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| Back to The Beginning |
| Back to April 1942 |
JOURNAL of DONALD ANDERSON, USN
MAY, 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. |  |
May 1, 1942 Friday
In drydock at Balboa. Lifted low pressure turbine rotor this afternoon. Payday today. No liberty tonight.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:United States Naval Base and United States Naval Auxiliary Air Facility, Great Exuma, Bahama Islands, and United States Naval Base, Grand Cayman, British West Indies, were established.
Adm. W. D. Leahy, USN (Ret.), ended his service as Ambassador to France.
May 2, 1942 Saturday
In drydock. Went ashore tonight to get a haircut.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Japanese landed today on Florida Island, in the Solomon Islands.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
- Seaplane tender MIZUHO, by submarine DRUM (SS-228), off southeastern Honshu, Japan, 34 d. 26' N., 138 d. 14' E.
May 3, 1942 Sunday
Went to church at Balboa Union Church this A.M. Had dinner at Clubhouse. Riot in Panama City between Servicemen and cops.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today the US Submarine SPEARFISH (SS-190) evacuated more military personnel from Corregidor, P. I.
May 4, 1942 Monday
In drydock. No liberty in Panama because of riot.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today the Battle of the Coral Sea (4-8 May) commenced with an air strike on Tulagi, Solomon Islands, by United States carrier-based aircraft.
Allied naval forces under command of Rear Admiral F. J. Fletcher, USN, comprised of:Attack Group under Rear Admiral T. C. Kinkaid, USN, of United State cruisers CHESTER (CA-27), NEW ORLEANS (CA-32), PORTLAND (CA-33), ASTORIA (CA-34), MINNEAPOLIS (CA-36) and destroyers FARRAGUT (DD-348), DEWEY (DD-340), MONAGHAN (DD-354), AYLWIN (DD-355) and PHELPS (DD-360);
Support Group under Rear Admiral J. G. Crace, RN, with United States cruiser CHICAGO (CA-29), Australian cruisers AUSTRALIA and HOBART, and United States destroyers PERKINS (DD-377) and WALKE (DD-416);
Carrier Group under Rear Admiral A. W. Fitch, USN, consisting of United States carriers LEXINGTON (CV-2) and YORKTOWN (CV-5) with destroyers ANDERSON (DD-411), HAMMANN (DD-412), RUSSELL (DD-414), and MORRIS (DD-417);
Fueling Group under Capt. J. S. Phillips, USN, including United States oilers TIPPECANOE (AO-21) and NEOSHO (A0-23) and destroyers WORDEN (DD-352) and SIMS (DD-409).Also on this day Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, Admiral E. J. King, directed the Coast Guard Auxiliary to organize civilian small craft as coastal pickets.
United States naval vessel sunk:
- Minesweeper TANAGER (AM-5), by coastal defense guns, Corregidor, P. I.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
- Destroyer KIKUZUKI, by carrier-based aircraft, Tulagi, Solomon Islands.
May 5, 1942 Tuesday
In drydock. Went ashore. Liberty in Panama City again but didn't last long. Another riot - 2 soldiers killed.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Rear Admiral Fletcher's Allied force, after fueling, changed course to intercept Japanese Port Moresby Invasion Group.
Japanese forces landed on Corregidor, Phillipine Islands
United States naval vessels sunk:
- River gunboat MINDANAO (PR-8) and submarine rescue vessel PIGEON (ASR-9), by horizontal bombers, Philippine Islands area, 14 d. 23' N., 120 d. 36' E.
- Tugs GENESEE (ATO-55) and VAGA (YT-116), by scuttling, Philippine Islands area, 14 d. 25'N., 120 d. 30' E.
May 6, 1942 Wednesday
In drydock. Got Maher as S.F. striker because Nitka is in sick bay at West Bank.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Rear Admiral Fletcher's Allied force continued steaming on course to intercept the Japanese Port Moresby Invasion Group.
Corregidor and Manila Bay forts, Phillipine Islands, surrendered to the Japanese today.
