A SEA STORY

by Ray Dunn, former Chief Engineer,

USS BALCH-DD363

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         November, 2004

During World War II USS BALCH and USS WARRINGTON (DD383), later sunk in the Atlantic while on convoy duty, participated in the TOEM-WAKDE-SARNI landings on the north coast of New Guinea, 17—21 May 1944, and the invasion of BIAK, 27 May — 18 June 1944.
BIAK is the largest of the Schouten Islands which lie off the northwest coast of New Guinea. This invasion was the most westerly penetration of Japanese held territory at the time. The longitude of Biak is actually farther west than that of Tokyo.
On 21 May 1944 the l62th  and the l86nd  Regimental Combat Teams of the 4l Division landed on the south shore of BIAK, covered by two cruisers squadrons of the 7th Fleet. The fighting was so intense that little progress was being made. Accordingly, on 31 May the remainder of the 41 division, less one battalion, was embarked on LSTs and escorted from WAKDE to BIAK by BALCH and WARRINGTON for a two-pronged attack on the airfield. At this point the two cruiser squadrons pulled out of the area leaving BALCH and WARRINGTON alone to provide protection and gunfire support for the landing troops. For sure, we had been “left out on the end of the stick”, as it were.
The next two-and-half weeks proved to be extremely hectic for the officers and men of the two destroyers. No relief was ever sent. During that time the Japanese initiated three attempts to reinforce B1AK. We knew of only one of these, the first. I found out about the second by letter in August 1944, and read about the third in the book RED SUN SETTING, in October 2004.
Shortly after 27 May 1944 the Japanese prepared the first relief operation for BIAK which was designated operation KRON. The KRON Plan called for warships to transport 2.500 Japanese troops to BIAK to reinforce the garrison. The battleship FUSO (16-inch guns), heavy cruisers MYOKO and HAGURO (8-inch guns), and five destroyers were to act as screen for the transport section consisting of one heavy cruiser, one light cruiser, three destroyers, and a transport. These units headed for BIAK on 31 May. On 3 June a U.S. submarine, USS BLUEFISH, which BALCH had refueled off WAKDE when she ran short of fuel, spotted the Japanese force and reported its location? When a U.S. PBY patrol aircraft began shadowing them, Rear Admiral Naornso Sakoiiju decided to call oil the attempt.
On 31 May BALCH and WARRINGTON received an earth-shaking (to us, anyway) dispatch informing us that a Japanese heavy cruiser task force was closing in on BIAK. This was all the message said, and was the only communication we received in the period between 31 May and 1 8 June. We were left on our own to worry about and plan for taking on two enemy cruisers and three destroyers. We definitely had been left out of the communication loop
The Japanese were not about to give up on BIAK, though, and a second attempt to reintree the island was quickly mounted. On 7 June Rear Admiral Naomso Sakonju led a force of six destroyers distantly screened by two cruisers. Three destroyers carried six hundred troops while the other three destroyers provided an escort and towed a landing barge each. Sakunju's second attempt. unknown to us, was to be even less successful.

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On 8 June ten B-25’s from the 17” Reconnaissance Squadron of the 310th Bombardment Wing, AAF, based in Hollandia, New Guinea, spotted the Japanese destroyers near Amsterdam island. The AAF pilots sank the troop-laden destroyer HARASUME (See referenced letter) and damaged three other destroyers in a blazing low-level attack. What was left of the relief force turned back when Allied cruisers and destroyers led by Rear Admiral A.C. Crutchley, R.N. appeared on the scene. Thus, the second attempt to kick us off BIAK had been turned back.
Following the second failure, the Japanese were more determined than ever to sink us and push our troops back into the sea. To this end, a new force to carry out Operation KRON was assembled. It included the two largest battleships ever built., the 18-inch gun YAMATO and her sister-ship MUSASHO, three heavy, two light cruisers, seven destroyers, two mine layers, and a number of support ships and transport vessels. The run to BIAK was scheduled to be made on 15 June. And there we were, the mighty five-inch gun destroyers, BALCH and WARR1NGTON, the only U.S. warships in the area left to repel the Japanese invasion fleet. It was hardly an even playing field. Thank God we didn’t know anything about this at the time. In this the third attempt the troops were to be landed at all costs, and the big guns of the heavy ships were to be used in a smashing bombardment of the U.S. position on the island, and to sink the U.S. naval support force. (read that as BALCH and WARRINGTON.
Once again fate intervened to stall reinforcements for BIAK. On 11 and 12 June the U.S. launched the invasion of the MARIANAS (Guam, Saipan, and Tinian). The Japanese finally realized they had been out-foxed; the Americans were actually aiming for the MARIANAS, while the Japanese thought BIAK would be the starting point for the invasion of the Philippines. It just proves it’s better to be lucky than smart or good.
The Japanese called off operation KRON. It was never resumed, and the mighty Japanese task force destined for BIAK was diverted to the MARIANAS.
On 18 June BALCH and WARRINGTON were detached from the BIAK operation and ordered to the Atlantic Coast for much needed and long-awaited overhauls.
About the first of August, 1944, 1 received a letter a copy of which is attached, from Captain Glen Pruitt, my college roommate at U.C. Berkeley. He was flying B-25’s out of Hollandia, New Guinea during the BIAK invasion. In that letter he vividly describes how on 8 June 1944. he, as a pilot of one of the B-25’s spotted Admiral Sakunju’s ships in his second attempt to reinforce BIAK. He personally sank the large Japanese destroyer HARASUME with 200 troops on board in a low-level ‘skip’ bombing attack.
Glen survived the war but didn’t achieve his goal of returning to college. He with his charming wife Betty raised a wonderful family. We remained in touch throughout the years until he passed away in January, 2004.
Compiled by Ray Dunn, former
Chief Engineer, USS BALCH

