August 1st through 5th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming in company with TASK FORCE 61 with USS WASP, Task Force
Guide in condition of Readiness III, Material condition "ZED" (Modified).
[8-12 Hours]
Steaming as before, conforming to movements of USS WASP conducting
aircraft operations.
August 6th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming in condition of Readiness II in company with TASK UNIT 61.13, in
cruising disposition #1 with USS WASP, Fleet Guide. On Station
with USS WASP, distance 2400 yards. Sky overcast, visibility
6000 yards, moderate sea and wind.
[4-8 Hours]
Steaming as before. Set condition Readiness I.
0641: Catapulted plane CS-16 to starboard, pilot, Ensign J. D. Taylor. All
aircraft tested and inspected by Lt. W. J. Tate, Jr. Conditions satisfactory.
0651: Set special condition of Readiness II. 0705: Commenced zigzagging
in accordance with plan No. 8.
[8-12 Hours]
Steaming as before.
0926: Catapulted airplane CS-14 to starboard, pilot, Ensign E. J. Drodz.
Commenced maneuvering to launch and recover aircraft and to resume station.
0930: Catapulted airplane CS-15 to port, pilot, Ensign J. D. Taylor
0938: Recovered plane CS-16 to port, "cast" method.
1153: Commenced maneuvering to recover aircraft.
[12-16 Hours]
Steaming as before. Recovered aircraft "cast" method, CS-14 to starboard;
CS-15 to port.
Commenced maneuvering & conforming to movements of USS WASP conducting
aircraft operations.
At 1300 a drop of .04 of an inch was observed in the barometer reading;
stayed steady rest of watch.
August 7th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming in condition of Readiness II with Task Unit 62.13 in cruising
disposition with USS WASP guide at fleet center. Commenced zigzagging
according to plan No. 8.
[4-8 Hours]
Steaming as before. Maneuvering incident to conforming with the movements
of USS WASP engaged in aircraft operations throughout the watch.
Launched the following aircraft:
CS-14 to port, pilot, Ensign E. J. Drodz
CS-16 to port, pilot, Lt. (jg) R. P. Morse
CS-15 to starboard, pilot, Lt. W. J. Tate
Sighted Guadacanal Island, distance abt. 35 miles.
[8-12 Hours]
Steaming as before. Maneuvering incident to conforming with the movements
of the USS WASP engaged in aircraft operations throughout the watch.
Sighted Russel Island, distance abt. 45 miles.
0917: Recovered airplane CS-16 to starboard "cast" method.
0923: Recovered airplane CS-14 to port "cast" method.
0938: Launched CS-16 to starboard, pilot, Ensign J. D. Taylor &
CS-14 to port, pilot, Lt. (jg) R. E. Cheney.
1019: Recovered airplane CS-15 to starboard "cast" method.
1030: Launched airplane CS-15 to starboard, pilot, E. J. Drodz
[12-16 Hours]
Steaming as before. Maneuvering incident to conforming with the movements
of the USS WASP engaged in aircraft operations throughout the watch.
1204: Recovered airplane CS-16 to starboard "cast" method
1209: Recovered airplane CS-14 to port "cast" method.
1223: Launched airplanes:
CS-16 to starboard, pilot, Lt.(jg) R. P. Morse
CS-14 to port, pilot, Lt. W. J. Tate
1236: Recovered airplane CS-15 to starboard "cast" method.
1251: Launched airplane CS-15 to starboard, pilot, Ensign J. D. Taylor
Airplane from USS WASP crashed in water ?abeam? this ship. Distance,
2500 yards, while attempting to land. Pilot rescued by destroyer plane guard.
[16-20 Hours]
Steaming as before. Maneuvering incident to conforming with the movements
of the USS WASP engaged in aircraft operations throughout the watch.
1623: Recovered plane CS-14 to starboard "cast" method.
1629: Recovered plane CS-15 to port "cast" method.
1639: Launched plane CS-14 to starboard, pilot Lt.(jg) R. E. Cheney
1645: General Quarters. Set condition of Readiness II (Special).
1749: Recovered plane CS-16 to starboard "cast" method.
1806: Recovered plane CS-14 to port "cast" method.
1818: Darkened ship & set condition of Readiness II (Modified).
USS WASP formation guide, 2000 yards from this vessel.
August 8th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming in company with Task Group 61.1.3. Ship in Condition of Readiness
II.
[4-8 Hours]
Steaming as before, maneuvering & conforming to movements of the USS WASP
conducting aircraft operations.
0600: Launched CS-15 & CS-16 airplanes.
[8-12 Hours]
Steaming as before.
0926: Catapulted Plane CS-14. 0936: Recovered Plane CS-15 & CS-16.
1040: Received report of enemy aircraft over [unreadable] Island. Set
Condition of Readiness I throughout ship. Catapulted plane CS-15.
