The Philippines--LEYTE

LANDINGS AT LEYTE LIGHTLY OPPOSED

When the plan to capture Yap was abandoned all the forces which had been prepared for this operation were made available for the landing at Leyte in the Philippines. 738 vessels of the Seventh Fleet participated, of which 157 were combat ships, 420 amphibious types, 84 patrol, minesweeping and hydrographic vessels and 73 service ships. General Douglas MacArthur, Commander-in-Chief, Southwest Pacific Area was in command while Vice Admiral T.C. Kinkaid (Commander Seventh Fleet) was in charge of naval operations. The 6th U.S. Army, commanded by Lt. General W. Krueger, comprised the landing forces, which assembled at Hollandia and Manus. Landings on Dinagat and Suluan Islands, commanding the approaches to Leyte Gulf were made on 17 October, 1944, and on the 18th on Homonhon Island. Minesweepers then removed mines in Leyte Gulf and demolition teams investigated landing beaches. These were followed by bombardment ships which entered the Gulf on the 18th, firing on shore installations, while Third Fleet carrier planes and Seventh Fleet CVE's neutralized Japanese airfields. At 1000 on the 20th landings were made at four points along the western side of Leyte Gulf and a fifth landing occupied both sides of Panaon Strait to the south. The landings were lightly opposed, with some mortar fire on the beaches which were secured on the 20th. By the 30th, troops pushing in and against growing enemy resistance, had captured Japanese airfields and controlled practically all of Leyte Valley. Landings on the northern side of Leyte Island ana on Bacol and Samar Islands were made on the 24th. By the end of the month enemy troops were being ferried from Cebu to the Ormoc Peninsula of Leyte and were slowing up our advance. By this time our casualties were 835 killed, 2,779 wounded and

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CAPTAIN HIGBEE GUIDES COAST GUARD LST'S TO THE BEACHHEADS

CAPTAIN HIGBEE GUIDES COAST GUARD LST'S TO THE BEACHHEADS

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345 missing, while 9,345 Japanese were reported killed and 179 captured. While no large scale attacks by Japanese planes occurred during the unloading period that followed, small numbers of planes attacked the transport area frequently and suicide tactics damaged some vessels. Between 24-26 October the Japanese fleet attempted to destroy our naval forces in the area and three battles at Surigao Strait, off Samar and off Cape Engano resulted in their defeat and rout.

COAST GUARD AMONG FIRST TO LAND

An advance beach party of four Coastguardsmen, who landed on Red Beach at 1010 on 20 October, were the first Naval or Coast Guard personnel to land on Leyte after the bombardment. They were in an LCVP attached to the USS Aquarius and under command of Captain P.D. Higbee, USCG. Another Coast Guard invasion barge took its boatload of soldiers ashore shortly afterwards. "We weren't more than two hundred yards offshore when the first Jap shell fire splashed in front of us," wrote one correspondent. "The soldiers dropped to a crouch as one man. There was another splash to our right and then another to our left. All you could see now across the straight line of twelve boats were the tips of brown helmets and erect figures of twelve coxswains standing erect behind their wheels. Then, over the deafening roar of the bombardment behind us, we heard the singing whine of a mortar shell. It came within a few feet of our hands. We could see the geyser shoot up just behind us. Seconds later the barge jarred its flat nose, up on the sandy beach. In seconds more the ramps were down and the soldiers were running out, crouched low, their rifles ready. The invasion had begun."

A COAST GUARD OFFICER'S ACCOUNT

"Even before our Coast Guard manned transport had reached its assigned position in the anchorage area Jap planes came over." An officer of a Coast Guard manned transport related, "It was daylight on the 20th when we finally dropped the hook after the haul to the Philippines. We were some five or six miles from the Leyte Island beaches where our landing forces would first strike. All around us ships were throwing ack-ack at unwelcome Nip visitors. My first job was to lead a wave of six LCM's, each carrying a light tank and its army crew. The beach was located about five hundred yards south of the town of Dulag. The tanks had to be put ashore as quickly as possible to back up the infantrymen who were hitting the beach just ahead of us.

