REVISED FORM FOR REPORTING A.A. ACTION BY SURFACE SHIPS

Location of ship: Lat. 25° 49’N Long. 126° 13’E

Time Zone: 1600 Date: Friday, April 6, 1945, ELD

1. Surprise attack? Yes Day or Night: Day

2. Method picking plane up: Naked eye

3. Range plane was picked up: 5 miles

4. Total number of planes observed: Many — 20 to 30. Type: Fighters, bombers and torpedo

5. Number of planes attacking own ship: 4 Type: Believe all were Vals

6. Number of planes taken under fire by own ship: 4 Type: Vals

7. Speed and altitude of approach in knots and feet: 100-120 K; 100 feet

8. Number of guns firing — by caliber: 1 — 3"/50, 8 — 20MM, 2 — 40MM

9. Ammunition expended — by caliber and type: 45 rounds 3"; 550 rounds 40MM; 3600 rounds 20MM

10. Percent service allowance expended: 18%; 11.5%; 7%

11. Method of control: Optical Method of spotting: Tracer Method of ranging: Estimated Method of firing: Rapid fire

12. Approximate time-tracking to first shot: None

13. Approximate time of first hits: 1603

14, Approximate time first shot to last shot: 7 minutes

15. Approximate position angle open fire: #1 — 10° bearing 270° relative; #2 — 20° bearing 090° relative; #3 — 20° bearing 050° relative; #4 — 20° bearing 050° relative.

16. Approximate position angle cease fire: #1 — 0° bearing 030° relative; #2 — crashed into ship forward; #3 — crashed into ship aft; #4 — not known.

17. Approximate bearing first shot: 270° relative

18. Approximate bearing last shot: 090° relative

19. Approximate range of first shot: 5,000 — 6,000 yards Altitude of plane: Not over 100 feet.

20. Approximate minimum range aircraft approached: #1 — 150 feet; #4 — 500-700 yards.

21. Approximate range of last shot: ---- Altitude of plane: ---

22. Approximate altitude of bomb release: --- Size of bomb: ---

23. Approximate range of torpedo release: --- Size of torpedo: ---

24. Number of hits on ship by bombs: none By torpedo: --- Was ship strafed: Yes, by plane #2 Size gun: 25 cal.

25. Number near bomb misses damaging ship: none

28. Performance of ammunition: Excellent

29. What failures in material occurred in this action?: None

30. Sketch:
(a) Indicate direction of attack relative to ship’s head
(b) Show relative postion of sun
(c) Indicate own maneuvers.

The USS DEFENSE was patrolling Station A-35 on a northwesterly course and a Task Force of capital ships was retiring for the night about six miles to the westward. As this vessel’s Air Search radar was inoperative the first indication of attack was the observation of AA fire from that Force. Many planes were observed flying in all directions. DEFENSE changed to a northerly course parallel that of the Task Force. Plane number 1 came in from the north to about half way between the Task Force and DEFENSE and then turned sharply toward DEFENSE and stared its run. When the run started range was about 5,000 yards and an altitude about 100 feet. Fire was opened with all guns that could bear, 1 — 3"/50, 4 — 20MM and 1 — 40MM (single mount). At about 1,000 yards and 50 feet altitude the plane pulled up sharply and passed directly over DEFENSE at right angles to its base course. DEFENSE was maneuvering at about 17 knots. Fire was taken up by the starboard battery and the plane was seen hit by 20MM fire just under the cockpit. The plane turned left into a dive and splashed about 700-800 yards on the starboard bow. The pilot did not bail out and no explosion seemed to take place when hitting the water.

Plane number 2 had started its run probably before plane number 1 had splashed. It came in from the northeastward and was not observed until probably less than 2,500 yards, altitude 50-75 feet. The starboard battery opened fire but the plane crashed the bridge structure forward, on the starboard side. Oil, gasoline, and parts of the plane were all over the ship. Most of the pilot was in the flying bridge and his parachute hung from the yard arm. There might have been a second pilot in the plane as another parachute that went across the ship hit the water on the port side and opened. Where the engine went, or the explosive if one was carried, is not known. The only fire started inside the flying bridge and was stamped out before fire extinguishers arrived. A splash on the starboard side, large enough to put water on the bridge, indicated that there might be hull damage so the vessel was slowed for investigation. Before a report could reach the bridge planes number 3 and 4 were seen forward on the starboard bow, already having started their run. DEFENSE went back to flank speed. These planes came in together wing-tip to wing-tip. The starboard battery opened fire. Plane number 3 must have crowded plane number 4 because the latter turned off. Plane number 3 continued in and crashed the 40MM platform just aft of #2 stack. Again much of the plane was left on deck but most of it, including the heavy parts, went over the port side. There was no explosion and no fire.

G. Abbott,

Lt. Comdr., USNR,

Commanding Officer.

[ROY’S NOTE: According to eyewitness reports, plane number 2 actually exploded at a range of 25-30 yards, spattering shrapnel, fuel, seawater and pieces of the unfortunate pilot all over the front of the DEFENSE. The "second pilot" landed in the ocean on the port side of the ship and was promptly machine-gunned, even though he was probably dead when he hit the water.]