 

 

July 17. 1944
Dear Ray.
Have a letter dated the sixteenth of February, which I must admit was received the mid-part of March. Four months, but I believe I wrote you in March. Last time I was in Sydney, 1 asked every naval officer I saw about the location of your tin can. Understood it had been in the South Pack, I think the Solomon's. Am I right? However, I also heard your force had been replaced, and that you were back in the states.
I have been pretty busy the past six months. You are probably wondering what I am doing for the war effort. First of all, don’t let the “Reconnaisance Squadron” fool you. Actually, we do more strafing and skip bombing than anything else. However, we occasionally have to take photos — that gets pretty hot!
I have lost two of my original crew, they were killed in action. One was a gunner, the other my navigator, it is pretty hard to lose men you have flown with for so long. I have forgotten the exact number of missions I have been on, somewhere around forty three. My total combat hours of flying is two hundred and forty five.
Guess I’ll tell you of my most exciting mission. I don’t want you to get the idea that I am conceited, but at the same time our squadron is pretty proud too. They sent 10 of us out one morning to sight and destroy a Jap naval task force. We were all pretty scared, I guess until we sighted it. Brother two cruisers, and five destroyers is enough to upset anyone’s stomach. We peeled off in two ship elements from a thousand feet and headed for the water for a skip bombing attack. I was leading one of the elements; picked out the second destroyer for my target. The enemy opened fire with the main batteries while we were still out of range. They were firing into the water throwing up geysers; then the ack-ack opened up and the sky was black. By that time we were in. luckily my thousand pounder hit square amidships. Of course I didn’t see it, but my tail gunner watched the ship blow up. My wingman got his just off the stern. On the way out the cruisers were still giving us hell, our props were practically leaving a wake and I was wishing I could submerge. We got out of range but as we joined formation we realized that three ships had been shot down. I was very lucky having only one 20 millimeter through one blade of my propeller. The engine was vibrating terrifically but didn’t know the trouble until I had landed at my base. It is claimed that we saved Biak., by sinking the four destroyers, damaging a cruiser and another destroyer. They were bringing in Japanese troops to try to retake the Biak beachhead. We received commendations from Gen. Whitehead and Gen. McArthur for the attack. I didn’t think we could do it, but I know God was flying for the most of us. Now as for going back to college after the war, I’d sure like to be back there. I’d give a lot to have a degree from Cal; wish I had been as smart as you were. My big trouble now is having forgotten what little I did know. If anything comes of this army plan for education after the war, I’m certainly going to try to go back to school. Of course being married is going to make it a little tougher. My wife Betty, is back in school in the Stanford hospital in nurses training. She will get her R.N. degree the first part of next year. Perhaps together we can manage to live, and also for me to get some more college. By the way, if you ever hit San Francisco and have time please look up Betty. She would be very happy to see you. The hospital is at 2340 Clay Street, and she Lives in the nurses home just across the street. I am allowed to say I am located somewhere in Dutch New Guinea now. By the way. I have a damned good foxhole. You probably don’t know what that is —- it is a damned good hole in the ground complete with top cover. The idea is to hit it fast, when you hear motors droning overhead that doesn’t belong to a U.S.A. model. I have picked up several Jap souvenirs. Among them is a Jap .25 caliber carbine. I shot it a lot before I sent it home. It is a very good and accurate shooting gun. Just this week I got a Jap officer’s pistol. It is about a 32 caliber. It is better balanced than our .45 pistol. The trigger squeeze is practically a hair trigger, and I can shoot it pretty good. Probably better with it than my own .45 automatic. This gun is similar to a Colt Woodsman caliber .22. 1 can always get plenty of ammunition over here but don’t know how I’ll get any home. What kind of stuff have you picked up in your tour of this theatre?
Better knock off for now. If you aren’t at home with your heels on a desk, 1 hope 1 can make connections with the 963” myself I’d like to be home. Keep your nose clean and write soon.
Your Pal,
Glen

USS Balch DD363 / USS Porterfield DD682 Reunion Association