NAVY DEPARTMENT COMMUNIQUÉS
1-300
AND PERTINENT PRESS RELEASES
DECEMBER 10, 1941
TO
MARCH 5, 1943
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1943
Foreword
March 23, 1943.
This publication contains the first 300 communiqués issued by the Navy Department during the Second World War. The first is dated December 10, 1941; the last March 5, 1943. There are also included certain press releases, such as the Secretary of the Navy's statement on Pearl Harbor dated December 15, 1941, which it is felt are of outstanding historical importance.
It will be noted that the communiqués are reprinted serially and that the press releases have been interpolated in their proper chronologic places. Where not otherwise stated all these documents were given to the press for "immediate release."
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No. 1 DECEMBER
10, 1941
The Navy Department
announces that instructions have been issued that the remains of naval
personnel, including Coast Guard and Marine Corps, lost in action be interred
temporarily in the localities in which they lost their lives. This procedure is necessitated by the difficulties
of ocean transport in war. They will be
buried with full military honors.
No. 2 DECEMBER
11, 1941
The Marine garrison on Wake
Island has been subject to four separate attacks in the last 48 hours by enemy
aircraft and one by light naval units.
Despite the loss of part of the defending planes and the damage to
material and personnel, the defending garrison succeeded in sinking one light
cruiser and one destroyer of the enemy forces by air action. A resumption of the attack and a probable
landing attempt is expected. The Marine
garrison is continuing to resist. The
above report is based on information received up until noon December 11.
No. 3 DECEMBER
11, 1941
The Navy Department
announced that Admiral Thomas C. Hart, U. S. Navy, Commander in Chief, United
States Asiatic Fleet, has reported that Navy patrol planes scored bomb hits on
a Japanese battleship of the Kongo class off the coast of Luzon. The ship was badly damaged. This is the second Japanese battleship to be
bombed effectively by United States forces.
No. 4 DECEMBER
12, 1941
Naval forces continue to
coordinate their efforts with the Army on land, sea and in the air against
heavy Japanese attacks on the Island of
1
Luzon. There is no confirmation of the alleged
occupation of Guam by the Japanese. The
resistance of Wake and Midway continues.
No further air activity over Hawaii has been reported. The situation in the Atlantic remains
unchanged.
The above is based on
reports up to noon today.
No. 5 DECEMBER
13, 1941
The Navy Department
announced that it is unable to communicate with Guam either by radio or
cable. The capture of the island is
probable. A small force of less than
400 naval personnel and 155 marines were stationed in Guam. According to the last reports from Guam, the
island had been bombed repeatedly and Japanese troops had landed at several
points on the island.
Wake and Midway continue to
resist.
The above is based on
reports until 9 a. m. today.
No. 6 DECEMBER
13, 1941
U. S. airmen turned back the
fishing vessel Alert of U. S. registry in the Gulf of Nicoya, on the
west coast of Costa Rica. The vessel
was boarded on its return to port and was found to have seven Japanese in the
crew. They were taken into
custody. The Alert was loaded
with a cargo of 10,000 gallons of Diesel oil.
No new developments have
been reported from combat areas as of 3 p. m. (e. s. t.) today.
No. 7 DECEMBER
14, 1941
There have been two
additional bombing attacks on Wake Island.
The first was light, the second was undertaken in great force. Two enemy bombers were shot down. Damage was inconsequential.
The Marines on Wake Island
continue to resist.
Enemy submarines are known
to be operating in the Hawaiian area.
Vigorous attacks are being made against them.
The above is based on
reports up until noon today.
2
DECEMBER 15, 1941
BRIEF REPORT OF CONDUCT OF NAVAL PERSONNEL DURING
JAPANESE ATTACK, PEARL HARBOR, T. H., DECEMBER 7, 1941
The Secretary of the Navy,
after making a full report to the President this morning on behalf of the Navy
Department, issued the following statement this afternoon concerning the air
attack on the island of Oahu on Sunday, December 7:
My inspection trip to the
island enables me to present the general facts covering the attack which
hitherto have been unavailable.
1. The essential fact is
that the Japanese purpose was to knock out the United States before the war
began. This was made apparent by the deception practiced, by the preparations
which had gone on for many weeks before the attack, and the attacks themselves
which were made simultaneously throughout the Pacific. In this purpose the
Japanese failed.
2. The United States
services were not on the alert against the surprise air attack on Hawaii. This
fact calls for a formal investigation which will be initiated immediately by
the President. Further action is, of course, dependent on the facts and
recommendations made by this investigating board. We are all entitled to know
it if (a) there was any error of judgment which contributed to the surprise,
(b) if there was any dereliction of duty prior to the attack.
3. My investigation made
clear that after the attack the defense by both services was conducted
skillfully and bravely. The Navy lost:
(a) The battleship Arizona
which was destroyed by the explosion of
first, its boiler and then its forward magazine due to a bomb which was said to have literally passed
down through the smokestack;
(b) The old target ship Utah
which has not been used as a combatant ship for many years, and which was in
service as a training ship for antiaircraft gunnery and experimental purposes;
(c) Three destroyers, the
Cassin, the Downes, and the Shaw;
(d) Minelayer Oglala. This
was a converted merchantman formerly a passenger ship on the Fall River Line
and converted into a mine layer during the World War.
The Navy sustained damage to
other vessels. This damage varied from ships which have been already repaired,
and are ready for sea, or
3
which have gone to sea, to a
few ships which will take from a week to several months to repair. In the last
category is the older battleship Oklahoma which has capsized but can be
righted and repaired. The entire balance of the Pacific Fleet with its aircraft
carriers, its heavy cruisers, its lights cruisers, its destroyers, and submarines
are uninjured and are all at sea seeking contact with the enemy.
4. The known Japanese
materiel losses were 3 submarines and 41 aircraft.
5. Army losses were severe
in aircraft and some hangars, but replacements have arrived or are on their
way.
6. The up-to-date figures of
Navy killed and wounded are: officers, 91 dead and 20 wounded; enlisted men,
2,638 dead and 636 wounded.
The Secretary of the Navy
told in some detail of many individual actions of outstanding courage.
He said:
"In the Navy's gravest
hour of peril, the officers and men of the fleet exhibited magnificent courage
and resourcefulness during the treacherous Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor.
The real story of Pearl Harbor is not one of individual heroism, although there
were many such cases. It lies in the splendid manner in which all hands did
their job as long as they were able, not only under fire but while fighting the
flames afterward and immediately starting salvage work and reorganization.
"Prompt action saved
many lives and a vast amount of material. Without exception, all ships and
stations rose to the emergency. Less than 4 minutes after the first alarm, guns
of the fleet went into action against enemy aircraft. Seconds later the first
Japanese plane was shot down.
"To a recruit seaman
aboard a battleship probably goes the honor of striking the first telling blow
in the fleet's defense. Even before 'general quarter' sounded, this youngster
single-handedly manned a machine gun and blasted an attacking torpedo plane as
it leveled against his ship.
"The dying captain of a
battleship displayed the outstanding individual heroism of the day. As he
emerged from the conning tower to the bridge, the better to fight his ship, his
stomach was laid completely open by a shrapnel burst. He fell to the deck.
Refusing to be carried to safety, he continued to direct the action. When the
bridge became a blazing inferno, two officers attempted to remove him. But he
ordered them to abandon him and save themselves. The latter found themselves
blocked by the flames. Only the heroic efforts of a third officer enabled
4
them to escape. He climbed
through the fire to a higher level from which he passed one line to an
adjoining battleship, and another to his trapped shipmates. By this frail means
they made their way to safety.
"Entire ship's
companies showed exemplary valor and coordination. Drama was thus crowded into a few seconds on board an aircraft
tender moored at the naval air station, target of the enemy's fiercest bombing
and strafing. With the ship already on fire from repeated high-altitude
attacks, her antiaircraft batteries downed a plane which crashed in flames on
deck. At this moment her captain observed the shadow of an enemy two-man
submarine approaching within a few yards of the vessel. It was placed under
fire. Hits were scored immediately and the submarine exposed her conning tower.
At that instant a destroyer stood down channel, passed directly over the
submarine, and sank it with depth charges. Doubtless saved from this craft's
torpedoes, the tender then shot down a second plane, which fell on land nearby.
"Men fought with the
cool confidence that comes from complete indoctrination for battle. In one
case, a single bluejacket manned a 5-inch antiaircraft gun after his 10 battery
mates had been shot down by a strafing attack. He would seize a shell from the
fuze-pot, place it in the tray, dash to the other side of the gun, and ram it
home. He would then take his position on the pointer's seat and fire. After the
third such round, a terrific explosion blew him over the side of the
battleship. He was rescued.
"At the several naval
air stations attacked, crews dashed into the flames enveloping planes set
ablaze by incendiaries, stripped off free machine guns, and with them returned
the enemy's fire. In at least one instance an enemy craft was shot down.
"Two cruiser scouting
seaplanes, their speed and maneuverability reduced by heavy pontoons, destroyed
an attacking Japanese pursuit ship of thrice their speed.
"Simultaneously
throughout the navy yard examples of personal heroism developed. Several
workmen of Japanese ancestry deserted their benches to help the Marine defense
battalion man machine-gun nests. Two of them with hands blistered from hot gun
barrels, required emergency treatment.
"Cool as ice, the men
who manned the navy yard signal tower from which flashed orders to the anchored
fleet, carried out their assignment under a hail of machine-gun fire and bombs
from the enemy, as well as
5
shrapnel from their own
force's antiaircraft batteries. None left his dangerous post. First to observe
the invaders through their long glasses from their high vantage point, they
sent out the astounding air raid warning by visual signals. Then they settled
into the complex business of transmitting the scores of orders to the ships
that fought back at the attackers from their berths, or prepared to stand out
to sea.
"Men from ships out of
action managed at any cost to return to the battle. There were the survivors of
the capsized ship who swam through blazing oil to clamber aboard other ships
and join gun crews. Crews from another disabled vessel swam into mid-channel
where they were hoisted aboard outward-bound destroyers. Proof that getting
back into battle took precedence over their own lives was the fact that the
comparative safety of the shore lay only a few yards away. Lying in a hospital
bed when the first air raid alarm sounded, one officer leaped up, brushed aside
nurses and ran across the navy yard to his ship. He fought with such gallantry
and zeal, despite his illness, that his captain recommended him for promotion.
"There was the case of
the destroyer tender which lay alongside a dock undergoing major overhaul,
powerless and without armament. Unable to assume an active defense role, she
concerned herself with the vital task of rescue with her available ship's
boats. One Naval Reserve ensign volunteered as skipper of a motor launch. With
four men he proceeded across Pearl Harbor's reverberating channel through a
hail of enemy machine-gun fire and shrapnel. They saved almost 100 men from 1
battleship - men who had been injured or blown overboard into the oil-fired
waters. The attack on this vessel was at its height as these rescue operations
proceeded. Suddenly the launch's propeller jammed. Coolly, the ensign directed
the work of disengaging the screw as flames licked around its wooden hull,
meantime also supervising the picking up of more victims from the harbor. His
captain cited him for 'initiative, resourcefulness, devotion to duty and personal
bravery displayed'.
"Four motor-torpedo
boats had been loaded aboard a fleet tanker for shipment. Their youthful
ensign-captains put their power-driven turret machine guns into immediate
action, accounting for at least one enemy raider plane.
"To the unsung heroes
of the harbor auxiliaries must go much of the credit for helping stem the
onslaught. Even the lowly garbage lighters shared the grim task. One came
alongside a blazing ship which
6
threatened momentarily to
explode. Calmly the yardcraft's commander led fire-fighting both aboard the
warship and on the surface of the harbor. He kept his tiny vessel beside the
larger one for 24 hours.
"Men's will-to-fight
was tremendous. One seaman had been confined to his battleship's brig for
misconduct a few days earlier. When an explosion tore open the door, he dashed
straight to his battle station on an antiaircraft gun. On the submarine base
dock a bluejacket, carrying a heavy machine gun for which there was no mount
immediately available, shot the weapon from his arms, staggering under the
concussion of the rapid fire.
