongside Egg Harbor and Dale. General quarters at 0900. Flash Red. Some ships made smoke. Secured at 0930.Flash White.
In port Guam. Beach party on Gab Gab Island. Pretty nice layout. "Scoop" was cut. Doing well.
In port Guam. Shifted to berth alongside "can". Been hit pretty badly by suicides. Dale alongside. Painting radio shack.
In port Guam. Nesting with Dale and DM32 Lindsey. Lindsey took two suicides in Okinawa. 107 Casualties.
In port Guam. Nothing of note. Spano broke his ankle. Transferred to hospital on Guam. Beach Party.
In port Guam. Beach party.
In port Guam. Hilbert and Griener arrived today with CVE 100 Bouganville. Supposed to leave tomorrow.
In port. Made all preparations to get underway at 1300. MacAllister back aboard.
Underway. Dale rejoined just prior dark. They had Air Flash Red in Guam last night.
At sea. Calm. Alongside CVE this morning and picked up ice cream compliments of the Windham Bay. Good ice cream.
At sea. Choppy and cooler. Passed out two bottles of Coke to each guy. Rope yarn
At sea. Choppy. Joined Jefferson at dawn. Received officer from DE41 Brockett. Fueled from A071 Escalente this morning. Field Day.
At sea. Clear and cold. ,Missouri joined us from Guam. Inspection at 1000. Missouri and escort left convoy at l330. DD 645 alongside to pass official mail.
Fueling "Goblin", "Flashy", and "Kodak" TF58. Unit designation now changed to TF 38. I hear Halsey was on the Missouri.
Calm. Rope yarn. I hear we may have AA today.
Detailed to escort two merchant ships, Waco and Lumenbourg Victory with Conklin DE439 and Weaver DE 971.
Calm and cooler. Message from "Handlebar" informs us that he has it on good authority that we are seventh escort division to go back to the States.
Raining early morning. Transferred Lind and Zuercher to merchant ships for operations purposes.
Very clear and calm. Field Day. We almost lost the two merchants last night. The Master of one saw a falling star and thought it to be a flare (white submarine warning signal) and they changed course without orders.
Clear and warmer. Inspection (Lind). Fueling units TF 38. Large group held Able Able firing.
Clear. Fueling units of TF 58. Still with merchants. Transferred doctor to merchant to examine skipper over there. He has asthma.
Clear. A little warmer. Transferred doctor to merchant ship again.
Rain last night. Overcast. Fueling units of TF 31. Message from PM ordered fueling discontinued in preparation for typhoon weather which is 330 miles from our 0900 position
I sure hope it isn't bad. These merchant ships loaded with ammo and not enuipped with radar are nothing to be around during a storm.
Typhoon. Barometer hit 18 which is pretty low. High winds. We still have control though. Set engineering special detail at 0430.
Hazy and choppy. Fueling units of TF 38. Most of the big boys. Alaska, Guam, Missouri, etc. I guess Halsey is with this bunch.
Windy. Tankers consolidating this morning. CVE92 Windham Bay has damaged flight deck.
Clear and warmer. Steaming as before. Enroute Guam. No inspection today.
Hazy and warmer. Enroute Guam. Rainy in late evening.
Sunday. Clear and warmer. Enroute Guam. Held Able Able firing on sleeve at 0900. One sleeve. Sighted Guam at 1030.
In port Guam. Brockett and Layman came alongside late last night. Secured radio watch at 0800 to DE749.
In port Guam. Fueled from AOG39 at 0900. Returned to berth alongside DE38 Wyman.
In port Guam. Stores just about all day. They are having a "Smoker" on one of the CVE'S.
In port. Nothing of note. To have "Smoker" on CVE Attu on Sunday.
In port. Moored in nest as before.
In port. As before.
Sunday. "Smoker" on Attu tonight. Went to Mass on Salanoa CVE. Smoker went off pretty good.
Nothing of note. Skipper of DE740 awarded Bronze Star for action and rescue of February 17 during fire on oiler at sea.