"Exactly one hour and fifteen minutes before H-hour (1000), I signalled the five other loaded tanklighters (LCM's) to follow me. We quickly approached the smoke and noise that hovered over Leyte. Battleships, cruisers, and destroyers were pumping shell after shell into the island's defenses. The noise was deafening. As we drew closer, we could make out the dim outlines of our LCI gunboats, moving in for the final kill. Close behind them came the first waves of LVT's carrying the assault troops. We maneuvered into our assigned position behind them. Suddenly, through the smoke and dust, we could see the first Americans hitting the beach. The Japs were lobbing mortar shells which were dropping harmlessly in the water to our left. The

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VETERAN OF SEVERAL AMPHIBIOUS INVASIONS ALONG THE LONG ROAD FROM THE SOLOMONS TO THE PHILIPPINES THE COAST GUARD MANNED LST-18 UNLOADS ITS FIGHTING MEN AND MACHINES ON THE BEACHES OF LEYTE ISLAND

COAST GUARD MANNED LST-18 UNLOADS ITS FIGHTING MEN AND MACHINES ON THE BEACHES OF LEYTE

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waves of armored alligators ahead of us did not stop at the water's edge, "but climbed right up onto the beach and headed for the clumps of palm trees some thirty or forty yards inland.

"Amid the ruin of the debris strewn beach, a tall coconut tree had old glory flying proudly from its topmost branches. It was the first to be raised in the liberation of the Philippines, One of the LST's skippers had given his ship's flag to a young Army Lieutenant who solemnly promised to run it up when he got ashore. Along with the flag, the skipper had contributed a heaving line. The flag was secured to one end of it, and when the boys landed, they promptly heaved the line over the tallest palm tree nearby, and the stars and stripes were hauled up in short order.

"As our six tanklighters dropped their ramps, and the tanks rumbled out, a proud feeling ran through us. Here we were in the Philippines. At last we were back, Already our lines were some thirty or forty yards inland. There was plenty of small arms fire, but the little beachhead seemed secure enough. Mortar shells were still falling on our left, but they hadn't hit any of our boats. After unloading and backing off the beach, a Jap 37 mm gun opened up on us. We accelerated the engines and headed back to our ship for another load.

"All next morning,--the 21st--we were pestered by a few enemy planes. Unloading continued nonetheless. We worked all day and night of the 20th and all morning of the 21st to get unloaded as soon as possible. Some of the Jap planes dropped bombs. Two or three were shot down. Since we never knew just how many were coming, all ships lay a smoke screen when word of their approach was sounded. The smoke slowed things up a bit. Unloading became more difficult and dangerous for the ship's crew because of reduced visibility. While for the boats' crews it was considerably more difficult to find their way about.

"There was a bee-hive of activity, on the beach. Some LST's had already pushed their bows well up onto the beach and supplies were moving out of their huge jaws. Hundreds of small landing craft were squeezed onto the beach side by side, ramps down and bulldozers busily engaged in unloading them. The Coast Guard beach party from our own ship got to work unloading us. These boys were tired. They had been working under constant pressure, and the Jap counter-attacks on Yellow Beach had given them some anxious moments. Snipers were close by, and so far they had killed two.

"Native Filipinos, clothed in rags, were everywhere. An estimated two thousand had already come through the battle lines to safety. Most looked haggard and undernourished, but their high spirits were reflected by their smiles of approval as they watched us at work. GI's and sailors were feeding them everything they had, K-rations were achieving a new kind of popularity. Doctors had set up first aid stations where medical treatment was given to all in need of it. Some of the wounded children presented an especially pathetic sight. What amazed us most was the high percentage

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LOADED TROOP TRANSPORTS LIE IN HARBOR AT MANUS, AWAITING ORDERS FOR ANOTHER THRUST INTO THE PHILIPPINES

LOADED TROOP TRANSPORTS LIE IN HARBOR AT MANUS

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of natives who had not been harmed in any way by the terrific air and naval bombardment which preceded our landings. Their homes, however, were shambles. Hardly a building or shack in the entire town of Dulag had escaped damage. But the courage with which these Filipinos faced their losses was inspiring. Young men and boys who met any of our forces on the beach would jump to a stiff attention, salute smartly, and then break into an ear-to-ear grin."

USS CALLAWAY, LEONARD Wood, CAMBRIA AND CAVALIER AT LEYTE

During the invasion of Leyte the Coast Guard manned attack transport Callaway came in under one air raid to discharge her Army personnel and left at dusk under another. The USS Leonard Wood sailed from Guam on 3 November, 1944. Embarked were troops and equipment of the 7?th Division, U.S. Army. The Wood arrived at Leyte Gulf on 23 November and debarked all troops and supplies. En route to Leyte and at Leyte Gulf, Transport Division Twenty of which the Wood was part, was under enemy air attack. The Wood sailed for Hollandia on the 24th. Carrying 75 officers and 1,102 enlisted men of the 96th Division, U.S. Army, the USS Cambria (APA-36) left Manus Island to become part of Task Group 79.2 for the Leyte operation. The landings on Leyte were made 20 October. The Cambria's beach party remained on shore after the ship departed for Manus three days following the initial landing. Seventy casualties were taken care of by the medical staff. Another trip was made to Leyte to transport 59 officers and 1,026 enlisted men of the 187th Paraglider Infantry Regiment, U.S. Army, who had been embarked at New Guinea.