"Quick-thinking in the
dire emergency probably saved many lives and ships. An aviation machinist's
mate aboard one ship saw that flames from the huge vessel threatened a repair
ship alongside. He ran through the blaze and single-handedly slashed the lines
holding the two ships together. Freed, the smaller craft drew clear. Only in
the final moments, when remaining aboard appeared utterly hopeless, would men
leave their ships. Then they went reluctantly. Once ashore, instead of finding
some dry place to recuperate from their terrific pounding, they pitched
emergency quarters as near their vessels as possible. And with portable guns
they continued to fight; later they stood guard at these same camps as repair
operations began on their ships, setting regular shipboard watches. Like all
treacherous attacks, the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese caught certain
vessels of the fleet under periodic overhaul. While in this condition of
repair, such ships were not able to utilize their offensive powers to the
greatest effectiveness. These ships, therefore, turned to with a will at many
useful purposes. One ship rescued with its boats, hundreds of survivors thrown
into the water by the force of explosions; meanwhile the surface of the water
was becoming a raging inferno from burning oil. Other ships sent their repair
parties to help the fighting ships keep afloat. Others sent ammunition parties
to maintain the flow of powder and shells to the guns. Without doubt the whole
spectacle was the greatest spontaneous exhibition of cooperation,
determination, and courage that the American Navy has been called upon to make.
The crew of one ship followed it around on its outside as it capsized, firing
their guns until they were under water. Those same men stood on the dock and
cheered as one of the more fortunate ships cleared the harbor and passed by, en
route after the Japanese. Of all the accounts submitted on that memorable day,
the record shows a con-
7
tinual demonstration of
courage, bravery, and fearlessness of which the American Nation may well be
proud."
No. 8 DECEMBER 15, 1941
A Norwegian motor ship was
sunk while approaching the Hawaiian Isles.
The crew was rescued by naval vessels.
The Hawaiian area has otherwise been without incident.
Recent enemy bombing in the
Philippine theatre has resulted in no damage to naval installations or
ships. Heavy weather in the North
Atlantic hampers naval operations there.
Midway and Wake Islands
continue to resist.
The above is based on
reports up until noon today.
No. 9 DECEMBER 16, 1941
Two islands in the Hawaiian
area have been shelled by Japanese war vessels within the last 24 hours. The naval outpost of Johnston Island figured
for the first time in Pacific action.
It was bombarded by ships of the enemy at dusk. On the northeastern coast of the island of
Maui, the shipping center of Kahului was shelled by an enemy submarine at about
the same time. Damage in both instances
is believed to be slight. Naval
operations are continuing against the enemy.
Wake Island has sustained
two additional bombing attacks. The
first occurred in the afternoon, the second in the evening. The first attack was light, the second
heavy.
Wake and Midway are
countering the blows of the enemy.
No. 10 DECEMBER
17, 1941
It has been established that
there were no injuries to personnel in the weak attack on Johnston Island
reported yesterday. The naval situation
in the Atlantic remains quiet.
No. 11 DECEMBER 18,
1941
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation as of noon today:
8
Atlantic Area.
The naval situation has been
without incident. Heavy weather
continues in the western Atlantic.
Eastern Pacific.
There are no new
developments to report.
Central Pacific.
There are no new
developments to report.
Far East.
Submarine actions against
enemy forces in the Far East have resulted in the sinking of an enemy transport
and the probable loss of one enemy destroyer.
No. 12 DECEMBER
19, 1941
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation as of 9 a. m. today:
Atlantic Theater.
There are no new
developments to report.
Eastern Pacific.
There are no new
developments to report.
Central Pacific.
There have been two
additional air attacks by the enemy on Wake Island. The first occurred on the night of the 17th-18th and was
comparatively light. The second was in
greater force and occurred in the forenoon of the 19th. Wake Island continues to counter these
blows.
Far East.
There are no new
developments to report.
No. 13 DECEMBER 20, 1941
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué‚ on the naval
situation as of 9 a. m. (e.
s. t.) today:
Atlantic Theater.
There are no new
developments to report.
9
Eastern Pacific.
There are no new
developments to report.
Central Pacific.
There are no new
developments to report.
Far East.
A U. S. submarine sank an
additional enemy transport. Cavite
sustained a heavy bombing raid at noon of the 19th. This raid caused some damage to property, but only light
casualties to our own forces and civilian personnel.
No. 14 DECEMBER
21, 1941
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation as of noon today:
Atlantic Theater.
There are indications of
enemy submarine activity off the East Coast of the United States.
Eastern Pacific.
Enemy submarines have been
active along the west coast of the United States. The S. S. Agwiworld was shelled by an enemy submarine.
The S. S. Emidio was
also shelled and then torpedoed. The
crew abandoned ship and took to the lifeboats.
Three lifeboats were destroyed by submarine gunfire. Thirty-two survivors have been rescued. There were 54 in the crew.
Central Pacific.
Wake Island has sustained
two additional attacks by enemy aircraft.
Far East.
The enemy made a light air
attack on Cavite. Only slight damage
resulted.
No. 15 DECEMBER
22, 1941
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué‚ on the naval situation as of noon (e. s. t.) today:
Atlantic Theater.
There are no new
developments to report.
Eastern Pacific.
The S. S. Samoa was
attacked by an unknown submarine off the coast of California during the night
of December 20. The attack was made at
close range, and consisted of gunfire followed by the discharge of a
torpedo. All shots missed their
mark. The torpedo exploded in the
vicinity of the ship. There were no
casualties or damage to the Samoa.
Central Pacific.
Thirty survivors of the S.
S. Lahaina have landed at Kahului on the island of Maui. The Lahaina was shelled and sunk by
an enemy submarine on December 11 while en route to San Francisco. Two of the crew are dead and two are
missing.
There has been no enemy
activity in the vicinity of Midway Island
recently.
Far East.
There are no new
developments to report.
No. 16 DECEMBER
23, 1941
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to 9 a. m. (e. s. t.) today:
Atlantic Theater.
There are no new
developments to report.
Eastern Pacific.
Two U. S. merchant ships
were attacked by enemy submarines off the Pacific Coast. Both attacks were unsuccessful.
Central Pacific.
Wake Island sustained
another strong air attack in the forenoon of the 22d. Several enemy planes were shot down. An enemy force effected a landing on Wake the morning of the 23d.
Far East.
Japanese claims of seizure
of a large number of American merchant vessels are without foundation. The only U. S. merchant vessel known to have
been seized by the Japanese is the S. S. President Harrison.
11
No. 17 DECEMBER
24, 1941
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to 9 a. m. (e. s. t.) today:
Atlantic Theater.
There are no new
developments to report.
Eastern Pacific.
The S. S. Larry Doheny
was shelled by an enemy submarine, but reached port safely. Press reports of the sinking of the S. S. Montebello
are confirmed.
Central Pacific.
Radio communication with
Wake has been severed and the capture of the island is probable. Two enemy destroyers were lost in the final
landing operations.
Palmyra Island was shelled
by an enemy submarine. Damage was
negligible. There were no casualties. Johnston Island was also shelled by an enemy
submarine with no damage to material and no casualties resulting.
The Hawaiian area was quiet.
Far East.
There are no new
developments to report.
No. 18 DECEMBER
26, 1941
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to 9 a. m. (e. s. t.) today:
Far East.
Press reports of U. S.
submarine activities in the Far East on Christmas Day are confirmed. A dispatch from Admiral Hart states that one
enemy transport and one mine sweeper have been sunk. An additional transport and one seaplane tender are probably
sunk.
Manila has been declared an
open city as defined in Hague Convention (IV) of 1907, Annex, Article 25. Our forces have complied with the
stipulations of that convention.
Central Pacific.
Enemy reports that 3,000
naval and marine personnel were engaged in the defense of Wake Island are
incorrect. The total strength of the
12
garrison was less than 400
officers and men. There were approximately 1,000 civilians engaged in
construction work on the island, which may account for the enemy statement that
1,400 prisoners were captured.
Eastern Pacific.
Naval operations against
enemy submarines are being vigorously prosecuted.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 19 DECEMBER
27, 1941
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to noon (e. s. t.) today:
Far East.
During enemy bombing attacks
two of our destroyers sustained minor damage.
There were no casualties to personnel.
Eastern Pacific.
Enemy submarines still are
operating in the West Coast shipping lanes.
Due to the effective countermeasures adopted by our forces they arc
experiencing great difficulty in prosecuting their attacks.
Central Pacific.
Countermeasures against
enemy submarines patrolling in the Hawaiian area are being vigorously
prosecuted.
Atlantic Theater.
There are no new
developments to report.
No. 20 DECEMBER
29, 1941
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to 9 a. m. (e. s. t.) today:
Far East.
U. S. submarines have sunk
two additional ships of the enemy. One
was a transport, the other a supply vessel.
During enemy air operations
one of our destroyers was attacked.
Slight damage and minor casualties resulted.
13
Central Pacific.
Thirteen survivors of the S.
S. Prusa, torpedoed by an enemy submarine on December i8, have been
rescued.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 21 DECEMBER
30, 1941
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to noon today:
Far East.
Submarine operations against
enemy surface craft are continuing.
Reports that a U. S. destroyer and two of our submarines were sunk in
the period December 26-28 are without foundation.
Central Pacific.
The situation in respect to
Midway Island remains unchanged. There
have been no further attacks since last reported.
Eastern Pacific.
Japanese vessels are
suspected of being in the vicinity of Kodiak.
All merchant vessels have been warned.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 22 DECEMBER
31, 1941
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to noon (e. s. t.) today:
Central Pacific.
The naval situation in
respect to Maui, Johnston, and Palmyra Islands remains unchanged. There have been no further attacks since
last reported.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
NOTE.-The Navy makes no
claims of enemy losses, except when borne out by positive evidence. The Navy will not indulge in the common
enemy practice of estimating losses, but will report only such facts as can be
substantiated.
14
No. 23 JANUARY 2,
1942
The U. S. naval base at
Cavite was evacuated before the enemy entered Manila. All records, equipment, and stores that were not destroyed by
bombing were removed prior to evacuation by naval personnels. All industrial and supply facilities,
including fuel, were destroyed. The
personnel of the naval hospital remained at their posts at the Naval Hospital,
Canacao, to care for the wounded. All
ships and naval personnel were removed from the Manila-Cavite area prior to
enemy occupation.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 24 JANUARY 5,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué on the naval situation based on reports received up to
noon (e. s. t.) today:
Far East.
The U. S. S. Heron, a
small seaplane tender, while engaged in action with enemy planes over a period
of 7 hours sustained 1 direct bomb hit and 3 very near misses. The Heron was attacked by a total of
10 four-engined flying boats and 5 twin-engined landplane bombers. Forty-six 100-pound bombs were dropped by
the enemy planes and 3 torpedoes were launched at her sides. Due to very skillful handling, the ship most
courageously fought against overwhelming odds, and destroyed 1 four-engined
flying boat, badly damaged at least 1 other and probably more. The ship though receiving damage from one
bomb that found its mark managed to reach port safely. The Commander in Chief of the Asiatic Fleet,
Thomas S. Hart, in accordance with an order of the Secretary of the Navy has
awarded the Navy Cross to the Commanding Officer, Lt. William Leverette Kabler, and recommended that he be advanced
immediately to the rank of lieutenant commander. Further recommendations regarding other personnel will be made at
a later date.
It has been ascertained from
late information that the patients and staff at the Naval Hospital, Canacao,
near Cavite, were evacuated to Manila prior to the occupation of that city by
the enemy.
Atlantic Area.
The merchant ship Marconi
flying the Panamanian flag but reported to be of Italian ownership was captured
and brought into Cristobal Canal Zone, and turned over to the courts for
adjudication.
15
The submarine situation in
the Atlantic area and off the West Coast of the United States remains
unchanged.
The Hawaiian area was quiet.
No. 25 JANUARY 8,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to noon (e. s. t.) today:
Far East.
The commanding officer of a
U. S. submarine of the Asiatic Fleet has reported the sinking of an enemy
transport. In addition this vessel succeeded in sinking three enemy cargo
vessels, each estimated to be of 10,000 tons displacement.
Central Pacific.
The defense of Wake Island
by United States Marines has been cited by the President of the United States
as follows:
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, January 5, 1942.
