MIGHTY NINETY
The Homepage of USS ASTORIA CL-90
From Mog Mog to the Tokyo Plain
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Mog Mog island, home of the Fleet Recreation Area at Ulithi Anchorage in January 1945. Ships of the Fast Carrier Task Force at anchor stretch into the distance in the vast atoll.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from The Road to Tokyo, Wheeler.
26 January 1945
USS ASTORIA and the Fast Carrier Task Force entered Ulithi Anchorage in the afternoon. No time was lost in distributing overdue mail which the men eagerly hauled aboard. Movies began to be shown that evening. "The first female on the screen raises hell with the boys," wrote Jim Thomson.
Beginning the next morning, groups of sailors were granted liberty. They packed aboard transports and headed across the anchorage for the Fleet Recreation Area at Mog Mog, an island on the north side of the atoll.
LCI(L)-63 packed to the gills with ASTORIA sailors headed for liberty on Mog Mog, 30 January 1945.
-photo taken by USS ASTORIA ship's photographer Herman Schnipper (reproduced from Mighty Ninety Cruise Book)
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A large map of Mog Mog .posted near the landing area. It clearly shows the west side of the island limited to a Seabees camp and restricted officers' area, while the east side provided a variety of recreation for enlisted men. Areas designated as ball fields, sandy beach, swimming area, and shady grove sounded perhaps more glamorous than their rugged reality.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from The Road to Tokyo, Wheeler.
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The swimming area on the easternmost shore of Mog Mog. Sailors swam in varied states of undress and shoes provided protection against ever-present sharp coral.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from The Road to Tokyo, Wheeler.
Sailors on liberty at Mog Mog were only ashore for 5-6 hours, as the island secured at 1800 hours. They were given ration chits redeemable for just two cans of warm beer (three by some accounts). A complex barter system developed, with men trading cash, smokes, and future liberty for others' ration chits. Inevitably some men found ways to get drunk as a result.
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A refreshment stand on Mog Mog waiting to dispense beer and soft drinks. Note the cigars for sale.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from The Road to Tokyo, Wheeler.
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Sailors enjoy beer and smokes in the relative shade of the grove.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from The Road to Tokyo, Wheeler.
The enlisted men's areas were always crowded--15,000 men at a time crowded into the larger half of an island that was only 60 acres. By comparison, Officers' Country provided a degree of luxury. Officers drank at thatched-roof clubs where they purchased as much beer as they desired, and even sipped shots of hard liquor in relative comfort.
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A sign announcing "Crowley's Tavern" hangs behind the bar at an officer's clubhouse on Mog Mog.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from The Road to Tokyo, Wheeler.
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A volunteer band comprised of African-American sailors entertains outside an officers' clubhouse. Although all branches of service were segregated at this time, African-Americans served aboard ships throughout the fleet including USS ASTORIA.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from The Road to Tokyo, Wheeler.
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Officers' Country had one additional perk--USN nurses from hospital ships were given free reign to circulate throughout. Nurses were instructed to avoid social interaction with enlisted men.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from The Road to Tokyo, Wheeler.
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When Mog Mog secured at 1800 hours, men packed into transports and headed back to their ships. In this photo, sailors from USS INTREPID pass a Martin PBM Mariner from a flying boat squadron.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from The Road to Tokyo, Wheeler.
ASTORIA F Division Shipmate Jim Thomson wrote of his Mog Mog liberty experience:
Drank my ration of beer. Went swimming for the first time. Not bad but no females... It never fails. Two guys are "over the hill" and finally get back at nine that night.
F Division shipmate J. Fred Lind wrote in his diary:
We painted, scrubbed, and cleaned all our stations. The ship looks trim again. Big things are in the making. The base is loaded with over 300 ships. A lot of new ships arrived, and we received mail and took on fuel.
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A view from ASTORIA of other cruisers at anchor in Ulithi Atoll, 2 February 1945.
-photo taken by and courtesy of USS ASTORIA ship's photographer Herman Schnipper
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A view forward of ASTORIA at anchor on 2 February 1945. Auxiliary ships lie alongside other vessels while small launches ferry officers between ships.
