Author: steve

2-16-16

 

The Boston and her task group is still focusing on the Tokyo region on Feb 16, 1945.

2-12-16

The last couple of days, I’ve had a series of frustrating technical “issues” around getting GP’s diary entries posted.   I am happy to say that it wasn’t ALL operator failure!   Many unsuccessful attempts at posting older, stored files, however, caused me to go back to the originals, which are blue pen entries in a small “legal pad” notebook.   That’s what you’ll see for the remaining posts through the Iwo Jima campaign.   I think you’ll agree it’s a happy turn of events that my struggles caused such an “upgrade.”

So you know, some time after I met George in his home in Dedham, Mass and “interviewed” him for the Baked Beans books, his daughter Sue contacted me.   She asked if I might have some interest in her dad’s diary . . .   and if I did, she could scan it and email it to me.   I couldn’t say Yes fast enough.

12-11-16

steve

2-9-16

Readers of this website know that several years ago, as I worked on the Baked Beans books, I had the remarkable blessing of meeting, interviewing, and becoming friends with several original crewmembers (and one officer) – all in their late seventies / early eighties. It was fascinating!   You have seen me quote Frank Studenski’s diary on many occasions.   Frank was not the only one who kept notes and/or a diary!   Over the next many posts, I am going to share with you George Pitts’ diary entries, in his own hand, of the lead-up to Iwo Jima and the subsequent actions while the Boston helped support the Invasion. Enjoy!

 

George Pitts, who sadly is no longer with us:

George was a signalman, and knew my dad and was in the same division (CS).

steve

2-3-16

The Boston dropped anchor in the giant lagoon anchorage at Ulithi (Caroline Islands, south and west of Guam) on January 25.   The men rested and the ship was reprovisioned and rearmed over the next several days.   The Task Force changed again from TF 38 to T 58, with Admiral Halsey (aboard his flagship, the battleship New Jersey) relinquishing control for the next 6 months

(from Frank Studenski’s Diary:)   February 10, 1945:   This morning we weighed anchor and by early afternoon formed our task group.   We are Task Group 58.2, which includes carriers Lexington and Hancock, CVL [light carrier] San Jacinto, BB’s [battleships] Wisconsin and Missouri, CA’s [heavy cruisers] Boston and San Francisco, and 19 destroyers.

For the next six days, the Task Force sailed northwesterly from Ulithi.   Before reaching Iwo Jima, they would spend several days supporting the carriers as they launched wave after wave of bombers and fighter planes in attacks on plane manufacturing plants, airfields and ammo depots in the Tokyo area   –   hamstringing Japanese mainland air support as the U.S. landed invasion forces on Iwo Jima.

By the time the Boston joined into a bombardment group (Feb 21) to bombard Iwo Jima in support of the Marine invasion, it marked the third time she had visited the Bonin Islands in the previous year.

(from the Diary of George Pitts:) June 16-17-18 1944   Our planes hit Iwo Jima, ChiChi Jima and HaHa Jima for the last three days.  

(Also:) July 4-44   We celebrated the 4th of July with a bang with the japs paying for all expenses. Three or four cruiser divisions including ComCruDiv 10 in the Boston left the task group to bombard Iwo Jima.   We blew the hell out of them with our five inch.   Took care of bombers and fighters.   Our big eight inchers blew up shore installations.   We came in close enough to see the planes on the island. One of the cruisers lost her observation plane due to a Zero.

steve