Citation by
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES
of
The Wake detachment of the
First Defense Battalion, U. S. Marine Corps,
under command of Maj. James
P. S. Devereux, U. S. Marines
AND
Marine Fighting Squadron 211
Of Marine Aircraft Group 21, Under command of Maj. Paul A. Putnam, U. S. Marines
"The courageous conduct
of the officers and men of these units, who defended Wake Island against an
overwhelming superiority of enemy air, sea, and land attacks from December 8 to
22, 1941, has been noted with admiration by their fellow countrymen and the
civilized world, and will not be forgotten so long as gallantry and heroism are
respected and honored. These units are
commended for their devotion to duty and splendid conduct at their battle
stations under most adverse conditions.
16
With limited defensive means against attacks in great force,
they manned their shore installations and flew their aircraft so well that five
enemy warships were either sunk or severely damaged, many hostile planes shot
down, and an unknown number of land troops destroyed."
***
Wake.
An increase of two Japanese
warships-a destroyer and a gunboat-over the originally reported cruiser,
submarine, and three destroyers that the Japs lost in the attack on Wake
Island, was indicated in two reports to Marine Corps Headquarters, received
from the Pacific area.
These reports were sent from
Wake Island by a patrol plane. One,
written on December 20, is from Maj. Paul A. Putnam, commanding aviation on
Wake. The other is a day-by-day account
of marine aviation's participation in the battle of Wake Island up to December
20 by Maj. W. Bayler.
The day-by-day record of the
battle, though not an official report, is Major Bayler's account of what marine
aviation and Major Devereux's men did.
Major Bayler's report has
but little reference to the Marines on the isle besides the aviation group, but
one brief note-"Japs closed into 4,700 yards before 5- and 3-inch guns
opened up at point blank range"-indicates a cool courage on the part of
Devereux's men that ranks with the classic it "whites of their eyes"
line of Bunker Hill, in the opinion of ranking officers at Marine Corps
Headquarters.
Added to the two Japanese
destroyers which were lost in the final phase of the battle of December 22, the
new information received brings Japanese losses in taking the Island of Wake up
to a total of seven warships-one cruiser, four destroyers, one submarine, and
one gunboat.
Major Bayler was on
temporary duty in Wake in connection with the establishment of a base of
operations for the Marine Corps Aviation unit.
This unit, composed of 12 planes, with pilots, 49 ground personnel,
arrived shortly before the outbreak of hostilities. Following is a copy of the
penciled notes the major made from the records kept by him and sent to the
Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet. He was present at Wake until December 20.
17
SYNOPSIS OF EVENTS (WAKE
LOCAL TIME) DECEMBER 8-20
|
Dec. 8, |
Received word bombing
Oahu. |
|
Dec. 9, |
27 Japs. Bombed hospital,
Camp No. 2. Killed several patients, 3 dead.
Got one Jap plane. |
|
Dec. 10, |
27 Jap bombers. No casualties. |
|
Dec. 11, |
Landing attempt by 12 Jap
ships, including light cruisers, destroyers, gunboats, 2 troop or supply
ships. Jap casualties: 1 light cruiser, 2 destroyers, 1 gunboat, 2 bombers. |
|
Dec. 12 |
27 Jap planes bombed Peale
and Wake from 22,000 feet. No casualties. |
|
Dec. 13 |
All quiet. |
|
Dec. 14 |
32 Jap planes hit
airdrome. Two killed, 1 plane down (own destroyed by bombs). |
|
Dec. 15, |
Dawn raid by 3 four-engine
seaplanes. 27 Jap bombers. Shot down
2 Japs. |
|
Dec. 16, |
41 Jap bombers hit Camp 2
and airdrome. Jap four-motor plane raid.
One Jap shot down. |
|
Dec. 17 |
32 Jap bombers at 1317 hit
Camp 1, Peale Island, Diesel oil supply, mess hall, and pumps of evaporators,
Camp 1. |
|
Dec. 18, |
One Jap high rec. plane (2
engine) (photo?). |
|
Dec. 19, |
Jap bombers hit airport
and camp. |
|
Dec. 20 |
All quiet-first day of bad
weather. |
Total casualties:
28 dead, 6 wounded as of Dec. 20 from VMF-211.
NOTES:
(1) Jap bombers of Dornier
type, two-engine, twin-tail, 160 knots.
(2) Attack formations always
in form of line of division V's in close formation. Excellent air discipline.
(3) Nine sure Jap bombers
shot down; three more possibly.
One four-engine boat.
1 CL, 2 DD, 1 gunboat.
Major Putnam's report of
operations to his commanding officer in Pearl Harbor goes into more detail on
the efforts of the tiny aviation complement to keep the planes that were left
after the first attack in the air against each new attack.
18
Of the original aviation
force of 12 officers and 49 enlisted men, 19 enlisted men and 8 officers were
still on duty by December 20. Of these,
4 enlisted men and 2 officers were wounded but still on duty. One officer and 6 enlisted men were in the
hospital and "doing nicely".
The remainder, 3 officers and 24 men, were dead.
The letter relates that four
planes were in the air against the Japs at the time of the first raid. The other eight were on the ground being
serviced between flights, and of these seven were destroyed and one was
slightly damaged. One of the planes
that was in the air later taxied into debris on the field—the wreckage of the
first raid—and bent its propeller.
The Marine fighters, up to
December 20, had made contact with the enemy seven times, had shot down five
Japs in flames, four more had "been claimed by pilots but not verified and
several are known to have been damaged.
Of the four claimed one was a four-engined sea plane."
Discussing the surface
attack of December 11, Putnam reported "4 airplanes (Marine planes) made a
total of 10 attacks, operating in a greatly overloaded condition and performing
splendidly...We claim the sinking of 1 ship and serious damage to another."
The guns of Devereux's force evidently accounted for the remainder of the ships
reported destroyed in Major Bayler's synopsis.
In the attack on December 11, 1 plane was lost, "a washout on the
rocky beach."
After the attack on December
14, which saw two Marine planes destroyed, "one plane on the ground by
enemy action and one crashed on the take-off" the Marines had "only
two operating airplanes, one of which gives constant trouble so that two planes
in the air at one time is the exception rather than the rule." At one time
only one serviceable plane was left to Major Putnam's squadron, but the
mechanics and ground crews evidently made an additional plane, or even planes
out of the wreckage of the remainder.
Lauding the work of the
ground crews at Wake, Major Putnam wrote since that time (the first raid) parts
and assemblies have been traded back and forth so that no airplane can be
identified. Engines have been traded
from plane to plane, have been junked, stripped, rebuilt, and all but
created."
Continuing his praise for
the men under him, Major Putnam wrote "all hands have behaved splendidly
and held up in a manner of which the Marine Corps may well tell. I have no report to make regarding
19
any officer or man being
outstanding in bravery or fortitude; they have all acquitted themselves with
equal distinction. On the other hand, I
particularly wish to comment on the indefatigable labor, and ingenuity, skill,
and technical knowledge of Lieutenant Kinney and Technical Sergeant
Hamilton. It is solely due to their
efforts that the squadron is still operating."
Discussing the living
conditions on the airdrome as they were on December 11, Major Putnam said
"Personnel are living in dugouts made by the contractor's men and
equipment. Not comfortable but adequate
against all but direct bomb hits.
Feeding is from the contractor's galley, a truck making the rounds with
hot food twice daily. Sanitation is
only fair, but so far have had only a mild flurry of diarrhea. Fresh water is adequate for drinking, but
salt water is used for all other purposes."
The tone of the entire
report indicates no particular anxiety on the part of the air group at
Wake. They were there under orders with
a job to do. They were doing the job
and would continue to do it until circumstances beyond their control forced
them to discontinue their efforts. They
had kept these circumstances under control for almost 2 weeks and they would
continue to do so.
At no time during the siege
were more than four Marine planes in operation, Putnam reported, but the
verified total that these planes took of the Japanese was one ship, one
submarine, and five Jap planes.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
***
No. 26 JANUARY 9,
1942
Far East.
The S. S. Ruth Alexander,
attacked by an enemy plane in Netherlands East Indies waters has been abandoned
and declared a total loss. One of the
crew was killed and four were injured.
The balance of the survivors are safe in a friendly port. The Ruth Alexander of the American
President Lines was a vessel of 8,000 gross tons.
Central Pacific.
Operations continue against
enemy submarines. The Hawaiian area is
quiet.
20
Eastern Pacific.
Coastal defense plans have
resulted in a narrowing of enemy submarine operations off the West Coast.
Atlantic Area.
A report that an enemy
submarine was operating in New England waters has been thoroughly
investigated. The area has been
searched without tangible results.
Otherwise, Atlantic operations have been without incident.
No. 27 JANUARY
11, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to noon (e. s. t.) today:
Central Pacific.
The naval station at
Tutuila, Samoan Islands, was shelled shortly after midnight Sunday, January 11,
Samoan time by a small enemy vessel.
Fourteen shells of light caliber landed in the naval station area. The only casualties were three slight
injuries to personnel. There was no
material damage to the naval station itself.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 28 JANUARY
15, 1942
Far East.
A 17,000-ton Japanese
merchant ship of the Yawata class has been sunk by an American
submarine.
There is nothing to report
from other Pacific areas.
Atlantic Area.
The menace of enemy
submarines off the East Coast of the United States remains substantial.
There is nothing to report
from other Atlantic areas.
21
No. 29 JANUARY
16, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to 9 a. m (e. s. t.) today:
Far East.
Units of the U. S. Asiatic
Fleet report the sinking of five enemy vessels in Far Eastern waters. They include two large cargo ships, two
large transports and one medium-sized transport. These sinkings are in addition to enemy casualties at sea
previously reported.
Atlantic Area.
The submarine situation
along the northeast coast of the United States remains unchanged.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 30 JANUARY 17, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to 5 p. m. (e. s. t.) today:
Far East.
A U. S. submarine has sunk
three enemy merchant ships off Tokio Bay.
Admiral Thomas C. Hart has
assumed control of Allied naval forces in Far Eastern waters.
Atlantic Area.
Enemy submarine activities
off the northeast coast of the United States continue.
There are no further
developments to report from other areas.
No. 31 JANUARY
20, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to noon (e. s. t.) today:
Far East.
A motor torpedo boat under
Admiral Hart's Far Eastern Command entered Binanga Bay, inside the entrance to
Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, and torpedoed an unidentified enemy vessel of
5,000 tons in a night attack. This
small boat carried out its difficult task while under fire of machine guns and
3 inch shore batteries. Lt. John D. Bulkeley has been commended for
executing his mission successfully.
22
Atlantic Area.
Enemy submarine activity is
continuing off the East Coast of North America from Cape Hatteras to
Newfoundland. The sinkings of the
tankers, Norness, Coimbra, and Allan Jackson have been
accompanied by attacks on other vessels within the territorial limits of the
United States. Strong counter measures
are being taken by units of the Navy's East Coastal Command.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 32 JANUARY 24,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to 5 p. m. (e. s. t.) today:
Far East.
The Navy Department has been
advised by the Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet, that United States'
destroyers made a night attack on an enemy convoy in the Makassar Straits. Our forces made several torpedo hits and
close range gun hits on destroyers and transports. The effect of the attack was that one large enemy ship was blown
up; another was sunk; a third was listing heavily when last sighted, and
considerable damage was inflicted upon other vessels.
Our destroyers received only
slight damage. Our only casualties were
four men wounded, one seriously and three slightly.
Atlantic Area.
Enemy submarines are
operating off the East Coast of the United States as far south as Savannah,
Ga. Countermeasures against their
activities are continuing with favorable results.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 33 JANUARY
25, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to 9 p. m. (e. s. t.) today:
Far East.
United States cruisers and
destroyers of the Asiatic Fleet have sunk five additional enemy transports, and
probably one other, in the Makassar Straits without loss to our attacking
forces.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
23
No. 34 JANUARY
26, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to 4 p. m. (e. s. t.) today:
Far East.
U. S. naval forces have
scored further successes against Japanese convoys in the Makassar Strait. Heavy hits on enemy destroyers and
transports have been effected. While it
is still impossible to estimate total damage inflicted by our combat vessels,
the known results are substantial.