-photo taken by and courtesy of USS ASTORIA ship's photographer Herman Schnipper
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Captain's Inspection aboard USS ASTORIA, 3 February 1945. Executive Officer Armentrout performs a crew inspection on the ship's starboard aft main deck.
-photo taken by and courtesy of USS ASTORIA ship's photographer Herman Schnipper
Captain Dyer conducts an inspection of S Division shipmates on the fantail, 3 February 1945.
-photo taken by USS ASTORIA ship's photographer Herman Schnipper (reproduced from Mighty Ninety Cruise Book)
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Captain Dyer presents awards to individual sailors on the ship's fantail before addressing the crew about their upcoming operations, 3 February 1945.
-photo taken by and courtesy of USS ASTORIA ship's photographer Herman Schnipper
Jim Thomson wrote in his diary:
The Old Man gives us the once-over. Feels good to get into whites again. We are given the word that we are going right into Tojo's backyard next trip. Draws a cheer from the mob.
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Impromptu photo of N Division sailors taken following inspection, 3 February 1945. Note that ship's photographer Schnipper defaced the negative so the ships at anchorage could not be made out in detail when the photo was sent stateside.
-photo taken by and courtesy of USS ASTORIA ship's photographer Herman Schnipper
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Lookouts from L Division in decidedly more relaxed dress following inspection, 3 February 1945.
-photo taken by and courtesy of USS ASTORIA ship's photographer Herman Schnipper
4 February 1945
Jim Thomson wrote in his diary:
We [F Division] have the best inspection mark on the ship. Working parties and more working parties. Discover the sights on the 40mm are not according to Hoyle. Spend three rugged days getting them in shape.
The work on the 40mm sights paid off. Fred Lind wrote:
We are in and out of port on firing-practice runs. The
10 February 1945: OPERATION JAMBOREE
With their support of the Philippine Liberation concluded, the Fast Carrier Task Force headed north from Ulithi with an entirely new objective: strikes against Tokyo and mainland Japan.
The timing of these strikes would coincide with preliminary bombardment of Iwo Jima several hundred miles to the south. Ostensibly meant to serve as a distraction and limit Japanese air power over Iwo, the decision to direct the carriers against Tokyo also drew fierce criticism. Resources were at a premium for aerial and shore bombardment in the lead-up to invasion. The resulting compromise called for the carrier force to conduct limited strikes against Japan before retiring south to send ships and planes to bear in support of the Iwo Jima invasion.
Regardless of stated objectives, the impact of these strikes to morale on both sides would be profound. The last time Tokyo had been bombed by a naval force had been during the famed Doolittle Raid of 1942. This time, instead of a handful of Army bombers, carriers would bring a force of almost 1,000 planes.
With the arrival of fresh ships at Ulithi over the past two weeks, including more ESSEX-class carriers and air groups, Admiral Spruance reorganized his task groups. USS ASTORIA and Cruiser Division 17 shifted from Group 2 to Group 3:
Task Group 38.3 Order of Battle at the outset of OPERATION JAMBOREE
Commander Task Group: Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman
Fleet Carriers: ESSEX CV-9
BUNKER HILL CV-17*
Light Carrier: COWPENS CVL-25
Heavy Cruiser: INDIANAPOLIS CA-35**
Light Cruisers: PASADENA CL-65
ASTORIA CL-90
WILKES-BARRE CL-103
*USS BUNKER HILL served as Task Force Flagship for Admiral Mitscher.
**USS INDIANAPOLIS served as Fleet Flagship for Admiral Spruance.
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Task Group 58.3 gets underway from Ulithi, 10 February 1945. Taken from USS BUNKER HILL CV-17, this photo shows her Marine Corsairs spotted forward. BUNKER HILL follows COWPENS CVL-25 (left), ESSEX CV-9, and cruisers of CruDiv 17.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from Wikimedia Commons
For clothing up here I am wearing my longhandles, dungaree shirt, woolen sweater, dungaree jacket, parka, Navy jacket, dungaree pants, Navy trousers, watch cap, and two pairs of gloves. That, along with my life jacket, and I make quite a bundle. Lind, J. Fred. Sea Attitudes: A Collection of WWII Memories. Privately published.
