October 25, 1942
12-16 Steaming as before. At 1201 first plane launched. At 1207 last plane launched. Maneuvered on various courses and at various speeds preparing to land aircraft. At 1218 F-14 crashed on flight deck, the following men received minor bruises and abrasions: HORTON, C.J., Sea1c, U.S.N., BAYJUS, A.R. Sea2c, U.S.N., BERGER, B., AMM3c, U.S.N. and CLOUTZ, C.E., AMM3c, U.S.N. At 1229 first plane landed. At 1237 last plane landed. Changed course to 295° T & pgc. Changed speed to 23 knots (208 RPM). At 1245 changed fleet course to 285 T & pgc. At 1250 commenced zig-zagging according to plan 8. At 1317 ceased zig-zagging.
At 1322 formed cruising disposition I-V. At 1336 formed cruising disposition I. At 1340 cut in boiler no. 2 on the main steam line. At 1342 changed speed to 27 knots (247 RPM). At 1345 cut in boiler no. 4 on the main steam line. At 1433 commenced maneuvering on various courses and at various speeds conducting flight operations. Approximate course 120° T & pgc. Approximate speed 25 knots. At 1437 first plane launched. At 1525 last plane launched. At 1527 first plane landed. At 1537 last plane landed. Changed course right to 285° T & pgc. At 1547 changed speed to 23 knots (208 RPM).
Average Steam 410 Average RPM 223.9
(Signed) W. C. Hembury
16-18 Steaming as before. At 1655 commenced zig-zagging according to plan #8.
Average Steam 410 Average RPM 208.8
(Signed) J. V. Rowney
18-20 Steaming as before. At 1800 commenced maneuvering on various courses and at various speeds into the wind for flight operations. Average course 115° T, average speed 23 kts (208 RPM). At 1830 last plane landed. At 1832 changed course right to 290° T & pgc. Changed speed to 23 kts (208 RPM). At 1842 General Quarters. Darkened ship. At 1844 set material condition AFIRM. At 1849 commenced maneuvering on various courses and at a various speeds into the wind for flight operations. Average course 115° T & pgc, average speed 25 kts.
Average Steam 410 Average RPM 216.6
(Signed) C. A. Lenz
20-24 Steaming as before. At 2000 set material condition BAKER. At 2005 plane crashed into sea in ship's wake Lat 10° 7' 05" Long 169° 30' 48". Secured from general quarters. Set condition of readiness 2. At 2009 plane crashed on deck. At 2015 plane crashed in sea. Lat 10° 07' 00"S Long 169° 33' 54" S. At 2027 last two torpedo planes in landing circle crashed in the sea. Lat 10° 11' 00" Long 169° 37.9' E. At 2028 changed speed to 23 knots (208 RPM). At 2041 changed fleet course right to 290° T & pgc, 284.5° psc, 295° pstc. At 2052 commenced zig-zagging in accordance with plan 8. At 2210 ceased zig-zagging and resumed base course 290° T & pgc.
NOTE: The following planes and personnel are missing:
T-12 Lt(jg) B.R. Wilson; NEAL, M.T. ARM 3/c; BROWNING, AM SEA 1/c
T-5 Lieut. A.P. COFFIN; KRAFT, A.H. ARM 2/c; DAHL, B.W. ARM 3/c
T-9 Lt(jg) R.S. NELSON; RICHARDSON, B.W. ARM 3/c; WALL, C.T. AM 3/c
B-10 ENS. D.H. FRIZELL; OSTTERSTETTER, C.H. RM 3/c
S-15 ENS. P.M. HALLORAN; GALLAGHER, E. ARM 3/c
F-32 Lieut. F.D. MILLER
It is reported that crews of planes T-5 and T-9 as well as 7 other flight personnel are aboard destroyers of the task force. At 2215 changed fleet course right to 305° T & pgc, 289° psc, 309° pstc. At 2220 commenced zig-zagging in accordance with plan 8.