In port. APA230 Rockwell pulled in this afternoon. Sullivan and I went over to see Joe. He sure looks good. He's been out three months.
On beach to deliver RDF Gear to Supply Depot Guam. Typhoon warnings tip at sea.
In port Guam. Moored as before. DE740 Waterman underway from nest. Guess we will be in Guam until July first.
In port Guam. Captain's Inspection. There is talk we are to go to Saipan tomorrow. Party... McKeon, Dave and I.
Underway at 0630 for Saipan. Weather clear. Arrived Saipan at 1500. Fueled from Y0158 and berthed in Love 17.
In port Saipan. Weather clear. Harbor and beach look very much different from the last time. Mass on Nevada. I didn't go. Rope Yarn.
In port Saipan. Beach party canceled. No transportation. Splitting radio watch with Wyman.
In port Saipan. Joe McCall's ship came in today. Recreation party.
Wyman DE38 and Brockett DE41 to go back to States. Plenty of B29's coming and going.
No Field Day. No recreation party.
No Inspection. Beach party.
In port as before. We are to leave on the fourth. Next operation to be air strikes and bombardment of Japan... This is it.
Sunday. Went to Mass at Camp Calhoun on beach-. Beach party in afternoon. Had a good look at Saipan Island today.
In port. Nothing of note.
In Port. To get underway tomorrow. Fueled from Y0185 this morning.
Underway at 0730. To sortie with Reynolds (ComScreen), Rennison, McClelland and Bangust. Four CVE'S.
At sea. Calm. Met fueling unit this morning. This is the biggest unit we have had out here yet. Detroit still CTG 30.8. The fueling group is to be split into three units. We are in "Baker."
Calm. Rain in evening. Inspection at 1000. Supposed to hold exercise air attacks and torpedo attacks on formation this morning.Canceled.
Calm. Planes up at U90U for scheduled air exercise. Quite an exhibition The planes are trying to simulate Jap "kamakasi" attacks.
Sunday. Hazy and hot. Dawn alert at 3.25 AM. Fueling units of TF 38. Halsey is on Missouri.
Clear but hot. Fueled from A048 Neosha this morning. I believe Group Able has left us as of yesterday. Several oilers and two escorts returning to Ulithi.
Choppy and hazy. Rain last night. Air strikes on Japan today. Very good results from all indications.
Rainy and much cooler. Ten oilers, two CVE'S, one tug and eleven escorts left in convoy. Position at 0600 154 degrees 32 degrees.
Field Day. Provisioned from AK this morning at 0630. Quite cool.
Choppy and cooler. Inspection at 1000. Orders issued by CTG 30.3 to prepare for rough seas and high winds this afternoon and night.
Pretty choppy and generally miserable. News tonight told of Fleet hitting typhoon off Kyushu.
Clearing up but still pretty cool. Rope yarn. July 16/45 Clear and cooler. Able Able firing for ready gun crews at 1500.
Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri bombarding Japan.
Clear and calm. Another unit of AO's, AK's and two APA's joined us from Leyte this morning. Also two cruisers.
Rather choppy. Group Able joined this morning. Picked up mail from oiler. Delivered mail to 740 Waterman.
Clearing but rather choppy. No dawn alert this morning. For a while I thought we were in for another one of those things.
Very calm and warmer. No inspection. Still Enroute Ulithi. General quarters at 1530. Sub contact. Evacuated as fish.
Clear and warmer. DE 10 Bebas has sub contact. Dropped charges. No results.
Sunday. Clear and warm. DE10 Bebas and Crowley DE303 and Thetis Bay left for Guam this morning.
Hazy and cooler. Sighted Ulithi at 0800. Fueled from A020. Nested with DE740 Waterman.
To leave 1700 on the 25th.. Waterman into dry dock. Will remain in port. Shifted berth to pick up ammo.
Underway at 1700. In company with five oilers and one AK. Screen Canfield, Dionne, Deede, Elden and Bangust. "Chelsea two" is ComScreen.