[12-16 Hours]
Steaming as before. Set condition of Readiness I in AA Battery & Readiness
II in the remainder of the ship.
Recovered aircraft and sent them out a number of times.
[16-18 Hours]
Steaming as before along with USS WASP to recover aircraft and to
regain station. Recover SLC airplanes. CS-14 received damage to one wing
while landing, placing the airplane out of commission.
[18-20 Hours]
Steaming as before. Resumed station with USS WASP, distance 2000 yds.
August 9th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming in company with TASK FORCE 61.1.3, 2000 yds. from guide ship,
USS WASP in condition of Readiness II.
[4-8 Hours]
Catapulted the following airplanes as indicated
CS-16 to port, pilot, Ensign J. D. Taylor
CS-15 to starboard, pilot, Lt. W. J. Tate, Jr.
CS-14 out of commission due to damage upon landing earlier in week.
[8-12 Hours]
Steaming as before. Flight of unidentified aircraft reported heading south
from STO at about 0815. Commenced zigzagging in accordance with plan No. 8.
USS MCCAWLEY reported that she was standing by for expected enemy air
attack.
0926: Recovered SLC aircraft & commenced maneuvering incident to regaining station.
0953: Launched plane CS-15 to port, pilot, Lt. (jg) R. P. Morse.
1025: Strange aircraft sighted; set Condition I in Anti-Aircraft battery;
set Condition "ZED" throughout the ship.
1031: Strange aircraft identified as friendly. Commenced conforming to
movements of USS WASP conducting aircraft operations.
1135: Lookouts reported periscope, distance 5,000 yards.
1137: After 1.1." battery commenced firing. Commenced maneuvering on
various courses; all engines ahead full.
1142: USS LANG reported objects sighted as blackfish instead of
periscope.
August 11th, 1942
[12-16 Hours]
Steaming as before, maneuvering to take station for patrolling area astern
USS PRATTE & USS KASKASKIA. Ceased patrolling & maneuvered
to go alongside starboard side to port side of USS KASKASKIA for
fueling. Received 4,000 gals. aviation gas.
[18-20 Hours]
Steaming as before. Cast off from tanker having received 10,250 barrels
fuel oil. Maneuvering incident to joining USS MINNEAPOLIS
[20-24 Hours]
Steaming as before. Joined USS MINNEAPOLIS & USS PLATTE on
station 1800 yards from USS PLATTE, fueling force guide.
August 12th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming in company with Fueling Group of TASK FORCE 61. USS PLATTE,
Fleet Guide. Ship on station 1000 yards from USS MINNEAPOLIS. Five
DD's screening. Ship in Condition of Readiness II on one-half hour notice.
Changed guide to USS KASKASKIA, this ship taking station at 1500 yards
from guide.
[4-8 Hours]
Steaming as before. USS MINNEAPOLIS designated as guide. Sighted
TASK FORCE 61, distance 10 miles. Set Condition of Readiness III throughout
ship. Zigzagging in accordance with plan No. 8.
[12-16 Hours]
Steaming as before. The after gyro lost vacuum due to a leak and ceased to
operate. COMTASKFOR 61 assumed tactical command. SLC maneuvering to
forming cruising disposition. USS SARATOGA, fleet guide, at fleet
center, distance from this ship, 3000 yards. Steadied on course.
[16-18 Hours]
Steaming as before. Ceased zigzagging to remain clear of USS WASP
recovering aircraft.
[18-20 Hours]
Steaming as before. 2150: As per emergency turn order from OTC, shifted
main engines to high pressure combination, then to cruising combination.
August 13th through 15th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming in company with Fueling Group of TASK FORCE 61.
August 16th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming in condition of Readiness II in cruising disposition #1 with
TASK FORCE 18, with USS WASP as guide, distance, 2500 yards.
[4-8 Hours]
Steaming as before, maneuvering and conforming to movements of USS WASP
conducting aircraft operations.
August 17th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming in company with TASK FORCE 18 in Cruising Disposition #1, USS WASP,
Fleet Guide.
[8-12 Hours]
Steaming as before. Tested automatic weapons; tested satisfactory. Set
Conditions I in Main and 5" Battery for drill. Commenced conforming to
movements of USS WASP, conducting aircraft operations. Plane crashed
ahead of USS WASP. Destroyers proceeded to scene of crash. [No mention
of rescue].
August 19th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming with TASK FORCE 18, in cruising disposition No. 1, USS WASP,
Fleet Guide.
[8-12 Hours]
Steaming as before. Commenced maneuvering incident to taking station astern
USS KASKASKIA, prior to fueling. Commenced maneuvering incident to
going alongside USS KASKASKIA, fueling.
The following officers reported on board for duty from the USS KASKASKIA,
by pursuant to orders as indicated:
|
Dec. 1941