United States naval vessels sunk:
- River gunboat OAHU (PR-6) and LUZON (PR-7), and minesweeper QUAIL (AM-15), by scuttling, Philippine Islands area, 14 d. 23' N., 120 d. 35' E.
May 7, 1942 Thursday
Went out of drydock today and tied up to pier 8 until 1800. Transited canal. Arrived in Colon about 12:30. 6-1/2 hours for the trip.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Rear Admiral Fletcher's Allied force turns north to engage Japanese Attack Group. Support Group under Rear Admiral Crace, RN was detached to intercept the Japanese Port Moresby Invasion Group. Admiral Crace's ships were attacked by enemy torpedo bombers and land-based bombers and, mistaken for Japanese Port Moresby Invasion Force, were also bombed by Army B-26 aircraft.
US Carrier aircraft attacked the Japanese Support Group and sank the aircraft carrier SHOHO in the continuation of the Battle of the Coral Sea.
Hollandia, New Guinea, is occupied by Japanese forces.
United States naval vessel sunk:
- Destroyer SIMS (DD-409), by dive bomber, Battle of the Coral Sea, 15 d. 10' S., 158 d. 05' E.
United States naval vessel damaged:
- Oiler NEOSHO (AO-23), by dive bomber, Battle of the Coral Sea, 15 d. 10' S., 158 d. 05' E., and sunk by Unites States forces 11 May 1942. Japanese naval vessel sunk:
- Carrier SHOHO, by carrier-based aircraft, Battle of the Coral Sea, 10 d. 29' S., 152 d. 55' E.
May 8, 1942 Firday
Alongside of pier 6 in Christobal. Fueled ship and got underway this afternoon.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today the US aircraft carrier LEXINGTON's (CV-2) search aircraft sighted the Japanese carriers SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU. Rear Admiral Fletcher's carrier aircraft damaged SHOKAKU and forced her retirement. At the same time, Japanese aircraft hit carriers YORKTOWN (CV-5) and LEXINGTON (CV-2), damaging the latter to such an extent that destroyer PHELPS (DD-360) is ordered to sink her. The two forces disengaged, thus closing the Battle of the Coral Sea.
United States naval vessel sunk:
- Carrier LEXINGTON (CV-2), severely damaged by carrier-based torpedo bombers and, in sinking condition, sunk by United States forces, Battle of the Coral Sea, 15 d. 12 S., 155 d. 27' E.
United States naval vessel damaged:
- Carrier YORKTOWN (CV-5), by carrier-based dive bombers, Battle of the Coral Sea, 14 d. 35' S., 155 d. 15' E.
May 9, 1942 Saturday
Heading north on patrol off Panama in Atlantic. Sea is rough and squalls are quite frequent.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:United States aircraft carrier WASP (CV-7), in the Mediterranean, today launched 47 British Spitfire aircraft to bolster the defences of the island fortress of Malta.
German submarine sunk:
- U-352, by Coast Guard cutter ICARUS (PC-119), off South Carolina, 34 d. 12' N., 76 d. 35' W.
May 10, 1942 Sunday
On patrol. Raining off and on all day.
May 11, 1942 Monday
Heading back to Chrsitobal. Rained all morning. Saw one ship today.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:
Japanese vessel sunk:
- Minelayer OKINOSHIMA, by submarine S-42, north of Solomon Islands, 05 d. 06 S., 153 d. 48 E.
May 12, 1942 Tuesday
Enroute to Christobal at 18 knots. Fairly good weather today.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today the Battleship MASSACHUSETTS (BB-59) was commissioned at Boston, Mass. She soon became the first American battleship to fire a 16" shell against an enemy target in the war, and much later fired the last 16" shell against an enemy target in WWII.
May 13, 1942 Wednesday
Arrived in Christobal today and tied up to pier 6A. Went ashore and had picture taken. Pete came back from West Bank.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Bureau of Navigation was today renamed Bureau of Naval Personnel.