As ASTORIA steamed from Ulithi, her crew knew that big operations were coming but did know specifics. Fred Lind wrote:
On the 10th we left port with the whole fleet. We are really going to make history this time. There is a new invasion coming off and we are going to herd them in. It will be the closest thing to
Cold weather clothing was issued. We expect to get into a climate similar to that of
As gunnery drills continued, ASTORIA maintained her fine reputation. Jim Thomson wrote:
We are headed for a cold climate--heavy clothing being issued. Spent the day firing. Some beautiful shooting. Five-inch lay out 125 rounds to get drone. Forties look better than ever. Good line-up job.
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Track chart of USS ASTORIA as Task Force 58 heads north toward Tokyo. On 12-13 February, the task force linked up with elements of the Iwo Jima amphibious invasion force for coordinated exercises and rehearsal off the Marianas.
-created from Google Earth global mapping and imagery
ASTORIA sailors put fenders over the side of the ship in preparation for refueling operations off Saipan, 13 February 1945.
-photo taken by USS ASTORIA ship's photographer Herman Schnipper (reproduced from Mighty Ninety Cruise Book)
14 February 1945
Jim Thomson wrote in his diary:
Fleet still fueling. Largest group ever assembled--five units. Probably 15 carriers, 15 battleships, 15 cruisers, and a hundred or so destroyers. Lookout Tojo. We are on the way north that night.
Thomson was not too far off the mark. With the addition of three fleet carriers (RANDOLPH CV-15, BUNKER HILL CV-17, and BENNINGTON CV-20), Task Force 58 had sixteen total carriers spread across five task groups--four for daytime and one for night operations. There was, however, an underlying cause for apprehension; almost half the air groups involved would be conducting their very first combat mission.
15 February 1945
From the Mighty Ninety Cruise Book:
After we had been to sea several days we found we were going to raid
Jim Thomson wrote:
News is out that it is Tokyo. All equipment gets a last-minute check. Cold weather clothing is issued--I wear two heavy underwear tops.
From Morison's Victory in the Pacific:
Everything possible was done to guard against detection. Measures included radio deception, scouting by Pacific Fleet submarines to dispose of any picket vessels there might be en route, scouting by B-29s and Navy Liberators from the Marianas to clear the air. On the 15th a scouting line of five destroyers ranged ahead of the carriers, and antisubmarine air patrol was set up. At 1900 a high-speed run-in began toward launching positions, where the carriers arrived at dawn 16 February. Thanks to these precautions, and to thick weather most of the way, they arrived undetected.
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Navy pilots aboard USS ESSEX CV-9 receive final briefing prior to strikes against Tokyo,17 February 1945.
-U.S. Navy Photo reproduced from NARA collection
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A BUNKER HILL F4U Corsair is readied for strikes on 16 February 1945. 5-inch HVAR "Holy Moses" rockets are loaded and armed under the wings.
-U.S. Navy Photo reproduced from NARA collection.
CAPT Felix Baker observes flight operations from the open bridge of USS RANDOLPH during the OPERATION JAMBOREE Tokyo strikes.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from Crommelin's Thunderbirds, Bruce and Leonard
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An F4U Corsair launches from the flight deck of BUNKER HILL on its way to Tokyo, 16 February 1945.
-U.S. Navy Photo reproduced from NARA collection
16 February 1945
Planes launched into heavy overcast from positions 60 miles off the coast of Honshu. Weather was immediately a factor--heavy cloud, wind, rain and snow. As a result, strikes on airfields surrounding Tokyo met with varying degrees of success throughout the day and Admiral Mitscher was forced to adjust his timetable to accommodate windows of opportunity in cloud cover.
Planes from Task Group 58.3 had the honor of being first over Tokyo due to a break in weather. Overall there was very little Japanese opposition, and more planes were strafed on the ground than engaged in the air.
