The four task groups of Task Force 38, having closed to within 100 or so miles of the coast of Formosa on Oct 12, 1944, began launching a series of airstrikes at dawn. Through the day, naval forces inflicted heavy damage on enemy planes (in the air and on the ground) and ships. The Boston, a unit of Task Group 38.1, saw plenty of action. Following below is some excerpts I have pulled from the Captain’s Report for the Battle of Formosa. (Note: Navy time is based on a 24 hour clock, so 1848 is 6:48 pm (already almost dark out), 2215 is quarter past 10, and 0243 is quarter of three the next morning)
12 OCTOBER, 1944
. . . a dawn attack on the task force had been expected, but it did not materialize. All was quiet around the formation until dusk. A few unidentified planes were contacted during the day, and the CAP (Combat Air Patrol) of TG38.1 shot down at least two enemy planes near the task group, but the organized attack did not appear until just before sunset.
At 1848, after all carrier planes except night fighters had been recovered, the first of many bogies was contacted 20 miles to the southeast. Eight minutes later gunfire was observed in the direction of TG38.4. Just after 1900 two raids were picked up simultaneously at 35 mile range, one bearing 050T estimated as 8 planes, the other at 130T estimated as 3 to 5 planes. Both of these closed directly on TG38.1, coming in from two sides in a well planned attack. One group struck the formation from the east. BOSTON opened fire at 1929 at 3000 yard range on a plane flying about 200 feet off the water. The plane turned away without being hit. At 1940 BOSTON fired again at 12000 yards, and later it was seen to crash in flames 15000 — 18000 yards away.
From this time on until 0400 next morning there were enemy planes on the radar screen almost constantly . . . Raids continued to come in at irregular intervals. The task group commander used evasive maneuvers and smoke as defnsive measures. At 2054 a night fighter from the Wasp shot down an enemy planes 20 miles from the formation.
. . . Four or five more attacks were made on TG38.1 before midnight, but BOSTON was able to fire on one only. It approached from the northeast at 2215, flying low. Again it was turned away but not hit. WASP recovered night fighters at 2314, with enemy planes within 15 miles. The enemy began using flares about 2330, and the task group commander countered with smoke. Between 2215 and 0200 next morning there was a lull, but the task force was under periodic surveillance by enemy planes which hovered nearby.
13 OCTOBER, 1944
Shortly after midnight flares were observed to the northeast and to the west. The next raid came in just before 0200. It was picked up some 60 miles to the northeast at 0130 closing directly on formation and appeared to be 3 or 4 planes. At 0154 BOSTON commenced firing 5” battery to starboard at plane coming in from 000T. Flames observed a few minutes later believed to be same plane shot down by this ship. During this attack the task group was maneuvering on evasive courses and was ordered to make smoke. During about the next hour, enemy aircraft orbited in the general vicinity at distances between 30 and 60 miles.
At 0243 a raid was contacted at 62 miles heading for the formation from the northeast, estimated 3 to 5 planes. This group closed directly coming in to about 5-mile range, then veered off to the southeast, circled around formation clockwise at about 8 miles range, and turned to attack from the west. BOSTON opened fire on this group at 0334 at 6000 yards on bearing 200T. No plane on this group observed shot down. Evasive maneuvers and smoke were employed during this attack also. Planes retired to the southeast, and this proved to have been the last attack for the night. HORNET launched two night fighters at 0346.
More to come . . . .