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| Back to The Beginning |
| Back to May 1942 |
JOURNAL of DONALD ANDERSON, USN
June, 1942
| Below is the journal my father kept during the years of 1941/42. I found it in his effects after his death in April of 1998, along with a series of photos that he took during that time period. I am publishing this account on the Web because it is a wonderful way to get to know the man who was my father, and the hundreds of men like him who manned the ships known as Four Stackers. Words in black type are transcribed directly from the journal. Where I deem it useful and appropriate I will include background data in other colors, and photos from his collection. |  |
June 1, 1942 Monday
Enroute to Panama on convoy duty.
June 2, 1942 Tuesday
Enroute to Panama on convoy duty.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today two US Navy carrier task forces rendezvoused about 350 miles northeast of Midway Island. Composition of United States naval forces at the Battle of Midway is as follows:
Task Force 17, under Rear Admiral F. J. Fletcher -
- carrier YORKTOWN (CV-5),
- heavy cruiser PORTLAND (CA-33) and ASTORIA (CA-34),
- destroyers HUGHES (DD-410), ANDERSON (DD-411), HAMMANN (DD-412), RUSSELL (DD-414), MORRIS (DD-417), and GWIN (DD-433);
Task Force 16, under Rear Admiral R. A. Spruance -
- carriers ENTERPRISE (CV-6) and HORNET (CV-8),
- heavy cruiser PENSACOLA (CA-24), NORTHAMPTON (CA-26), NEW ORLEANS (CA-32), MINNEAPOLIS (CA-36), and VINCENNES (CA-44),
- light cruiser ATLANTA (CL-51),
- destroyers DEWEY (DD-349), WORDEN (DD-352), MONAGHAN (DD-354), AYLWIN (DD-355), PHELPS (DD-360) BALCH (DD-363), CONYNGHAM (DD-371), BENHAM (DD-397), ELLET (DD-398), MAURY (DD-401), and MONSSEN (DD-436),
- oilers CIMARRON (AO-22), and PLATTE (AO-24);
- submarines on patrol and scouting duty NARWHAL (SS-167), NAUTILUS (SS-168), DOLPHIN (SS-169), CACHALOT (SS-170), CUTTLEFISH (SS-171), PIKE (SS-173), TARPON (SS-175), PLUNGER (SS-179), TAMBOR (SS-198), TROUT (SS-202), GRAYLING (SS-209), GRENADIER (SS-210), GUDGEON (SS-211), GATO (SS-212), GROUPER (SS-214), GROWLER (SS-215), FLYING FISH (SS-229), FINBACK (SS-230), and TRIGGER (SS-237).
June 3, 1942 Wednesday
Enroute to Panama. Left convoy this morning.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Midway-based aircraft locate and attack transports of Japanese Combined Fleet (Admiral Yamamoto) about 600 miles west of Midway Island. Japanese carrier-based aircraft bomb Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
United States naval vessel sunk:
- Coastal Minesweeper BUNTING (AMc-7), by collision, San Francisco Bay.
June 4, 1942 Thursday
Arrived in Panama. Payday - no liberty because Panama is expected to be bombed.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Battle of Midway, which will rage until June 6th, opened today as aircraft from four Japanese carriers struck Midway Island installations, which are defended by Marine and Army aircraft. Carrier Task Forces 16 and 17 launch aircraft from carriers ENTERPRISE (CV-6) , HORNET (CV-6), and YORKTOWN (CV-5) which hit four Japanese carriers. YORKTOWN was disabled by Japanese carrier aircraft. Admiral Yamamoto abandoned Midway plans and retired westward.
United States naval vessel damaged:
- Carrier YORKTOWN (CV-5), by carrier-based aircraft, Battle of Midway, 33 d. 51' N., 177 d. 01' W.
Japanese naval vessels sunk:
- Carrier KAGA, by carrier-based aircraft, Battle of Midway, 30 d. 23' N., 177 d. 01' W.
- Carrier SORYU, by carrier-based aircraft and submarine NAUTILUS (SS-168), Battle of Midway, 30 d. 42' N., 179 d. 37' W.
June 5, 1942 Friday
Underway this AM. On patrol heading North.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Carrier Task Force 16 today pursued the Japanese fleet westward in the continuing Battle of Midway.
Japanese naval vessels sunk:
- Carrier AKAGI, damaged by carrier-based US aircraft, Battle of Midway, sunk by own forces, 30 d. 30' N., 179 d. 40' W.
- Carrier HIRYU, damaged by carrier-based US aircraft, Battle of Midway, sunk by own forces, 31 d. 28 N., 179 d. 24' E.
June 6, 1942 Saturday
On patrol heading North.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Aircraft from carriers ENTERPRISE (CV-6) and HORNET (CV-8) today attacked Japanese force retiring from Midway. After recovering aircraft, the United States force changed course eastward to refuel and broke contact with the enemy, thus ending the Battle of Midway. This will become known as one of the most decisive battles in naval history. It was the turning point of the Pacific War. In addition to the crippling loss of four aircraft carriers, the Japanese suffered the loss of a large percentage of their most highly trained and battle-experienced carrier pilots.
United States naval vessel sunk:
- Destroyer HAMMANN (DD-412), by submarine torpedo, Battle of Midway, 30 d. 36' N., 176 d. 34' w.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
- Heavy cruiser MIKUMA, by naval carrier-based aircraft and Marine land-based aircraft, Battle of Midway, 30 d. 00' N., 173 d. 00' E.
