6. CHURCH LANE
CALCUTTA, INDIA
EN3-11(CT) A8-21
Ser: 01139
9 September, 1945
From: The U.S. Naval Liaison Officer, Calcutta, India.
To: The Director of Naval Intelligence.
Via: The Senior U.S. Naval Liaison Officer, I-B Theater.
Subject: USS Houston
Reference: (a) Aluslo Calcutta Despatch
05080h to DNI.
Enclosures: (a) Summary submitted by Lt
(jg) Harold S. Hamlin USN, and Lt (jg) Leon W. Rogers USN, with:
1. Statement of Lt (jg) Harold S. Hamlin USN
2. Statement of Lt (jg) Leon W. Rogers USN
3. Statement of Comdr W. Epstein (MC) USN
4.
Statement
of Ensign C D Smith USN
5. Statement of Harrell, J. A. Yeo/ 3/c
USNR
6. Statement of Ensign John B. Nelson USN
7. Statement of Ensign P R Clark (PC) USN
8. Statement of Thomas, C. L., S1c, USN
9. Partial log as kept by survivors 10.
Log
of USS Houston for February
as reconstructed by surviving officers in Batavia, 1 June 1942.
11. Abridged copy of a battle account of the Houston's engagements on 27 and 28
February and 1 March 1942, as compiled by the group of surviving officers in
Batavia, Java, about 1 June 1942.
12. Narrative of the Houston's survivors from the time ship
was sunk until survivors were evacuated after armistice, as dictated by Lt (jg)
L. W. Rogers USN.
(b)
Reconstructed Houston log (Notes of Coxswain Madson)
(c) Main Battery log, 27 and 28 Feb.
1942, together with notes on personnel in the turrets.
(d) Disposition of USS Houston personnel at "Bicycle
Camp", Batavia, Java.
(e) Statement of Pay Clerk K L Shaw,
USMC
(f) Statement of Lt E M Barrett,
USMC
(g) Memorandum regarding Chaplain
Rentz USN
(h) Statement of Sgt John E. Morgan,
#23 Am. Eagle Squadron
(i) Statement of Ens John B.
Stivers, USNR
(j) Statement of Biechlin, L. E.,
Carpenter, USN
(k) Statement of Demoen, A. R., Ch.
Elec. Mate, USN
(l) Further log notes.
(m) Statement of Ens. H. A. Levitt
USN
(n) Statement of Blair, E. S. CSM
(o) Further log notes.
(p) Statement of Ens. J. M. Hamill,
USN and Ens. John B. Nelson, USN
(q) Personnel transferred to
Australian-American-British and Dutch working camp - NIKI (1o5 kilo)
(r) Commendation for John Edward
Barty and Richard
1. In compliance with instructions received from the United
States Senior Naval Liaison Officer, New Delhi, Aluslo, Calcutta coordinated
with the appointed officials of the U S Army, India-Burma Theater, in the
interrogation of repatriates, ex USS Houston,
who have been in the hands of the Japanese since March 1, 1942.
2. Between the dates of 28 August and 7 September, a total of
two hundred sixteen U S Naval and U S Marine Corps personnel arrived at
Calcutta:
U S Navy
U S Marine Corps
Total
From Date Officers
E M Officers
E M
Bangkok 28 Aug 1
1
" 29 Aug 2 44
* 4
50
" 30 Aug 3 42
5
50
" 31 Aug 1
1
" 1 Sept 6
6
Saigon 5 Sept 14
** 2
16
" 6 Sept 1 70
71
Singapore 6 Sept 3
3
Kumming 6 Sept
5 5
Singapore 7 Sept 9
1
10
Kumming 7 Sept 1 1
1
3
_____ _____
_____ _____
_____
8 190
1 17
216
3. All repatriates were transported on arrival to the 142nd U
S Army General Hospital for routine medical examination and treatment when
found necessary. Six officers and twenty-five men have since been released from
the hospital and despatched to the United States by Air Transport Command
planes one lot leaving on evening of 7 September and another lot on morning of
8th September. The remaining repatriates will be similarly transported
immediately following release from the hospital. All repatriates received an
advance of US $100.00 immediately on arrival. In some instances a second
payment of $100.00 has been made. Clothing from the supplies of the U S Naval
Group, China, India Unit, was also promptly issued.
4. During hospital processing interrogations have been
conducted. From the rough notes on varied types of paper, which had been
hoarded and hidden by officers and men since 1 March 1942, the enclosures have
been made by the U S Naval Liaison Office in Calcutta. Although notes taken are
incomplete and more data is expected soon from Bangkok, the enclosures are
forwarded for proper assembling, copying, narration and distribution to other
interested U S Naval activities. Due to limited stay of these repatriates at
the 142nd U S Army General Hospital these notes have been hastily transcribed
and in some instances photostated, in order to permit prompt despatch to the
Director of Naval Intelligence.
5. Copies of questionaires, prepared by the MIS-X Section of
G-2, Hdqtrs of U S Army, I-B Theater, are now being copied and will be
despatched to DNI with any data subsequently received from Bangkok or Saigon.
6. A certificate of incomplete interrogation has been given
to each repatriate, and pay accounts, and service records have been
reconstructed in each case.
7. A copy of enclosures (a) to (r) have been given to Lt. Don
Chafey, USNR, and Lt Ralph J. Coursolle, USNR. of the Dependents Welfare
Division of the Bureau of Personnel who are in this theater for the purpose of
obtaining casualty information.
George C. Miles
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosure (a)(1)
STATEMENT BY LIEUT.(jg) HAROLD S. HAMLIN, USN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
When the first order to abandon ship was given turret one, which was out of action
due to a flooded magazine, was completely flooded and abandoned. All life rafts
forward had by this time been launched. Ensign O. Sellers put out a fire in the
life jacket locker after which life jackets were issued, and as the order to
abandon ship was repeated, the men began to go over the side. I remained on the
forecastle until the list had increased to about 30 degrees at which time
Ingram, S2c, Clymen, Bm1c, and I abandoned ship over the port bow. No one else
was left on the forecastle. About two minutes later the ship was struck on the
port side by either a shell or a small torpedo, and capsized to starboard,
sinking shortly afterwards. I swam for an island in Bantam Bay reaching it at
about 0300. I was unable to find any signs of habitation, but encountered
Axelson, S1c, and Kocher, S1c.
About an hour later a landing boat approached and while Kocher and Axelson went
inland, I attempted to escape to the sea but was captured while attempting to
cross the beach. I was taken out to a Japanese Merchant transport, in which a
regiment of Japanese sailors, commanded by a Captain was embarked. I arrived on
board before sunrise.
I was questioned extensively but well treated, fed well and given clothing.
Next day I was taken to H.I.J.M.S. Natore,
questioned further by an officer of the fleet staff, and sent back to the
transport. The following day (March 3) I was transferred to the transport Somedong Maru, where I found 10 more
survivors of the Houston and
about 200 other assorted English and Australian prisoners, mostly from the Perth.
On March 9, 1941 we were transferred ashore and sent by motor truck to Serang
and confined in the native jail.
HAROLD S. HAMLIN, Jr.
Lieutenant, (junior grade),
United States Navy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosure (a)(2)
STATEMENT BY LEON W. ROGERS, LIEUT.(jg), USN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
When the word was passed to abandon ship, I went aver the side from the port side
of the boat-deck. I was wearing a life jacket but had no life raft. I swam
clear of the ship, which was still being fired upon, and started swimming
toward an island a few miles away. I swam alone for about two hours, passing
many men swimming with life jackets and several groups on life rafts. After
about two hours in the water, I joined a group on a life raft with Lt. Hodge in
charge. We held onto the raft and by swimming pulled it in the direction of the
Java coast. The current was strong and progress very slow. By about 0300 there
were no Japanese ships in our vicinity, but about an hour before sunrise more
ships were sighted and it became apparent that they would pass very close to
our raft. I left the raft because I thought I could reach the beach before the
ships passed us. At dawn when I was about two hundred yards from the beach, it
became apparent that the Japanese were landing at this point. I was afraid that
I would be caught in the middle of a battle on the beach and so gave up trying
to land. I drifted with the current through the anchored ships within fifty or
one hundred yards of several ships, but was not molested by the Japanese nor
was any attempt made to pick me up. When I had drifted clear of the ships I
started to look for Mr. Hodge's raft but never saw it again. There were three
other rafts in the vicinity, on the first there were about thirty men
(enlisted) without life jackets. They said they had been picked up by a
Japanese motor launch and forced to throw away their life jackets. They were
treated very well but were subsequently put back on the raft without their
jackets. This raft was crowded so I swam to the next one where I found Ensign
Mallory and Pay Clerk Lafferty with about thirty enlisted men most of whom had
life jackets. They had several wounded with them and were trying to paddle the
raft with some bits of wreckage but were making very slow progress. I left this
raft and tried to swim to a small island (subsequently identified as Toppers
Island) but the current was too strong and I returned to Mallorys' raft. Again
I left the raft and tried to swim to another island (subsequently identified as
Sangling Island) but again the current was too strong and I returned to
Mallorys' raft. I left this raft for the last time at about 1000 Sunday morning
March first and tried to swim to the Java mainland. At about noon I joined
another life raft which was not very crowded (19 men). In this raft the men had
torn strips from the bottom of the raft for paddles and were making fair progress.
When I joined them they were about four miles from the beach. We continued
paddling all afternoon and finally reached the beach about thirteen miles south
of Anjer Kidoel light just at sunset. We slept that night in a native village
where we were well treated and given drinking water but no food nor dry
clothing. Two or three of the men walked on with native guides toward Laboehan
rather than sleep in wet clothing. The rest of us were too exhausted to walk
any further. The next morning March second shortly after daybreak we started
walking south heading for Laboehan. At Tjarita we met several more Houston survivors who had been with Lt.