Calm and Warm. General quarters at 1130. Bogie identified as friendly. Test fired three inch at 1500. No field day. To be held tomorrow.
Calm and much warmer. Early this morning OTC called for condition one three times but Bangust did not go to general quarters. One escort had mine at 3.00 AM.
Choppy. Storm warnings out north of us. To join Garfield tomorrow.
Sunday. Choppy. Joined Garfield at 0630. Fueled from A053 Caliente at 0700. Picked up mail from A044 and A047. Picked up Dr. Meany from DE744 Kyne.
Choppy. Cloudy. Steaming as before. Sighted British fueling unit this morning.
Alongside Thetis Bay to transfer Dr. Meany. Transferred Pascoe's gear to him on DE743 Hilbert.
Clear but quite choppy. Fueling units of Third Fleet. We are ComScreen of our fueling unit.
Clear still rolling. Field Day. Pretty rough. Heavy ground swells. Steaming in company with units of Third Fleet and Task Force 38.
Clear and Calmer. Inspection at 1000. Fueling units of TF 38. Secured fueling at about 1300. Sighted quite a few carrier planes in the air this afternoon. Able Able firing from heavy units.
Clear and Warmer. Fueled from A053 Caliente at 0800. Rope Yarn. Assigned to Group Able and detached to proceed to rendezvous with Fleet at 28 north 149 west.
Sunday. Cooler and breezy. Steaming as before. In company with O'Bannon and others.
Clear, calm and cool. Position at 0500 32 north 143 east. Steaming as before at SOA of 16 knots. To meet and refuel Fleet tomorrow. Course 043.
Hazy and much cooler. Position at 0300 37.48 north 148.43 east. Sighted Fleet at about 0400. They were behind us all night.
Clear and cool. Steaming as before. Supposed to fuel Fleet on the eleventh.
Clear and cool. Field Day. Steamin' as before. Dawn alert at 0309.
Rather hazy and cool. Rain squalls. Inspection at 0900. Conducted Able Able firing for automatic weapons at 1000.
Calm but very overcast. Fueling units of TG 38.4. DE744 Kyne alongside to transfer Division Medical Officer to examine CO of Kyne. Recommended hospitalization.
Sunday. Cool and rather choppy with occasional rain. Fueled from A024 at 0500. Squalls. Sighted units of TF 38 steaming on our port bow.
Rough and choppy. Typhoon recurving to north east. Present course due west. Oiler replacements delayed due to storm.
Clearing but still choppy. Fueling Third Fleet including British Task Force. British task force composed of one CVE, two CA's one battle wagon and ten destroyers.
No further word on Japanese acceptance or rejection of Allied surrender ultimatum of August eleventh
Very calm and warmer. Fueled this morning from A040 and proceeded as ordered to CVE to pick up VHF Radio Receiver for further delivery.
Calm and warmer. Field Day. DM9's, ADP's, and DM's sighted and joined this morning.
Calm. Cool. Slight breeze. Inspection at 1000. Ten US transports attacked by Jap planes yesterday.. So Solly.
Slight breeze and cooler. Deployed at dawn to form fueling dispositions. Fueling "Pay check" TF 38.
Sunday. Slightly choppy. Holiday Routine. Sighted amphibious units this morning. Fueling fleet units.
Choppy. Cooler. Fueling units of TG 38.3. Order by Commander Third Fleet at 1000 to form TG 38.80 comprising following ships:
Choppy. Mail delivered to Bangust by DD669 for further relay. Alongside ATF 118 Menatee with mail and movies. Also AS19 Portetis and ARSIO.
Rain squalls but generally clearing. TG 30.8 fueling "Paycheck" TF 36 units today. Seaplane tender joined this morning.
I guess we have missed typhoon but right now we seem to be in quite a bit of the aftermath.
Clearing but still rather choppy with big swells. Still waiting orders to Tokyo. Kyne left at 1220 to rendezvous with USS Iowa.
