The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
Showing posts with label Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. Show all posts
Monday, March 18, 2019
USS Helm (DD-388)-- Part 3: The Marianas Turkey Shoot
After Savo Island, the Helm remained in the dangerous waters off Guadalcanal before leaving in September to escort transports between Australia and New Guinea. On 15 May 1943, the ship assisted in the search for survivors from the Australian hospital ship Centaur which had been torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-177. Some 268 of 332 aboard died.
The Helm later that year participated in Woodlark Island, Milne Bay, Cape Gloucester and Saidor.
In 1944, the Helm escorted the battleship USS Maryland to Mare Island.
In June, she was involved in the invasion of the Marianas Islands, which turned into the biggest carrier battle of the war, helping provide anti-aircraft protection. With the help of American submarines, two Japanese carriers were sunk and there were such staggering losses to the Japanese naval air power that it was dubbed the "Marianas Turkey Shoot."
--GreGen
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Death of Rear Admiral Harry John Patrick Foley: Served on the Blue Ghost
February 10th U-T San Diego "Rear Adm. Harry John Patrick Foley; fought in the Pacific in World War II" by Linda McIntosh.
Died after a fall Jan. 27, 2012, age 95, in San Diego.
Thirty-three-year Navy career that began with a handshake from President Franklin D. Roosevelt at his 1938 graduation from the USNA. Fought in seven major Pacific World War II battles as well as in the Atlantic on U-boat patrol.
At one battle, he came under fire from Japanese planes while being transferred between ships on a boatswain's chair.
He began his World War II career on anti-U-boat operations with Destroyer Division 66 in the Atlantic and Caribbean. After that, he served for two years on the USS Lexington CV-16 in the Pacific. Guns under his command were given credit for shooting down 14 Japanese planes.
At the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot, he was control officer for an entire 40 mm battery of 64 guns. The Lexington was badly damaged, so much that the Japanese thought it was sunk on at least two occasions, causing Tokyo Rose to give it te nickname "Blue Ghost."
In 1944, he returned to the United States and held several stateside jobs until the end of the war.
He retired in 1971 and was born June 7, 1916, in trenton, NJ.
A Great One. --GreGen
Died after a fall Jan. 27, 2012, age 95, in San Diego.
Thirty-three-year Navy career that began with a handshake from President Franklin D. Roosevelt at his 1938 graduation from the USNA. Fought in seven major Pacific World War II battles as well as in the Atlantic on U-boat patrol.
At one battle, he came under fire from Japanese planes while being transferred between ships on a boatswain's chair.
He began his World War II career on anti-U-boat operations with Destroyer Division 66 in the Atlantic and Caribbean. After that, he served for two years on the USS Lexington CV-16 in the Pacific. Guns under his command were given credit for shooting down 14 Japanese planes.
At the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot, he was control officer for an entire 40 mm battery of 64 guns. The Lexington was badly damaged, so much that the Japanese thought it was sunk on at least two occasions, causing Tokyo Rose to give it te nickname "Blue Ghost."
In 1944, he returned to the United States and held several stateside jobs until the end of the war.
He retired in 1971 and was born June 7, 1916, in trenton, NJ.
A Great One. --GreGen
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