Dalton. They told me that Mr. Dalton had gone on ahead to Laboehan to arrange
transportation to come after any survivors along the coast and to arrange for
boats to go out looking for rafts and survivors in the water. I stayed in
Tjarita all that morning resting. Pony carts came up from Laboehan and were
taking people back four at a time. Australian survivors from the Perth began arriving about 1000. By about
1400 most all of the Americans had left so I took the next cart. We had hardly
got started when we met a group of excited natives coming from the opposite
direction who argued with our driver. The driver then made us get out and said
he couldn't take us because "Japan was coming". We decided that he
meant the Japanese were in Laboehan. The natives in Tjarita became very
restless and excited and insisted that we leave. We walked about a mile south
of the village and sat down at the side of the road to rest and decide what to
do. There were about fifty of us the greater part Australians from the Perth. While we were here Manista, A.,
CGM, arrived from Laboehan where he had left Lt. Dalton. He said that the
natives were rioting there; that we could get neither food, rest, nor shoes
there. Lt. Dalton was leaving for Menes about twenty-five kilometers inland. At
Menes he expected to get shoes, clothes, and directions for Pandeglang where
the Dutch Army was making its stand. Our part started walking south intending
to take a chance on going through Laboehan to strike the railroad which led to
Menes. We arrived at Tjaringin at about dusk and decided to turn inland there
as the natives said the road led to Menes. Progress was very slow as most of us
had no shoes,and were in a weakened condition. The trees on both sides of the
road had been felled across the road by the Dutch and we had to climb over them
about every twenty yards. At about 0300 (March third) those of us with no shoes
laid down in the road to sleep while those with shoes went on towards Menes. At
daybreak we started out again. The party had kept together during the previous
night but now began to straggle out. I was one of the slowest and finally
walked into Menes about 1000 with the Perth
seamen. I arrived at Menes just as Lt. Dalton was leaving with a party of about
thirty men. The natives were looting the town and all of the Dutch had left,
but we decided to get a couple of hours sleep in an abandoned hospital where
Lt. Daltons' party had spent the night. Lt. Dalton and his party left for
Pandeglang and I didn't see him again until we met in the Serang jail about ten
days later. Two more Australians arrived at about this time and we slept until
about noon. We got directions from natives and started walking towards
Pandeglang where we expected to find the Dutch Army. We walked until dusk and
then stopped in a native village where we found about ten stragglers from Lt.
Dalton's party. The next morning we split up into groups of five or six as we
had found out that a small group had better luck at begging food and water from
the natives. We started on towards Pandeglang and about noon began to see signs
of Japanese influence. A few scattered Japanese flags were seen. The natives
insisted that we keep going towards Pandeglang and implied that they didn't
want to be found with us. They were definitely hostile but didn't actually
molest us. We decided that without shoes, weapons, or knowledge of the country,
and with the natives hostile; it was hopeless to leave the main road and try to
hide in the hills. We decided to go on towards Pandeglang and give ourselves up
to the first Japanese that we saw. We straggled out again so that I reached the
outskirts of Pandeglang with one Australian seaman. Natives put us in a horse
cart and took us to the local jail. This was about 1800 and a few minutes later
three more Houston survivors were
brought in. There were no Japanese at the jail but a Japanese flag was flying
over the front entrance. The five of us were put in one cell and spent the
night there, the only inmates in the jail. The next morning (March fifth) Lt.
R.R. Ross, U.S. Navy, was brought in with a party of about twenty-five men;
part Houston survivors and part Perth survivors. I was kept in this jail
for one week during which time Japanese soldiers brought in two or three
prisoners almost every day. We were all given a thin straw mat to sleep on, one
cotton shirt and a pair of cotton shorts. We had two meals a day consisting of
a large helping of steamed unpolished rice and a small bowl of some kind of
locally grown "greens".
A doctor and a nurse from the local hospital came each morning and held
"sick call". Most of the men had cuts and blisters on their feet;
some had minor shrapnel wounds; several had great raw places under each arm
from swimming in life jackets without shirts. Two Australians had been badly
cut up by natives with machetes. All were confined in bare cells with wooden
sleeping platforms and a covered wooden tub for a toilet. The cells were
designed for five native prisoners each and although there were as many as
eight men in some cells none had to sleep on deck. Japanese soldiers made
frequent inspections but did not stay at the jail. The native jailers continued
to run the jail under Japanese supervision. With the exceptions of the meagre
diet, hard sleeping spaces, and poor toilet facilities, treatment in general
was not too bad. There was adequate cold water for washing and sufficient
boiled water for drinking. We were permitted out of our cells in the prison
yard (behind high stone walls) a couple of hours in the morning and a couple of
hours in the afternoon.
We had plenty of rest and sleep once we became accustomed to sleeping on wooden
boards, but it was difficult to gain strength on the prison diet.
On March eleventh, there were thirty-six Americans in the Pandeglang jail. I
was taken to Serang on this date along with ten other Americans and a number of
Australians. Here we were placed in the local jail where we found a large
number of other survivors.
Leon W. Rogers
Lieut.(jg), U.S. Navy
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosure (a)(3)
STATEMENT OF WILLIAM A. EPSTEIN, COMMANDER (MC) U.S. NAVY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
After sounding abandon ship on the night of February 28, 1942, at about 2400,
I, Commander WIlliam A. Epstein, went over the port side of the ship on the
quarter deck. The Chaplain was near me at that time. While still on the side of
the ship I was hit on the head by the double pontoon float and had a severe
laceration of the scalp. Upon going into the water I managed to get ahold of an
aeroplane float, to which Felix Yeo1/c, was holding. There were eventually
seven men (Comdr. Epstein, Felix Yeo1/c, Hedrick QM2/c, Cooper P3/c, O'Brien
Pvt., Willerton Yeo2/c, Beeson Sea1/c, a Chinese Mess Attendant, and Carter
QM3/c) on the float trying to make Java, but the currents were too strong for
us, and we could see a landing was being made. After about five hours in the
water, we decided to try for the island with the light house on it, which was
Topper's light house. After about four hours or 0900 on March 1, 1942, and with
considerable difficulty we managed to get near the island and with help from
Australian surviving sailors from the H.M.S. Perth
get ashore. During the last hours Marsh Pvt, USMC, and one Chinese boy name
unknown* died in the water, and the Chinese boy's body floated away. Marsh was
buried on Topper's Island on 1 March, 1942. On March 9, 1942, we were machine
gunned by two destroyers. Seven men (Willerton Yeo2/c, Hedrick AM2/c, Abrams
Yeo3/c, Beeson Sea1/c, Cooper P3/c, Tiefel Sea1/c, and Carter QM3/c) decided to
leave for Sanglang Island via raft on March 12, 1942. Four remained on Toppers
Island until March 24, 1942, when we surrendered to the Asst., Wedana, who came
to the island from Anjer. We left Toppers (Comdr. Epstein, Felix Yeo1/c,
Goodson Sea1/c, O'Brien Pvt., USMC) on the morning of March 24, and arrived at
Anjer later in the morning and arrived Serang at 1700 when we were put in the
local prison.
Abrams Yeo3/c, Goodson Sea1/c, Tiefel Sea1/c, and Medrick QM2/c, had made the
island with difficulty swimming.
Chaplain Rentz was unable to keep up and drowned sometime during the night.
* Chinese Mess Attendant was Ducy Tsao, CC2/c.
Wedana is "Chief of Police".
William A. Epstein
Commander (MC) U.S. Navy
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosure (a)(4)
STATEMENT OF C.D. SMITH, ENSIGN, USN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
After leaving the ship about 0100 I swam rapidly away and had arrived at a
point approximately five hundred yards on her starboard quarter when I felt the
concussion of a torpedo which hit amidships to port. Turning my head I saw the
"Houston" roll over on her starboard side and remain afloat. Most of
the fires topside were extinguished. By the aid of a brilliant full moon I was
able to see the hulk still floating for as long as she remained inside my
horizon (about one-half hour). I organized several small groups of swimmers but
since I had no life jacket I soon outdistanced them. The current was setting me
westward at about two knots so I headed for a peak visible on Java to the south
and swam across current arriving at a tiny island three hundred yards off the
coast (later discovered to be Pt. Tamposo) after moonset about 0430. (Estimated
distance swum from ship about ten miles.)
Two men, Huffman, J.W., Cox., and Bird, F1c, and I crawled ashore and slept
till daylight. At that time we discovered five others who joined my party; Lusk
Sgt., USMC, Beatty, S1c, Wilkinson, S2c, Batchelor, S1c, and Johnson, W., S2c.
At 0700 we swam to the mainland during a rain squall to avoid being spotted by
patrolling aircraft and surface ships. When we reached high ground we could see
the Japanese convoy unloading below us about five miles down the beach. A three
stack light cruiser, three destroyers, and several patrol boats (about same
size as our Coast Guard cutters) were on patrol duty along with several
Japanese SOC's and flights of five or six Navy 96 (fixed undercarriage)
fighters. Later that morning Bukowsky, Pvt., USMC, joined us. We remained in
the vicinity until nightfall Monday hoping to get a native boat but the
presence of soldiers drove us off. We travelled eastward through the mountains
until Tuesday noon when we entered a native village for food. The natives
appeared friendly and fed us. However unknown to us they sent for Japanese
soldiers who arrived about 1330. We heard them coming and attempted to escape
back to the hills but the natives ran with us and disclosed our hiding places.
Since we were weak from hunger and exposure we were forced to surrender. The
Japanese took us back to the village headman's house and fed us. We remained
here several hours tied up while the gospel was spread by a Malay-speaking
Japanese. We were then marched about fifteen miles eastward down the coast road
and spent the night in an occupied native village. The next morning Wednesday
we continued our march till about 1300 when we arrived at a native market place
where we rested for a couple of hours. Then we were placed in a truck and
driven about ten miles to a small village at the intersection of two highways.