Still pretty choppy. Inspection at 1000. Two YMS's joined this morning. We are supposed to be in Tokyo area by the twenty eighth.
Choppy and pretty rough at our slow speed. Typhoon warnings still out. This evening we are to leave for Point Priest (about 130 miles from Tokyo) to rendezvous with LST Group
Sunday. Very choppy. Rope Yarn today. AV's and AVP's detached to form separate disposition. LST Group to rendezvous with this group.
Surrender terms to be signed on '.Missouri. Spruance and Fifth Fleet brought out of mothballs for the occasion.
Clearing but plenty choppy. Alongside LST to pass mail. Underway for Point Priest.
Picked up radar contact of Japan at 0255. Changed course to 288. Sighted land at 0550 near town of Shioya, Honshu at 45 miles.
Maintained Condition One after dawn alert. We are passing over heavily mined waters.
In port Sagomi Wan. Underway at 0530 to fuel from A033. Returned to same berth.
In port. Rainy. Underway at 0431 to provision from AK. Ordered to Tokyo Bay at 0900. Underway for Tokyo. Foggy and squally.
In port Tokyo. Foggy and squally. Received orders to escort APA's to Saipan and return.
Underway enroute Saipan to arrive prior dark 5 September.
Much warmer and calm. Sighted Saipan at about 1200. Entered and anchored. No dope on our estimated time of departure.
In port Saipan. Overcast. Fueled from Y0112 at 1030 this morning. Stores all day long.
Underway at 1445 to Tokyo with Kyne. Four merchant ships. Speed 10 knots. Blackout regulations canceled. movies topside.
Warm and clear. Steaming as before.
Sunday. Warm. Holiday Routine.
Very warm and calm. Steaming as before.
Enroute Tokyo. Steaming as before. Received orders to report to CTG 30.8 for duty.. Ouch.
Arrive Tokyo Bay at 1030. Anchored. Granted six days at anchor availability by CTG 30.8... "Sports."
In port. Shifted berth to Yokosuka Ko. Nested with 744, Erben and Uhlman. Liberty.
Transferred men to 11067 Cache for Uncle Sugar.
Storm warnings out for Bay area. Liberty in Tokyo.
CTG 16.6 asked all ships to report date that they left States. Bangust heads list.
Another storm warning. All liberty canceled.
At 1500 CortDiv 32 received orders to States via Queen Fox. To be routed to Pearl, San Pedro and thence to report to CinClant in Panama for duty. To leave October 2.
Fueled from A062 and anchored in bay. At 1600 broke out "Homeward Bound Pennant." All division here except Lamons who is in Okinawa. Taking on passengers for States. 39 enlisted and 2 officers.
Clear and cool. Underway at 0645 for Uncle Sugar. ETA Pearl is October 10 at 0930.
Pretty rough. Very high winds.
Clearing and slightly warmer.
Clear and calm. Weaver alongside to pass movies.
Clear and cool. About 1800 miles out of Pearl this morning. Weather very nice. I hope it stays as such.
Sunday. Clear and rather cool.
Arrived Pearl at 1000. Undress whites uniform of the day while entering harbor. All hands at Quarters.
In port Pearl Harbor. Liberty. Very few sailors in town. Lots of "Waves" and "WACS"... This place has changed a lot.
In port. To leave at 1700 tomorrow for San Pedro. Lamons has not arrived Pearl as yet.
Liberty at DesPac until 1200. Lamons arrived this morning. Took on more passengers.
Sunday. Steaming as before. Rope Yarn.
We have 84 enlisted passengers including those picked up in Pearl.
Steaming as before. Weather very good. Quite cold ...
Foggy. Sighted US about 0700. Berthed at Pier 264 and disembarked passengers.
In port. Liberty.
Shifted berths at 1000 to fueling docks. Completed fueling. Liberty granted until 0000.
Clear and cool. Underway at 0630 in company CortDiv 32 less Lamons. Enroute Panama.
