PHASE THREE: OPSRATIONS FROM THE DEPARTURE OF SHIPS
FROM TERMINAL ISLAND TO INCLUDE ARRIVAL OF JTF HEADQUARTERS AT ENIWETOK
(29 February WLD to 16 March ELD 1948)
1.
On 29 February CTG 7.35 in MT. MCKINLEY, with BAIROKO, CTRTISS,
escorted by DUNCAN, departed Terminal Islend.
The first morning out,
. on 1 March, DUNCAN suffered an explosion believed to have been caused
by a leaky acetylene hottle in the shipfitter shop.
This caused ex-
tensive structural damage tc the stern part of the ship, killed 1 man
and seriously injured 6 others.
CTG 7.3 directed DUNCAN return to
Terminal Island and provided BAIR0KG rs escort.
BAIRCKO escorted
DUNCAN to the San Nicolas Island where she was relieved by a tug
from Terminal Island.
On 1 March ALBEMARLE and ROGERS departed Ter-
minal Island and proceeded to join the other vessels.
At 031436Z,
CNO directed that the two groups proceeding separately effect immediate rendezvous and proceed Pearl as one group end further directed
Cincpacflt to augment escort from vessels present Pearl as soon AS
possible.
MT. MCKINLEY and CURTISS turned back and on 3 March all
units had effected rendezvous.
TUCKER was desienated as relief for
DUNCAN and departed West Coast on 4 March.
On 3 March Comdesron 1
in PARKS with Destroyer Division 11 (CRAIG, ORLECK, BRINKLEY BASS,
and PARKS) were directed by Cincpacflt to depart Pearl immediately,
join the movement unit end provide escort for the vessels into Pearl.
Desdiv 11 effected rendezvous with the task unit on 5 Mareh.
Upon
arrival at a radius of 500 miles from Pearl, CorfairWing Two provide?
Section VII
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