We remained here about four hours tied up in an empty store. About 2100 we were
placed in a truck which joined about one hundred others travelling east. About
2300 we arrived at Serang and were taken around to several private houses until
0100 when we were taken to the Bantam Park movie house. Sunday evening, I was
moved to the jail along with the rest of the Allied officers present. At no
time after reaching the shore and until I was taken to Serang, did I see any
Americans other than those with me.
Men seen by me in the water: Capt. Ramsey,USMC, good shape swimming with
life-jacket. Gary, CFC, in good shape swimming with life-jacket. Elliot, CFC,
in good shape swimming with life-jacket. Radio Electrician Gillet, arm broken
below shoulder on plank surrounded by about ten men. Roque, S1c, good shape
swimming with life-jacket. Bubnis, S1c, good shape swimming on plank. Smith,
WT2c, good shape swimming without life-jacket. Stewart, QM1c, good shape
swimming with life-jacket.
Charles D. Smith
Ensign, U.S. Navy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosure (a)(5)
STATEMENT OF J.A. HARRELL, YEOMAN THIRD CLASS, U.S. NAVY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
When word was passed to abandon ship, I went down a line into the water on the
port side. I swam the rest of the night, all of the morning of the first and
until about 1400 or 1600 in the afternoon when I was picked up by the raft upon
which were Lieut. R.R. Ross and Lieut. (j.g.) Weiler with about thirty men. We
had make-shift paddles from a wooden raft which we had broken up. The balance
of the day we paddled to make shore but the tides cross currents were too much,
so that we did not make the beach till about 1800 or 1900 of the second of
March. When we made the beach, most of the men took a drink of cocoanut milk
and went to sleep. However some of the men left to try and get some help and
also to get food. Most of them did not come back.
The morning of the third of March, Lieut. Ross and Ah Chie, Matt1/c, left to
see if they could get any help to come to the wounded.
Lieut. (j.g.) Weiler was wounded in two places. His left elbow had a wound
about three inches in diameter and deep enough to see the elbow joint; the
other wound looked as if it were a cut, it was about one inch wide and four
inches long, in line with th floating ribs and about one-half inch from the
spine. It was from one-half to three quarters of an inch deep.
The balance of the men with Lieut. Weiler in charge remained at the shack where
we had made the beach until noon of the fourth of March, at which time we left
and walked for about four or five miles till dusk. We then went to the beach to
spend the night. When we arrived at the beach there was a Dutch lookout station
(which was number fifty-four) with three houses, which the Dutch had abandoned,
where we spent the night. During the fifth and sixth all of the men left in
two's and three's so that at the night of the sixth there was only Lieut.
Weiler, Jack Bruge, Sea/1c, E.A. Heubler, Bug1/c, and myself. There is an
exception, for we had picked up a wounded Australian from the H.M.S. Perth by the name of Gordon Webster. We
remained at the lookout station till the afternoon of the eight when we went to
the Wedana's (the Chief of Police) in Laboehan. On the night two more wounded
Australians came in, they were sub-Lieut. Gavin Campbell, whose left leg was
broken, and Dennis Maher who had wounds on his left shoulder. We were all very
well treated by the Wedana and given plenty to eat.
On the tenth we saw our first Japanese soldiers. About fifty of them and their
officers came to Laboehan. They questioned us about how many ships there had
been with us, and we told them two. On the twelfth the Japanese sent a doctor
to look us over. He said that the wounded could be moved so on the morning of
the thirteenth we left fo Menes. We spent the nights of the thirteenth and
fourteenth in Menes. On the fifteenth we went on to Pendaglang where the
wounded were placed in the hospital and the rest of us were put in prison.
On the twenty-seventh we were told by the native from the hospital who came to
dress out wounds that Lieut. (j.g.) Weiler had died on March twenty-sixth. This
was later verified by the doctor, who also told us that he had given Lieut.
Weiler's Class Ring to the Japanese.
While I was in the water I also saw another raft with Lieut. Comdr. (SC)
Chisholm on it, but during the night it became separated from us and we did not
see them again.
There were only three Americans at Pandeglang after the death of Lieut. (j.g.)
Weiler and they were Jack Burge, Sea1/c, E.A. Heubler, Bug1/c, and myself. We
remained at Pandeglang till the fourteenth of April, at which time we went to
Serang, where we spent the night and on the fifteenth we left Serang for
Batavia in a convoy of about twenty seven trucks. We arrived in Batavia the
afternoon of the fifteenth of April and were put in "Bicycle Camp".
John Allison Harrell, Yeo3/c, 407-25-75, (V-3), USNR
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosure (a)(6)
STATEMENT OF ENSIGN JOHN B. NELSON, U.S.NAVY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
When the word was passed to abandon ship, I went to my abandon ship station and
assisted the men assigned to that station in unshipping, provisioning and
launching our life raft. All men were cautioned to secure their life jackets
properly and not to jump until we had launched the raft. As soon as we launched
the raft I jumped overboard to starboard and swam clear of the ship, which
still had about 4 knots way on. I then swam to my raft and found there Ensign
J.M. Hamill and 2nd Lieut. E.W. Barrett and approximately fifty men. None of
the men were wounded or injured except O'Brien, R.L., GM1c, who had injured his
chest slightly jumping from the ship into the raft.
During this time the Japanese had continued shelling the Houston and several of their salvos landed
near by. We soon passed out of the line of fire and in company with several
other rafts headed toward a small island later identified as Pandjangklaad. We
soon realized that the current was against us and therefore changed course
toward a high peak on the Java side of the straits.
About 0130 we sighted a submarine on the surface. Ensign Hamill, 2nd Lieut.
Barrett and I kept the men quiet until it disappeared. Soon thereafter two
destroyers, several transports and at least one motor torpedo boat passed us
close aboard. I am certain that we were sighted, because the soldiers on the
transports were shouting and pointed at us. They made no move to molest us
however. The transports soon anchored, off shore, and we could hear
preparations being made for a landing force.
At about 0300 Lt. Comdr. V.J. Gaibraith and Warrant Machinist E.V. May joined
our party. We continued on toward our objective, hoping all the while that we
could land before the Japanese and contact the Dutch.
When dawn came, we could see that the Japanese had already landed and we knew
it was useless to attempt a landing in the vicinity. We therefore got upon the
raft and let the current carry us southward.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosure (a)(7)
AN ACCOUNT OF MY EXPERIENCE AFTER THE BATTLE OF SUNDRA STRAITS.
BY: P.R. CLARK ENSIGN(PG), USN.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I went over the port side of the quarterdeck, down the net rigged there,
shortly after the second abandon ship order was passed. At that time the ship
was listed to starboard and moving slowly to port. I swam clear of the ship and
then started for what seemed to me the nearest land, directly south. I met no
life rafts from the ship and only a few people in the water. When I could make
out the shoreline I became alarmed at the rate the current was carrying me
westward so I discarded my gun and shoes. Approximately and hour after sunrise
I made shore as did Lt. Fulton. We met Lt. Payne, Lt. Gallagher, and three men
nearby and fashioned shoes from our lifejackets, (Lt. Payne was the only one
who had retained his shoes.)
We suspected the Japanese had landed some troops to the westward so went
eastward until we found a native hut and obtained drinking water. We left
continuing eastward in search of food, finding only green bananas and cocoanut
palms we did not have the strength to climb. We sat down beside a rice paddy
and decided to stay together and to make all possible haste toward Tjilatjap
after getting some shoes. We climbed a hill and found a native hut the
occupants of which gave us some fresh cucumbers. In the near distance there was
a Japanese light cruiser and on the horizon several destroyers, presumably the
force that accompanied the transports that we had seen while swimming to the
beach.
While at the native hut Japanese observation planes kept flying about. We were
all very tired and had a short nap in a hut at the top of the hill. At about
1500 we started down the hill toward the road we could see, Lt. Payne and Lt.
Gallagher starting to go to a house on the road. The rest of us staying behind.
Shortly a soldier was seen to our left on the road. The soldier looked like a
Japanese from the distance and Lt. Fulton went toward him. However we soon saw
the white flag with the red circle and many more (about 20) soldiers on the
side of the hill we were on, on the road. These soldiers had a machine gun
covering our descent of the hill and had us spotted long before we saw them.
They had all seven of us sit in the grass in the shade, fed us biscuit, candy,
and cigarettes until about 1630. Carpenter Biechlin and 6 others were captured
about this time.
The soldiers put a shoulder pack on each of us and we marched until almost dark
with reasonable rest periods, eastward, to a small village. Except for cuts and
bruises on our bare feet we were not too uncomfortable. We were fed rice and
divided cans of some kind of meat among us. We were bedded down on palm fronds
under an open tile roofed building under guard.
The next morning March 2, we were marched with no packs or any encumbrances to
Bantam Bay over a road on which many trees had been felled crosswise and had
not been cleared. We passed two or three 3-inch antiaircraft guns set up on the
road near the landing. We were halted at a small clearing on dry ground where a
small supply center had been established, in sight of the beach. An armed
merchantman was on its side and a black painted merchantman was sunk straight
down with a red cross painted on boards hung over the side. We sat around most
of the day doing very little work and were crowded together closely at night
and allowed to sleep. The next day and the day after (March 3 & 4) we did a
little work unloading trucks and landing boats, principally gasoline drums,
whiskey, beer, rice and truck spare parts. During this time one of our sailors
(Stewart) and a Dutch merchant captain arrived badly in need of medical
attention but none was received.
About 2130 March 4, after we were bedded down as best we could, we were routed
out and marched to a fair concentration of troops, past the local GHQ and
transmitters. Then the party was divided and two white men and a native were
put to pushing each coolie cart, heavily laden, over an almost impassable road.
