Return to Survivors Index Page
The
personal experience and account of
W. E. Lynch
(Electrical Dept.)
On October 25, 1944, I awakened at 0315 item to take over the O.O.D.
watch at 0400. After having washed and having had a cup of coffee
I went up to the bridge. I read the Captain's night order book
and having ascertained our position on the chart I relieved Lt.
(jg) Young as O.O.D. at 0350. At that time, I was informed that
a Japanese task force of unknown size was standing off the entrance
to Leyte Gulf.
At 0400 I had the bugler sound reveille. At 0415 I had the bugler
sound flight quarters. At 0430 the ship went to General Quarters.
Up to this time the ship was on a course of approximately 240º (T)
speed 14 knots. At 0445 we received a signal from the OTC in the
U.S.S. Fanshaw Bay execute to follow speed 16, turn to course 040º
(T). At 0450 the information changed speed to 16 knots and changed
course to 040º (T) to launch the first flight. At 0450 we changed
speed to 18 knots to enable us to get more wind across the flight
deck. At 0503 we completed launching 8 VF and reduced speed to 14
knots to fall back into station. At approximately 0550 we changed
course to 220º (T) and changed speed to 14 knots. At 0624 observed
sunrise. At about 0635 we received a TBS transmission from the OTC
to set condition 3 at the discretion of the commanding officers.
At about 0638 we secured from general quarters and set condition
3 watch 3. At about 0643 I received word from Air Plot that one
of the ASP planes from the U.S.S. St. Lo spotted a Japanese Task
force 20 miles on the starboard beam of the formation. Almost immediately
we received a signal from the OTC to change course to 130º (T).
At this time I looked at the PP1 radar repeater on the bridge and
saw the Japanese Task Force bearing 296º (T) distance 20 miles.
At 0647 the ship went to General Quarters. At the same time splashes
from gunfire were seen to be falling amid the formation. We received
ATBS transmission from the OTC to launch all planes. At approximately
the same time I gave orders to the engine room to make all possible
speed.
Relieved as O.D.D. by Lt. Comdr. Gellhorn. I proceed by way of
the hanger deck to my battle station at the 5" 38 gun on the
fantail. As soon as I arrived I noticed that the DD's and the
DE's had deployed astern of the carriers and were laying a
heavy smoke screen.I observed splashes from enemy gunfire falling
amid the formation.
At about 0715 the ship passed thru a rain squall and the Japanese
ceased firing until we were once again in good visibility. At approximately
0735 I noticed the splashes once again and they were much closer
to the ship.
At approximately 0745 I received orders from gunnery control to
open fire on the Japanese cruisers bearing about 200º relative.
The approximate range was 8 miles. I commenced firing immediately
with the opening range at 17,000 yards. All this time I noticed
splashes falling close aboard on the starboard and portside. We
were under fire from three enemy ships at this time as determined
from the green, red and white splashes close board.
On about the 6th round fired from the 5" gun we
scored a hit on a Japanese cruiser. Shortly thereafter I received
orders from gunnery control to cease firing because it was believed
that the fire from our gun was drawing the enemy fire. At approximately
9815 the ship received its first hit which landed on the after end
of the flight deck. The shell pierced the flight deck and started
a fire. The 5" gun crew broke out two hoses and played streams
of water on the fire and were instrumental in its extinction. After
this I instructed all men on the 5" gun crew to put on kapok
life jackets to protect them against shrapnel. About the same time
I felt that the ship slowed down considerably. At about the same
time we received orders from gunnery control to flood all magazines.
Gunner F. S. Hughes, who was stationed on the 5" gun, saw to
it that they were flooded and I reported this fact to gunnery control.
About 5 minutes later we were given orders to open fire once again
but the power was out on the gun, We trained it manually but could
not fire because the rammer was jammed due to the near misses. About
this time a few people came from below decks onto the fantail. Among
these was McMillan MM3/c a member of the M.A.A. force who had a
badly mutilated arm. I broke open a first aid box and bandaged his
arm.
At about 0845 we received the order to abandon ship. The 5"
gun crew cut the floater nets away from the side of the ship and
jumped over after it. All of the 5" gun crew and the magazine
crew abandoned ship safely. Among the men were Tutchtone, GM3/c,
McCoy, GM 2/c, Watkins GM2/c, Gunner F.S. Hughes, Lewis, Cox, Slycord,
S1/c, Amundson S1/c, Johnson, STM, Fuller STM, Lopez Steward 3/c,
McCuan S1/c, Roach STM, Newton Cox. In addition to these men various
other men came to the fantail and leaped over the side. After bandaging
McMillan's arm I helped him over the side.
After all personnel were clear of the fantail I went over to the
port side of the fantail to see if there was anyone else around.
