RADAR PICKET STATION #9 (July 1945)

The FOOTE is still swinging on the hook in Hagushi Anchorage. The word is all Radar Picket Stations have been secured except R.P. #9. Apparently, they now have enough high powered land-based Radar Stations to cover all approaches to Okinawa except R.P. #9 on the southwest approach. General Quarters was sounded at 2030, but the Bogies didn’t close. There are rumors of bad weather approaching the area.


At 0530 July 19th Typhoon Plan X-Ray is put into affect and the FOOTE gets underway in accordance with verbal orders from Commander Task Unit 99.1.221 and made rendezvous with Task Unit 99.1.221. The Officer in Tactical Command (OTC) is Commanding Officer, USS NIOBRARA (AO-72). Other ships in the Task Unit are three IXs (Unclassified Vessels) and six AOGs (Gasoline Tankers). The escort vessels are USS FOOTE (DD-511) (Commanding Screen), USS UNDERHILL (DE-682), USS McCOY REYNOLDS (DE-440). The Task Unit is steaming on various courses en-route to their assigned operating area east of Okinawa to ride out the typhoon.


The barometer is falling very rapidly. Seas and winds have picked up - the seas are running very heavy by mid-morning and the FOOTE is taking green water over the bridge with heavy rain - the ship is plunging, rolling and lurching. Solid water is running the length of the main deck and heavy spray soaked everything and everyone topside. All exposed watch stations have long since been secured. A man grows tired simply from the constant necessity to hold on to something. By mid-night the worst of the typhoon has passed and our maximum pitch was estimated at about 50-feet and the ship’s roll no more than 45-degrees. Being on a Battleship in seas like this must be like shore duty.

As the day dawned on July 20th the FOOTE was steaming as before with Task Unit 99.1.221, southeast of Okinawa. It is still pretty rough, but by mid-morning there are signs it is clearing, but another storm is supposed to be in the area so the Task Unit stays out a bit longer awaiting orders. It was calm enough by dark that a few poker games were started by the hard core gamblers.

We finally receive orders in the early morning hours of July 21st and shepherd our Task Unit back to a relatively calm bay arriving at Hagushi Anchorage at 1057. We were immediately ordered to screening station Easy-3 to relieve the USS CALLAGHAN (DD-792) and after only three hours we are directed to fuel underway from the USS NIOBRARA (AO-72). When we completed fueling at 1540 we were directed to screening station Charlie-2 to relieve the USS UNDERHILL (DE-682) to refuel. All ships are ordered to top-off their fuel tanks after riding out the typhoon. No rest for the weary and no mail either.

We continue our patrol until July 22nd at 1430 when we were ordered to vacate Charlie-2 and rendezvous with a convoy west of Naha Harbor. The Officer in Tactical Command (OTC) of the convoy is the Commanding Officer USS LYON (AP-71). The convoy is made up of cargo ships, transports and LSTs. The screen is USS REEVES (APD-52), USS FOOTE (DD-511) and USS CALLAGHAN (DD-792) (Commander Destroyer Squadron 55 and Screen Commander). At 2205 the FOOTE was detached from screening duties and directed to investigate four “skunks” (Unidentified Surface Ships), southwest approximately 40-miles from Zanpa Misaki (Point Bolo). They were reported by an ASP (Anti-Submarine Patrol) aircraft. The FOOTE is proceeding to intercept at 30-knots. When the “skunks” are picked-up on the surface radar - they are obviously a very formidable force - we will need more that the FOOTE if they are Japs. As the FOOTE closes the range and gets recognition they turn out to be Battleships, Cruisers, Destroyers, Destroyer Escorts and several auxiliary vessels - the group the FOOTE left two weeks ago before going in to Kerama Retto for tender availability. Apparently this group has maintained such profound secrecy that not even the Port Director had any idea where they were - what a deal. It’s back to Hagushi Anchorage for the FOOTE.

