USS Russell (DD-414)-- Part 5: Okinawa and End of the War

On 27 January 1945, the Russell sailed north again arriving off Nasugbu Bay in the Philippines and covered the minesweepers  as they cleared approach channels then fired on enemy positions.  Relieve4d late in the afternoon, she returned to Lingayen Gulf and then to Leyte, Bew Guinea and the Solomons.

On 15 February she was at Guadalcanal and rejoined the 5th Fleet for Operation Iceberg, the Okinawa Invasion.  On April 1 she arrived off the invasion beaches and commenced  screening until  May 28 when she got underway for the United States for a much-needed yard overhaul.

Still undergoing the overhaul in Seattle, Washington, when the war ended.  Then on November 15, the Russell was decommissioned and struck from the Navy List thirteen days later.  In September 1947, she was sold for scrap to the National Metal and Steel Corporation, Terminal Island, Los Angeles.

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During the war, the USS Russell received  16 Battle Stars, making her one of the most decorated U.S. ships of the war.

--GreGen

Elma Residents Anxious About Sons in Hawaii, December 15, 1941

From the July  29, 2021, Quad-City (Illinois/Iowa) Times "Closure at last:  North Iowa family says goodbye to Pearl Harbor victim after 80 years" by Jared  McNett.

This article from the Waterloo (Iowa) Courier was reprinted in yesterday's paper.

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ELMA RESIDENTS ANXIOUS ABOUT SONS IN HAWAII

Elma, Iowa.

Several  Elma families have been quite anxious over sons and relatives at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, including  George Sullivan, son of  Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sullivan;  Dean Garrett, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dewey Garrett; Francis Duluhery, son of Mr. and Mrs. Duluhery; Duane Hayes, son of  Mr. and Mrs. George Hayes, Luverne Murphy, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Murphy; and John Mulick, son of John Mulick.

The last named was on the U.S.S. Oklahoma, bombed by the Japanese.

Ray M. Evans, son of Mr. and Mrs.  Tom Evans, arrived  here Wednesday from Pensacola, Fla., where he has been stationed for six months, and left  Thursday for his new station at Seattle, Wash.  He is an army bomber pilot.

Russell Schroeder, seaman, has completed a 15-day furlough at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Homer Schroeder.

And, John Mulick did not return home,  He died on the USS Oklahoma.

The War Strikes Home This Early in a Small Iowa Town.  --GreGen

According to Wikipedia, the population of Elma in 2010 was 546.  In the early 1900s, it was around 1500.  Elma is 17 miles northeast of Charles City.

Shorpy Home Front Photos: Warship of the Air: 1942

From the Shorpy site.

NOVEMBER 23, 2014.  "Warship of the Air: 1942."

December 1942.  "Production B-17 heavy bombers.  The four mighty engines of a new B-17F (Flying Fortress) bomber warm up at the airfield of Boeing's Seattle plant as another warship of the air awaits its test flight.

"The Flying fortress has performed with great credit in the South pacific, over Germany and elsewhere.  It is a four engine heavy bomber capable of flying at high altitudes."

Andreas Feininger, OWI.

Bombs Away!  -GreGen

John D. Catrano: APc-25's Commander

From Wikipedia.

John D. Catrano: The APc-25's Commander, was born April 4, 1909, and died July 19, 2005. American lawyer and Seattle, Washington, civic leader. Grew up in Seattle, graduated from the Univ. of Washington and received his law degree from Harvard. Founded the law firm Catrano, Boker & Chapmen where he worked for 40 years.

During World War II, he rose to the rank of lt. cmdr. and served in the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. In 1943, he was given command of the APc-25. He received the Navy and Marine Corps medals "for heroism displayed in the rescue of approximately thirty-five survivors from a burning transport" August 13, 1943, in the Solomon Islands (the USS John Penn).

After that, he was executive officer on the USS Durik in the Atlantic 1944-1945. The ship escorted Liberty Ships across the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. After Germany's surrender, the ship was ordered to the Pacific for the invasion of Japan.

--GreGen

Rosie's Building That Won World War II To Be Demolished

From KIRO Radio "The building that won World War II to be demolished" by Chris Sullivan.

Rosie the Riveter became famous here.  Boeing learned how to build airplanes here.  At its highest production, 12 B-17s a day were built at Boeing's Plant 2.  Executive Director of Seattle's Museum of Science and Industry, Leonard Garfield, said it is fair to make that statement.

The factory, built on the Duwamish River is scheduled to be torn down.  During the war, the plant was so important that a fake town was built on the roof to hide its location from Japanese planes.  B-17s, B-29s, B-52s and the percursor of the 737 rolled off the assembly lines.

During the war, there were thousands of women working there, including Eva Vasser, 83, who started at the Bremerton Shipyard before becoming a riveter working at Plant 2 where she stayed for 33 years.

Boeing plans to restore half a mile of the bank along the Duwamish River and create five acres of wetlands on the site.

Sorry to See Such an Important Site to the American Victory Torn Down.  --GreGen

Old Washington State Forts

From the July 7, 2010, Seattle Times "Old forts are scenic spots for getaways, culture and fun" by JoAnn Roe.

There are several decommissioned forts in the Seattle area for two 20th century wars, World War I and World War II.

Forts WORDEN, FLAGLER AND CASEY were part of the "Triangle of Fire" along with the satellite compounds of FORT EBEY (ok, I spelled it with an "a" instead of the second "e" the first time. So, that's where they came up with the name.) and Camp HAYDEN.

FORT FLAGLER's gun emplacements rarely fired, and then only when being tested.

CAMP HAYDEN, near Joyce. During WWII, 150 soldiers were stationed here manning two 6-inch and two 16-inch guns, the latter able to fire a shell 28 miles (16-inch guns were usually mounted in battleships. A 16-inch gun from the USS Missouri is being transported to Arizona right now to be part of an exhibit with a 14-inch one from the USS Arizona.)

FORT CASEY on Whidbey Island, is a still-standing fortress, originally built in 1847. By the Spanish-American War, two 10-inch guns on disappearing carriages were installed. These guns could be raised from behind a concrete embankment, fired, and then lowered for reloading.

The armament was removed before World War II, but the fort was used for training.

FORT EBEY was just north of FORT CASEY, but nothing remains of it.

Homeland Defense Back Then. --GreGen