Rock mires, ruts, etc., made it necessary for the Japanese soldiers to help us
often. At about 0200 the other part of our group met us on a graded dirt road,
they were pushing larger carts. It rained sometime during the night but luckily
we kept on, else we would all have caught cold. Sometime after daybreak we came
to a macadam road which bearing generally southeast all the time brought us to
Serang at about 2100 March 5. On this trip our unshod feet suffered terribly,
and the light diet of rice and a persimmon during the heat of the day had very
little in it to help our fatigue. Truly by the time we arrived in Serang we
were going on nerves only. After wandering around town for about two hours we
were herded into the Bantam Park theater, converted from a church, and allowed
to sleep.
The next morning, March 6, natives were separated from whites, officers from
men, and Houston from Perth sailors.
For the next 31/2 days, until the officers and some
men were taken to the jail we each had two small loaves of bread per day and
water. During the day we had to sit up on the tiled floor which we could sweep
but could not wash down and at night we slept on the bare floor. While I was at
the theater there no bathing facilities at all and the head was most primitive.
During the second day the Japanese installed a machine gun in the balcony which
could train on any of us, and once during my stay in the theater a guard's gun
was fired accidentally, hurting no one but scaring everyone.
P. R. Clark
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosure (a)(8)
STATEMENT BY C.L. THOMAS, S1c, USN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was attached to the U.S.S. Stewart
(224) when the war started. On February 7, 1942 I had an attack of acute
appendicitis and on February 8, 1942 I was transferred to the hospital ashore
in Tjilatjap to be operated on. This operation never took place. On March third
I was sent to the Hospital at Tjakchow where I reminded overnight. The Dutch
doctor here told me that the Japanese were only eighteen miles away and that
there was a chance of being evacuated if I went back to Tjilatjap. I returned
to Tjilatjap on March fifth where I found that three transports had left the
day before and two had been sunk in the harbor. The docks were afire and there
were Japanese ships, in the vicinity, so I was sent to the Australian hospital
in Bandoeng. During this time I had spent three weeks on a liquid diet and the
remainder of the time on a soft diet. Also l had had a second acute attack of
appendicitis. I stayed in the Bandoeng hospital until March fifteenth and
during this time recovered my strength to a great extent. During this time the
allied forces had capitulated and the Japanese had occupied the town. On March
fifteenth I was sent to the allied headquarters along with all of the other
hospital patients who could be moved. On March sixteenth I joined the British
"6th Heavy" and on March seventeenth marched about twelve miles to a
railroad center near Tjebetoe. Here I joined the 131st Field Artillery U.S.A.
On March thirtieth we were taken to Batavia and put in a prison camp in the
harbor district. On May fourteenth the "131st" was moved to Bicycle
Camp and here I joined the Houston
detachment.
Charley Laurence Thomas, S1c, USN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosure (a)(9)
Partial Log as Kept by Survivors
------------------------------------------------------------------------
De Ruyter
(CL) Electra
Witte de With Exeter (CA) Jupiter
Houston
(CA) Encounter
Kortenaer Perth (CL)
Java
(CL)
J.P. Jones
Edsal
Edwards
Ford
Feb. 27,1942.
On Friday afternoon Feb. 27, 1942 the Allied Striking Force was returning to
Soerabaja after making a sweep of the Java Sea N. of Madoera Is. the previous
night in search of a Japanese force. The enemy fleet had not been discovered
and the only contact with the Japanese had been a bombing attack in the morning
with no damage to the Allied ships.
The Houston was in readiness
condition II. Two of the Houston's
planes had been damaged during previous bombings, and one had failed to rejoin
the ship after the bombing on 16 Feb. The only serviceable plane had been left
in Soerabaja the evening before as a night action was expected. Expended CO2 in gasoline
storage.
At about 1330 just outside the minefield the Houston
fired on a plane with Japanese markings which resembled a "Lockheed
Hudson". Only about 12 rounds fired, no hits observed and plane turned
away without pressing home an attack.
About 1415 a PBY reported by radio a Japanese force of cruisers, destroyers,
and transports in the vicinity of Bawean Is. and heading S. (Contact report: 55
men of war 203 transports). By this time we were in the minefields. At 1515 the
Allied Force turned and headed north to intercept the enemy.
About 1530 we went to AA Defense when 3 planes resembling "SOC's"
were sighted. They did not come within range.
We went to G.Q. at 1535 when the masts of ships were sighted hull down bearing
about 020° R. Our course was 350° T. speed 28 kts. The formation continued on
this course for about 15 minutes closing before the action started.
At 1555 the Exeter opened fire
and the Houston 3 or 4 min.
later. The targets were Japanese light cruisers which were just coming in range
ahead and about 2 pts. on stbd. bow. Our force made a column movement to the
left about 60° and the head of the column came under fire from 2 other enemy
ships bearing about 30° to the right of the light cruisers. These were
apparently heavy cruisers and were thought to be Tone class.
The Exeter and Houston immediately shifted their fire to
these new targets and each took one ship. The Houston
had fired only 2 or 3 salvos before shifting and had apparently scored no hits.
The opening gun range on the Japanese heavy cruiser was about 32,000 yards. The
courses of the two forces were almost parallel but converging slightly. The
allied cruisers were in column distance about 600 yds., speed 28 kts., course
about 280° T. or 290° T.
When the battle started the 3 British destroyers on the stbd. bow and beam of
the column increased speed and changed course slightly to the left, crossing in
front of cruiser column well ahead, and engaged Japanese light forces. They
later rejoined column when Exeter
was hit.
The two Dutch destroyers remained in relative position on port bow and beam of
column and engaged Japanese destroyers at time of Exeter hit.
The American destroyers astern had trouble keeping up until Exeter was hit then they laid smoke
screen. Later they were ordered on separate mission to attack transports and
never rejoined.
The Japanese forces were in three groups: two heavy cruisers bearing about 100°
R.; two light cruisers with destroyers bearing about 070° R.; and two light
cruisers with destroyers bearing about 030° R.
At the beginning of the action the enemy concentrated on head of column and Houston was not under fire for about 15
minutes.
The allied column of cruisers was zig-zagging without plan following motions of
De Ruyter which was changing
course without signal about 10° to either side of firing course every 10 or 15
minutes.
About 1620 the Houston began
hitting her target consistently. One fwd turret blew up and large fires were
started in the waist of the ship. She slowed turned away and ceased firing. At
this time she was partially obscured behind her own smoke much of which was
coming from the stack.
At this time there had been no apparent hits on Exeter's target so the Houston
shifted her fire to that ship. After about 10 salvos our original target had
come back into line and resumed fire; whereupon Houston shifted back to her own target. The Houston apparently scored no hits on the Exeter's target and never established
effective hitting gun range on her own target again. About the time we shifted
back on own target, the firing became very erratic in deflection. Spot I
thought his spots were not being applied but this was not the case. Plot
thought they had a bad set up, and obtained a new one. Deflection was still
erratic and control was shifted to Director II and Spot II, but Director II
could not bear so control was shifted back to Spot I and Director I.
Subsequently it was determined that an electrical lead to Director I in
foremast was badly frayed or broken. This faulty transmission together with
severe whip in mast due to high speed and continuous firing was apparently the
cause of the erratic deflection. The Houston
had fired about 60 or 70 salvos up to this time.
At the time the Houston shifted
fire back to her own target, the Exeter
was hit by shell fire. The hit was somewhere in the firerooms reducing her
speed to 12/15 kts. She slowed and turned left about 45° out of column. To
avoid her the Houston turned
about 90° left. The Perth passed
and laid a smoke screen between the Exeter
and the enemy. At this time the Kortenaer
which had been 3000 yds on Houston's
stbd bow was hit amidships stbd by a submarine torpedo. She rolled over on her
port beam, broke in two, jack-knifed until only 10 ft. of her bow and stern out
of water, and sunk in 3 or 4 minutes. The Exeter
was smoking badly when the Japanese destroyers attacked. The Houston made another 90° turn to the left
and emerged from the smoke screen to sight the incoming destroyers. The Main
Battery fired one salvo, about 13,500 yds.; on in range but off in deflection,
then we were covered by the smoke screen laid down by American destroyers. The Houston then commenced smoking for a short
time. The Japanese destroyers apparently launched their torpedoes at max. range
and turned away because several were seen to porpoise 100 or 200 yards short of
the Houston, and one was reported
to hit us on port quarter without exploding. Another destroyer was hit by
torpedo and sunk (Electra?).
Simultaneous with the destroyer attack enemy submarines attacked from
previously engaged side. No other ships were hit by torpedoes altho an amazing
number were seen. During attack an Allied destroyer about 1500 yds. on stbd
quarter fired a torpedo in our general direction. The torpedo travelled about
100 yards and hit a submarine. The destroyer then turned and passed astern
tracking a torpedo wake about 2000 yds, dropped 3 depth charges which seemed to
have sunk another submarine.
The De Ruyter then ordered the
Allied destroyers to attack the enemy battle line. They launched their
torpedoes from extreme range and no hits were apparent, altho smoke prevented
us from seeing much of the attack.
The Houston was hit once during
the entire engagement by a shell which hit 9" inboard at frame 14 on port
side of forecastle. It penetrated the forecastle deck, main deck, the second
deck, and emerged through stbd side of side about 3" below second deck.
The shell did not explode but partially broke up before emerging. Considerable
water was taken in while steaming at high speed throughout the evening and
following morning. A fragment was found stamped with a "6" but the
hole through forecastle deck was 8" in diameter. The hole in the side was
18" X 32". We also received a near miss, portside aft, at frame 115
at water's edge. This dished in the side somewhat ruptured a bulkhead in fuel
oil tank C-9 and contaminated the oil with salt water, flooded D-14A, and
wrecked some machinery in the laundry.
