USS Boyd DD-544 DECK LOGS
OCTOBER
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
1944
Return to the USS Boyd DD-544 Document Archive
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 329
NAVPERS - 134 (REV, 1-44)
DECK LOG - REMARKS SHEET
UNITED STATES SHIP BOYD (DD 544) Saturday 14 October, 1944
0000 - 0400. Steaming in company with Task Group 38.1 consisting of the following ships: WASP(OTC and Guide), HORNET, COWPENS, MONTEREY, BOSTON, IZARD, CONNER, CHARRETTE, GRAYSON, MC CALLA, BROWN, COWELL, and WOODWORTH in cruising disposition 5V, axis 030° T., course 270° T. and PGC, 268° PSC, speed 18 knots. WITCHITA is towing the CANBERRA screened by the BELL, BURNS and Destroyer Division 100. BOYD in station #4, 4280 from formation center. Ship is darkened and in a Condition of Readiness II, Material Condition Baker. Boilers #1, 2, 3 and 4 are in use. 0300 - Changed course to 180° T. and PGC, 180° PCS. 0500 - Changed course to 090° T. and PGC, 095° PSC. 0109 - Changed course to 020° T. and PGC, 014° PSC. 0250 - Changed course to 095° T. and PGC, 098° PSC.
R.N. ADRIAN
0400 - 0800. Steaming as before. 0432 - Aircraft from HORNET lost in water. Commenced using various courses and speeds on sectors searching for downed personnel as directed by CTG 38.1. 0545 - Went to General Quarters. 0626 - Picked up empty life raft. 0646 - Lighted ship. 0647 - Abandoned search for personnel of crashed plane. Commenced using various courses and speeds to rejoin Task Group. Set Condition 1E.
J.R. WILSON
0800 - 1200. Steaming as before. 0800 - Mustered crew on stations, no absentees. 0808 - Changed base course to 240° T. and PGC, 235° PSC. 0825 - Took station #2, 4315. 0830 - Ships turned left to 225° T. and PGC, 223° PSC; changed formation speed to 25 knots. 0848 - Secured from Condition 1E, set Condition of Readiness II. 0929 - Changed course to 255° T. and PGC, 253° PSC. 0942 - Changed course to 220° T. and PGC, 218° PSC. 0959 - Ships turned left to 070° T. and PGC, 075° PSC. Changed speed to 14 knots. 1004 - Ships turned left to 060° T. and PGC, 065° PSC. 1007 - Changed speed to 12 knots. 1026 - Took station #1, 4000 from formation center. BROWN and WOODWORTH left screen, commenced fueling. 1031 - Enemy aircraft radar contact bearing 178° T., distant 45 miles. 1032 - Went to General Quarters. 1042 - BROWN and WOODWORTH rejoined screen. 1047 - Changed course to 090° T. and PGC, 098° PSC. 1048 - BROWN and WOODWORTH left screen, resumed fueling operation. 1127 - Secured from General Quarters. 1130 - Made daily inspection of magazines and smokeless powder samples, conditions normal.
WALTER E. EISENBERG
1200 - 1600. Steaming as before. 1210 - Unidentified aircraft reported low on water bearing 040° T., distance 18 miles. 1214 - Went to General Quarters. 1215 - OTC reported enemy plane shot down by our fighters. 1216 - Secured from General Quarters, set Condition 1E. 1227 - Unidentified aircraft reported bearing 090° T., distant 10 miles. 1229 - Went to General Quarters. 1246 - Lost contact with unidentified aircraft, set Condition 1E. 1302 - Changed course to 230T. and PGC, 228° PSC. Proceeding to station #1. 1315 - On station #1, 4000 from formation center. 1328 - Proceeding to station #2. 1330 - Secured from Condition 1E, set to Condition II. 1331 - On station #2, 4330 from formation center.