Average Steam 410 Average RPM 212.6
(Signed) J. S. Shilson
October 26, 1942
00-04 Steaming in company with Task Force 61, consisting of Task Forces 16 (ENTERPRISE) and 17 (HORNET). Task Force 16 is in cruising disposition I on base course 305° T & pgc, 289° psc, 309° pstc. Fleet speed is 23 knots (208 RPM). Boilers no. 2-3-4-5-6-7-8 and 9 are on the main steam line. ENTERPRISE is guide of Task Force 16. O.T.C. and SOPA are in this vessel. Task Force 17 bears southeasterly, distance five miles. All ships are darkened. This vessel set in condition of readiness II, and material condition Baker. At 0003 lighted fires under boiler no. 1. At 0020 cut in boiler no. 1 on the main steam line.
Average Steam 410 Average R.P.M. 208.0
(Signed) W. C. Hembury
04-08 Steaming as before. At 0529 alerted the watch. Set material condition AFIRM. At 0550 sounded General Quarters. At 0600 turned right into the wind to launch aircraft. Approximate course 115° T, approximate speed 27 knots, 247 RPM. At 0602 the ship was at general quarters. At 0605 first plane launched. At 0620 last plane launched. Changed course to right to 270° T. Changed speed to 23 knots 208 RPM. At 0627 lighted ship. At 0634 began zig-zagging in accordance with plan #8. At 0654 ceased zig-zagging and resumed base course 270° T. At 0656 changed course right to 085° T while HORNET launched aircraft. At 0705 changed course to right to 260° T. At 0709 changed course to right to 270° T. At 0716 commenced zig-zagging in accordance with plan #8.
Average Steam 410 Average RPM 208
(Signed) R. W. Ruble
08-12 Steaming as before, ship at general quarters, condition AFIRM being maintained below third deck. Boiler condition one (1). At 0805 ceased zig-zagging. At 0808 changed course to right to 330° T, changed speed to 27 knots, 247 RPM. At 0830 changed course to the right into wind to launch aircraft. Approximate course 110° T, approximate speed 27 knots. At 0847 first plane launched. At 0902 changed speed to 26 knots, 237 RPM. At 0905 last plane launched. Prepared to recover aircraft. At 0907 first plane recovered. At 0910 last plane recovered. Steadied on course 110° T. At 0913 changed speed to 24 knots, 218 RPM. At 0916 received one deferred forced landing. At 0916 changed speed to 23 knots, 208 RPM. At 0918 changed course to left to 330° T. At 0921 changed speed to 27 knots, 247 RPM. At 0924 changed course to right to 110° T. At 0929 changed speed to 24 knots, 218 RPM.
At 0931 changed fleet axis to the right to 110° T. At 0932 changed course left to 330° T. At 0934 formed cruising disposition I-V. At 0940 our aircraft reported 24 enemy dive bombers approaching bearing 280° T. At 0941 changed course right to 110° T. At 0944 speed increased to 27 knots, 247 RPM. Signal to force to prepare to repel air attack. At 0945 enemy planes reported bearing 225° T distance 25 miles. Commenced steaming into the wind to launch aircraft. Approximate course 110° T, approximate speed 27 knots. At 0946 first plane launched. At 0953 last plane launched. Changed course to the left to 020° T to enter rain squall. At 0956 large group of bogie aircraft reported bearing 280° T distance 23 miles. At 1009 passed thru rain squall & changed course left to 060° T. At 1011 enemy aircraft commenced attack on HORNET. At 1019 torpedo planes reported approaching on our port quarter but none made attack. At 1020 HORNET appeared to be hit. Fires observed on island structure. At 1024 our aircraft reported there were 17 planes in attack on HORNET. At 1025 all bogie aircraft on radar screen going away.
At 1026 changed course right into the wind preparing to recover aircraft. Approximate course 100° T, approximate speed 27 knots, 247 RPM. At 1030 first plane landed. At 1058 last plane landed. At 1059 changed course right to 200° T. Speed 27 knots. At 1100 planes crashed in sea at Lat 8° 40' 18" S Long 167° 15' 00" E. At 1107 changed course right to 250° T. At 1110 sighted anti-aircraft fire bearing 275° T on horizon. HORNET appeared to be under attack again. At 1112 changed course left to 230° T.