The Admiral ordered the Exeter
back to Soerabaja accompanied by the Witte
de With. Exeter left
Soerabaja at 1900 accompanied by Encounter
and Neptune(?) -- reported sunk
by bombers south of Borneo.
Witte de With sunk 1000 March 1
by near miss from bombing raid in Soerabaja harbor.
The Houston emerged from smoke screen
just after destroyer attack on an easterly course and resumed fire on the two
heavy cruisers now to port. We fired 30 to 40 salvos (range 20,000 yds) during
this phase and the action ended at dusk. Our original target was no longer
returning our fire and was burning and smoking as to be almost obscured (a tip
of the bow with No. 1 turret and the tip of the stern with No. 5 turret was all
that was visible). No heavy damage was apparent to the other heavy cruiser
altho she is believed to have been under fire from our light cruisers.
During the action a Japanese spotting plane was overhead continuously flying up
and down the column on the unengaged side never coming within range of our AA
battery (shortest slant range observed 16,000 yds).
At least one enemy ship was sunk by Allied bombers believed to have been F.F.
from Java. No Allied cruiser launched a plane.
De Ruyter
Houston
Perth
Java
Jupiter
Encounter
The Allied force then turned N. for a reported group of transports. We passed
thru rafts of Kortenaer survivors
(122) close aboard and the Encounter
was ordered to pick them up and return to Soerabaja.
About 2045 two large shapes were sighted to port. Houston fired 10 or 12 star shells at maximum range (14,000
yards) and one salvo from turret II (Range 15,000 yards). Star shells short of
objects. Turret salvo very close. Perth
and De Ruyter also fired one or
two salvos - no hits apparent. Enemy ships fired 2 or 3 salvos at Houston with no illumination, close but no
damage done. Action finished in very few minutes when enemy turned away. About
this time enemy planes discovered us and continued to fly down our course line
dropping flares. They were very tenacious in spite of much manuevering. Some
were usual aircraft magnesium flares, others seemed to be a float light with
battery and bulb. We could not tell if latter lit on contact with water or by
such action as agitation caused by wake.
About 2300 near Bawean Is. the Jupiter
was torpedoed several miles astern, sending a message "Am Torpedoed".
The flash could be seen from the Houston.
Shortly after about 2315 the Java
was torpedoed and about 5 minutes later the De
Ruyter. We seemed to have run into a Japanese submarine nest. Orders
from the Admiral were that cruisers should not stop for survivors so the Houston and Perth headed west for Batavia, speed about 28 kts., in
column Perth leading, zigzagging
without plan. The Java's fires
lasted only a few minutes but the De Ruyter
continued to burn fiercely and until we were over the horizon 9 distinct
explosions could be counted. According to Dutch Naval Officers later the Java sunk in 8 minutes with one survivor
and De Ruyter burned for 2 hours
with about 90 survivors. Nothing more heard from the Jupiter. There were no more enemy contacts that night.
Secured from G.Q. at dawn of Feb. 28 and set condition II in AA Battery. During
morning several planes were sighted but no shots were fired as believed
friendly. Some resembled P-40s, others Dutch twin floatplanes.
Arrived off Tandjong Priok about 1200 and docked about 1300. About 1400 a
Japanese 2 float seaplane dropped bombs over a Dutch patrol vessel at the
channel entrance, no hits. Shifted ammunition from Turret II forward. Commenced
fueling as soon as possible (about 1500); considerable delay was experienced
because of damage ashore from bombings. Welded patch on hole forward. No
repairs necessary aft. Temporary repairs had been effected on Director I
deflection mechanism. The Captain left the ship for a conference. He requested
reco. information about Sunda Str. from AVM Maltby. No British planes but Dutch
reported straits clear. (Later discovered from D. Naval officers the enemy
forces were sighted near S.S. at 1500 and their ship was ordered back to
Batavia by radio. Also D. Army General Staff Officers reported they had info
that Japanese commenced landings in Bantam Bay at 2100 and Marak at 2400.)
About 1815 a Japanese seaplane resembling our SOC flew in low over harbor and
fired a few bursts of machine gun fire. The plane was fired on by shore
battery, Perth and Dutch
destroyer Evartsen -- no hits
apparent. About 1845 Lt. T. B. Payne, USN, flew in from Soerabaja and was fired
on by shore battery and destroyer. No hits scored and having established
identification landed and was recovered.
Got underway about 1930 in company with Perth,
Evartsen to follow within an
hour. Received a message saying the only enemy in the vicinity was 60 miles to
NE on easterly course. Perth's
radar picked up about 250 vessels to NW, N, NE, E.
Set Condition II Watch I in M.B. and AA Battery. Turret I manned powder train
filled. 5" battery divided - flight deck guns on fwd. director, boat deck
guns on after director. Boat deck guns to be used for illumination and ready
boxes contained star shells. Flight deck ready boxes filled with common shell.
Speed about 22 knots. At 2315 Toppers Island Light plainly in view on stbd bow.
Sighted ships, no identity, expected Dutch escort of patrol vessels. Perth leading challenged and Jap destroyer
fired a very red star. Perth
opened fire. GQ on Houston and
Turret I opened fire on Jap destroyer about 500 yds and fired two or three
salvos before Turret II joined. Spot I & Director I in control. Reversed
course changing to right and commenced manuevering behind Perth following on various courses at
various speeds. The enemy seemed to have cruisers and destroyers close to shore
covering landing and cruisers and destroyers outboard of transports as guards.
No number of enemy ever accurately known but estimated about 2 heavy cruisers,
3 light cruisers, 11 destroyers and about 35 transports. Fight developed into a
melee -- Houston guns engaged on
all sides, range never greater than 5000 yards. No known record of enemy ships
sunk but following day revealed 3 transports beached (one either seaplane
tender or M.T.B. tender) Japanese destroyers illuminated with searchlights from
all sides. Houston M.B. shifted
to Director II once but crew there was blinded by our own 5" flashes. (See
Comdr. Maher for report of Japanese questioning: 4 transports, 2 CA, 2 CL, 9
DD). Tried local control in Turrets once but turning and twisting at high speed
prevented picking up a target so fire was shifted back to Director I and Spot
I.
First hit received on Houston was
a salvo in Aft Engine Room which burst steam lines, believed killing all
personnel within. Steam escaping up ventilators (filled mess hall and Midships
Repair Party secured steam stops from #2 Mess Hall) forced 5" guns on boat
deck, Director II and Aft AA Director personnel to abandon stations temporarily.
Secured 3 & 4 firerooms when steam pressure dropped to 170# and lost water.
Boat deck guns later resumed fire. Hit on forecastle steel deck and paint
locker on fire which continued to burn. Received salvo completely thru
wardroom. Turret II hit by dud in face plate just as powder was exposed for
loading 28th salvo causing fire which caught powder train as far as Powder
Circle. Central Station ordered turret magazines to be flooded which put Turret
I out of action. Fire in Turret II extinguished. Received two (3) torpedo hits
to starboard and one to port -- one under No. 1 1.1" mount fired by MTB
from about 1000 yards and other below boat deck from destroyer -- third
believed under catapult starboard. First Abandon Ship passed but machine gun
nests and some 5" crews continued to fire until all ammunition expended.
Last rounds fired were starshells used as surface. As firing from Houston decreased Japanese destroyers
became bolder and approached within 1500 to 2000 yards, increasing fire. Second
Abandon Ship passed. Shells hit Communication Deck passageway behind Radio 1
demolishing #1 1.1" mount and fatally wounding Captain. Hits at frame #55
on main deck. Hits on Flight Deck set fire #2 5" ready box and pierced #2
stack -- salvo hit boat deck inboard #3 - 1.1" mount. Hits at frame 70,
78, 137. Japanese destroyers also machine gunned quarterdeck and port hanger
causing great loss of life. Final hit was delivered on portside by MTB which
caused ship to roll on starboard beam and sink about 0030 March 1. Perth had sunk about 20 minutes
previously. Last view of ship illuminated by Jap DD was American flag still
waving defiance as she rolled on side.
Evartsen did not catch up, but
believed sunk later the same night attempting to get through Sunda Strait.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosure (a)(10)
LOG FOR MONTH OF FEBRUARY 1942 - U.S. S. HOUST0N
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feb. 1 Depart Soerabaja about 1100 in company with Paul Jones and Whipple enroute Makassar Straits to act as covering party
for Marblehead and destroyers due
to attack enemy south of Balikpapan about midnight Feb. 2nd.
Feb. 2 Underway all day without event. Approximately midnight
message received from Marblehead
saying "Risk too great". Houston
turned about and proceeded toward Madoera Strait.
Feb. 3 Arrived Madoera Strait about 0800 already at anchor
there were the Tromp, De Ruyter, 3 Dutch destroyers (Van Ghent, Piet Hein, Banckert)
and nine 4-pipers (Bulmer, Edwards, Pope,
Ford, Pecos, Pillsbury,
Paul Jones, Stewart, and Whipple). Marblehead
arrived shortly after. Admiral Purnell arrived via PBY for conference with
Admiral Doorman (ComStriFor). Plane returning from first air raid of Surabaya
came overhead, looked us over and continued on. Air defense stations manned.
Feb. 4 Underway sometime during morning, about 0300 -
formation De Ruyter, Houston, Marblehead
and Tromp. Air defense about 1020
while enroute to Makassar Strait. About 54 planes, Mitsubishi 97's
participated. Struck by bomb about 1230 while going to assistance of Marblehead who had been hit by bomb which
disabled her steering engines. After hit on Houston,
proceeded south toward Alas Straits just as darkness was falling.
Feb. 5 Arrived in Tjilatjap about 1630 that afternoon. While
en route from Alas Strait air defense as one plane (later identified as Dutch
PBY) was seen. Wounded moved ashore. Began fueling from dock.