R.N. ADRIAN
1600 - 2000. Steaming as before. 1607 - Enemy aircraft reported shot down by friendly fighters. 1624 - Ships turned left to 050' T. and PGC. A number of enemy air raids are developing on various bearings, some closed to 15 miles. 1633 - Ships turned right to 120' T. and PGC, 128' PSC. 1642 - Ships turned left to 050o T. and PGC. 1702 - Went to General Quarters. 1738 - Ships turned right to 060' T. and PGC. 1805 - Ships turned right to 120' T. and PGC, changed speed to 25 knots. 1806 - Ships turned left to 060' T. and PGC, changed speed to 20 knots. 1812 - Emergency ships right to 080' T. and PGC. 1822 - Darkened ship. 1823 - Emergency ships left to 070' T. and PGC. 1825 - Emergency ships right to 135' T. and PGC, 140' PSC. 1830 - Changed speed to 25 knots. 1832 - WOODWORTH rejoined formation from picket station. 1837 - Observed firing to port, did emergency ships left to 085' T. and PGC. 1829 - Observed plane in flames, shot down by AA fire, bearing 115' T, 8000 yards. 1840 - Emergency ships right to 135'T. and PGC. 1841 - Opened fire at plane bearing 320' T., range 9000 yards. Other ships of the formation were firing at this and other targets. Plane was seen to be shot down at 040' T. 1842 - Ceased firing, having expended 50 rounds of 5" 38 caliber Mk 32 fused and 40 rounds of Mk 18 fused projectiles. (See BOYD AA Action Report of this date). 1843 - Plane seen to be shot down at 090' T. 1844 - Emergency ships left to 025' T. and PGC. 1845 - HOUSTON hit by an aerial torpedo, lost control. COWELL and GRAYSON were ordered to stand by HOUSTON. The formation passed by HOUSTON and escorts, maneuvered in close vicinity. 1849 - Emergency ships left to 325' T. and PGC. 1851 - Plane seen shot down at bearing 210' T., 5 miles. 1851 - Opened fire on plane bearing 300' T., 5 miles. 1852 - Ceased firing having expended 42-5" 38 caliber Mk 32 fused and 35 Mk 18 fused projectiles. (See BOYD AA Action Report of this date). 1853 - Emergency ships right to 025' T. and PGC. 1856 - Emergency ships right to 115o T. and PGC. 1858 - Opened fire at plane bearing 045' T. 3 miles.
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 330
NAVPERS - 135 (REV, 1-44)
DECK LOG - ADDITIONAL REMARKS SHEET
UNITED STATES SHIP BOYD (DD 544) Saturday 14 October, 1944
ADDITIONAL REMARKS
1600 - 2000. (continued) 1859 - Emergency ships right to 205' T. and PGC. Ceased firing having expended 283 rounds of 40mm and 250 rounds of 20mm ammunition. (See BOYD AA Action Report of this date). 1910 - Emergency ships left to 115' T. and PGC. 1915 - Changed speed to 20 knots. 1919 - Emergency ships right to 175' T. and PGC. 1922 - Emergency ships left to 115' T. and PGC. 1923 - Emergency ships left to 055' T. and PGC. 1925 - Changed speed to 25 knots. 1928 - BOSTON ordered to join the HOUSTON, GRAYSON and COWELL. 1930 - Opened fire on plane bearing 300' T., 4.5 miles. 1931 - Ceased firing having expended 35 rounds of 5" 38 caliber Mk 32 fused and 18 rounds of Mk 18 fused projectiles. (See BOYD AA Action Report of this date). 1937 - Commenced circling HOUSTON clockwise; ordered to assist in recovering survivors in water who had abandoned ship. GRAYSON also circled HOUSTON; COWELL attempted to go alongside to receive survivors from HOUSTON, but due to conditions of sea, left from alongside. 1947 - Opened fire on plane bearing 160' T., 9000 yards. 1948 - Ceased firing having expended 56 rounds of 5" 38 caliber Mk 32 fused and 29 Mk 18 fused projectiles. (See BOYD AA Action Report of this date). BOYD and GRAYSON continued to circle slowly clockwise; COWELL joined circle when she cleared HOUSTON'S side. HOUSTON reported to be too disabled to be towed. The Task Group continued to maneuver in close proximity to HOUSTON group to provide protection.
WALTER E. EISENBERG
2000 - 2400. Steaming as before. 2010 - Commenced maneuvering in the vicinity of HOUSTON to recover personnel in the water. 2017 - Put port whaleboat in the water to effect rescue. 2019 - HOUSTON reported that she is stable and desires to be towed. COWELL and GRAYSON maneuvered to recover personnel in water also. 2053 - BOSTON again ordered to proceed to HOUSTON and take her in tow. '2118 - Whaleboat out of order, recovered with personnel, by COWELL; boat swamped, left adrift. 2205 - GRAYSON discontinued recovery of personnel, commenced circling the group. 2210 - BOSTON joined group, prepared to tow HOUSTON. 2211 - Set Condition of Readiness 1E. Many single life raft floater nets and groups lashed together were recovered with large numbers of men. (A complete list of survivors rescued during the entire period of rescue work is included in the log for 15 October, 1944.)
WALTER E. EISENBERG
USS Boyd DD-544 DECK LOGS
OCTOBER
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
1944
Return to the USS Boyd DD-544 Document Archive