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10-29-44 Pulled into Ulithie.
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BOYD entered the Ulithi Lagoon on the 29th.
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11-1-44 Made second class.
11-2-44 Left Ulthie on way to Luzon.
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On 2 November BOYD departed with Task Group 38.1 for Luzon, for further air strikes.
11/02 Thu. Japanese aircraft bomb United States airstrip and planes on the ground at Tacloban, Leyte, P. I.; raid is repeated on 3 November.
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11-3-44 RENO took a fish.
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From the ship's log of the USS RENO (CL-96): "On the night of 3 November, well off San Bernardino Strait, RENO was torpedoed in the port side by Japanese submarine I-41. Towed 1,500 miles to Ulithi for temporary repairs, she then steamed under her own power to Charleston where she entered the Navy Yard 22 March for repairs."
11/03 Fri. Submarine CERO (SS-215) lands men and supplies on east coast of Luzon, P. I. Japanese aircraft attack air facilities on Saipan and Tinian, Marianas Islands. The enemy makes a series of strikes in this area from which heavy bombing missions against the Japanese home islands are launched. United States naval vessel damaged: Light cruiser RENO (CL-96), by submarine torpedo, Leyte area, P. I., 13 d. 46'N., 131 d. 27'E. Japanese naval vessel sunk: Destroyer AKIKAZE, by submarine PINTADO (SS-387), South China Sea, 16 d. 48'N., 117 d. 17'E.
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11-4-44 Jap sub on surface, hit her with our five inch three times.
11-5-44 Still covering area with BROWN. (we'd left format) Jap air attack 2 fish just missed us. Four planes, four attacks.
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She screened the carriers launching strikes against Luzon (5-6 November).
On 5 November BOYD fired on target visually identified as submarine which submerged. Proceeded for target and laid a 12 charge pattern and commenced anti-submarine operations.
In the Luzon area with the Fast Carriers a few days later, we got a couple of shots at a surfaced sub, but it crashed dived immediately. We laid out a barrage of depth charges and then decided to spend the rest of the night waiting for it to surface-if it could. Shortly after sundown about 8 or 9 assorted "Judys", "Vals" and "Kates" came winging down on us and after doing a lot of fancy maneuvering and shooting we managed to scare them off, but not until half of them at least had dropped their fish, several of which criss-crossed just inches ahead of our bow and stern. We kept up the hunt in spite of the interruption but left after deciding he wasn't going to come up.
USS BROWN joined in search which lasted until 11:30 on 6 November. During search both ships were subjected to heavy air attack and torpedoes were seen to cross BOYD's bow. Search was broken off and ship rejoined the task group.
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11-7-44 Left force.
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On 7 November BOYD joined Task Group 38.2 and set course for Ulithi.BOYD with Task Group 38.5 headed for Guam.
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11-9-44 Pulled into Guam.
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Arrived Guam 10 November. At this time Commander A. E. Teall, USN, releived Commander U. S. G. Sharp, Jr., USN, as Commanding Officer.
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11-11-44 Left Guam.
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The ship then headed for Luzon.
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11-13-44 Joined 38.1.
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She screened the carriers launching strikes against Luzon (13-14 November).
11/13 Mon. Aircraft of three carrier task groups (Rear Adm. F. C. Sherman) commence 2-day bombing of enemy shipping and facilities in Manila area and central Luzon, P. I.
The ship then joined with Task Group 38.1 on 14 November. Strikes were carried out against Luzon on 14th, 19th, and 25th.
She screened the carriers launching strikes against Luzon (19-25 November).
11/19 Sun. Aircraft from fast carrier task force (Vice Adm. J, S. McCain) strike Japanese shipping and aircraft in the Luzon area, P. I.
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11-20-44 Joined 38.2.
11-25-44 Hit Luzon. Daylight air attack. The INTREPOD hit - HANCOK hit - COBOT hit - shot down 8 planes over formation. 38 planes in hole raid.