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U.S. Navy TBM Avengers and SB2C Helldivers from BENNINGTON and HORNET against the backdrop of Mt. Fuji during strikes against the Tokyo Plain, circa 16 February 1945.
-photo taken by CDR G.A. Heap USN, reproduced from U.S. Navy War Photographs, Steichen
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Results of a 16 February 1945 raid by planes from USS RANDOLPH against Konoike airfield east of Tokyo. Light snow covers the field and black smoke curls skyward from burning planes.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from Crommelin's Thunderbirds, Bruce and Leonard
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TBM Avengers return to BUNKER HILL following strikes against mainland Japan, 16 February 1945.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from LIFE images at http://images.google.com
Combat was largely confined to airspace over the target areas. The Japanese did not bring much of a fight out to the carrier task force other than some isolated attacks over Task Group 58.1 that were repelled. For the men of the Mighty Ninety, the day was long, tedious, and very cold. Fred Lind wrote of his watches high up in the ship's gun directors:
The temperature is 40 degrees, but there was ice on the target designator. The hair around my ears is coming out, and the skin is all red. This is from the constant wearing of battle telephones, with foam rubber linings on the ear pieces.
In the afternoon, three Japanese picket boats were spotted near Task Group 58.3. The destroyer USS HAYNESWORTH DD-700 sunk the three boats, an event observed from ASTORIA.
Fred Lind wrote in his diary:
I derived some sinister pleasure in watching the destroyer's guns cause severe explosions and dense smoke from their targets. After the sinkings, nine survivors were picked up. One was a 17-year old kid who didn't know that all those ships were American until we started firing. Apparently the Japanese public isn't getting much news on what is happening. Well, we are happy to inform them.
Jim Thomson also had a vantage point from the gun director, and he wrote:
The black oily smoke billows high in the sky, flames visible at its base... Terrific explosions as the can gets a direct hit on one ship. At 2200 we secure from air emergency. It was a tough day.
The survivors were transferred aboard USS ESSEX and placed in the ship's brig. They became objects of considerable interest with the carrier's crew as the first Japanese they had ever encountered.
News of the carrier raids on Tokyo were quickly dispatched back to the U.S. as shown in this cartoon that ran in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on 17 February 1945, the day after the first strikes.
-Fred O. Seibel cartoon reproduced from Crommelin's Thunderbirds, Bruce and Leonard
A Joey Fubar cartoon that ran in the USS ASTORIA Daily Press on 17 February. Note the flak suits, flash hoods, heavy jackets, helmets, goggles, and foul weather gear in the drawing giving a clear indicator of the conditions topside during the raids.
-Joe Aman cartoon courtesy of Jim Peddie
CHAPTER 11: OPERATION DETACHMENT part 1--COMING SOON
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Sources:
Aman, Joseph. Joey Fubar's Cavalcade of Humor. Printed aboard USS ASTORIA CL-90, 1945.
Bruce, Roy W. and Leonard, Charles R. Crommelin's Thunderbirds: Air Group 12 Strikes the Heart of Japan. Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Institute, 1994.
http://commons.Wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page Wikimedia Commons image database.
http://earth.Google.com/ Google Earth.
Jones, Brent. Private photo and document collection.
Morison, Samuel Eliot. History of
Peddie, Jim. Private document collection.
Reynolds, Clark G. The Fast Carriers: the Forging of an Air Navy. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1968.
Schnipper, Herman. Private photo and document collection.
Stafford, Edward P. The Big E. New York, NY: Random House, Inc., 1962.
Steichen, Edward (ed.). U.S. Navy War Photographs, 2nd Edition. New York, NY: Crown Publishers, Inc. 1984.
Thomson, James. Diary kept aboard USS ASTORIA CL-90, 1944-45.
Wheeler, Keith. The Road to Tokyo. Chicago, IL: Time-Life Books, 1979.
www.archives.gov National Archives and Records Administration WWII photo archive.
www.navsource.org U.S. Navy photo archive.
