USS Cassin Young DD-793 - 1945 War Diary
1-1-45... Steaming as before with TG38.3 for Formosa Area.
1-2-45… Fueling from Merrimack(AO37)… Received mail from Essex. Delivered mail to the fleet.
1-3-45… Commenced Air Operations Formosa Area. Plane Guard Ticonderoga.
1-5-45… Fueling from Kankakee(AO39)… Plane Guard Ticonderoga.
1-7-45… Rescued one Hornet pilot Ltjg Hayter
1-8-45… Fueling from Manatee(AO58)… Plane Guard Ticonderoga.
1-9-45… Plane Guard Ticonderoga. Rescued one Ticonderogat pilot Ltjg Burton
TF34 Entered South China Sea.
1-11-45… Fueling from Ticonderoga… Temporarily detached TG38.3 assigned TG38.1 with Laws and Flint. Assigned Linking vessel between TG38.3 and TG38.1. Air Operations around Vietnam.
1-12-45… Reassigned to TG38.3 and assigned Linking vessel between TG38.3 and TG38.2
1-13-45… Weather Bad. Attempted Fueling from Essex… Unsuccessful and 3 men injured… Rescued one sailor from Gatling MoMM2c Hickey. Fueling from Neches(AO47)… Fueling Unsuccessful…
1-14-45… Fueling from Neches(AO47)… Weather still bad. Assigned Linking vessel between TG38.3 and TG38.2
1-15-45… Commenced Air Operations Hong Kong Area.
1-17-45… Attempted Fueling from Washington… Unsuccessful… Attempted Fueling from Niobrara(AO72)… Unsuccessful… Plane Guard Ticonderoga. Weather very bad.
1-18-45… Plane Guard Ticonderoga. Weather very bad ship rolling heavily.
1-19-45… Fueling from Pamanset(AO85)… Plane Guard Ticonderoga. Escorted San Jacinto from TG38.2 to TG38.3. Assigned Linking vessel between TG38.3 and TG38.2.
1-21-45… Rescued one Yorktown pilot Lt Powell.
1-22-45… Fueling from Washington…
1-23-45… Plane Guard San Jacinto… Fueling from Millicoma(AO73)… Delivered Mail. Delivered Lt Powell back to Yorktown. 2022 Enroute to Ulithi.
1-26-45… Arrived Ulithi moored alongside Preston.
1-28-45… TF38 dissolved and all units now part of TF58.
1-31-45… Entered dry dock ARD-13 for work on Hull and Sonar Dome.
2-1-45… Undocked and anchored… Rendered honors and Purple Heart awarded to 5 sailor wounded on 14 Oct-44.
2-6-45… Fueling from Tomahawk(AO88)… Alongside Markab(AD21) for tender availability.
2-9-45… Moved to moored alongside Porterfield. While mooring Anchor fluke pierced side of Porterfield causing small hole but no structural damage to Porterfield.
2-10-45… Underway for training exercises.
2-13-45… Fueling from Marias(AO57)…
2-14-45… Fueling from Marias(AO57)…
2-15-45… Fueling from New Jersey… Commenced Air Operations Honshu Island Area.
2-17-45… Retiring from Honshu Island Area.
2-18-45… Fueling from New Jersey…
2-19-45… TF58 Commenced Air Operations to support the Landings on Iwo Jima.
2-20-45… Sighted mine destroyed with 4mm fire… Fueling from Taluga(AO62)…
Passed Mai.
2-21-45… Air Operations continue in Iwo Jima Area. Fired 55 rounds 5" ammunition in full automatic mode at enemy aircraft, no results observed.
2-24-45… Fueling from Bunker Hill… Enroute Honshu Island Area.
2-25-45… Commenced Air Operations Honshu Island Area. Weather Bad. 2230 entered bad storm.
2-27-45… Fueling from Cache(AO67)…
2-28-45… Fueling from New Jersey… Passed Mail.
3-1-45… Commenced Air Operations Okinawa.
3-2-45… Cassin Young, Irwin, Preston, Callaghan proceeded to Parece Vela to conduct night bombardment. Commenced firing at 2145 till 2159.
3-3-45… Rejoined TG58.3… Fueling… Enroute Ulithi.
3-5-45… Arrived Ulithi, anchored.
3-8-45 thru 3-16-45… Alongside Yosemite. Installed new fighter director equipment. Changed Camouflage to Measure 21- Navy Blue and Deck Blue.
3-17-45… Sortied to Radar Picket Station #3
3-18-45… Cassin Young and Leutze, Enroute to Admiralty island s to escort New York(BB25)
3-19-45… Arrived Admiralty Islands… Fueling… 1240 sortied with Texas, Sierra(AD18), HMS Reaper(Escort Carrier), Leutze, Cassin Young. Enroute Ulithi.
3-22-45… Arrived Ulithi… Fueling… 1832 left Ulithi heading independently to rendezvous with TG54.2
3-24-45… Joined TF 54… TF54 Enroute Okinawa.