Additional reports to the
Navy Department of continuing action state that an American submarine has
torpedoed an enemy aircraft carrier, which is believed to have sunk.
Dispatches also advise that
another U. S. motor torpedo boat under the command of Ensign George Cox sank a
5,000-ton enemy vessel in a second torpedo boat raid close to Subic Bay.
The attack succeeded in the
face of heavy fire at close range from enemy shore batteries and machine-gun
fire from the Japanese ship. The motor
torpedo boat penetrated the water adjacent to its objective despite net and
boom defenses laid down by the enemy.
Participating in the attack
with Ensign Cox were Lt. John D. Bulkeley, MTB squadron commander and Lt. (jg)
Edward G. DeLong, squadron engineer.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 35 JANUARY
29, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, on the naval situation based on reports received up
to 4 p. m. (e. s. t.) today:
Central Pacific.
Two enemy submarines
appeared off Midway Island with the intention of shelling it. They were driven away by the artillery fire
of our garrison. One hit was scored on
one of the attacking submarines. No
damage was inflicted on the Midway Garrison and there were no injuries to
personnel.
Atlantic Area.
Enemy submarines continue to
operate off the East Coast of the United States and are reported as far south
as Florida. Counter measures by our forces
are increasingly effective.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
24
No. 36 FEBRUARY
1, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué on the naval situation based on reports received up to
noon (e. s. t.) today:
Central Pacific.
A surprise attack has been
made upon Japanese naval and air bases in the Marshall and Gilbert
Islands. The attack was executed by
surface and air units of the United States Pacific Fleet.
In the Marshalls, bases on
the Islands of Jaluit, Wotje, Kwajalein, Roi (in the Kwajalein Atoll), and
Taroa (in the Maloelap Atoll) were raided.
Makin Island, occupied by
the Japanese since December 7, 1941, also was attacked.
Admiral Nimitz reports that
while no large enemy combatant vessels were found many enemy fleet auxiliaries
were sunk, beached or otherwise damaged extensively.
Japanese military
installations on shore were hit hard by naval aviation units and shell
fire. Many enemy airplanes were
destroyed both on the ground and in the air.
Our naval aircraft struck
the enemy positions and ships with bombs, torpedoes and guns.
Our surface ships meanwhile
heavily bombarded several of the enemy's key shore positions.
Two of our surface vessels
received minor damage from near bomb misses.
Eleven American aircraft
failed to return from the attack. Our
total personnel losses are not yet known, but are believed to have been slight.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 37 FEBRUARY
3, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué on the naval situation based on reports up to 5 p. m.
(e. s. t.) today:
1. A motor torpedo boat of
Admiral Hart's Far Eastern Command is believed to have torpedoed an enemy
warship in night action inside Manila Bay.
Although under heavy fire of the warship's guns and in the full glare of
her searchlights, the motor torpedo boat managed to fire two torpedoes and to
survive the action without being hit.
25
2. A naval battalion
composed of bluejackets and marines has been organized and is fighting on
Bataan Peninsula with General MacArthur's command.
3. The U. S. S. Neches,
a naval tanker, has been torpedoed and sunk by an enemy submarine. One hundred and twenty-six members of the
crew have reached port safely.
Fifty-six men are as yet unaccounted for.
No. 38 FEBRUARY
7, 1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué, outlining the naval situation as of noon (e.
s. t.) February 7, 1942:
Far East.
The following new naval
commands have been established to take effect immediately:
1. Forces which formerly
constituted the Asiatic Fleet are now known as the U. S. Naval Forces,
Southwest Pacific. Vice Admiral William
A. Glassford, Jr., U. S. Navy, commands these forces.
2. Admiral Thomas C. Hart is
Commander of the combined Naval forces in the ABDA
(American-British-Dutch-Australian) Area.
3. Combined Naval Forces of
the Australian-New Zealand Area have been established with Vice Admiral Herbert
F. Leary, U. S. Navy, in command. His
title is Commander Anzac Forces.
Atlantic Area.
Axis submarines continue to
operate over a wide area in the Atlantic Ocean, including the coastal waters of
the United States. Their attacks on
Allied merchant shipping are being combated vigorously with increasing success
by our forces.
No. 39 FEBRUARY
12, 1942
(For release morning papers,
Friday, February 13, 1942)
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
Central Pacific.
On February 1, 1942, the
Navy Department announced that units of the United States Pacific Fleet had
made surprise attacks on Japanese naval and air bases in the Marshall and
Gilbert Islands. The results of these
attacks are now available.
26
On January 31, 1942, Vice
Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., in command of a well-balanced force of aircraft
carriers, cruisers and destroyers raided the Japanese strongholds on Roi,
Kwajalein, Wotje, Taroa, and Jaluit Islands of the Marshall group and Makin
Island in the Gilbert group.
The results of these
separate actions follow:
Roi Island.
On this island of the
Kwajalein Atoll a well-equipped air base was located with 12 fighter planes and
several bombers. Two hangars, an
ammunition dump, all fuel storage, all other storage and warehouses, a radio building,
and 3 fighter planes and 6 scout bombers in the air, in addition to 1 bomber on
the ground, were destroyed.
Kwajalein Island.
At this anchorage 10 surface
ships, 5 submarines and a seaplane base were located. Our attacking forces destroyed 1 converted 17,000-ton aircraft
carrier of the Yawata class, 11 fight cruiser, 1 destroyer, 3 large
fleet tankers, 1 cargo vessel, 2 submarines and 2 large seaplanes. Other enemy vessels were badly damaged.
Our losses in the two above
attacks were four scout bombers.
Wotje Atoll.
No planes were found on the
Wotje Atoll. There were present,
however, 9 vessels of various categories in the harbor. 4 cargo vessels of
about 5,000 tons each were destroyed in addition to three smaller ships. The entire shore installation consisting of
two hangars, oil and gasoline stowage, shops and storehouses two antiaircraft
batteries and 5 coastal guns, was completely destroyed.
There was no damage or loss
to our attacking forces.
Taroa Island.
On this island a new,
well-equipped airfield was attacked. Two hangars, all fuel tanks, and
industrial buildings were destroyed.
Seven fighter planes and five scout bombers in the air, plus five
fighters and six bombers on the ground were also destroyed.
Our only loss in this attack
was one scout bomber. In addition, a U.
S. cruiser sustained a hit from one small bomb.
RECAPITULATION
Enemy losses from Admiral
Halsey's combined attacks included 1 converted 17,000-ton aircraft carrier of
the Yawata class, 1 light cruiser,
27
1 destroyer, 3 large fleet
tankers, 2 submarines, 5 cargo vessels, and 3 smaller ships while several other
ships were badly damaged. Two large
seaplanes, 15 fighter planes, 11 scout bombers, and 10 additional bombers
seaplanes were also destroyed.
In addition, destruction to
enemy shore establishments was as follows:
At Roi-Two hangars,
ammunition dumps, fuel stowage, all store
and warehouses, and the
radio building.
At Wotje-Entire shore
installation-two hangars, oil and gas stowage,
shops and storehouses, two
antiaircraft batteries, and five
intermediate coastal guns.
At Taroa-Two hangars, all
fuel tanks, and industrial buildings.
The raid of our forces on
the Island of Jaluit was conducted in a heavy rainstorm. Our aircraft attacked two enemy auxiliary
vessels, badly damaging one of them.
At Makin Island, these
forces destroyed two enemy patrol planes and badly damaged one auxiliary
vessel. In addition, one enemy patrol
plane was destroyed at sea.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
***
CONFIDENTIAL NOTE TO EDITORS
This communiqué in no way
changes the 12 noon (e. w. t.) Friday, February 13, release date of the
correspondents' stories filed from Honolulu.
No. 40 FEBRUARY
13, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué based on additional reports of the Marshall and
Gilbert islands' action of January 31, 1942.
Central Pacific.
Enemy losses in the naval
raid of January 31, 1942, conducted by ships and planes of the U. S. Pacific
Fleet against Japanese bases in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands totaled 16
ships and 41 planes.
Our losses totaled 11 scout
bombers which failed to return, 4 from the Islands of Roi and Kwajalein, 1 from
the Island of Taroa, and 6 from the Islands of Jaluit and Makin.
28
In carrying out the raids on
the several islands Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., divided his surface
and air forces into self-sustaining units.
Timing the arrival of each force at its destination perfectly, he was
able to carry out simultaneous and highly destructive attacks on each island.
Rear Admiral Frank J.
Fletcher, acting under orders of Admiral Halsey, led the forces which made the
attacks against the Islands of Jaluit and Makin.
Vice Admiral Halsey has been
awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for planning and conducting these
brilliant and audacious attacks on Japanese strongholds and for driving them
home with great skill and determination.
Commander Miles R. Browning,
Chief of Staff to Admiral Halsey, has been recommended for promotion to
captain.
Appropriate rewards to other
officers and men may be expected later when all recommendations have been
received and acted upon.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 41 FEBRUARY
19, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, outlining the naval situation as of noon (e. w. t.)
February 19, 1942:
Far East.
A U. S. submarine has sunk a
5,000-ton cargo ship in the East China Sea.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 42 FEBRUARY
21, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, outlining the naval situation as of noon (e. w. t.)
February 21, 1942:
Far East.
Six U. S. destroyers in
company with Dutch warships attacked the Japanese landing force on the Island
of Bali and sank two enemy destroyers.
Our destroyers suffered only slight damage and minor loss of personnel.
In addition to the naval
battalion composed of bluejackets and marines fighting with General MacArthur's
command considerable equipment salvaged from Cavite and other sources of naval
supply has been used to good advantage in the defense of the Bataan Peninsula.
29
Rear Admiral Francis W.
Rockwell, U. S. Navy, Commandant of the Sixteenth Naval District, the senior
naval officer fighting with General
MacArthur, reports that this equipment consists of 3-inch and 4-inch
artillery as well as boat guns and machine guns of several types, with
grenades, aircraft bombs and ammunition.
A large number of hand depth charges have been available.
Stores of gasoline, Diesel
oil and lubricating oil were saved and are being used in field operations. Motor launches, tugs and facilities for
repair of artillery, tanks, and trucks have been provided in addition to
electrical and ordnance supplies.
Personnel of the naval air
base organization who were previously employed on Government contracts have
constructed and repaired airfields and roads in the fighting area. Such heavy equipment as steam shovels
tractors, cranes, trucks and graders have been operated by this organization to
useful advantage on Bataan and Corregidor.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 43 FEBRUARY
23, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, outlining the naval situation based on reports
received up to 8 a. m. (e. w. t.),
February 23, 1942:
Atlantic Area.
The Coast Guard Cutter Alexander
Hamilton was torpedoed by an enemy submarine off Iceland. While being towed into port the ship
capsized and had to be sunk by gunfire.
Loss of personnel which
occurred when the ship was torpedoed was moderate. Next of kin of those lost have been notified.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 44 FEBRUARY
24, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, outlining the naval situation based on reports
received up to 9:30 a. m. (e. w. t.)
February 24, 1942:
30
Atlantic Area.
The U. S. S. Truxtun,
a World War destroyer, and the U. S. S. Pollux, a cargo ship, ran
aground in foul weather off the coast of Newfoundland and were lost.
Due to the extremely
difficult surf caused by the gale raging in the Atlantic and the bitterness of
the winter weather loss of life was heavy on both vessels. Heroic efforts to swim lines ashore failed
due to the inability to handle them when they became oil soaked.
A breeches buoy was finally
rigged to a ledge at sea level, but some of the survivors were washed away
before they could be gotten to the top of the cliff that lined the rocky shore.
The Truxtun broke up
almost immediately after grounding and soon thereafter the Pollux did
likewise.
The survivors owe their
rescue in large measure to the tireless, efficient and in many cases heroic
action of the people of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland.
The next of kin of those
lost in this tragic drama of the sea have been notified.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 45 FEBRUARY
25, 1942
Far East.
The Secretary of the Navy
issued the following communiqué, summarizing previously published losses
inflicted by U. S. naval forces upon the Japanese Navy and Merchant Marine in
the period from December 10, 1941 until February 24, 1942, inclusive. The following information is compiled from
Navy Department Communiqués beginning with No. 1 and ending with No. 44, and
complements similar information summarizing enemy losses and damage published
in recent communiqués of the United States Army.