Overcast and pretty choppy. At 2000 sighted Mexican coastal steamer Mulege in distress. Finally determined cause of trouble and attempted to take in tow-.... Unsuccessful.
Clear and warm. Arrived Magdelena about 1300. About ten houses on beach. Anchored Mulege one mile from beach. Very pretty country but very desolate. Enroute Panama.
Clear and very hot. Arrived Panama, Balboa at about 1000. Anchored awaiting transit with rest of Division which is scheduled for today.
Moored. Rainy. Fueled and provisioned this morning. Liberty granted until 0600 tonight. Underway at 1030 for Philadelphia.
Clear and very cold. Entered Delaware River at about 0700. Moored alongside Pier 6. Liberty at 0330 PM.
Started five day leave. To be in Philadelphia about twelve days.
with
Bangust 'till the end and ComCortDiv 32 vessels until scrapped
Dec. 9 - First rough weather for crew off of San Diego.
15 - End of shakedown. San Diego to San Pedro.
18 - Drydocked at San Pedro.
25 Big- Christmas Dinner.
30 (Harold Sax) walked off the pier with rifle.
Jan. 7 (Richard "Waite) made a prisoner - stealing ships mail.
Transferred to Terminal Island.
San Pedro to San Francisco. Arrived next, morning.
15 Underway at 1400 for Pearl Harbor with DE 42 Reynolds.
Rough weather all the way. Damaged shield on #1 - 3" gun.
Most of crew terribly seasick. (First 3 weeks of March were spent by fleet
consolidating gains at Majuro)
23 - Lt. L. L. Keesling went to officers club - had a few too many -
fell and broke his arm. Detached - F. A. Lind now Exec. Officer.
26 - Picked up SS214 and escorted sub back to Majuro.
21 - Water coming in to sound room and motor room.
28 - Dry-docked at Pearl Harbor Crew scraped bottom of ship -
repainted same - all night job.
7 - (Ruiz) in brig on bread and water.
12 - Jap Flag painted on bridge for sinking of sub.
27 - to July 13th - Remained at Eniwetok - R & R.
7 - Out of dry-dock.
13 - Arrived Babelthroup in Palau Islands. 30,000 Japs on it.
Armed guards entire ship during the night to prevent boarding.
28 - Issued winter weather gear for proposed trip north to Alaska.
18 - Waves now 60 ft. high. 62 degree roll to port side. Some life rafts
and floater nets already missing. At 2200 storm calmed somewhat.
Damage assessment is 1 main engine out. 2 life rafts gone. 2 depth
charges gone. 8 depth charge arbors gone. 8 barrels of lube oil -
most of life lines gone - Gun 21 - 20 MM off mount. Emergency fire
hoses and evaporators gone. Smoke generator out.
20 - Rudyerd Bay CVE 18 - Thorn (DD647) and Bangust formed TU 30.8.7 to look
for survivors. Told to go northwest along Phil. Island coast
searching until enemy contact made.
22 - With Swearer (DE) - Nehenta Bay CVE 74 and Gatling DD 671.
At 1550 just 220 miles Luzon we made enemy contact. Enemy aircraft
spotted. Carrier planes from CVE took off to intercept. Gatling
fired a few rounds of 5" ammo - but too far away. Plane left and
so did we.
Jan 18 Five Chinese from Amoy, China taken from AC Nantahala
19 At 2300 we opened smoke generators on stern of ship. Threat of
an air raid Wind changed suddenly and brought smoke back over
the Bangust. #3 - 3" Gun and 40 MM gun crews got most of it.
I fell from loading platform of 40 MM to Main deck about 25 feet
and landed on my tail. Years later a doctor asked me if I ever
fell. At first I said no then recalled this incident. in 1967
I was operated on for a disc problem. No claim submitted.
12 -Lt. E. B. Walker, Jr. reported. Relieved C. F. MacNish as CO.
McNish to Guam where his harbor work experience is needed.