After seeing that there was no one else I went back to the starboard
side and at this time another shell hit the fantail on the port
side and pierced the deck. Upon my return to the starboard side
I found Lt.(jg) Edmundson lying on deck with his right leg practically
torn off by shrapnel. Cain AOM1/c and myself applied a large bandage
from the first aid kit and lifted Edmundson over the life lines
and threw him into the water. Cain then jumped into the water. I
then looked into the hanger deck but could see nothing due to the
heavy smoke. I then stuffed my pockets with the rest of the supplies
from the first aid kit and was in the process of taking off my shoes
before going over the side when another salvo from the Japanese
cruisers hit the ship and practically lifted the fantail out of
the water and the concussion almost threw me overboard. I didn't
bother with my shoes anymore but merely leaped into the water. It
is my opinion that we were under fire from 8" and 6" guns
from the Japanese cruisers. All totaled the 5" 38 on our ship
expended about 30 rounds with 3 hits on Japanese ships.
After getting into the water I saw Commander Ballinger, the executive
officer, and headed in his general direction. I then grabbed ahold
of a life raft which contained some of the following personnel:
Raymaker CM3/c, Harting S1/c, Carrouche Y2/c, Davis, Flatley S1/c,
Ens. Mallgrave, Ranking S1/c, Lamp RM2/c, Bartholow S 2/c, Shannon
S1/c, Commander Ballinger, and a few other people. We observed the
ship roll over to port, then capsize and sink about 0911. We then
proceeded to gather as many life rafts and individuals together
as possible.
We succeeded in lashing a few rafts together. There were a few
seriously wounded individuals who were given the best possible medical
treatment that was possible with the supplies on hand. Among the
most seriously wounded in my immediate area were: Muniz, WT 2/c,
Cowles, MM 3/c Barrett S1/c, Fetkenheier S 2/c, Davis RM 3/c, Laurn
WT 1/c, Smith, E.J. GM 3/c and one other man who was a member of
the Air Dept. and on mess cooking duty.
During our stay in the water we buried Smith E.J. GM 3/c, Muniz.
WT 2/c, Cowles MM 3/c and Laurn WT 1/c and one other man whose name
I do not know. About 1500 or 1600 the afternoon of Oct. 25, 1944
our group of life rafts joined another group of life rafts which
contained Capt. W.F.R. Vieweg, Commanding Officer of the Gambier
Bay.
Upon the joining of the two groups we had assembled approximately
140 men. All of this time there was a Japanese battleship of the
Kongo class dead in the water about 8,000 to 10,000 yards away.
There was also a Japanese destroyer which was acting as a protector
for this big disabled ship.
In the morning of the 26th I noticed that our life raft
was overcrowded so I went to another which contained less people.
The following personnel were on this life raft: Berger, S1/c, Miller
SK, Christensen RM 1/c, Chapman Aircrewman, Spencer STM, Shlesman
TM 3/c, McCoy Aircrewman, Moeschler SK 3/c, Hart, Y2/c, Trapp SK1/c,
Zimmerman Y3/c and one other man whose name I do not know.
About 1000 the morning of the 26th we observed a TBM
flying overhead and the Captain signaled with a Very Pistol but
we were not seen. A little later we fired a cartridge at another
approaching plane and threw dyd marker on the water but still we
were not seen. About 1300 or 1400 the afternoon of the 26th we sighted land to the westward of us and decided that the best
thing to do was try to reach that land or at least approach it to
see if it was friendly. Later we learned that it was Samar.
We formed the life rafts in a column with the floater nets astern
and tried to make headway in the dirction of the land. At sunset
we still saw the land quite prominently and thought it to be about
30 miles away.
About 1900 the night of the 26th Lt. Comdr. Waring and
Propes SC1/c approached us in a small life raft headed in the direction
of the land. Mr. Waring talked with the Captain and Executive Officer
and then proceeded toward the land in his small craft to try to
get some assistance for us, and others who were behind us.
About 2100 the morning of the 27th we saw ships, which
were headed in our direction. We fired numerous very star cartridges
attempting to attract their attention. Our group comprised of about
140 people was picked up between 0330 and 0400 the morning of the
27th by LCI (R) 71. This craft then took us to the anchorage
in Leyte Gulf where some were put aboard an LST and myself and others
were put aboard the U.S.S. Fremont.
I certify this to be my personal experience from 0315 the morning
of the 25th of October 1944 until I went aboard the USS
Fremont about 0430 the morning of the 28th of October
1944.
W. E. Lynch
Lt.(jg) USNR
The following named men are men of the 3rd Division
who I have spoken to and know are well:
McCoy, GM2/c - Smyden GM1/c
Williams, S/1/c -
Gorrell, S1/c
Taratko, S1/c - Meyer, S1/c
Kelly, GM3/c - Raymaker, S1/c
Kimball, S1/c - Harting, S1/c
|