In accordance with its
previously announced policy, the Navy does not indulge in the practice of
overstating the losses that we inflict upon the enemy, or of understating the
losses inflicted on us. The Navy will
report only such facts as can be substantiated. Thus the tabulation of vessels damaged does not include many
enemy ships thought to have been damaged, lack of conclusive evidence
precluding specific announcements in these instances.
31
Submarines known to be sunk
include only those sunk during the heroic defense of Wake Island and during the
recent raid on the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. In accordance with the established Navy Department policy
submarine sinkings are never announced until it is reasonably certain that the
enemy has become cognizant of their loss.
This explains the time lag in connection with various reports. There is evidence, however, of further
sinkings of enemy submarines in Pacific waters, but their announcement will not
be made public until full reports have been made to the Navy Department and
absolute surety is determined.
Prior to the vicious attack
made on the United Nations by the Japanese Empire on December 7, 1941, the
pride of the Japanese Merchant Marine consisted of three 17,000-ton luxury
ships of the Yawata class. One of these ships is known to have been
converted to serve as an aircraft carrier.
The United States naval forces have sunk one merchantman of the Yawata class, and one aircraft carrier
of the same class, leaving only one such vessel known to be in service with the
enemy.
Tabulation follows, by type
of vessel:
Battleships..................................... 1 of Kongo class damaged.
Aircraft carriers............................. 1 sunk, 1 believed sunk.
Cruisers......................................... 2 sunk.
Destroyers..................................... 7 sunk, 1 believed sunk.
Submarines.................................... 3 sunk, 1 damaged.
Seaplane tenders............................ 1 believed sunk.
Mine sweepers............................... 1 sunk.
Gunboats....................................... 1 sunk.
Fleet tankers.................................. 3 sunk.
Transports..................................... 13
sunk, 2 believed sunk.
Supply ships and merchantmen........ 16 sunk.
Miscellaneous (type
unidentified)..... 6 sunk, 2 believed sunk, 3 damaged.
SUMMARY
Total announced losses
inflicted upon the Japanese in the period
outlined above are as follows:
Combatant vessels.......................... 5 sunk, 3
believed sunk, 2 damaged.
Noncombatant vessels.................... 38 sunk, 4 believed
sunk, 3 damaged.
Total combatant and
noncombatant.. 53 sunk, 7 believed
sunk, 5 damaged.
Atlantic Area.
During January 1942, 22
ships of the United Nations registry had torpedoes fired at them in waters
contiguous to the United States. In
32
addition 38 other ships were
attacked in the area west of 30° west longitude. One enemy submarine is believed to have been sunk, 3 are believed
to have been damaged and 34 additional attacks were inconclusive in evidence of
damage.
In February, up to and
including the 23d instant, 23 ships of the United Nations have been attacked by
enemy submarines in U. S. coastal waters and 31 additional ships in the area
west of 30° west longitude. Two enemy
submarines are believed to have been sunk and 1 damaged in these areas. In addition, 15 attacks have been made on
enemy submarines by our forces with inconclusive results.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 46 February
27, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué outlining the naval situation based on reports
received up to noon (e. w. t.) February 27, 1942.
Far East.
The following submarine
commanders have been awarded the Navy Cross in recognition of their especially
meritorious conduct during actions with the enemy:
Lt. Comdr. C. C. Smith, U.
S. N.
Lt. Comdr. K. C. Hurd, U. S.
N.
Lt. Comdr. W. L. Wright, U.
S. N.
Lt. Comdr. M. C. Mumma, Jr.,
U. S. N.
Lt. Comdr. E. B. McKinney,
U. S. N.
Lt. J. C. Dempsey, U. S. N.
Lt. W. G. Chapple, U. S. N.
Citations are not yet
available as the above awards were made in the sphere of action by the
Commander of United States Naval Forces, Southwest Pacific, Vice Admiral
William A. Glassford, Jr., U. S. Navy.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 47 FEBRUARY
28, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué:
The Secretary of the Navy
announced today the acceptance, effective March 1, 1942, of the application for
retirement of Rear Admiral H. E.
33
Kimmel, U. S. N., "without
condonation of any offense or prejudice to any future disciplinary
action."
The Secretary of the Navy
announced at the same time that, based upon the findings of the report of the
Roberts Commission he had directed the preparation of charges for the trial by
court-martial of Rear Admiral Kimmel, alleging dereliction of duty. The Secretary of the Navy made it clear,
however, that the trial upon these charges would not be held until such time as
the public interest and safety would permit.
No. 48 FEBRUARY
28, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, outlining the Naval situation based on reports
received up to 4 p. m. (e. w. t.), February 28, 1942:
Far East.
On February 27 a major
action occurred in which combined Dutch, British, Australian, and United States
naval forces engaged a much larger enemy force of combatant vessels covering 40
transports attempting a landing on the north coast of Java.
From fragmentary reports
received in the Navy Department American naval forces participating in this
action consisted of one heavy cruiser and five destroyers.
A landing on Java by the
enemy was not effected.
The Japanese heavy cruiser Mogami
and three enemy destroyers were put out of action in the attempt. When last seen, enemy transports were
retiring to the northward.
None of our vessels suffered
heavy damage in the initial phase of this battle for Java, and our forces are
still intact despite the overwhelming superiority in numbers of the enemy naval
forces.
Further action can be
expected from this area.
Reports from U. S.
submarines operating in the Far East are as follows:
On February 23 two torpedo
hits were effected on one large ship of the enemy.
On February 24 two torpedo
hits were effected on one large enemy auxiliary vessel.
On February 25 one torpedo
hit was effected on an enemy transport and one torpedo hit on a type unknown.
34
In addition, date unknown,
one of our submarines registered a torpedo hit on an enemy transport.
All of these ships of the enemy
are believed sunk.
No. 49 MARCH 2,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué: Admiral Ernest J. King, U. S. Navy, Commander in
Chief, United States
Fleet, made the following
statement today:
"I have noted the
widespread interest in the press about what the United States Fleets are
doing. Did this interest not exist I
should be deeply concerned.
"As to the activities
of our fleets, the public can count with certainty upon being furnished all
information which does not give aid and comfort to the enemy. The traditional title of the Navy as
"The Silent Service" is, however, based on experience and
necessity. It will have to be
maintained.
"On the other hand I
can say, that while no miracles are to be expected, an all-out effort is being
made in the unspectacular but vitally essential task of establishing our sea
and air communications.
"Appropriate measures
are being taken to strengthen the key points of these communications, with a
view to developing an offensive, which slowly but surely, will gain scope and
power as we gain strength, through the production of aircraft, ships and guns.
"Currently, therefore,
the United States Fleets are carrying on with the basic idea to 'Do more than
your best with what you've got.' This means to take and make every opportunity
to harass and damage the enemy, while building soundly for his ultimate
defeat."
E. J. KING.
No. 50
MARCH 3, 1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, outlining the naval situation based on reports
received up to 10 a. m. (e. w. t.), March 3, 1942.
Atlantic Area.
The U. S. S. Jacob Jones,
a World War destroyer, was sunk by an enemy submarine off Cape May, N. J., just
before dawn on February 28, 1942.
35
There were only 11 survivors
consisting of 9 engine room ratings and 2 apprentice seamen. Factual information in regard to the
circumstances that led to the sinking is sparse because of the lack of deck
ratings among the survivors. It has
been established, however, that prior to receiving the first torpedo hit, the
enemy submarine was not sighted nor was the torpedo.
The first torpedo blew up
the bow and apparently killed all the personnel on the bridge as well as the
men sleeping in the forward living compartments. The second torpedo, which was fired after the submarine circled
ahead of the Jacob Jones, blew up the stern and all the depth charges.
The only survivors, except
one man from the after engine room, were in the amidship section when the stern
was blown up.
The commanding officer of
the U. S. S. Jacob Jones was Lt. Comdr.
H. D. Black, U. S. N.
The next of kin of those
lost have been notified.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 51 MARCH 3,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, based on reports received up to 6:30 p. m. (e. w.
t.), March 3, 1942.
Central Pacific.
In the course of recent
naval operations west of the Gilbert Islands a task force of the Pacific Fleet
consisting of an aircraft carrier, cruisers and destroyers, was attacked by 18
heavy bombers of the enemy operating in 2 groups of 9 each.
These attacks occurred in
the late afternoon and were timed about one-half hour apart.
The Japanese formations were
closely and vigorously engaged by our carrier fighter planes and by
antiaircraft fire from the ships of our task force.
Only three enemy planes of
the first formation reached their bomb release point over the aircraft carrier
which avoided all bomb hits by split second maneuvering.
The leading bomber of this group
attempted a crash landing on the carrier and was shot down by heavy close range
antiaircraft fire when barely 100 yards from its objective.
36
In the second attack only
five bombers of the enemy formation reached the bomb release point. In this instance the salvo of enemy bombs
was closer to the carrier than in the first attack, but again no hits were
obtained.
Sixteen of the 18 attacking
enemy bombers were shot down in this action.
There was no damage to our surface forces.
Lt. (j. g.) Edward H.
O'Hare, U. S. N., fighter pilot, personally accounted for six bombers of the
enemy.
In the two attacks only two
of our fighter planes were lost. The
pilot of one was recovered.
The next of kin of the lost
pilot has been notified.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 52 MARCH 9,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, based on reports received up to 4:30 p. m. (e. w.
t.), March 9, 1942:
Far East.
During the week ending March
6, U. S. submarines operating in Far Eastern waters reported the following
casualties inflicted on the naval
forces of the enemy:
One destroyer leader-sunk.
One large naval tanker-sunk.
Ships damaged and definitely
put out of action:
One aircraft carrier-2
torpedo hits.
One cruiser-1 torpedo hit.
One cruiser-1 torpedo hit.
One cruiser-2 torpedo hits.
These vessels have not been
mentioned previously in any other communiqués.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 53 MARCH 12,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué based on reports received up to 4 p. m. (e. w. t.)
March 12, 1942:
37
Far East.
A U. S. submarine has sunk
three enemy freighters and one passenger cargo ship in Japanese waters.
These sinkings are in
addition to those reported in all previous communiqués.
Central Pacific.
On March 10th, two large
Japanese four-engined seaplanes were detected west of Midway Island. They were intercepted by four of our fighter
planes based on the island. One of the
enemy planes was shot down. The other
escaped. One of our fighters was
damaged and the pilot wounded. He
succeeded in returning to base safely.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 54 MARCH 14,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué based on reports received up to 12 noon (e. w. t.)
March 14, 1942.
Far East.
Joint British Admiralty and
U. S. Navy Department communiqué:
Although full information is
not yet available it is now possible to give some account of events in the Java
Sea on February 27 and subsequent days during Japanese invasion of Java.
On afternoon of Friday,
February 27th, an Allied Force consisting of H. M. A. S. Perth, H. M. S.
Exeter, the U. S. S. Houston and Dutch cruisers De Ruyter
and Java were at sea north of Sourabaya.
The Allied cruisers were accompanied by a group of British, Dutch, and
U. S. destroyers. This force was under
the sea command of Rear Admiral Deoorman of the Dutch Navy whose flag was
flying in the De Ruyter. The
whole naval force in the area was under the strategic control of Vice Admiral
Helfrich of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
At 4: 14 p. m. on February
27th this Allied Force made contact with a Japanese force about halfway between
Bawean Island and Sourabaya. The Japanese force consisted of at least 9
cruisers of which two were of the Nati class of 10,000 tons armed with
ten 8-inch guns. The Japanese cruisers had with them 2 flotillas of destroyers.
Action was joined at extreme
range. Almost at once one of the
Japanese destroyer flotillas launched an attack but this attack was driven off
38
by the fire of Allied
cruisers and one of the enemy destroyers was seen to be hit by shells from H.
M. A. S. Perth. Soon afterwards
the other Japanese destroyer flotilla delivered a torpedo attack. While action was being taken to avoid these
torpedoes H. M. S. Exeter was hit by an 8-inch shell in a boiler
room. This reduced her speed and forced
her to drop out of line. Only one of
the torpedoes launched in this attack took effect. This hit the Netherlands destroyer Kortenaer and she sank.