3-25-45… Fueling…
3-26-45… East China Sea off Southwest shore of Okinawa. Screening Bombardment force:
New Mexico, Virginia, Idaho, Tennessee, Portland, Indianapolis, and Biloxi. Heavies commenced Bombardment at 0710.
3-27-45… 0623 shot down one Nakajima J1N1 "Irving" Recovered a Red Code Book from wreckage.
Screening Bombardment force.
3-28-45… Radar Picket station 15… One plane taken under fire results unobserved.
3-30-45… 0850 took destroyer station 6 off southwestern Okinawa in support of UDT and commenced cover fire at 0910. Ceased fire at 1325. (4hrs-15 min)
4-1-45… L-DAY… fired on enemy plane results negative, but one enemy pane observed crashing nearby… 0625 took station off Point Bolo and commenced intermittent indirect fore on roads leading to invasion Beaches. 1105 ceased fire(5hrs) and proceeded to Kerama Rhetto for rearming and fuel, rearmed at 1644 ordered without fuel to join TransDiv 39, 1904 proceeded to make chemical and stack smoke to conceal transports from enemy aircraft. 1920 stopped smoke. Screen transports as they retired for the night.
4-2-45… Escorted TranDic 39 back to island… Many air alerts. 0900 Kerama Rhetto… Fueling…
1843 proceeded to IE Shima picket station.
4-3-45… 0757 assigned Radar Picket Station #3 with 2 LCs's Air activity all day.
4-4-45… Radar Picket Station #3. 1400 proceeded close to Okinoyerabu Shima with LCS-89. Commenced firing on lookout station and military activity. Ceased fire 1644 returned to Radar Picket Station #3
4-5-45… Radar Picket Station #3. 0900 searched for downed friendly pilot, no luck. Many bogies on the screen and there were frequent general quarters.
4-6-45… Radar Picket Station #3. 0254 Incoming air targets fired on results unobserved but explosion heard astern. 3 more enemy planes taken under fire, one plane observed crashing and burning on horizon immediately after ceasing fire. Air attacks all day, 1723 directed to proceed to the aid of Bush and Calhoun. Arrived picket station 1 at 1905 commenced search for survivors of sunken Bush with LCS40 and 37. 1950 went to aid Colhoun. 2205 Colhoun CO reported her sinking and for him and Skelton crew to be picked up and for the Cassin Young to sink Colhoun… Commenced firing at 2355…
4-7-45… Ceased firing on Colhoun, Colhoun sank in 2100 feet of water. Returned to Radar Picket Station #3. 1510 Proceeded to Kerama Rhetto. Arrived and anchored at 2330.
4-8-45… Fueling… Ammunition replenishment… Departed Kerama Rhetto, Radar Picket Station #1
4-9-45 thru 4-11-45… Radar Picket Station #1, Many air alerts.
4-12-45… Radar Picket Station #1. Busy morning multiple air actions. 6 Plans single ut the Cassin Young all Shot down but one plane, a “Val” Dive Bomber, made a diving strafing run on the pilothouse from the front of the ship. The kamikaze crashed into the mainmast, shearing off the top of the mast, the port yardarm, and numerous radar and antennae. The plane continued past the mast and exploded about 50’ behind the mast and 40’ above the ship. The explosion killed Torpedoman 3rd class Robert Moore and caused significant damage to the steam lines and power supplies near the forward fire room. Approximately 60 men are wounded. Proceeding on own to Kerama Rhetto.
Anchored Kerama Rhetto 1623, 1735 Wounded and KIA transferred to APA170.
4-13-45… Moored alongside Gregory(DD807) for repairs.
4-15-45… Fueling…
4-16-45… Departed Kerama Rhetto, rendezvoused with LST convoy(25 LST), proceeding Ulithi.
4-19-45… Underway as Before… Service for Robert D Moore on board ship at 1300.
4-22-45…Arrived Ulithi Harbor. Moored alongside USS Yosemite for repairs.
5-8-45… 0805 moved to ARD18 (Dry-Dock). New Sound dome and projector heads.
5-9-45… Undocked… Alongside USS Yosemite to continue repairs.
5-12-45…. Fueling from Melvern(IX138)… Ammunition replenishment… Anchored Ulithi
5-13-45… Underway for post repair trials… Anchored Ulithi
5-14-45…Underway for AA training… Fueling from Sepulga(AO20)… Anchored Ulithi
5-16-45… Underway for Radar Picket Station #3.
5-19-45… Relived RPS#3 Enroute Ulithi.
5-22-45… Underway at 16 Knots as escort for SS Sea Flasher (Troop Transport) Enroute Guam.
5-23-45… Arrived Guam, Marianas.
5-25-45… Enroute Saipan, Marianas.
5-26-45… Arrived Saipan, Marianas. Assigned to TF51 Escort Pool
5-27-45… Underway with TF51 for Hagushi Anchorage Okinawa Speed 12.5 knots.
5-28-45… Underway as before. Transferred Cartier, George SoM2c to Auburn(AGC10) with the diagnosis of "Acute Appendicitis".
