Imperial Valley press., 1942-04-05

Cmdr. R. P. Mcconnell OF OAK
land, Calf, and San Diego, COM
manding officer of the US.S. Lang
ley, and Cmdr. E. P. Abernethy Of
Los Angeles and Oklahoma City,
commanding the tanker Pecos which
rescued the Langley crew before it
met similar fate, related in matter
-of-fact terms the unequal warfare
that overlook them south of Java
little more than a month ago.
They told their stories as the
navy department in Washington was
issuing communique covering the
sinking of the Langley, the Pecos
and the destroyer Peary, sunk at
Darwin, with a combined estimated
loss of 700 lives.
WAS CONVERTED
The Langley, originally collier,
then the Navy first aircraft car
rier, was converted into a tender
five years ago. 1t was carrying war
supplies to the Pacific combat zones
when Japanese planes sighted it
on Feb. 27. Three times previously
the Japanese radio in Tokyo had
claimed it's sinking.
"A hostile observation plane pick
ed us up" said Cmdr. Mcconnell.
I'VE took steps looking toward sub
sequent action. About noon planes
were reported and general quarters
was sounded. Nine japanese twin
engined land planes came in at
high altitude and made a series Of
bombing approaches.
THE first Salvoes were evaded,
but the second bombing by another
formation of nine planes was very
effective. 1t practically smothered
the Langley, and we were forced to
leave the ship.
"Escorting dcstrOyers maneuvered
skilfully and avoided direct hits,
meanwhile picking up survivors from
the. water.
THE escort vessels then fastened
the sinking of the Langley by use
of their own armamentS so our
own materiel would not fall into
! the hands of the enemy"
TRANSFER MADE
The following day the deStroyerS
attempted to transfer the survivors
to the Pecos, which was only 80 miles
away when the Langley was sunk,
but hostile bombing attacks and the
presence of submarines made 1t
impossible On March l, however,
the transfer was made.
Abernethy took up Mcconnell
story at this point.
I'VE we're going for a new supply
of Oil when we received word the
Langley was being bombed and later
that she was sunk" he said.
I'VE proceeded to one OF the is
lands south of Java to pick up the
survivors, but a formation of land
based bomberS appeared and the
transfer was postponed until the
morning of March l. We then pro-
ceeded toward Australia.
About 1920 am. a carrier-based
japanese plane appeared about
noon a formation of dive bombers
appeared and dropped bombs. Our
guns went into action and one plane,
at least, was damaged.
LASTS FOUR HOURS
For four hours the attack went
on. The bombers came is three for
mationS-two of six planes each,
one of nine or more. The Pecos was
hit in the first attack. One of my
gun crews was knocked out, but men
from the Langley replaced the dead
and wounded. Damage became prog
reSsive and finally the ship sank"
Abernethy estimated so men on
the Pecos were killed and 100
wounded as a direct result of dive
bombing.
When he gave the order to aban-
don ship everything that floated
was thrown into the water and
the crew went overheard.
1t was the second time within 48
hours the Langley men had jumped
for their lives. Many clung to float
ing debris or depended on their
life jackets until an American de-
stroyer picked them up four to six
hours later.