At 1115 the ENTERPRISE was attacked by approximately 25 enemy dive bombers. Changed course turning left in a circle to avoid bombs. Ship hit just aft of No 2 elevator with AP bomb. Several near misses to starboard. Fires reported on second deck forward and also on forecastle. At 1126 steadied up on course 225° T. At 1126 noted forward gyro out of commission. At 1127 periscope was reported starboard bow. Changed course to the right. At 1131 steadied on course 300° T. At 1132 changed course left to 250° T to enter rain squall. At 1133 enemy dive bombers reported on port quarter. At 1142 all fires reported out on forecastle. At 1148 ENTERPRISE attacked by group of approximately 20 torpedo planes. Ship changing course rapidly both to left & right to avoid torpedoes. Several torpedo wakes observed passing astern and down starboard side. Reported periscope of submarine also sighted on starboard bow. At least seven enemy torpedo planes seen to crash into sea.
At 1159 steadied on course 016 T. Average steam 410. Average RPM 240.7
12-16 Steaming as before. At 1202 sub reported on starboard bow, changed course to the left. At 1204 steadied on 020° T. Observed that PORTER appeared to be hit by torpedo. At 1214 changed course right into the wind preparing for air operations. Approximate course 110° T, approximate speed 27 knots. At 1215 first plane landed aboard. At 1220 ceased landing aircraft. Enemy dive bombers reported approaching to port. At 1222 ENTERPRISE under attack from about 15 dive bombers. Changing course radically to avoid bombs. At 1224 near miss amidships on starboard side shook the ship. Several more near misses, no hits observed.
At 1230 attack over and ship changed course into the wind preparing to recover aircraft. Approximate course 115° T, approximate speed 27 knots. At 1239 first plane landed. At 1322 last plane landed. At 1335 changed course to 123° T, 27 knots. At 1339 plane crashed in sea astern. At 1346 commenced steaming into wind preparing to launch aircraft. Approximate course 130° T, approximate speed 27 knots. At 1351 first plane launched. At 1405 last plane launched. At 1418 first plane landed. At 1419 TBF crashed into sea, port quarter. At 1424 last plane landed. Changed course to left to course 123° T, 27 knots, 247 RPM. At 1510 changed course to head into wind to launch aircraft. Approximate course 124° T, speed 28 knots, 257 RPM. At 1530 last plane launched. At 1534 changed speed to 23 knots, 208 RPM. At 1542 commenced zig-zagging in accordance with plan #8.
Average steam 410 Average RPM 244.8
(Signed) R. W. Ruble
16-18 Steaming as before. At 1601 changed course right into the wind preparing to land aircraft. At 1604 first plane launched. At 1607 last plane launched. At 1611 changed course left to 120° T and changed speed to 23 knots, 208 RPM. At 1617 changed course right into the wind preparing to recover aircraft. Approximate course 140° T, approximate speed 27 knots. At 1619 first plane landed. At 1630 last plane landed. Changed course left to 120° T and speed to 23 knots. At 1635 commenced zig-zagging according to plan #8. At 1645 ceased zig-zagging and resumed base course. Received report that HORNET was again being subjected to air attacks. At 1704 sub reported on port beam. All engines ahead flank, changed course to the right to 225 T. At 1718 sub contact reported false and ship changed course to left to 107 T and changed speed to 23 knots. At 1724 changed course into wind to launch aircraft. Approximate course 135 T, approximate speed 27 knots. At 1728 first plane launched. At 1744 last plane landed. At 1746 changed course to left to course 107° T & changed speed to 23 knots. At 1751 commenced zig-zagging in accordance with plan #8.
Average Steam 410 Average RPM 223.4
(Signed) R. W. Ruble
18-20 Steaming as before. At 1830 ceased zig-zagging and resumed base course 107° T. At 1834 right into the wind preparing to recover aircraft. Approximate course 135° T, approximate speed 28 knots. At 1840 darkened ship. Formed cruising disposition one. At 1841 first plane landed. At 1841 changed fleet axis to the right to 140° T. At 1852 last plane landed. Changed course to 102° T. Changed speed to 23 knots, 208 RPM. At 1926 changed speed to 20 knots, 180 RPM. At 1929 set material condition Baker. At 1937 secured from general quarters. Set condition of readiness II, watch 1.
Average Steam 410 Average RPM 206.8
(Signed) R. W. Ruble
20-24 Steaming as before. At 2045 boiler no. 5 cut off the main steam line. At 2051 boiler no. 9 cut off the main steam line. At 2120 secured degaussing coils.
Average Steam 410 Average RPM 180.0
(Signed) W. C. Hembury