5-31-45… Arrived Okinawa… Fueling from Cache(AO67)… Hagushi Anchorage Okinawa
6-1-45… Radar Picket Station #11A. Numerous Air Actions.
6-4-45… Proceeded to Kerama Rhetto… Fueling from Brazos(AO4)… Returned to Hagushi Anchorage Okinawa.
6-5-45… Radar Picket Station #11A. One Frances Shot down by CY and Other Pickets.
6-9-45… Radar Picket Station #11A. Proceeded to Kerama Rhetto… Fueling from Elk(IX115)… Returned to Hagushi Anchorage Okinawa. Anchored in AA Screen
6-11-45… Proceeding to Nakagusuka Wan Anchorage Okinawa. Anchored in AA Screen
6-14-45… Returned to Hagushi Anchorage Okinawa… Fueling from Chicopee(AO34)… Anchored in AA Screen.
6-15-45… Enroute Saipan, Marianas escorting Command Ship at 13.5 Knots.
6-19-45… Arrived Saipan, Marianas. Reported to Commander Service Squadron for Inspection of ship for overhaul requirements.
6-20-45… Underway Marians Area to test number 1 reduction gear. Moored alongside Burias(AG-69) awaiting further Inspections and testing on reduction gear.
7-10-45… Fueling from Raccoon(IX127)…
7-11-45… Underway to test on number one reduction gear. Results good. Proceeding to Saipan, Marianas. Anchored.
7-15-45… Fueling from Flambeau(IX192)… Underway for Okinawa.
7-18-45… Arrived Buckner Bay Okinawa… Fueling from Cuyama(AO3)… Anchored Awaiting Orders… 0940 executed Typhoon plan William.
7-19-45… 0705 Underway to execute Typhoon plan Xray. Typhoon approaching from southwest. 1115 Typhoon to pass 60 miles to west of fleet. 1420 Screening SS Merferd Victory which dropped astern due to an engineering casualty. Rejoined force at 1630. Seas Rough wind force 5
7-20-45… Underway as before. Seas Rough wind force 4.
7-21-45… Returned to Buckner Bay. Sea moderate and overcast.
7-22-45… Fueling from Suamico(AO49)… Anchored.
7-23-45… Proceeding to Screening station King 1 as fire support for Gosselin(APD126). SOPA is in Gosselin.
7-24-45… 0915 relieved screening of Gosslin and proceeded Buckner Bay. 2150 Proceeding to screening station between King 1 and King 2 .
7-25-45… Relived King 1/King 2 and proceeding to Screen station George of Hagushi Anchorage. Patrolling station at 15 Knots.
7-26-45… Relieved and proceeded into Hagushi Anchorage. Fueling… Anchored.
7-28-45… 0545 Departed Hagushi Anchorage. Radar Picket Station #9A with Callaghan, Pritchett and LCS 125 129 130.
Numerous air contact all day, all friendly.
7-29-45… Patrolling as before. 0030 Bogeys in the area. 0036 Callahan hit by suicide plane. Numerous bogeys in area hampered rescue operations… Two Willow Bi-Planes Shot down. 0230 take off Callahan survivors. 0235 Callahan sinks… Captain and 125 survivors of The Callahan on board. 0930 entered Hagushi Anchorage survivors transferred to Crescent City(APA21). Took on Ammunition, 2250 with Pritchettt patrolling 5000 yards of King 3 in support of PC668.
7-30-45… Patrolling as before. GQ at 0254 bogey to southwest, opened fire on plane at 0324, plane Willow bi-plane, 30 seconds after opening fire Willow on starboard quarter. Plane hit starboard side boat davits, Fires out by 0356. 0400 on one engine heading to Buckner Bay Okinawa. 21 killed 45 wounded and 1 missing. Alongside Cascade(AD16)
7-31-45… Moored as before, Typhoon approaching from southeast.
8-1-45… Battle damage prevents ship from leaving bay to outrun Typhoon.
8-2-45… Wind force 6 waiting out Typhoon.
8-5-45... Fueling from Hambelton(Dm20)… Funeral services for dead.
8-6-45... Detail of men went to cemetery to take photos.
8-7-45... Purple Hearts awarded to wounded men in ship.
8-8-45... Left Okinawa with convoy at 8 knots
8-14-45... Arrived Saipan (Japan surrenders) Fueling… Anchored.
8-15-45... Left Saipan (Japan surrenders)
8-18-45... Arrived Enewetock, Enroute Pearl Harbor
8-24-45.... Arrived Pearl Harbor
8-25-45... Left Pearl Harbor… Fueled…
8-29-45… 1300 Captain Ailes relived and Captain Pfeifer
8-31-45... Arrived San Padro Moored Pier 3, Ship to undergo routine maintenance and war damage repairs.
9-1-45… Moored as before.
9-17-45… 0945 entered Dry-Dock #2 for hull damage repairs.
10-1-45… Moored as before.
10-10-45… 0959 Left Dry-Dock #2 moored to Pier 3
11-1-45… Moored as before.
11-17-45… Move and moored to Pier 1.
12-1-45… Moored as before.