Evening star., 1943-06-01

months to come and in the battle
of Midway
AS Pearl Harbor became cleared
OF debris and as bases in the South
Pacific became stronger a plan de-
veloped for taking the offensive.
This eliminated in the Marshall
and Gilbert Islands raid February l.
1t was we'll known that the Japanese
had fortified these inundated islands
despite treaty regulations.
Struck at Jap Islands.
Vice Admiral Halsey and his tall
chief of staff, Comdr. Miles Brown
ing, led the force into the danger
area from the southwest. At day
break planes were launched so that
they would hit the Jap simultane-
! ously at widely separated Maxim and
Jaluit in the Gilberts and Kwaga-
lein, Rio, Taroa, Malope and Wolfe
/ in the Gilberts. The big E rode i'm
pudently off Wotje and observed a
huge plume of smoke lift into the
sky-satisfying evidence of her
planes destructive power.
japanese planes attacked the En-
terprise twice One of the first five
attempted to crash dive to her deck.
1t hit the decks outer edge and
dropped into the water. One sailor
was killed-the first carrier casualty
of the War-Boatswain Mate Second
Glass George H. Smith. A second
two-plane attack did no damage.
These were the results of the first
United States carrier raid: Sunk
one light cruiser of 1000 tons; two
submarines totaling 5000 tons; one
small gunboat of 1000 tons: one
transport of $4,000 tons: two oil
tankers totaling 10000 tons.
Damaged-three cargo vessels to-
falling 10000 tons; one tanker of
10000 tons.
In addition to this. great damage
was dealt installations. The big E
/ group destroyed 13 planes in the
air. % on the ground and l by anti
aircraft
Returning Ship Cheered.
When the Enterprise returned TO
Pearl Harbor hospital patients got
up in their wheel chairs to shout.
and men on ships gave resounding
cheers.
The next foray was against Wake
Island. That attack was less sue
cesSful. The Japs launched three
four-englned Kawanishi patrol
planes. One of these was shot down
IN flames but the other two sue
ceeded in shadowing the big E and
enabled a small group of bombers
from the Marshall Islands to come
possibly 700 miles to .attack-but no
hits were scored.
Eight days later by a circuitous
route the Enterprise steamed to
Marcus Island, deep in Japan's ter
rltory. and her planes bombed
nearly completed airplane base and
radio station.
These forays destroyed japanese
installations and retarded building
Tor at least MONTH They netted
one patrol vessel of 200 tons. one
plane in the air and two planes in
the water.
With Pearl Harbor shipshape
under Admiral Chester Nimitz, the
Navy command looked to FOSTERING
the widely spread front line of
South Sea Islands. On this assign
ment the Enterprise ferried
squadron of marine pilots with
planes to Efate, then the farthest
island outpost facing Jap-held
islands.
Meanwhile carrier battle en-
gagement was rapidly developed in
'he Coral Sea. The Enterprise put
on full steam. She was two davs
away when the first carrier battle
of history was joined, with ships ont
OF slght OF each other DESTROYING
each other. After this battle the
enterprise continued operating in
the area, her planes stretching their
patrol to find japanese cripples or
other targets.
On day of unusual clarity when
visibility was 70 miles or more En-
'efprlse planes made contact with
enemy long-range patrol planes to
the east Of the Santa Cruz Islands.
since the presence of the carrier
possibly was known. prudence
prompted a return to Pearl Harbor
Alaska Attack Seen as Feint
she was there but a short time
when she was ordered to Midway.
as one Of three carriers. The task
forces were so stationed that when
the japanese attack developed the
enemy could be outf1anked. On June
the enemy attacked Dutch Har-
Dor. Alaska, The high command in
terpreted this for what it was-a
TENT to divert strength.
On the following day. June 4. the
japanese attacked Midway at $50
am. Before this the Enterprise and
the other carriers had launched
initial attack groups. The Enter
prise force consisted of Dauntless
give bombers, Devastatator torpedo
planes and Wildcat fighters.
The Enterprise torpedo SQUADRON
lound Its target and without hesi-
tatlon attacked Immediately, not
waiting for dive bombers to open
the action. The majority were shot
down before they reached the DROP
ping point. Out of IA torpedo planes
only four returned and one of these
was so badly damaged that it was
unservlceable. Two hits may have
been scored.
The Enterprise dive bombers. led
by Air Group Commander C, w, Nc
Clusky, failed to find the enemv
where he was expected. The decision
was his to continue the search be-
yond safe fuel limits or to return
He continued and found two enemv
carriers with their decks full of
planes which had just returned
from their Midway attack and were
refuellng, Many hits were scored
and both carriers were left masses
of flames.
This attack, like the tornedo
planes attack, was made in the
face Of heavy AA fire and Zero
hghter opposition. Our losses were
heavy but our pilots pressed home
the battle without hesitation.
olJipHlyy x,o,.;L1