Feb. 6 Funeral services were held for 46 Houston dead. Lt. (jg) Hamlin in charge of
military escort. Marblehead
arrived Tjilatjap, tied up just forward of Houston.
Feb. 7 Funeral services were held for Marblehead dead. Military escort from Houston. Alongside dock all day.
Inspection by Admiral Hart and Comdr. Bruner.
Feb. 8 Marblehead
to drydock. De Ruyter moored
forward of Houston. Admiral
Glassford on board.
Feb. 9 De Ruyter
departed Tjilatjap for Bali Straits with Tromp,
Piet Hein, Erikon, DesDiv 58 (5) Repairs completed to
damage done by bomb hit.
Feb. 10 Holland
and Blackhawk entered harbor
Tjilatjap. Underway for Darwin about 1300. Met Otus
in narrows, Trinity out in Bay.
Feb. 11 Underway for Darwin.
Feb. 12 Underway for Darwin.
Feb. 13 Headed north of Darwin.
Feb. 14 (Valentine's Day) Arrived Darwin. Fueled from dock.
Feb. 15 Departed Port Darwin about 0300 in company with Peary, Swan,
Warrego, Mauna Loa, Meigs, Tulagi,
and Port Mar. (Enroute Koepang.
Tailed by one 4-engine flying boat. Requested air support, one P-40 showed up,
shots fired to indicate presence of flying boat. Run made by flying boat at
about 10,000 feet, no bombs dropped. P-40 went off. Smoke seen on horizon,
identity unknown.
Feb. 16 About 0845 exchange signals with Lockheed Hudson to
southward. About 0900 picked up flying boat again. Air defense 1100, 36
twin-engined Mitsubishi 97's, target Houston.
Only on last run were bombs dropped on convoy. One near-miss on transport Mauna Loa, two wounded on board. Wounded
men transferred to Houston about
1700. Convoy ordered return to Darwin. Koepang had been taken.
Feb. 17 Enroute Darwin.
Feb. 18 Arrived Darwin about (1300, 1600, 1100). Fueled from
barge. Departed about 1730 for sea. Headed in vicinity of Broome for rendezvous
with Lt. Lamade.
Feb. 19 Cruised in vicinity of Broome (island 300 miles from
Broome) until 1800. CSWP ordered Houston
to Tjilatjap.
Feb. 20 Enroute Tjilatjap.
Feb. 21 Arrived TjilatJap at dusk. Snapper class sub leaving as we arrived. Sub scare on approaching
roads to Tjilatjap. Fueled from dock.
Feb. 22 Departed Tjilatjap about 0800, course 180 then west.
Feb. 23 Steered northerly course. Entered Sunda Strait at
dusk. Passed thru during the night.
Feb. 24 Arrived Surabaya Roads about 1530, air defense as
fighter planes were seen overhead. No attack. Identity unknown. Tied up at
Rotterdam Pier. Shifted berth to Navy Yard Dock about 2330. Fueled. Java passed, leaving Surabaya.
Feb. 25 Tied alongside dock other side of De Ruyter. Bombed. No hits. Shortly after
sunset underway with De Ruyter
and Java. Course approximately
090.
Feb. 26 Underway. Course change to 270. Returned to Surabaya
0900. Anchored in stream. Bombed. No hits. About 1600 entered Exeter, Perth,
Encounter, Electra and Jupiter. 1730 alongside Dutch tanker for fuel. Also Electra, Jupiter.
Departed Surabaya at about 1930 in company with above ships and Java, De
Ruyter, Paul Jones, Edsall, Ford,
Edwards, Dutch destroyers W. D. Witte, Kortenauer. Course 090 underway De Ruyter, Exeter,
Houston, Perth, Java.
Dutch destroyers leading, American destroyers bringing up the rear.
Feb. 27 Underway, course changed to 270 about 0100. Search
for enemy force continued. Air defense about 1330, one plane resembling L)H
began dive bomb approach. Fired on by Houston.
Turned and went off. Return to Surabaya. Submarine discovered in entrance
minefields. Identified herself as American. Ordered to turn back to sea at
1430.
Feb. 27 (continued) Air defense sounded. Three enemy SOC's
overhead about 1615. Enemy force sighted by planes making for Boviean Island.
Striking force to intercept. First salvo fired from Exeter 1630 at enemy battle line. Battle continued all day
and night and early morning of - -
Feb. 28 Houston
in company of Perth, only
survivors of Allied Battle line enroute to Batavia. Arrived Batavia about 1430,
fueled. Enemy SOC's - Lt. Payne followed close behind. Departed Batavia for
unknown destination via Sunda Straits about 2000. 2300 General Quarters. Houston and Perth engaged by enemy surface craft in or near Sunda
Strait. Perth sunk about 2345.
Mar. 1 On or about 0040, while engaged with numerically
superior enemy Naval force, the U.S.S. Houston
was sunk by gunfire approximately 8 miles N.E. of Saint Nicholas Point Light.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosure (a)(11)
ENGAGEMENT OFF SOERABAJA
February 27, 1942
------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Friday afternoon February 27, 1942, the Allied striking force was returning
to Soerabaja after making a sweep of the Java Sea north of Medoera Island the
previous night in search of a Japanese force. The enemy fleet had not been
found and the only contact with the Japanese had been a bombing attack in the
morning with no damage to the Allied ships.
The Houston was in readiness,
"condition II".
Two of the Houston's planes had
been damaged during previous bombings, and one had failed to rejoin the ship
after the bombing on 16 February. The only remaining serviceable plane had been
left on Soerabaja the evening before, as a night action wax expected.
The striking force consisted of five cruisers and nine destroyers as listed
below:
De Ruyter
(SOP Admiral Doorman)
Dutch light cruiser
Exeter British
Houston
American heavy cruiser
Perth
Australian
heavy cruiser
Java Dutch
light cruiser
Electra British
light cruiser
Jupiter British
destroyer
Encounter
British destroyer
Witte de Witte
Dutch destroyer
Kortenaer Dutch
destroyer
Paul Jones
American destroyer
Edsel American
destroyer
Edwards
American destroyer
Ford American
destroyer
At about 1330 just outside of Soerabaja the Houston
fired on a plane with Japanese markings, which resembled a "Lockheed
Hudson." Only about a dozen rounds were fired; no hits were observed and
the plane turned away without pressing home the attack. About 1415 a PBY
reported by radio a Japanese force of cruisers, destroyers, and transports, in
the vicinity of Bawean Island and heading south. By this time we were in the
mine fields of the Soerabaja approaches. At about 1515 the Allied Force turned
and head north to intercept the enemy.
At about 1530 we went to A.A. defence when three planes resembling our SOC's
were sighted. These planes were not fired on, as they did not come within
range.
We went to general quarters at about 1535 when the masts of some ships were
sighted hull down bearing about 020 degrees relative. The formation of the
Allied cruisers was column 180 degrees in this order: De Ruyter, Exeter, Houston,
Perth, Java. Course was about 350, speed about 28 knots.
The formation continued on its course closing the enemy for about fifteen
minutes before the action started. At about 1555 the < i>opened fire and
the Houston about three or four
minutes later. The targets were Japanese light cruisers which were just coming
into range ahead and about 2 points on the starboard bow. Our force made a column
movement to the left about 60 degrees and the head of the column came under
fire from two more enemy ships bearing about 30 degrees to the right of the
light cruisers. These were apparently heavy cruisers and were thought to be of
the Tone class.
The Exeter and Houston immediately shifted their fire to
these new targets and each took one ship. The Houston
had fired only two or three salvos before this shift and apparently scored no
hits.
The opening gun range on the Japanese heavy cruiser was about 32,000 yds. The
courses of the two forces were almost parallel but converging slightly. The
Allied cruisers were in column, distance 600 yds., speed about 28 knots, course
about 280 T or 290 T. When the battle started the destroyers on either side of
the column changed position; one or two going ahead of the column and the
others going astern.
The Japanese forces were in three groups: two heavy cruisers bearing about 070
R, two light cruisers with their destroyers bearing about 030 R.
At the beginning of the firing the enemy concentrated their fire at the head of
our column and the Houston was
not under fire for about the first fifteen minutes.
The Allied column of cruisers was zig-zagging but with no plan. All ships
followed the motions of the De Ruyter,
which was changing course without signal about 10 degrees to either side of the
firing course about every ten or fifteen minutes.
About 1620 the Houston began
hitting her target. One of the forward turrets blew up and large fires were
started in the waist of the ship. She slowed, turned away, and ceased firing.
At this time she was partially obscured behind her own smoke, much of which was
coming from her stack.
At this time there had been no hits apparent on the Exeter's target, so the Houston
shifted her fire to that ship. After about ten salvos our original target had
come back into line and resumed fire; whereupon the Houston shifted back to her own target. The Houston apparently scored no hits on the Exeter's target and never established the
hitting range on her own target again. At about the time that we shifted
targets, the firing became very erratic in deflection. Spot I thought at first
that his spots weren't being applied, but this was not the case. Plot thought
that they had a bad set-up and obtained a new one. Deflection was still erratic
and control was shifted to director II and spot II; but director II could not
bear. Control was returned to spot I and director I. Subsequently it was
determined that an electrical lead to director I in the foremast was badly
frayed or broken. This faulty transmission together with severe whip in the
mast due to high speed continuous firing was apparently the cause of erratic
deflection.