8 -DE184 Wesson hit by suicide pilot.
25 -We exploded horned type mine.
26 -At 1300 We went through what was probably a mine field. Five
explosions. At 1500 carrier planes shot down a Jap close by:
10 -Arrived Guam with CVE's Windham Bay - Salamana - Bouganville and
Attu. Their storm damage very bad. About 50 miles out of Guam
we joined Cruisers Pittsburgh and Duluth. Both out here only
11 months - both wrecked in storm. Pittsburgh bow completely
off - Duluth split in middle of ship.
23 -Proceeding to Saipan alone. Arrived 1500.
5 -Met TU 30-8. Total number of escorts now 36. 72 ships combined.
At 1200 set course northward for raids on Tokyo.
7 -Divided force into two groups, for safety purposes. 0245 met TF 38.
10 -First carrier raids on Tokyo.
16 -CVE torpedo plane reported he attacked Jap sub. DE Wm. Taylor
left to search for it.
17 -DE Wm. Taylor made contact and sank sub on first hedgehog attack.
23 -Arrived at Ulithi.
25 Underway again for last phase of operation.
29 -Met TG 30.8 and TF 38.
7 -First Atomic bomb dropped.
8 -Carriers striking Honshu.
15 -At 1810 radio news announced it was all over. At 1200 Com3rdFlt.
assigned Bangust, Waterman and Lamons for special duty. Later
Bangust assigned to bring in surrenderd Jap sub.
19 -Off Japan waiting for MacArthur to-arrive for formal entry
into Tokyo Bay.
27 -Still waiting. With TF 35 Cruisers Pasadena and San Diego and
other DD's and DE's. At 1500 Weaver and Bangust designated to
to go 300 miles northeast to take possession of 2 Jap subs reported
surfaced and waiting for us. We went alongside Proteus AS 19 and
took a 45 man prize crew aboard.
28 -After steaming all night, we met the Jap sub. 135 Japs on board
Prize crew put on board sub. 45 Japs put on Bangust.
Identified as I 14. Built in 1945 at Kure.
30 -Underway to Yokosuka Naval Base.
5 - Arrived Saipan.
7 - Underway with Kyne for Yokosuka.
(Several 'Bangust men insist to this day that we were in Tokyo
Bay when the signing was completed, on the Missouri).
13 - Arrived Yokosuka.
10 - At 1000 we arrived at Pearl Harbor.
13 - At 1500 Underway for USA. 86 passengers plus 174 crew on board.
20 - Arrived San Pedro at 0800.
30 - Ships party at Lakewood Country Club.
7 - At 1000 started towing Mexican coastal steamer Mulege to
Magdalena Bay. (See my story)
15- Arrived at Balboa, Panama Canal at 1200. Through Canal at
night. Raining very hard. Passed into Atlantic at 0100.
16 - Refueled. Left with our 6 DE's at 2100 for Phil. Navy Yard.
22 - Arrived Phil. Navy Yard at 1300.
Jan. 9 - Left Phil. for Green Cove Springs, Fla. Reserve Fleet.
11 - Arrived Jacksonville, Fla.
17 - Bangust reached destination - Green Cove Springs, Fla.
23 April 1946
The above was my last entry in my personal diary kept while serving
on board the Bangust. At that time I thought I'd never see her or
hear of her again.
Early in 1985 I wrote the Peruvian Embassy in Washington, D.C. to
inquire of the Castilla. Under date of 28 June 1985 I received the
following letter.
Naval Attaché Office
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr.. Vonderau:
Rear Admiral, Peruvian Navy
Naval Attaché
Embassy of Peru
So at this point I come to the end of the Mighty B after a
42 year career in the United States and Peruvian Navies.
And so - the "Final End"
What Happened to Escort Division 32 as of November 1989?
Charles G. Vonderau
The above was Vonderau's diary with information he has compiled until the final day of the Bangust Also the final disposition of Escort Division 32. It is sad to see our ship gone. She was good to us. (drp)
Main Deck