The French government agreed to immobilize three French warships at Martinique, French West Indies.
May 14, 1942 Thursday
Got underway at 1300 and headed out to pick up convoy from Trinidad with USS BORIE.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:A German submarine layed minefield off St. John's, Newfoundland today.
May 15, 1942 Friday
At sea. Picked up convoy about 1300 and relieved two other destroyers. Heading back to Panama escotring two ships in convoy.
May 16, 1942 Saturday
Came into Christobal to pier 6A alongside of TATTNALL. Had duty tody. Wrote letters this evening.
May 17, 1942 Sunday
In Christobal. Stayed aboard all day today.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Japanese submarines sunk:
- I-28, by submarine TAUTOG (SS-199), Caroline Islands area, 06 d. 30' N., 152 d. 00' E.
- I-164, by submarine TRITON (SS-201), southeast of Kyushu, Japan, 29 d. 25' N., 134 d. 09' E.
May 18, 1942 Monday
Got underway at 0600. Escorting convoy of three ships with BORIE and TATTNALL. Ships are going to New Orleans, we think.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Office of Naval Inspector General under command of Rear Admiral C. P. Snyder was established today.
May 19, 1942 Tuesday
Escorting ships in convoy - to New Orleans. There are rumors that we are going to put into New Orleans.
May 20, 1942 Wednesday
Still heading North with convoy. Shifted into Condition II watches. Ships are 'SANTA PAULA"; "EVNAGELINE"; and "SUWANNEE".
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:The Air Force, South Pacific Area under Rear Admiral J. S. McCain was established on this date.
May 21, 1942 Thursday
Sighted cargo ship and another 'can'. Are still heading to New Orleans. ////We are NOT going to Orleans. We are going to Tampa, Florida. Saw another convoy of about 10 ships today.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Today the North Pacific Force under Rear Admiral R. A Theobald was established for operations in Alaskan sector.
May 22, 1942 Friday
Arrived in Tampa Bay and anchored off of St. Petersburg. Had liberty today. This is heaven compared to Panama.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Mexico today declared war on Germany, Italy, and Japan.
May 23, 1942 Saturday
Got underway at 1700 this afternoon with "SANTA PAULA" to escort her to Charleston, South Carolina.
May 24, 1942 Sunday
Off of Florida Keys with "SANTA PAULA".
May 25, 1942 Monday
Arrived in Charleston. Sighted several large convoys today, tied up to fuel dock and fueled. Liberty tonight but I had duty.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:United States naval vessel damaged:
- Destroyer BLAKELEY (DD-150), by submarine torpedo, off Martinique, French West Indies.
Japanese naval vessel sunk:
- Repair ship ASAHI, by submarine SALMON (SS-182), South China Sea, 10 d. 00' N., 110 d. 00' E.
May 26, 1942 Tuesday
Took on stores and got underway at 1600. Doing 20 knots, heading south.
May 27, 1942 Wednesday
Still heading south at 20 knots to meet convoy. Sighted two partially sunk ships - most likely torpedoed and beached.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:Marines and Seabees occupy Wallis Island, South Pacific Ocean.
United States naval vessel damaged:
- Destroyer tender PRAIRIE (AD-15) and gunboat SPRY (PG-64), by fire, Argentia, Newfoundland.
May 28, 1942 Thursday
Off of Miami Beach at G.Q. this morning with convoy. Saw another torpedoed ship partially sunk this P.M.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:United States forces arrive at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands.
May 29, 1942 Friday
Met another convoy this A.M. Came into Key West, tied up and fueled and then moored to buoy. Got underway at 1630 convoying two ships to Panama.
May 30, 1942 Saturday
At sea with two ships. Saw a large Sailfish today.
May 31, 1942 Sunday
Enroute to Panama on convoy duty.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN:The Japanese today raided the harbor of Sydney, Australia, with midget submarines .
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This page, and all contents, are Copyright (C) 2000 by Kenn Anderson,Sr., Scranton, PA. (USA)