Three destroyers were
ordered to counterattack the Japanese destroyers who were retiring under cover
of a smoke screen. Very little
information is available about the result of this counterattack. H. M. S. Jupiter reported seeing only
two enemy destroyers both of which she engaged with gunfire. H. M. S. Electra was not seen after
she had disappeared into the smoke screen and it is presumed that she was
sunk. As soon as Allied cruisers,
including the Houston but without the Exeter, which was unable to
keep up, drew clear of smoke they again engaged the enemy, this time at shorter
range. Less than half an hour later the
enemy cruisers turned away under cover of a smoke screen. It was seen that one of the enemy's heavy
8-inch gun cruisers had been hit aft and was burning fiercely.
Admiral Deoorman led his
force about and chased the enemy to northeastward but he failed to regain touch
with the enemy in the fading light.
After nightfall the Allied cruisers sighted four enemy ships to westward
and engaged them but without definite knowledge of the results.
Admiral Deoorman attempted
to work around these enemy ships in order to locate the convoy which was
expected to the northward. This was
found to be impossible owing to the high speed of the enemy, and Admiral
Deoorman then turned his force to southward to approach the coast of Java
intending to sweep to westward along the coast in an attempt to intercept the
Japanese invasion convoys.
Half an hour after this Allied
force had turned to westward along the Java coast H. M. S. Jupiter was
disabled by an under-water explosion.
She sank 4 hours later. H. M. S.
Jupiter was not far from the mainland of Java and a number of survivors
have already reached Australia. A U. S. submarine assisted in the rescue of 53
survivors.
At 11: 30 p. m. when the
remaining Allied cruisers were about 12 miles north of Rembang two enemy
cruisers were sighted between our ships and the coast. Our ships at once engaged and a number of hits
were
39
secured on the enemy. The De Ruyter was hit by one
shell. Afterwards the De Ruyter
made a large change of course presumably in order to avoid torpedoes fired by
the enemy. The other Allied cruisers
were following the De Ruyter when underwater explosions occurred
simultaneously in cruisers De Ruyter and Java. Both these Dutch cruisers blew up and sank
at once.
It is impossible to estimate
with accuracy the damage inflicted upon the enemy during these actions of
February 27th. Observers in the Perth
consider that one Japanese 8-inch gun cruiser was sunk, a second 3-inch [sic]
gun cruiser damaged and a destroyer sunk.
It has also been reported that a cruiser of the Mogami class was
set on fire and three destroyers seriously damaged and left on fire or sinking.
H. M. A. S. Perth and
U. S. S. Houston, which had received some damage in this action, reached
Tanjong Priok at 7 o'clock the morning of Saturday, February 28th. Five U. S. destroyers reached Sourabaya
after the action.
With the enemy in command of
sea and air north of Java in overwhelming force the Allied command was faced
with the problem of extricating the remaining Allied ships from a very
dangerous situation. The way to
Australia was barred by the 600-mile long Island of Java with the Straits at
either end of it under enemy control.
After dark on February 28th,
H. M. A. S. Perth and U. S. S. Houston left Tanjong Priok with
the intention of passing through Sunda Strait during dark hours. During the night an enemy report from H. M.
A. S. Perth was received which indicated that she and U. S. S. Houston
had come into contact with a force of Japanese ships off St. Nicholas Point at
about 11: 30 p. m. Nothing, however,
has been heard from H. M. A. S. Perth or the U. S. S. Houston since
that time. The next of kin of the U. S.
S. Houston are being informed accordingly.
The same night the Exeter,
which was capable of only half speed, left Sourabaya accompanied by H. M. S. Encounter
and the U. S. destroyer Pope. On
the forenoon of Sunday March 1st the Exeter reported that she had
sighted three enemy cruisers steering towards her. No further word has been received from the Exeter, Encounter
or the U. S. S. Pope. The next
of kin of the Pope are being informed accordingly. The Dutch destroyer Evertsen
encountered two Japanese cruisers in Sunda Strait. She was damaged and was beached.
41
The destroyer H. M. S. Stronghold
and Sloop H. M. A. S. Yarra are also missing and are presumably lost.
It has not been possible to
form any accurate estimate of damage inflicted on the enemy by these ships
during these actions.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 55 MARCH 16,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué based on reports received up to 3 p. m. (e. w. t.)
March i6, 1942:
Far East.
A U. S. submarine has sunk
an enemy freighter during the course of extended operations in Japanese waters.
A 3,000-ton enemy gasoline
tanker also has been sunk in the Philippine area.
These sinkings are in
addition to those reported in previous communiqués.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 56 MARCH 17,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
Rear Admiral Adolphus
Andrews has been assigned to exclusive duty as Commander Eastern Sea
Frontier. The additional duties as
Commandant Third Naval District which he has heretofore performed have been
taken over for the present by Rear Admiral Edward J. Marquart. Rear Admiral Marquart will, in addition,
retain his present duties as Commandant Navy Yard, New York.
No. 57 MARCH 18,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
Far East.
Combined operations of
American and Australia island-based forces were conducted recently against
Japanese ships and land installations in and near Salamaua and Lae in New
Guinea.
41
These operations are
believed to have resulted in the sinking of two enemy heavy cruisers; heavy
damage to and the probable sinking of one light cruiser; damage to a fourth
cruiser; the probable sinking of one destroyer; the possible sinking of two
destroyers and damage to one large destroyer.
Five transports or cargo
ships were either sunk or gutted by fire and run aground. One heavy bomb hit was secured on each of
two transports, one troop ship was damaged and left burning and three other
transports were damaged.
One aircraft tender was
heavily damaged and two gunboats were damaged, one of which was left burning
and is believed to have sunk. One mine
sweeper was left in flames and probably sank.
Three seaplanes were shot down and many small boats were
demolished. Considerable damage was
done to enemy shore installations, aircraft runways and antiaircraft batteries.
The heavy losses inflicted
on the enemy by the combined American and Australian forces were accomplished
with the loss of but one plane. The U. S. submarine Shark has been
overdue in the Far East for more than a month and must be presumed to be
lost. The next of kin of the personnel
of the Shark have been notified.
During the month of
December, the U. S. submarine Sealion which was under extensive overhaul
at Cavite, was so damaged as to necessitate her demolition to prevent her use
by the enemy in the event of capture.
Early this month the damaged
U. S. destroyer Stewart was demolished in the drydock at Sourabaya to
prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy. Previous efforts to put her in serviceable condition had failed.
There were no personnel
casualties in the case of the Sealion and the Stewart.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 58 MARCH 19,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
Far East.
In compliance with orders
from the Navy Department, Rear Admiral Francis W. Rockwell, U. S. N., the
Commandant of the Sixteenth Naval District (Philippine Islands) has arrived in
Australia. Rear Admiral
42
Rockwell left Corregidor in
General MacArthur's party which reached Australia on March seventeenth. He is now in Melbourne.
When Japan attacked the
Philippines without warning, Admiral Rockwell was in command of the Sixteenth
Naval District, with his headquarters at the Navy Yard, Cavite, which is across
Manila Bay from Manila. When the Naval
Establishment there became no longer tenable, it was destroyed effectively. Admiral Rockwell then proceeded to
Corregidor with the Naval and Marine Corps forces under his command and since
then has taken part in the defense of Corregidor and the Bataan Peninsula under
command of General MacArthur. His Naval
and Marine Corps forces number only about one-third of the regular U. S. Army
troops in that area.
It is expected that Admiral
Rockwell will be assigned to an appropriate command, probably at sea.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 59 MARCH 21,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
Far East.
Early this month the U. S.
gunboat Asheville was attacked by the enemy south of Java.
The Asheville has
been reported missing for some days and must be presumed to be lost. The next
of kin of the personnel of the Asheville have been notified.
No. 60 MARCH 23,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
Far East.
U. S. submarines operating
in Japanese waters have recently added the following to the list of enemy
merchant vessels sunk or damaged in that area:
One 7,000-ton tanker sunk.
One 6,000-ton ship sunk.
One 5,000-ton freighter
sunk.
Two 2,000-ton freighters
damaged.
43
In addition to these
merchant ships one enemy destroyer or antisubmarine vessel was attacked and
probably sunk.
The above actions have not
been reported in any previous Navy Department communiqué.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 61 MARCH 24,
1942
Far East.
The U. S. destroyers Pillsbury
and Edsall have been reported missing since early March and must be
presumed lost. The next of kin of the personnel of the Pillsbury and Edsall
have been informed accordingly.
The Pillsbury is
believed to have been lost in the vicinity of Bali Strait subsequent to the
naval engagement in the Java Sea which was reported in communiqué No. 54.
The last report from the Edsall
placed her in waters south of Java.
These destroyers were units
of the original U. S. Asiatic Fleet which has been used since the beginning of
the war in an attempt to frustrate the Japanese invasion of the islands of the
Southwest Pacific. The ships of this
fleet were fought with distinction as units of the Allied Naval Forces at
Makassar Strait (communiqués Nos. 32, 33, and 34) Lombok Strait, Bali Strait
(communiqué No. 42) and the Battle of the Java Sea.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 62 MARCH 25,
1942
The Navy Department issued the following
communiqué today:
Vice Admiral William F.
Halsey, who commanded the naval forces which so successfully raided the
Marshall Islands on January 31st has delivered additional blows at two enemy
outposts.
First, on February 24th at
Japanese-occupied Wake Island and second, on March 4th at Japanese-owned Marcus
Island.
Although the islands had
been the scene of much recent enemy activity these surprise attacks were met
with little opposition and the attacking, forces found few enemy planes and
ships in the areas.
Considerable damage was done
to shore installations, defense positions, aircraft runways and water tanks by
combined bombardment from air-
45
craft and surface vessels,
following the pattern so effectively used by Admiral Halsey in his raid on the
Marshall Islands.
At Wake Island, which U. S.
Marines defended from December 7 until its capture on December 23, 1941, the
enemy has worked feverishly to strengthen the defenses against attack. Two hundred and nineteen bombs from aircraft
and many shells from cruisers and destroyers were rained on the shore
installations and landing field. Two
enemy patrol boats were sunk, three large seaplanes at anchor were demolished,
and the aircraft runways and a part of the defense batteries were damaged. Our loss in this engagement was one
aircraft.
At Marcus Island, 760 miles
west-northwest of Wake, and 990 miles southeast of Yokohama, Admiral Halsey's
forces executed a successful air attack just before dawn on the 4th dropping
flares to illuminate objectives. No
enemy aircraft or ships were present.
Heavy antiaircraft fire was
encountered while our planes dropped 96 bombs on the small island, resulting in
considerable damage to hangars, fuel and ammunition storages, radio
installations and aircraft runways.
Our loss in this engagement
was one aircraft.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 63 MARCH 26,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
Caribbean Area.
The U. S. Coast Guard cutter
Acacia was shelled and sunk presumably by an enemy submarine, in the
Caribbean area in March. The Acacia
was a small unarmed ship of the tender class which was used to provide services
to aids to navigation.
All personnel aboard the Acacia
were rescued and there were no casualties.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 64 MARCH 27,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
Atlantic and Eastern Pacific
Areas.
On March 25, General
Marshall, Chief of Staff of the Army, and Admiral King, Commander in Chief of
the United States Fleet, with a
45
view to increasing the
effectiveness of antisubmarine warfare along our coast, issued instructions for
a closer cooperation between the naval commanders of the sea frontiers and the
Army defense commanders. These instructions
govern operations over the sea for the protection of shipping and for
antisubmarine and other operations against enemy seaborne activities.
In accordance with these
instructions, Army defense commanders have allocated Army air units to the
naval commanders of the sea frontiers.
Command of the air units so allocated is vested in the naval sea
frontier commanders.
The cooperation between
these forces and the Navy antisubmarine and patrol forces has been close and
effective. In most ports the operating
centers of these commands have already been combined in one room. The new system of operating control under
one service will eliminate any possible uncertainty regarding jurisdictional
limits and will insure the smooth and effective working of our intensified
antisubmarine campaign in the waters off our coasts.
