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5-27-45 Left Okenawa - Kerama took on ammo fuel. 1700 left for Okinawa. 1730 releived U.S.S. SHUBERT AA screen.
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On the night of 27 May BOYD and AMMEN were attacked frequently and persistently by enemy aircraft, one of which the BOYD was credited with shooting down. The attacks lasted from 0100 27 May until 0340 28 May.
From the log of the AMMEN (DD-527):"Early on the 27th when the Japanese launched their eighth kikusui attack - the last in which 100 or more planes were involved. Attacks on other stations began as early as the end of the morning watch. Ammen made no contact with the enemy until about 1730 when she detected an enemy formation approaching Okinawa from the north. No bogies closed her station until after 2000 hours, but, between 2030 and 0200, she and Boyd (DD-544) fought off eight coordinated air attacks and sustained no damage in the effort. By 0330, the radar screen showed the skies to be clear of bogies within an eight- mile radius of Ammen. Forty minutes later, the destroyer headed via Hagushi anchorage to kerama Retto to refuel and replenish."
From the ship's log of the USS DREXLER (DD-741):"Drexler departed Ulithi 27 March 1945 bound for Okinawa and dangerous duty on a radar picket station On 28 May at 0700 two suicide planes attacked Drexler and Lowry (DD-770). The first was downed by the combined fire of the two destroyers and planes from the combat air patrol. The second tried to crash Lowry and failing, stumbled into Drexler, cutting off all power and starting large gasoline fires. Despite the heavy damage she kept firing, joining in splashing three planes which attacked immediately after the crash. At 0703 yet another suicider crashed in flames into Drexler's superstructure. A tremendous explosion followed and the destroyer rolled on her starboard side and sank stern first in 27° 06' N., 127° 38' E., less than a minute after the second hit. Because of the speed with which she sank, casualties were heavy: 168 dead and 52 wounded, including the commanding officer."
05/27 Sun. United States naval vessel sunk: Destroyer DREXLER (DD-741), by suicide plane, Okinawa area, 27 d. 06'N., 127 d. 38'E. United States naval vessels damaged, Okinawa area: Destroyer escort GILLIGAN (DE-508), by aircraft torpedo, 26 d. 47'N., 127 d. 47'E. High-speed minesweeper SOUTHARD (DMS-10), by suicide plane, 26 d. 00'N., 127 d. 00'E. Minesweeper GAYETY (AM-239), by horizontal bomber, 26 d. 00'N., 128 d. 00'E. High-speed transport LOY (APD-56), by suicide plane, 26 d. 30'N., 127 d. 30'E. High-speed transport REDNOUR (APD-102), by suicide plane, 26 d. 29'N., 127 21'E. Attack transport SANDOVAL (APA-194), by suicide plane, 26 d. 15'N., 127 d. 51'E. Ocean tug PAKANA (ATF-108), by naval gunfire, 26 d. 22'N., 127 d. 44'E. Degaussing vessel YDG-10, by suicide plane, 26 d. 00'N., 128 d. 00'E.
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5-28-45 0015 U.S.S. SHUBERT hit by suicide plane bad.
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On 28 May returned to Hagushi and joined inner Anti-aircraft screen.
05/28 Mon. United States naval vessel damaged: Destroyer SHUBRICK (DD-639), by suicide plane, Okinawa area, 26 d. 38'N., 127 d. 05'E.
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5-31-45 Okinawa. Kerama Retta. So far there has been 10 cans sunk, 43 damaged, not counting DE's and DM's. Tokio Rose said there may be marines and solders walking the streets of Tokio but thery'ed be dam few tin can sailors. The crew from the HADLEY flew back to the states for War Bond tour. She got credit for 25 planes one raid. The EVANS 22 planes.
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On 1 June the task group designation was changed to 31.5. At this time the ship was anchored in Kerama Retto for 12 days availability.
More about the USS HADLEY (DD-774): "As radar picket ships were scarce, HUGH W. HADLEY was assigned this duty on the afternoon of 10 May. Joining destroyer EVANS (DD-552) and four smaller craft, she took station 15 west of Okinawa and early the next morning began vectoring aircraft to meet the oncoming Japanese. For nearly 2 hours the morning of 11 May, HUGH W. HADLEY and EVANS came under severe attack, as the Japanese mounted their sixth attack against American forces at Okinawa. Both ships maneuvered at high speed, downing many suicide planes and directing air attacks on formations of Japanese. The attackers numbered some 150 planes. After EVANS took several serious hits and went dead in the water about 0900, HUGH W. HADLEY fought on alone. At 0920, she was attacked by 10 planes simultaneously, from both ahead and astern. The ship destroyed all 10, but not without damage to herself. One bomb hit aft, a baka bomb hit, and two kamikaze crashes were inflicted on the gallant ship as her gunners ran low on ammunition. Finally, as the attack ended, all but 50 of the crew were ordered over the side in life rafts, the remaining men fighting fires and working to control the damage. Though her engineering spaces were flooded and she was badly holed, HUGH W. HADLEY was kept afloat by the determination and skill of her damage control parties and eventually arrived Ie Shima. During this remarkable battle. HUGH W. HADLEY had succeeded in downing some 23 enemy aircraft and aided in splashing countless others. After temporary repairs, the ship was taken to Kerama Retto 14 May, where men from repair ship ZANIAH worked on her battered hull. HUGH W. HADLEY subsequently was taken to Buckner Bay, Okinawa, in a floating drydock towed by AVOYEL (ATF-150),15 July 1945, and after 20 days there began the long voyage under tow to the United States. After encountering heavy weather during the passage the ship arrived Hunter's Point, Calif., via Pearl Harbor, 26 September 1945. Decommissioned 15 December 1945, she was sold 2 September 1947 to Walter W. Johnson Co., San Francisco, and scrapped."
06/05 Tue. Typhoon in the Okinawa area, Ryukyu Islands, heavily damages United States naval vessels.
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6-8-45 Still Kerama. Repairs. Hope state side soon. Recieved my first letter from my brother in the Army. Good Luck.
6-9-45 Another ship hit by shore batter's. About 6 more have been hit since 5-31-45.
6-12-45 Left Kerama Retto. Okenawa. Radar picket station 5.
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On 12 June proceeded to radar picket station for an uneventful 5 days.
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6-14-45 Very little enemy action. We had a couple of air attacks. 3 planes were shot down by our CAP.
6-15-45 4 Betties shot down by our CAP.
6-17-45 Left radar picket station 5. Entered Kerama R.
6-18-45 Left Kerama Retto. Okenawa. R. picket 5.
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On 21 June went on picket station again.
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6-22-45 R.P 15.
6-23-45 Heavy air attack at 2230 to 0430. We shot down 2 Betties. [International News Service took a write up about us being helped by an eclipse.] Releived. Okenewa.
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We not only had our luck but at times actually depended on "miracles" to get us out of tight spots and one night when the moon was at its brightest, they came again. Plenty of them. But our gunners were hot and everybody was on the ball and they couldn't get through our fire. Just when they seemed to be heading back for the "kill", the moon began to black out and almost immediately after, we were swallowed into the dark. Our skipper told the guns to keep blasting away, saying "If they can't see you, make them feel you" and we really poured the lead out. Two of them burst into bits, the others tossed in the sponge. It was quite a night.
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6-24-45 Kerama Retto.
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Attacked by enemy planes on 25 June BOYD with CAPERTON and LOWRY were attacked from 2215 25 June until 0200 26 June during which time the group was credited with shooting down two enemy planes. From 26 June to 3 July the ship performed routine duties.
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6-30-45 Still Kerama for repairs.
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