June 7, 1942 Sunday
Got message to look for raft in this vicinity but cannot locate it. 3 men are supposed to be on the raft. Doing 20 knots.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today the Japanese occupied Kiska and Attu, Aleutian Islands, Alaska in what was begun primarily as a diversionary tactic for the Battle of Midway.
United States naval vessels sunk:
- Carrier YORKTOWN (CV-5), by Japanese submarine torpedo, as she retires, damaged, after Battle of Midway, 30 d. 36' N., 176 d. 34' W.
- Seaplane tender (small) GANNET (AVP-8), by submarine torpedo, off Bermuda.
June 8, 1942 Monday
Still searching for raft until 'Catalina P.B.Y.' crashed at sea. Got word late the C.G. plane picked up survivors and plane crew - Plane sank.
June 9, 1942 Tuesday
Doing 30 knots in search of sub reported by merchantman. Sub was shelling ship. No luck all night.
June 10, 1942 Wednesday
On patrol. Passed Swan Island today. Doris's graduation day. How I wish I was there.
June 11, 1942 Thursday
At sea on patrol. Are getting low on fuel.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:German submarines today laid mines off Boston and Delaware Bay.
June 12, 1942 Friday
On patrol - Enroute back to Christobal.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:German submarines today laid mines off Cape Henry, Virginia.
June 13, 1942 Saturday
Arrived in Crhistobal at 1100. Fueled ship, took on stores. Went on liberty but got called back to get underway. Underway at 2100 to look for sub. Captain and about 25 others didn't get back.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Early this morning, four German agents were put ashore from a submarine at Amagansett, Long Island, N. Y.; landing was detected by a Coast Guard beach patrolman and the agents were captured by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents.
German submarine sunk:
- U-157, by Coast Guard cutter, THETIS (PC-115), north of Cuba, 24 d. 13' N., 82 d. 03' W.
June 14, 1942 Sunday
Off coast of Panama looking for sub which sank ship last night. 3 P.T.s brought the rest of the crew out.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:The first echelon of 1st Marine Division under Major General A. A. Vandegriff, arrived today at Wellington, New Zealand.
June 15, 1942 Monday
Left spot where ship was sunk after EDISON took survivors to Christobal and picked up convoy from Trinidad. Headed back to C.Z. about noon.
June 16, 1942 Tuesday
Arrived in Christobal at 1200. Fueled and provisioned ship. Letters from Doris, John and Connie. Payday tonight at 1930.
June 17, 1942 Wednesday
In Christobal alongside of dock. Had duty today. Pete got transferred today.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Four more German agents landed today from a submarine on Ponte Vedra Beach, south of Jacksonville, Fla. The landing was discovered by fishermen and agents are captured by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
June 18, 1942 Thursday
Underway at 0130. Picked up survivors this morning on 8-12. 27 men from 3 different ships. Some torpedoed 3 times.
June 19, 1942 Friday
On patrol awaiting orders to proceed to Christobal with survivors.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Vice Admiral R. L. Ghormley assumed command today of the South Pacific Area and South Pacific Force with his headquarters at Auckland, New Zealand.
United States naval vessel lost:
- Submarine S-27, by grounding, Amchitka, Aleutian Islands; abandoned.
June 20, 1942 Saturday
At sea with survivors from torpedoed ships. On patrol, awaiting further orders.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today a Japanese submarine shelled Estevan Point, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
June 21, 1942 Sunday
Enroute to Christobal with survivors. Arrived at 1930, fueled ship. Went on liberty.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today a Japanese submarine shelled Fort Stevens, Oregon
June 22, 1942 Monday
In Christobal. Went ashore again tonight.
June 23, 1942 Tuesday
Got underway this morning and headed toward Swan Island. Sea is rough.
June 24, 1942 Wednesday
At sea on patrol. Saw Swan Island this afternoon and headed South again. Rough seas.
June 25, 1942 Thursday
At sea on patrol. Sea is still rough.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:United States Army today established the European Theater of Operations (ETO)under Major General (later President) Dwight D. Eisenhower. President and British Prime Minister concluded their conference today in Washington DC. A decision was reached for combined United States-British research and development of the atomic bomb.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
- Destroyer YAMAKAZE, by submarine NAUTILUS (SS-168), off Honshu, Japan.
June 26, 1942 Friday
At sea on patrol. Still rough as hell. Met ERIE this afternoon to pick up ship to take to Christobal.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:United States Naval Auxiliary Air Station (Lighter-than-Air), San Julian, Cuba, is established. US Navy Blimps will operate from there to search for and attack submarines. Germany today announced unrestricted submarine warfare off the United States Atlantic Coast.
June 27, 1942 Saturday
At sea on patrol looking for SS ELWOOD to escort her to Christobal.
June 28, 1942 Sunday
At sea on patrol.
June 29, 1942 Monday
At sea on patrol. Picked up USS ELWOOD and another ship to escort into Christobal.
June 30, 1942 Tuesday
Arrived in Christobal late this afternoon. Had duty tonight.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:CURRENT MILITARY STRENGTHS:
- US Naval vessels on hand (all types)....5,612
Personnel under arms:
- Navy....................640,570
- Marine Corps............143,528
- Coast Guard..............58,998
- Total personnel.........843,096
United States naval vessel sunk:
- Coast minesweeper HORNBILL (AMc-13), by collision, San Francisco Bay, Calif.
German submarine sunk:
- U-158, by Naval land-based aircraft (VP-74), western Atlantic area, 32 d. 50' N., 67 d. 28' W.
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This page, and all contents, are Copyright (C) 2000 by Kenn Anderson,Sr., Scranton, PA. (USA)