Evening star., 1943-10-17


abled en- route, turned back. The other
continued on.
Challenges from Jap shore observation
posts were ignored as the PIT roared into
action. Dodging fierce fire from 3-inch
shore batteries the lone PIT dashed into
tine bay, located its quarry-a cruiser
and discharged two torpedoes. One
missed, but another hit, there in Binanga
Bay, setting the enemy ship ablaze. The
cruiser was so badly damaged that she
was beached.
Three nights later two oop-loaded
enemy barges were discovered approach
ing the shore of Bataan In one of the
enemy's favorite leap -frogging maneu-
vers. Lieut.. Bulkeley, with boat COM
manded by Lieut.. Robert B. Kelly of
New York, dashed out to intercept the
landing party, circling the barges with
blazing machine guns Both barges, rid
died below the water line, sank.
Sink Aircraft Tender.
But in between, on the night Of
January "a, Bulkeley struck again. In
a boat with Ensign George E. Cox OF
Niagara Falls, N. Y, at the helm, PIT
sank 5000-ton aircraft tender at the
entrance to Subic Bay. Jap ship and
shore batteries cut loose with everything
they had the moment the roar OF the
mosquito boats motors were heard.
Dashing through enemy tracers and
shell fire the mosquito fired torpedo
and then, closing the range to 500 yards,
fired another. at the same time expend-
ing it's machine guns at men on the
decks of the sinking ship.
Early in March, on orders from WASH
ington, the PTS achieved probably their
greatest stunt, evacuating Gen. Mac
Arthur, his family and staff from the
enemy-ringed and patroled Philippines.
On the night of March II the torpedo
boats crept past Jap shore batteries
ringing Manila Bay and sped to rem
devious with bomber which carried
the group on the final leg of the journey
to Australia.
Bulkeley's report, almost entirely lack
ing in dramaticS, said that in the evac-
uation of President Quezon, his family
and staff, safety of all on board was in
grave danger at one point when heavy
seas broke the retaining pins of two
torpedoeS, leaving the deadly missiles
halfway out of their tubes, mechanism
set for action. Crew members broke
the retaining mechanism and saved the
ships. On this trip seven Jap Destroy
ers were sighted. BY skillful maneuver-
ing Buckley avoided detection. Some
of the Army officers in MacArthur's
group were seasck.
Final triumph of MTBRON-T Three
came on the night of April 8. Two
boats under the command of Bulkeley
and Kelly, operating in the Mindanao
Sea near the Island of Cebu sighted Jap
ships. Call to battle stations was
sounded and the two fighting cocks
78-foot boats-went into action against
large cruiser and four destroyers
formed into protective screen. Roaring
past the destroyers, the MTBs closed in
on the cruiser, which turned search
lights and heavy fire on the mosquitoes.
Bulkeley turned loose his torpedoes and
scored hits.
Dramatic Fighting.
Then came the real drama. Trying to
draw fire of the cruiser from Kelly's
craft and permit Kelly to attack from
close range, Bulkeley ordered his boat
l to attack the cruiser with machine guns
: thus dividing her fire. 1t was like 8
: fly engaging a rhinoceros. But it sue
ceeded. Kelly got within 400 yards anc
, fired two torpedoes. Both struck thu
rhinoceros amidships. Then Bulkele!
and Ensign Cox maneuvered their shil
E to divert attention of destroyer from
= Kelly, circling and firing short, spas
t modic machine gun bursts. They tool
e heavy enemy fire, but both boats escaped
y Next morning four Jap planes foun
|, Kelly's boat They assaulted the littl
n ship for half an hour. Kelly so ma
a neuvered the PIT that he avoided muc
d enemy fire, but the PIT took numbe
g of hits, it's guns were knocked out me
e were killed and wounded and tn
ship was unseaworthy. Her gun
= brought down Jap seaplane.
e That was the end. Kelly's boat wa
II wrecked. Another was destroyed
= prevent capture by the enemy durin
y the invasion of Cebu. 1t was also nes
,e the end of American resistance in tf
S Philippines. MTBRON-Three suspend
n ed perations-temporarily.
But it wasn't the end of heart
American thanks and good huntinl
IL for those gallant men. Bulkeley receive
T. the first of MTBRON-Threes War D,
,e partment decorations when he W,
IL, awarded the Distinguished Service Cros
Il. IL
er Of second D. S. c.. and Kelly and Ct
It, also received the Distinguished servi
t. Cross for their parts. The Philippil