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Boyd picked up gear from dead Japanese pilot consisting of classified enemy charts and personal effects, one chart being a secret on showing enemy airfields on Luzon.
From the ship's log of the USS INTREPID (CV-11): "Intrepid's planes continued to hit airfields and shipping in the Philippines. Shortly after noon 25 November a heavy force of Japanese planes struck back at the carriers. Within 5 minutes 2 kamikazes crashed into the carrier killing 6 officers and 5 bluejackets. Intrepid never lost propulsion nor left her station in the task group; and. in less than 2 hours, had extinguished the last blaze."
From the ship's log of the USS CABOT (CVL-28): "Cabot remained on patrol off Luzon, conducting strikes in support of operations ashore, and repelling desperate suicide attacks. On 25 November a particularly vicious one occurred. Cabot had fought off several kamikazes when one, already flaming from hits, crashed the flight deck on the port side, destroying the still-firing 20 mm. gun platform, disabling the 40 mm. Mounts and a gun director: Another of Cabot's victims crashed close aboard and showered the port side with shrapn el and burning debris. Cabot lost 62 men killed and wounded but careful training had produced a crew which handled damage control smoothly and coolly. While she continued to maintain her station in formation and operate effectively, temporary repairs were made."
From the ship's log of the USS HANCOCK (CV-19): "She became flagship of Fast Carrier Task Force 38,17 November 1944 when Vice Admiral McCain came on board. Unfavorable weather prevented operations until 25 November when an enemy aircraft roared toward Hancock in a suicide dive out of the sun. Antiaircraft fire exploded the plane some 300 feet above the ship but a section of its fuselage landed amidships and a part of the wing hit the flight deck and burst into flames. Prompt and skillful teamwork quickly extinguished the blaze and prevented serious damage."
11/25 Sat. Aircraft from two carrier groups (Rear Adm. G. F. Bogan and Rear Adm. F. C. Sherman) bomb enemy shipping and aircraft in central Luzon area, P. I. Japanese suicide planes attack United States carriers. United States naval vessels damaged: Carrier ESSEX (CV-9), INTREPID (CV-11), and HANCOCK (CV-19), by suicide planes, Luzon area, P. I., 15 d. 47'N., 123 d. 14' E. Light carrier INDEPENDENCE (CVL-22), by crash of friendly aircraft, Luzon area, P. I., 15 d. 58'N., 125 d. 14'E. Light carrier CABOT (CVL-28), by suicide plane, Luzon area, P. I., 15 d. 42'N., 123 d. 09'E.
Then the Task Group returned to Ulithi arriving on the 27th. From that time until 26 December BOYD remained at or near Ulithi engaging in upkeep and exercises after which she left for Guam.
In between this operation and the next, we sandwiched in a little "USO" duty which consisted of patrol and escort jobs between Guam, Saipan and Eniwetok, but by January 24th, 1945, we were back at Iwo.
11/27 Mon. Destroyers bombard Japanese positions at Ormoc Bay, Leyte P. I.; firing continues on 28 November. Japanese suicide planes attack and damage 1 battleship and 2 cruisers in Leyte Gulf, P. I. Enemy aircraft also strike airfields and aircraft on the ground at Saipan, Marianas Islands. Organized enemy resistance on Peleliu, Palau Islands, ends.
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11-29-44 Ulithie
12-4-44 Our Thanksgiving. Left Ulithie.
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12/18 Mon. Typhoon east of the Philippine Islands
heavily damages ships of the Third Fleet.
BOYD left for Guam.
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12-25-44 Left Ulithi
12-27-44 Guam.
12-29-44 Left Guam.
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Between 31 December 1944 and 22 January 1945 Boyd served as an escort vessel.
Between the dates of 31 December and 22 January BOYD acted as escort for convoys between Eniwetok, Guam, and Saipan, as escort for U. S. submarines and in hunter-killer engagements.
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