The approach to Leyte by the Coast Guard manned USS Cavalier (APA-37) in a transport task force from Manus Island was made with grave caution. For the first time the ship streamed her paravanes to protect her against mines. An anticipated strong Japanese air opposition did not materialize and only a few enemy planes appeared over the beaches on D-day, 20 October, 1944. The Cavalier completed her unloading quickly despite frequent air alerts and protracted intervals of making smoke screens. Unscathed, the vessel sailed for Manus two days prior to the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea on 25 October, 1944, in the three phases of which the Japanese fleet was decisively defeated. She again arrived at Leyte on 18 November, 1944 with army troops from Oro Bay, British New Guinea.

LST-207 DOWNS ENEMY PLANES AT LEYTE

The Coast Guard manned LST-207 left Manus Island, Admiralty Islands on 4 October, 1944 as part of Task Group 79.1 and on the 20th entered Surigao Strait and Leyte Gulf anchoring in the LST Reserve Area at 0554. At 1445, she launched four pontoon barges and on the morning of the 21st beached at Vilot Beach #2 to unload cargo and disembark troops. This mission was completed at 1425 and the LST retracted, got under way and moored alongside the President Hayes to load cargo. All during the evening she made smoke. Next morning, the 22nd she beached at Yellow Beach #2 to unload. Later, she moored to USS

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COAST GUARD-MANNED PATROL FRIGATE

COAST GUARD-MANNED PATROL FRIGATE

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Mercury (AK-42) in the harbor where she loaded cargo until 2257 on the 23rd. Then she moved to YELLOW Beach #1 for unloading. While returning to LST standby area on the morning of the 25th, a plane was sighted dead ahead. The plane went into a dive, releasing a bomb which landed 100 yards to starboard beam. Later, shortly after noon, a plane was observed diving from the clouds. All starboard guns fired until the plane disappeared smoking into the clouds. A third attack occurred at 1057 while the LST was under way to a new anchorage. Guns opened fire at 800 yards and numerous hits were made, the plane disappearing in a trail of smoke. A bomb dropped by the plane landed 300 yards on the port beam. Again at 1610 an enemy medium bomber was observed diving. The LST opened fire at a range of 1800 yards and scored immediate numerous hits. The plane banked sharply and ran parallel with the LST at a range of 1000 yards, bursting into flames as shots from the LST's guns repeatedly struck engines and fuselage. Next morning, the 26th, enemy planes were seen approaching from various directions, consisting of 12 "Sallys," "Tonys" and "Vals." At 0847 and enemy "Val" approached the LST from the starboard quarter, coming in low and fast, apparently just having completed a dive-bombing attack on another ship and attempting to climb to an area clear of the ship's firing. As this plane passed along the starboard side, all of the LST's guns which could bear, opened fire and hits were observed on wings and cockpit. The plane swerved sharply to port, lost altitude, made a complete circle, crashed on the beach and burst into flames. Two hours later three enemy dive bombers were observed along the LST's starboard side about 1500 yards distant. The planes dropped three bombs, one a near miss on a nearby LST. One plane crashed into the water about two miles astern of the 207, and another circled the LST's port quarter and crashed into the water about 500 yards away, after trying to crash dive the LST-693. All of the 207's guns which could be brought to bear fired on these targets and hits were observed. At 1145 the 207 left Leyte for Humboldt Bay, New Guinea.

USS CORONADO ESCORTS LST'S TO LEYTE

The Coast Guard-manned USS Coronado (PF-38) departed Humboldt Bay, New Guinea, on 10 October 1944 to supervise the forming up of Echelon L-5, consisting of three Army Y-Oilers, nine Army LT tugs and tows, five Army TP class tugs and one Army F-boat, all towing various equipment, including the dredge Raymond. They were joined by other Army units en route and changed course on the 24th to keep clear of convoys sortieing from Leyte Gulf. On the 25th, the Coronado entered San Pedro Bay and arrived at the northern transport area at 0900. Tugs and tows were directed to anchor in the area between the northern transport area and the line of departure to RED Beach. On the 26th the Coronado fired with all guns that could be brought to bear on a Japanese Val at about 5,000 feet and later opened fire on enemy aircraft passing