Unity of command already
exists for all Army and Navy forces in the Hawaiian Islands and in the
Caribbean, those at Hawaii being under the Navy, those at Panama being under
the Army, and those along the eastern Caribbean being under the Navy.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 65 APRIL 3,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
Southwest Pacific.
1. The United States
aircraft tender Langley, the naval tanker Pecos and the destroyer
Peary were sunk by the enemy in the vicinity of Northern Australia and
in waters south of Java in late February an March.
2 A number of survivors from
these ships were rescued and 1 port safely.
The next of kin of all personnel lost in the Pecos have
notified. The next of kin of those lost
in the Langley and Peary already have been notified or will be
notified as soon as information available.
3. Official reports from
Tokyo claimed the sinking of the Langley, least three times during the
first month of the war, during which period
46
the Langley was not
damaged. She was sunk after a prolonged
attack by the enemy south of Java in late February. Except for about a dozen men, all Langley personnel
survived the attack and were transferred to the Pecos which was itself
sunk a few days later.
4. The Pecos, a small tanker, employed in supplying fuel to
units of our fleet in the Far East, was sunk in early March.
5. The Peary, a World War destroyer which received minor
damage in the Japanese bombing attacks on Cavite immediately after the outbreak
of the war, was sunk in the harbor at Darwin about February 19th. The Peary had participated in many of
the offensive actions of our destroyers in the Far East. Observers who witnessed the last engagement
of the Peary described the conduct of her crew as beyond all
praise. Gun crews remained at their
battle stations continuing the fire until they were forced by rising water to
leave their stations. No officer or man
left the ship until it sank under him.
A number of survivors were later rescued.
6. War conditions in the
Southwest Pacific have greatly complicated and delayed reports of casualties,
and the public is urged to refrain from initiating individual inquiries
regarding casualties. The next of kin
of all casualties are always notified by telegram as soon as possible.
7. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 66 APRIL 4,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
Southwest Pacific Area.
1. Recent reports indicate
that the following damage has been inflicted on enemy ships by United States
submarines operating in waters of the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean:
(a) One light cruiser was
sunk in the vicinity of Christmas Island, south of Java.
(b) One light cruiser was
damaged, in the vicinity of Christmas Island, by a direct torpedo hit and on
the following day another direct hit was scored which is believed to
haveresulted in her sinking.
(c) Two seaplane tenders
were damaged near the island of Bali.
(d) One supply ship was
damaged in waters near Lombok Island.
(e) In the vicinity of Bali,
one barge transport and one unidentified ship were damaged by one torpedo hit
each.
47
2. The above damage to the
enemy has not been reported in any previous Navy Department communiqué.
3. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 67 APRIL 6,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
Far East.
1. A U. S. submarine has
reported the sinking of an enemy freighter in Japanese waters while on extended
patrol in that area.
Southwest Pacific Area.
2. A U. S. submarine has
reported that it sank two heavily laden Japanese tankers in waters near the
Caroline Islands while on extended patrol in that area. The submarine was fired upon by one of the
tankers but escaped without damage.
3. These sinkings have not
been reported in any previous Navy Department communiqué.
4. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 68 APRIL 7,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
China Sea.
1. Information has just been
received that a U. S. submarine while on an extended patrol in the China Sea
has sunk two Japanese merchant vessels.
2. One of these ships was a
combination passenger and cargo vessel of approximately 10,000 tons. The second was a cargo ship of about 5,000
tons.
3. These sinkings have not
been reported in any previous Navy Department communiqué.
4. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
48
No. 69 APRIL 10,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
Philippine Area.
Capt. K. M. Hoeffel, U. S.
N., the senior U. S. naval officer in the forces defending Bataan Peninsula and
Corregidor, acting under the orders of Lt. Gen. Wainwright, U. S. A., ordered
the complete destruction of the previously damaged U. S. submarine tender Canopus,
the Dewey Drydock, the mine sweeper Bitern and the tug Napa in
order to prevent their being of use to the enemy in the event of capture, the
Navy Department has been informed. The
destruction was ordered when it became apparent that the increasing weight of
enemy numbers, combined with the fatigue and exhaustion of our forces, made
imminent the fall of Bataan.
These ships and the Dewey
Drydock were used at and near Corregidor and Bataan Peninsula by the Army,
Navy, and Marine forces serving under General MacArthur and later under Lt.
Gen. Wainwright in the valiant defense of these vital positions which control
the entrance to Manila Bay.
Southwest Pacific.
A report has just been
received that a U. S. submarine while on patrol in the vicinity of the Celebes
Sea sank a large, heavily armed, Japanese vessel.
Three torpedo hits were
scored on the enemy ship which is classed either as an auxiliary cruiser or a
large tender. This sinking has not been
reported in any previous Navy Department communiqué.
There is nothing to report
from other areas.
No. 70 APRIL 11,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué based on reports received up to 10:30 a. m.:
Southwest Pacific.
1. The U. S. submarine Perch
has been overdue for more than a month and must be presumed to be lost.
2. The Perch was one
of the U. S. submarines operating in the vicinity of Java and her last position
report placed her in the Java Sea.
49
3. The next of kin have been
notified.
4. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 71 APRIL 11,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué, based on reports received up to 4 p. m.
Southwest Pacific and Indian
Ocean.
1. Recent detailed reports
reveal that the damage inflicted on enemy ships by U. S. submarines as
announced in Navy Department Communiqué No. 66, paragraph 1 (a) to (e),
inclusive, should be corrected to read as
follows:
(a) One light cruiser was
sunk in the vicinity of Christmas Island, South of Java.
(b) One light cruiser was
damaged and is believed to have sunk and a third cruiser was damaged in the
vicinity of Christmas Island.
(c) One large transport was
damaged near Bali.
(d) One supply ship was
damaged in waters near Lombok Island.
(e) One destroyer and one
large transport were sunk in the vicinity of Bali and an unidentified vessel
was damaged.
Further, it is now known
that all the results except that noted in item (d) above were achieved by one
submarine on a single patrol.
Far East.
2. A U. S. submarine
returning from an extended patrol in enemy waters has just reported the sinking
of one 7,000-ton merchant vessel and one small naval vessel of the submarine
chaser class.
3. This same submarine
further reports that on the same patrol it damaged and possibly sank a
4,000-ton freighter.
4. Except as noted in
paragraph 1 the above sinkings and damage have not been reported in any
previous Navy Department communiqué.
5. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 72 APRIL 16,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué on reports received up to 11 a. m.:
50
Far East.
1. The U. S. mine sweeper Finch
has been sunk as a result of enemy bombing attacks on Corregidor during the
past few days.
2. There were no casualties
to personnel.
3. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 73 APRIL 21,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué, based on reports received up to 4 p. m.:
Far East.
1. During recent operations
near the island of Cebu in the Philippine Archipelago, units of a United States
motor torpedo boat squadron made a night attack on a Japanese cruiser which was
protected by four destroyers.
2. Enemy counteraction
finally forced the retirement of the attacking PT boats after they had
seriously damaged one enemy light cruiser and left it in a sinking condition.
3. The PT-41 and PT-34
participated in the attack. The PT-34
was forced ashore on the island of Cebu, but the PT-41 made good its
escape. It is believed that the PT-35
was destroyed in order to prevent capture by the enemy during the invasion of
the city of Cebu.
4. The above action has not
been mentioned in any previous Navy Department communiqué.
5. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 74 APRIL 27,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué, based upon reports received up to 12 noon:
Atlantic Coast.
1. The World War U. S.
destroyer Sturtevant has been sunk off the coast of Florida by an
underwater explosion.
2. Loss of life was small
and most of the crew reached port safely.
3. The next of kin of those
lost are being notified.
4. There is nothing to
report from other areas,
51
No. 75 MAY 4,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué, based on reports received up to 3 p. m.:
Far East.
1. As a result of enemy
bombing attacks during the past few days, the U. S. S. Mindanao, a river
gunboat, has been sunk in the vicinity of Corregidor.
2. There were no casualties
to personnel.
3. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 76 MAY 6, 1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué, based on reports received up to 3 p. m.:
Far East.
1. Several messages from the
Navy personnel at Corregidor were received in the Navy Department this
morning. Just before the fall of this
small island fortress which these men have helped to defend so gallantly, the
commander of the naval forces at Corregidor, Capt. Kenneth M. Hoeffel, U. S.
N., joined his officers and men in sending a last message of loyalty, devotion,
and good cheer to their country, their families and their friends.
2. Captain Hoeffel reported
that the mine sweeper Tanager, and the river gunboat Oahu had
been sunk by enemy gunfire from Bataan and that the mine sweeper Pigeon
had been sunk by bombers. The river
gunboat, Luzon, and the mine sweeper, Quail, were severely
damaged by gunfire and were sunk by U. S. forces when capture appeared
imminent. All local small craft in the
vicinity were demolished by our forces.
3. When Corregidor fell,
there were approximately 175 officers and 2,100 men of the Navy, and 70
officers and 1,500 men of the Marine Corps in the defending forces. Col. Samuel L. Howard is the senior officer
of the Marine Corps personnel on the island.
It is assumed that all of these officers and men have been captured and
will be held as prisoners of war.
4. So far as is known no
casualties resulted from any of the above sinkings.
5. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
52
No. 77 MAY 7,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué, based on reports received up to 3 p. m., May
7, 1942:
Southwest Pacific.
1. Very excellent news has
been received. A naval engagement
between U. S. and Japanese forces on May 4th resulted in the following damage
to the enemy:
(a) One light cruiser, two
destroyers, four gunboats, and one
supply vessel were sunk.
(b) One 9,000-ton seaplane
tender, one light cruiser, one cargo vessel, and one transport were badly
damaged.
(c) Six planes were
destroyed.
2. This highly successful
action took place in the vicinity of the Solomon Islands and was accomplished
with the loss of but three planes.
Far East.
3. U. S. submarines on
patrol in the Far East have sunk the following enemy vessels: One medium-sized
cargo ship, one medium-sized tanker, and one small cargo ship.
4. The above actions have
not been announced in any previous Navy Department communiqué.
5. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 78 MAY 8,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué based on reports received up to 6 p. m., May 8,
1942.
Southwest Pacific.
A naval engagement between
our forces and those of the Japanese has been in continuous progress in the
general area southward of Bismarck Archipelago in the Coral Sea, since Monday,
May 3, and there is no indication yet of a cessation. Japanese losses are believed to be:
Sunk Damaged
One aircraft carrier. One aircraft carrier.
One heavy cruiser. One heavy cruiser.
One light cruiser. One light cruiser.
Two destroyers. One seaplane
tender.
Four gunboats. Two transports
or cargo vessels.
Two transports or cargo
vessels.
53
2. Details of losses and
damage to our forces are not fully known at present but no credence should be
given to claims that have been or may be put out by Tokio.
3. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 79 MAY 9,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
Southwest Pacific.
1. The Navy Department
realizes that the American public is aware of the unreliable nature of any
claims emanating from an enemy source.
2. Recent announcements by
the enemy have made sweeping claims regarding U. S. losses in the Battle of the
Coral Sea.
3. Reports received in the
Navy Department to date fail to substantiate the loss of any U. S. aircraft
carrier or battleship in that action.
4. Reports of damage to our
forces are incomplete. They will be announced when the information will be
without value to the enemy.
5. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 80 MAY 11,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué today:
Far East.
1. Information has been
received that U. S. submarines operating in the Far East have sunk the
following Japanese ships
One destroyer.
One naval cargo ship.
One medium-sized cargo ship.
2. These sinkings have not
been reported in any previous Navy Department communiqué and are not related to
the recent engagement in the Coral Sea.
3. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 81 MAY 26,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué based on reports received up to noon, May 26, 1942:
54
Caribbean Area.
1. The U. S. S. Blakeley,
a World War destroyer, has been damaged by a torpedo from an enemy submarine in
the Caribbean Sea.
2. The Blakeley has
reached port with 10 members of her crew reported as missing and 6
injured. The injured men have been
hospitalized and next of kin of both injured and missing are being notified as
information is received in the Navy Department.
3. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 82 MAY 28,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué based on reports received up to 1 p. m., May
28, 1942:
Far East.