At about the time the Houston
shifted fire back to her original target, the Exeter
was hit by shell fire. At this time the Houston
had fired about 70 salvos. The Exeter
was hit somewhere in the firerooms and had her speed reduced to about 12 or 15
knots. On being hit she slowed and turned left about 45 degrees, falling out of
column. To avoid the Exeter when
she slowed and turned, the Houston
turned left about 90 degrees. The Perth
passed astern of us and laid a smoke screen between the Exeter and the enemy. At this time the
Japanese launched a destroyer attack. The Exeter
was smoking badly at this time; the Houston
made another turn left about 90 degrees and emerged from the Perth's and Exeter's smoke and sighted the incoming destroyers. During
the brief interval of visibility we fired one salvo with the main battery at
the incoming destroyers, estimated range 13,500 yds. The salvo landed
apparently on in range but off in deflection; then the targets were obscured by
smoke and Houston herself
commenced smoking for a short time. The incoming destroyers apparently launched
their torpedoes at maximum range because several were seen to porpoise one or
two hundred hards short of the Houston,
and one was reported to have hit somewhere in the port quarter without
exploding. Simultaneously with the destroyer attack, enemy submarines attacked
from a previously-unengaged side. It is uncertain which fired the torpedoes
that sank two destroyers. No other ships were hit by torpedoes, although an
amazing number were seen.
At about this time the De Ruyter
ordered the Allied destroyers to attack the enemy battle line. They launched
their torpedoes from extreme range and oo hits were apparent, although smoke
prevented our seeing much of the attack. The Exeter
left the scene of action for Soerabaja, making about 15 knots, escorted by one
Dutch destroyer.
The Houston emerged from the
smoke screen just after the destroyer attack. We were on an easterly course and
opened fire on the two heavy cruisers, now to port. About this time the Houston was hit by a shell which hit
9" inboard at frame 14 on the port side of the forecastle. It penetrated
the forecastle deck, the main deck, the second deck and emerged through the
starboard side of the ship about 3" below the second deck. The shell did
not explode but partially broke up before emerging. Considerable water was
taken through the hole in the side while steaming at high speed during the
evening and night. A fragment of the shell was found stamped with a
"6", but the hole through the forecastle deck was about 8" in
diameter. The hole in the side was about 18" x 32". The only other
damage from the enemy was from a near miss, port side aft, at frame 115 near
the water's edge. This dished in the side somewhat, ruptured a bulkhead in fuel
oil tank C-9 and contaminated the oil with salt water, flooded D-14A, and
wrecked some machinery in the laundry. We fired about 30 salvos (range 18,000
to 20,000 yds.) during this phase and the action ended at dusk. Our original
target (heavy cruiser) was no longer returning our fire, and she was burning
badly, principally from two turrets. No damage was apparent to the other
cruiser, although she is believed to have been under fire from our light
cruisers.
During the action a Japanese plane (apparently from one of the cruisers) was
overhead continuously, flying up and down our column on the unengaged side,
never coming within range of our A.A. battery (shortest range observed 16,000
yds.)
At least one enemy ship (light cruiser) was sunk by Allied bombers during the
action. Nothing else is known of Allied air activity. None of the Allied
cruisers launched planes.
The Allied force turned to the north headed for a reported group of transports.
About 2045, sighted two cruisers to port. Fired 10 or 12 star shells at maximum
range but were short of the target. Fired one salvo from turret 2, range 15,000
yds., a good salvo, very close. The Perth
and De Ruyter also fired one or
two salvos, no hits apparent. The enemy ships fired two or three salvos at the Houston with no illumination. They were
very close, but no damage done. This action lasted only a few minutes before
the enemy ships were lost in darkness.
We continued towards Bawean Island coming very close to it about 2100, at which
time the Java and De Ruyter were hit apparently by
torpedoes. For about 20 minutes or half an hour we had been illuminated off and
on by flares.
The Jupiter was torpedoed several
miles astern of u, send message "Am Torpedoed". The flash could be
seen from the Houston.
Orders from Admiral were that the cruisers should not stop to pick up survivors,
so the Houston and the Perth headed west for Batavia, speed about
28 knots, column astern, Perth
leading, zig-zagging without plan. The Java's
fires lasted only a short time, but the De
Ruyter was burning fiercely until we were out of sight. Subsequently
survivors from the De Ruyter said
that the Java sank in eight
minutes, and that the De Ruyter
burned for two hours. No more was seen of the Jupiter
after the first flash when she was hit. There were no more enemy contacts that
night.
On the morning of February 28, secured from General Quarters at dawn, and set
condition II in the A.A. Battery. During the morning several planes were
sighted. Some resembled P-40's, others were twin float seaplanes.
Identification was not positive but they were believed to be friendly and no
shots were fired.
Arrived off Batavia about 1200 and docked about 1300. Shifted ammunition from
turret 3 forward. Commenced fueling as soon as possible (about 1500).
Considerable delay was experienced because of damage ashore from bombings.
Welded patch on the hole forward. no repairs were necessary aft. The Captain
went aboard the Perth for a
conference while we were fueling.
Got underway about 1930 in company with Perth.
Received a message saying the only enemy in the vicinity was 60 miles to the
northeast on an easterly course. Dutch destroyer Evartsen left in port. Perth
ordered her to follow as soon as she could get underway. Evartsen replied that she could not get
underway for about an hour.
Set condition II in the Main Battery and in the A.A. Battery. Turret I manned,
powder train filled. Five inch battery divided with flight deck guns on forward
director, boat deck guns on after director. Boat deck guns to be used for
illumination and ready boxes contained mostly star shells. Flight deck ready
boxes filled with common shell. Speed about 22 knots. At 2315 Toppers Island
light plainly in view on starboard bow. Sighted ships. Perth leading challenged and Jap destroyer
fired a red Very star. Perth
opened fire. General Quarters on Houston
and turret I opened fire on Jap destroyer (about 500 yds.) and fired about two
of three salvos before turret I joined. Spot I director I in control. Reversed
course to right and began maneuvering behind Perth
following on various courses and speeds. The enemy seemed to have cruisers and
destroyers close to shore covering landing operations with cruisers and
destroyers outboard as guards. No number of enemy ever accurately know. Fight
developed into a melee, Houston
guns engaged on all sides, ranges never greater than 5,000 yds.. No known
record of ships sunk, but following day revealed three transports beached (one
either seaplane tender or motor torpedo boat tender). Japanese destroyers
illuminated with searchlights from all sides. Houston
main battery shifted to director II once but crew there was blinded by our own
5 inch clashes. Tried local controlling turrets once but turning and twisting
at high speed prevented picking up targets so fire was shifted back to Director
I and Spot I.
First major hit received on Houston
was a salvo in after engine room which burst steam lines -- all after engine
room personnel believed killed. Secured #3 and #4 fire rooms when pressure
dropped to 170 lbs. and lost feed water. Steam escaped up engine room ventilators
and filled #2 mess hall. After midships repair party secured after engine room
steam stopped. Steam forced 5 inch guns on boat deck, director II and aft AA
director personnel to abandon stations temporarily. Boat deck guns later
resumed fire. Hit on forecastle deck set paint locker on fire, which continued
to burn. Turret II hit by shell which did not explode, in face plate just as
powder was exposed for loading 28th salvo causing fire which caught powder
train as far as powder circle. Central station ordered turret magazines flooded
which put turret I out of action. Fire in turret II extinguished. Received 2
(3?) torpedo hits to starboard and one to port. One under #1 1.1" mount
fired by MTB from about 1,000 yds., another below boat from destroyer, third
believed under starboard catapult. Machine gun nests and some 5" guns
continued to fire until all ammunition expended. Last rounds fired were star
shells fired as surface ammunition. As firing from Houston decreased Japanese destroyers became bolder and
approached within 1,500 to 2,000 yds., increasing fire. Abandon ship passed.
SHells hit communication deck passageway behind Radio I demolishing #1
1.1" mount and fatally wounding Captain. Japanese destroyers
machine-gunned quarter deck and port hangar causing great loss of life. Final
hit was delivered on port side by MTB which caused ship to roll to starboard
beam and sink about 0300 March 1st. Perth
had sunk about 20 minutes earlier.
Evartsen did not catch up, but
believed sunk later the same night attempting to get through Sunda Straits.
Actual sinking of ship was slow enough to permit any unwounded men to get in
the water and clear of ship, although some may have been killed by shells and
torpedoes in the water.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosure (a)(12)
NARRATIVE OF HOUSTON'S
SURVIVORS
FROM THE TIME SHIP WAS SUNK UNTIL SURVIVORS WERE EVACUATED AFTER ARMISTICE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Many life rafts were got in the water before the ship sunk and most of the crew
was equipped with life jackets. No prisoners were picked up until dawn when the
Japanese ships began landing operations. Quite a few prisoners were picked up
by Japanese ships but the greater number reached the beach and landed at
scattered spots over a distance of about twenty miles south of St. Nicholas
Point. Other landed on Toppers Island and Sangiang Island. Survivors who
reached the beach in the vicinity of Japanese landings were captured by
Japanese Army troops in the area. Those picked up by the Japanese Navy were
subsequently turned over to Japanese Army ashore. The survivors in the vicinity
of the landings were forced to help unload ships, although protests were made
by surviving officers. (For details of actual capture see reference (a).)
Prisoners were concentrated mostly in the town of Serang in the local jail and
the local theater. Conditions here were atrocious. Cells were extremely
overcrowded, very little food provided and practically no sanitary facilities
were available. During the six weeks stay in Serang dysentery became very
prevalent and all hands suffered from malnutrition.
On about the 6th of March eight surviving American officers, including Comdr.
A.H. Maher, left Serang presumably for Japan.
On 13 April all survivors from Serang were moved to Bicycle Camp, Batavia.
Already in this camp there were a large number of Australian AIF troops, some
Dutch prisoners and three American prisoners, Col. A.C. Serale and two enlisted
men of the U.S. Army. When the concentration was complete there were present
eleven commissioned officers, U.S. Navy, one commissioned officer U.S. Marine
Corps, three Warrant Officers U.S. Navy, and 340 enlisted men U.S. Navy,
survivors from USS Houston.