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Map: Southwest Pacific Naval Operations, December 1944
Southwest Pacific Naval Operations
December 1944

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to northward on the eastern side of San Pedro Bay. She later joined Task Unit 78.2.21 standing out of Leyte Gulf. At 1915 she opened fire on a plane at a range of 1,000 to 1,500 yards on the radar screen. The plane was not seen but while the ship was swinging to the right a splash, believed to be a bomb which failed to detonate, was observed a little abaft of the starboard beam. Later, the plane crossed the ship's bow about 100 yards distance and at least one hit was observed. The Coronado anchored in Humboldt Bay on November 4, 1944.

ENEMY PLANE DOWNED

Again on 12 November 1944, she was under way as a member of Echelon L-13, which included 22 LST's beside LST-1015 (flag); APc-18; AK-102 and 11 merchant ships. Two more LSTs joined on the 13th and 17 LSTs and AF-16 joined on the 14th. The disposition was known as Task Group 76.5. On 19 November, the vessels arrived off Cartmon Hill, Leyte Gulf, where the convoy stopped and began breaking up to proceed to assigned beaches. Later, the Coronado proceeded to a point 8 miles from Catmon Hill to rendezvous with an outbound convoy. While escorting the LST-741 to the main body of the convoy at 0948 on 21 November, a splash was observed near the leading LST in column three. At the same time a low flying twin-engined Japanese bomber streaked the length of the convoy from van to rear, went out on the starboard quarter and was not fired upon, as there were numerous friendly carrier planes in the area at the time. At 1001 another "Lilly" came in low on the starboard bow of the same LST and dropped a bomb which missed, but this plane was almost completely destroyed by AA fire from LSTs. The convoy reached Humboldt Bay on the 25th without further incident. On 12 November 1944, a Japanese suicidal plane crashed on the boat deck of LST-66, killing eight and wounding 14 men of the gun crew.

SS ANTOINE SAUGRAIN TORPEDOED

On 5 December 1944, while the Coronado was escorting a convoy consisting of 1 APO, 3 AKs, 5 LSTs, 21 merchant ships, and 9 Army vessels to Leyte, it was observed that the starboard side of the convoy was under attack by an enemy bomber. The bombs dropped did no damage and the enemy plane escaped. Another enemy plane was sighted at 1215 heading in on the port side of the convoy, flying very low. The Coronado went to general quarters and began firing her port weapons. As the plane passed ahead it launched a torpedo which it the SS Antoine Saugrain's stern. "Cease firing" was ordered as the plane crossed the Coronado's bow, but a few rounds were fired from forward starboard automatic weapons, and one of these killed a Coast Guard officer who had placed himself in the line of fire and was not observed by the crew. The Saugraine, by this time dead in the water, was again hit by a torpedo from another "Oscar" and began settling slowly forward. She was quickly abandoned by all hands. The Coronado, LST-454 and San Pedro put boats over to pick up survivors. The Coronado received on board 223

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An LST burns under a cloud of black smoke
An LST Burns Under a Cloud of Black Smoke Rising from Another LST Hit by the Enemy Attackers During the Amphibious Landings on Mindoro in the Philippines.

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Army troops, 8 Navy gun crew members and 31 merchant seamen, including the Saugrain's master, who later went back to the damaged ship with the troops's commanding officer. By 1600, when she had settled to the point of drawing 27 feet and had taken a 12-15 degree starboard list, the settling and listing stopped. About that time 7 enemy planes were seen in a group 12 miles southward. At 1630 one enemy bomber started to make a run in, starting in low from about 6,000 yards. The plane was fired on by the Coronado, hits being observed when it was about 1,000 yards from the Saugrain, The right wing of the bomber started smoking as it dropped a bomb 300 yards on the Saugrrain's starboard beam. It was hit again, began to lose altitude, and was last seen as it passed into a rain squall. It was tracked by surface radar until it disappeared suddenly from the screen at about 6 miles. The Saugrrain refused to sink and was taken in tow by the LST-454. At daylight on the 6th she looked about the same and seemed to have a good chance of making port. At 0741, a "Betty" arrived in the vicinity furiously chased by four P-38''s and was shot down in flames, before it could approach the Saugrrain. At 0800, the Coronado was released and proceeded to San Pedro Bay. At 1600 it was learned that the Saugrrain had sunk after receiving a third torpedo. There had been no loss of life among the personnel originally on board.

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