1. Information has been
received that U. S. submarines operating in the Far East have sunk or damaged
enemy ships as shown below.
(a) One large auxiliary ship
sunk.
(b) One medium-sized cargo
ship sunk.
(c) One medium-sized cargo
ship severely damaged and probably sunk.
(d) One heavy cruiser
damaged by torpedo hits.
2. These actions have not
been announced in any previous Navy Department communiqué and are not related
to the engagement in the Coral Sea which was fought early this month.
3. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 83 JUNE 3,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué based on reports received up to 4 p. m., June
3, 1942:
North Pacific Area.
1. Information has been received
that Dutch Harbor, Alaska, was attacked by 4 Japanese bombers and about 15
fighters at approximately 6 a. m. local time today (12 noon e. w. t.). The
attack lasted approximately 15 minutes.
2. No further details are
available at this time.
3. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
55
No. 84 JUNE 3,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué based on reports received up to 6 p. m., June
3, 1942:
North Pacific Area.
1. Further reports on the
Japanese air attack at Dutch Harbor which took place earlier today, state that
there were but few casualties.
2. A few warehouses were set
on fire but no serious damage was suffered.
3. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 85 JUNE 3,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué based on reports received up to 9 p. m., June
3, 1942:
North Pacific Area.
1. A brief report just
received in the Navy Department states that for the second time today enemy
planes have attacked Dutch Harbor.
2. The second attack was
made about 12 noon, local time (6 p. m., e. w. t.), 6 hours after the initial
attack.
3. No further details are
available at this time.
No. 86 JUNE 4,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué based on reports received up to 12 noon (e. w.
t.) June 4, 1942:
North Pacific Area.
1. The situation at Dutch
Harbor is at present quiet. Yesterday's
first raid by the Japanese appears to have been made primarily to test our
defenses. High explosives and
incendiary bombs were dropped but, as previously announced, our casualties were
light and damage was not extensive. The
few fires which were started were quickly extinguished.
2. The second wave of enemy
planes, which was reported to have attacked 6 hours after the initial attack
(communiqué No. 85), failed to drop any bombs and appears to have been engaged
solely in reconnaissance.
3. The source of the
attacking Japanese aircraft has not been definitely determined but they are
thought to have been carrier-based.
56
Atlantic Area.
4. The U. S. S. Cythera,
a small naval patrol vessel taken over by the
Navy last December, has been overdue in this area for more than 3 weeks
and is presumed to be lost.
5. The next of kin of
personnel in the Cythera have been notified.
6. There is nothing to
report from other areas.
No. 87 June 4,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué based on reports received up to 4:30 p. m.,
June 4, 1942:
Central Pacific Area.
1. Information has been
received that Midway Island was attacked by
Japanese aircraft at approximately 9 a. in. local time (2:30 p. m., e.
w. t.)
2. No further details are as
yet available.
No. 88 JUNE 12,
1942
1. The battle of Midway now
makes it possible to release information in regard to the Battle of the Coral
Sea. Holding up this information gave
to our Navy security which was a cornerstone in building for the Midway
victory.
2. In early March the
Japanese were observed to be concentrating transports and combatant ships in
the ports of Salamaua and Lae on the Island of New Guinea, apparently in
preparation for an assault on Port Moresby on the south coast of the same
island. The occupation of Port Moresby
would have afforded the enemy a strategically located advance base from which
promptly to make further attacks on northern Australia.
3. For some time the bases
at Salamaua and Lae had been subjected to air attacks by U. S. and Australian
shore-based aircraft from Australia. On
March 10th a number of aircraft from a Pacific Fleet Task Force, under the
command of Vice Admiral Wilson Brown, joined these shore-based planes in their
successful attack on shipping and shore installations at the enemy bases. As announced in Navy Department Communiqué
No. 57 of March 18th, this attack resulted in the following damage to the
enemy:
the sinking of or damage to
more than 20 Japa-
57
nese ships and heavy damage
to shore installations. The resulting
disruption of Japanese plans delayed for 2 months any attempt of the enemy to
advance by sea to the southward. The
attacking force was described in the communiqué as American and Australian
island-based forces, since the participation of our carriers in that action had
still not been discovered by the enemy.
4. During April our Army
reconnaissance planes reported that the enemy was once again concentrating
transports, and the supporting elements, including aircraft from carriers and
shore bases, preparatory to an attempt to advance into the Solomon and Louisiade
Islands. In early May these advances
were actually begun. Bases for land
planes in both of these groups of islands were seized by the Japanese and the
entire northern portion of the Coral Sea was subjected to daily reconnaissance
by enemy shore-based aircraft.
5. On May 4th a task force
of the Pacific Fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletcher found
a part of this Japanese invasion fleet at anchor in and near the harbor of
Tulagi, the capital of Florida Island in the Solomon group. In spite of the excellent Japanese air
reconnaissance facilities, Admiral Fletcher's attack caught the Japanese forces
completely by surprise and all but annihilated them. A few ships managed to get under way, but most of these were
severely crippled and some were later beached to prevent their sinking. The results of this engagement as announced
in Navy Department Communiqué No. 77 of May 7th were as follows: the sinking of
or damage to 12 Japanese vessels and the destruction of 6 aircraft. Our entire loss amounted to but 3
aircraft. On the following day a large
four-engined flying boat was intercepted by our forces and shot down.
6. On May 7th Admiral
Fletcher's aircraft struck the main body the Japanese force in the Louisiade
Archipelago off Misima. The new
Japanese aircraft carrier, Ryukaku, and a heavy cruiser were sunk.
Fifteen bomb hits and 10 torpedo hits were reported scored on Ryukaku
which was turning into the wind, to launch her aircraft thus blasted. She sank in a few minutes with most of her
planes on board. The enemy
counterattack which followed was fought off successfully. During this day's fighting more than 25
enemy aircraft shot down as compared to our loss of 6. Shore-based Army air
from Australia assisted in reconnaissance both before and during 1 attacks and
added their fire-power to that of the attacking naval planes.
58
7. During the afternoon of
May 7th Japanese aircraft located and bombed the U. S. tanker Neosho and
its accompanying destroyer the U. S.
S. Sims in the Coral
Sea. The Sims was sunk during
the attack and the
Neosho sank several days later as
a result of the damage received during the bombing. A large part of the personnel from the Neosho and Sims
were rescued and have reached port. The
next of kin of casualties are being notified.
8. On May 8th the same task
force again carried the attack to the enemy and succeeded in inflicting serious
damage on a second Japanese carrier, the Shokaku, which was left ablaze
as a result of bomb and torpedo hits.
9. During this same
engagement the enemy launched a counterattack with aircraft while our planes
were still attacking. The principal
target was the U. S. aircraft carrier Lexington, flagship of Rear
Admiral A. W. Fitch. In spite of
skillful handling, all available fighter protection and antiaircraft defense,
the Lexington was hit by two torpedoes and at least two bombs and was
further damaged by several near misses.
These attacks were the last action in the Battle of the Coral Sea. The crew of the Lexington succeeded
in putting out the fires and recovering her aircraft. Several hours after the battle, while steaming at 20 knots,
terrific internal explosion rocked the Lexington causing serious fires
to break out in many parts of the ship.
It was first thought that the explosion was the result of a
"sleeper" bomb. Investigation
revealed, however, that the probable cause was the ignition of gasoline vapors
which resulted from leaks in ruptured gasoline lines in closed compartments
below decks.
10. The crew fought
heroically for more than 5 hours to save the ship but were at great
disadvantage because the explosion had damaged much of the fire-fighting
equipment. Destroyers were sent
alongside to assist with their pumps, fire hose and chemical fire-fighting equipment. The wounded were transferred from the
burning carrier to the destroyers alongside.
Finally, with all machinery disabled, the ship stopped, and flames
enveloping nearly her entire length, it became apparent that any further
attempt to save her was futile and the captain ordered the crew to
"abandon ship." Men slid down lines from the carrier's decks to boats
from other ships while some crawled aboard life rafts and rubber boats.
59
11. Ninety-two percent of
the entire ship's company were rescued and have reached port safely. The only casualties were the result of the
battle or the explosion and the resulting fire. The last man to leave his ship was her commanding officer,
Capt. F. C. Sherman. As he slid to safety down a line from the
deck into the water the torpedo warhead locker of the Lexington
exploded. After all men in the water
had been rescued, the Lexington sank with a final detonation which shook
nearby ships.
12. The attacks on Salamaua and Lae and the
Battle of the Coral Sea resulted in the disruption of two Japanese attempts to
advance to the southeastward of New Guinea and cost them a total of more than
15 ships sunk, including:
One aircraft carrier.
Three heavy cruisers.
One light cruiser.
Two destroyers.
Several transports and small
vessels.
and severe damage to and the
probable sinking of 11 additional cruiser and 1 destroyer-and severe damage to
more than 20 ships including 1 carrier, 3 cruisers, 2 aircraft tenders, 3
destroyers and the loss of more than 100 aircraft.
13. The Lexington, Neosho,
and Sims were the only U. S. vessels lost as a result of the action in
the Coral Sea and only minor damage was suffered by other vessels. The next of kin of all casualties in these
ships are being notified as information is received.
No. 89 JUNE 15,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué based on reports received up to 5 p. m., June
15, 1942:
North Pacific Area.
1. The Army and Navy are
continuing air attacks against the Japanese forces which recently were reported
to have landed on western; islands of the Aleutian group.
2. Foul weather and fog,
characteristic of this locality at all seasons, are hampering our
reconnaissance and attack operations, but reports to date indicate that at
least three cruisers, one destroyer, one gunboat, and one transport have been
damaged, some of them severely.
60
3. Except for these
continuing air attacks upon the enemy landing parties and their supporting
naval contingents, the general situation in the Aleutian Islands appears
unchanged.
No. 90 JUNE 21,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué based on reports received up to 3 p. m., June
21, 1942:
North Pacific Area.
1. Operations in the
Aleutians continue to be restricted by considerations of weather and great
distances.
2. Within the last few days,
however, the weather was sufficiently clear at times to permit some restricted
air operations against Kiska where tents and minor temporary structures were
observed to have been set up on land. A
small force of Japanese ships in the harbor was bombed by Army aircraft. Hits were reported on one cruiser, and a
transport has been sunk.
No. 91 JUNE 25,
1942
The Navy Department issued
the following communiqué based on reports received up to 2 p.m., June 25, 1942:
Atlantic Area.
1. Two small antisubmarine
patrol craft have been lost off the Atlantic Coast during the current month as
the result of enemy submarine attacks.
2. The U. S. S. Gannet,
a seagoing tug, used to service patrol planes, was torpedoed and sunk. Sixteen members of the crew were lost.
3. The YP-389, a
small fishing craft, which had been taken over by the Navy and armed for
antisubmarine patrol duty, was sunk by gunfire. Four members of the crew were lost.
4. The next of kin of all
casualties have been notified.
No. 92 JUNE 29,
1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué based on reports received up to 2 p. m., June
29, 1942:
Central Pacific Area.
1. U. S. bombers attacked
Japanese-occupied Wake Island on June 27th.
61
2. Under favorable
conditions of weather and visibility our planes, attacking in formation,
damaged the airfield and various shore installations.
3. Enemy antiaircraft and
fighter defense was weak and, although one bomber suffered minor damage during
the attack, all of our planes returned safely.
No. 93 July 1, 1942
The Navy Department today
issued the following communiqué based on reports received up to 8:30 a. m. (e.
w. t.):
European Area.
1. Reinforcements in the
form of airplanes were recently carried through the Mediterranean to Malta to
aid the British in their defense of the embattled island.
2. These trips were
accomplished by the U. S. aircraft carrier Wasp and were completed
without damage either to the escort or the Wasp.
3. During one of these ferry
trips after British aircraft manned by RAF pilots, had been launched from the Wasp
and were in flight over the Island of Malta the enemy attacked the island. Completely surprised by the increased number
of defending fighters the enemy suffered considerable losses.
4. The planes which took off
from the Wasp engaged the enemy over Malta before landing on the
island. After landing and hasty
refueling at the airdrome they were again in the air continuing to repel the
enemy attack within 30 minutes after arrival.