Conditions in this camp were ved for a Prisoner of War Camp. Barracks were
good, fresh water was available and work was easy. On May 14th the 2nd Bn.,
131st F.A., U.S. Army (less Btry. E), Lt. Col. B.S. Tharp, U.S. Army,
commanding, arrived in camp as prisoners of war. With this group also was one
seaman formerly from the USS Stewart.
Statement by Seaman Thomas from the Stewart
included in enclosure (a). Houston
survivors and 131st F.A. remained in this camp until October, 1942. On October
4th a party of 191 Americans including 62 enlisted men from the Houston, left Batavia enroute to Burma.
The 191 Americans were under the command of Capt. A.L. Fitzsimmons, 131st F.A.
On October 11 a party of 68 Americans including 30 enlisted men and two Warrant
Officers from the Houston, left
Batavia enroute to Japan. These men were classed by the Japanese as
"technicians." On October 1 a party of 488 Americans left Batavia for
Burma and the major part of the Houston
survivors (237 enlisted men and nine officers) were included in this number.
This party arrived in Singapore on October 16 and remained until January 7,
1943. All the Americans resumed their journey to Burma with the exception of a
few sick who were left in Singapore. The journey was by rail to Port Prai (port
for Penange), British Ma. From Penange to Moulmein, Burma, the journey was by
Japanese naval transport. Enroute to Moulmein, on January 15, the convoy,
consisting of two transports and one small escort vessel, was bombed by Allied
planes, apparently two B-24's and two PBY's. Near misses on the transport
carrying the Americans killed two Australians and three Dutch prisoners and
wounded about 35 others. Two Americans were slightly wounded. The other ship in
the convoy was sunk in about ten minutes time. This ship was carrying about a
thousand Dutch prisoners and about 500 Japs. The bombs which sank the ship hit
in the after hold where the Japs were. Only about 50 Dutchmen were lost, and
most of the Japs were lost. The transport carrying the Americans remained in
the area for five or six hours picking up the survivors. Remaining transport
arrived in Moulmein on January 16. Prisoners were kept in Moulmein district
jail until January 27 when they moved by rail to Thanbyuzyat about 40
kilometers southeast of Moulmein, and by truck to a railroad camp 18 kilometers
from Thanbyuzyat. This was the beginning of the year's work constructing the
rail linking Moulmein to Bampong, the western railroad junction in Thailand.
For the greater part of this time the Americans were divided into two parties,
those under COl. Tharp and those under Capt. Fitzsimmons.
Enclosures (b) and (c) will give what detailed rolls are available for the many
moves from camp to camp, which were made during the year's work.
At the beginning of this period of hard work the Americans were in good
physical condition and it was not until the beginning of the rainy season (end
of May) that the first American died on the Burma railroad. The beginning of
the rainy season marked the beginning of a six-month period of extremely hard
manual labor under the worst possible conditions. Food was scarce and of a very
low quality, consisting principally of rice and usually served with a thin,
watery stew. Transportation to outlying camps was difficult because of mud,
poor roads and washed-out bridges. During this period approximately one-fourth
of the Americans on the road died. Details are in enclosure (d). These deaths
were due to malaria, dysentery, tropical ulcers, beri beri and pellagra, complicated
by overwork and malnutrition. Most of the deaths occurred at the 100 Kilo Camp
and the 80 Kilo Hospital Camp. The policy adopted by the Japanese authorities
was to feed the working men and abandon the sick. The 80 Kilo Hospital Camp was
a hospital only in the sense that it was full of sick men. No staff of well men
was provided to care for the sick and almost no medicine was provided for the
one doctor allotted to care for approximately 250 American, Dutch and
Australian patients. Almost exactly half the Americans who were sent to this
hospital camp died there. In the working camps such as 100 Kilo, many sick men
were driven out to work in the rain with large ulcers, dysentery and malaria
chills. Only those who were absolutely incapable of walking out to the job were
permitted to remain in camp.
The railroad was complete in September 1943 and from that time until the end of
the war conditions improved steadily. Most of the Americans came out of Burma
and into a settled area of Thailand in December of 1943. Allied planes
frequently bombed military objectives near Prisoner of War camps in Burma and
Thailand from June 1943 until the end of the war. Approximately 2prisoners were
killed by these bombings and approximately 400 were wounded, some seriously,
but only one American was killed (a soldier) and none wounded.
In the latter part of April 1944 a party of 208 Americans left Thailand for
Japan, and approximately half this number were Houston
survivors. This party got as far as Saigon but did not embark for Japan.
In June of 1944 another party of 35 Americans, including some Houston survivors, left for Japan via
Singapore. During the remainder of 1944 and 1945 there were many shifts of
prisoners from camp to camp in Thailand, and some even returned to Burma for
maintenance work on the railroad. On the whole, however, during this period
conditions were quite bearable and very few deaths occurred.
In Janaury 1945 officers were separated from enlisted men and sent to an
officers' camp at Kanburi. The only officers left in enlisted men's camps were
doctors. This was the condition existing when the war ended. When the war ended
the officers' camp was in the process of being moved from Kanburi to a location
about 100 kilometers northeast of Bangkok. Part of the American officers were
still in Kanburi, part in Bangkok and part at the new camp. When the armistice
was announced by the Japanese, a small staff of senior Allied prisoner officers
was set up in Bangkok. In accordance with instructions received American
prisoners in the area were concentrated near airdromes and evacuation began on
the 28th of August, 1945, in planes sent in by American Air Command in India.
Most of the Houston personnel who
have been evacuated are in reasonably good physical condition. One officer,
Ensign John B. Stivers, is dangerously ill, suffering from a brain tumor. One
enlisted man, Stanley Davenport Barnes, S2c, is seriously ill, suffering from
tuberculosis. At this date one officer, Ensign P.R. Clark, is still in Bangkok,
and the personnel in Saigon and Singapore have not yet been evacuated.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enclosure (b)
THE WARTIME CRUISE OF THE U.S.S. HOUSTON
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOV. 27 - In Cavite Navy Yard for overhaul. All repairs are
being speeded up. We have been taking aboard our capacity of fuel and
ammunition. Started standing condition watched on the anti-aircraft battery.
NOV. 28 - We have been warned that if we are attacked it will
be a surprise attack from the air.
NOV. 29 - Gun Capts and air crews were shown pictures of
different aircraft and told to study them. A.A. crews sleep by their gun
stations.
NOV. 30 - All Navy Yard men and equipment have left the ship
with the exception of one gang in the engine room
DEC. 1 - Underway on 30 minutes notice
DEC. 4 - Arrived at Iloilo on the island of Panay.
DEC. 5 - Payday. Made a liberty with Heavey and Trinn.
DEC. 6 - Am standing outer harbor patrol watches in M.L.
DEC. 8 - General quarters at daybreak. This word was passed
over all circuits. (For the information of all hands. A state of war exists
between the U.S. and Japan. Japan has bombed Pearl Harbor inflicting some
damage). About sunset Adm. Glasford (Cam Yang Pat) arrived by P.B.Y. and the
ship got underway about one hour from Iloilo the city end harbor were bombed.
We were in the shadow of a mountain at the time so were not seen.
DEC. 9 - Contacted U.S.S. Boise
and two four pipers.
DEC. 10 - Picked up convoy consisting of Holland, Langley,
Pecos and two more destroyers.
c/c South.
DEC. 12 - After dusk sighted an enemy cruiser and a
destroyer. Did not engage enemy as it would have endangered our convoy.
DEC. 14 - Crossed equator. No ceremonies.
DEC. 15 - Arrived at Balikpapan, Dutch Borneo refueled.
DEC. 16 - Left Balikpapan before daybreak. c/c South.
DEC. 17 - Left convoy. Increased speed.
DEC. 18 - Arrived at Soerabaja, Java, refueled and
provisioned ship. Transferred flag to beach.
DEC. 19 - A.A. defense at 1100. A.A. manned in record time.
Turned out to be 18 of our planes from the P.I.
DEC. 21 - Underway at 1400.
DEC. 25 - Holiday dinner, very good. Merry Xmas.
DEC. 28 - Arrived Port Darwin, refueled.
DEC. 30 - Underway.
JAN. 1 - Holiday dinner. Happy New Year.
JAN. 2 - Arrived Thursday Island and anchored.
JAN. 3 - U.S.S. Pensacola
arrived with convoy Bloemfontein, Wm. Holbrook (2 U.S.A.T.'s) and Chaumont. Pensacola
left for States.
JAN. 5 - Arrived Darwin.
JAN. 6 - Anchored. Receiving provisions from Chaumont and Holland. Fueling from barge. Fire in #1 M.L. Gold Star
called away F. & R. party.
JAN. 7 - Provisioning ship.
JAN. 8 - On lookout for miniature subs as sub net is being
repaired.
JAN. 10 - Underway with two destroyers.
JAN. 13 - Boarded a freighter (Filipino) O.K.
JAN. 14 - Boarded a freighter (Russian) O.K.
JAN. 15 - Appear to be cruising aimlessly. Crew is crying for
action.
JAN. 16 - Cruising slowly along Timor Coast.
JAN. 17 - In P.M. sighted a derelict. Sent destroyer to
investigate. Victim appeared to be a Dutch inter-island steamer which had been
torpedoed about 12 hours earlier. No survivors around so left in a hurry as it
was growing dark and sub might still be around.
JAn. 18 - Arrived at Kebola Bay fueled on Port aide of
Trinity. Boise on stbd side doing
1ikewise. We were informed we were to form a striking force for a raid on
Macassar Straits. In P.M. we were told the orders were cancelled. All growling
for a fight. Boise and three cans
going west. Houston and three
cans east.
JAN. 20 - Arrived Thursday Island and met convoy: Pres. Polk, Hawaiian Planter and a Dutchman. Underway for Darwin immediately.
JAN. 21 - Happy birthday Alice.