After midnight (0210) on July 23rd the FOOTE receives verbal orders to establish a patrol on station Easy-2. This must have been a holding position because at 1100 the patrol was vacated and the FOOTE was directed to rendezvous with a convoy off Naha Harbor - escort duty again. The escort screen is USS CALLAGHAN (DD-792) (CDS-55), USS EVANS (DD-552) and USS FOOTE (DD-511). Screening this group lasted for about 20-miles when the USS VAMMEN (DE-644) and USS DAMON M. CUMMINGS (DE-643) came steaming over the horizon to take over the duties. The FOOTE proceeded to Hagushi Anchorage in company with CALLAGHAN and EVANS. The ship not only had the anchor down, but the keel wet on both boats before the “Flag” in CHARLES AUSBURNE orders her out to patrol station Dog-3. A lousy pattern is developing here.

It’s back and forth on Dog-3 at 15-knots. There are no Bogies - only sunrise and sunset G.Q. - seas are smooth and skies are clear. Wonder what happened to that suspected typhoon? On July 25th the FOOTE is relieved on station by the USS ERWIN (DD-794) and heads to Hagushi Anchorage for fuel. She took on fuel from the ARETHUSA (IX-135) (Formerly classified as an AO). Time in the anchorage was only about two hours - FOOTE’s mail is on the other side of the island - and, it’s back out to patrol station Dog-4.

In accordance with secret dispatch from Commander of Task Group 99.1 all unit designations are to be changed at 0900 on July 26th. Task Group 99.1 becomes Task Group 95.5 - the FOOTE is now assigned to Task Unit 95.5.6. At 0758 the FOOTE rendezvoused with the USS PRITCHETT (DD-561) and the USS ELKHART (APA-60) en-route to Kume Shima. The purpose of this group is to re-supply a small garrison on the island. As the ELKHART off-loads supplies the FOOTE and PRITCHETT patrolled south of Kume Shima. At various times during the operation the USS BASS (APD-124) joined the screening destroyers. The PRITCHETT was relieved on station by the USS PRESTON (DD-795) at 1305. Unloading operations stop at night and darken ship conditions are in force until daybreak.

The re-supply operation continues without interruption at first light on July 27th. The Japs are being very corporative by staying away. Off-loading by the ELKHART is completed by sundown, but she can’t depart the area because she has two boats hung up on the beach.
Finally, the ELKHART frees her boats, takes them aboard, and is ready to get underway by 0300. The PRESTON and FOOTE escorts the ELKHART into Hagushi Anchorage at 0642 on July 28th and the FOOTE immediately begins to top-off her fuel tanks from the ARETHUSA (IX-135). The whale boat made a “mail run” and there were several sacks of mail - Oh! Happy Day.

The FOOTE is swinging on the hook in her assigned berth in Hagushi Anchorage on July 29th when at 0215 G.Q. is sounded - this is for real - the lone remaining Radar Picket Station #9 is under attack. The USS CALLAGHAN (DD-792) is hit by a Kamikaze that came in low and undetected on her starboard side. The plane crashed into the after Engine Room and exploded. Fire raged through the ship igniting ammunition - no chance to keep her afloat. CALLAGHAN was patrolling Radar Picket Station #9 with the USS PRITCHETT (DD-561) and the USS CASSIN YOUNG (DD-793) and three LCSs (Pall Bearers). CALLAGHAN has seen her share of the Pacific War and was scheduled to go home for a complete overhaul of the ship and leave for the crew. The destroyer USS LAWS (DD-558) was coming to relieve CALLAGHAN on station - it was to be her last hours on station - it was to be her last hour - period. CALLAGHAN slipped below the water at 0235 with the loss of 52 of her crew . She received eight battle stars for her service in the Pacific.

The “Pall Bearers” closed in to pick up survivors. CALLAGHAN had 12 Jap planes painted on her Main Battery Gun Director - the Kamikaze that sunk her was the 13th. And, sinking, she was the 13th and last American destroyer to go down in the battle for Okinawa.

The second destroyer on Radar Picket Station #9 to be attacked was the PRITCHETT who took a Kamikaze under fire at 5,000-yards - with good hits - but, as they so often do, he kept coming and splashed into the sea approximately ten feet off the destroyer’s port side. His mission was partially accomplished as the bomb he was carrying exploded on impact, blowing in the PRITCHETT’s hull and causing extensive damage to her superstructure, port depth charge racks, emergency radio shack and power leads. Despite her damage PRITCHETT remained in the area for another two hours helping pick up survivors from the CALLAGHAN. PRITCHETT had one man killed and 15 wounded.

Two or three times during the early morning hours Bogies approached the anchorage, but not close enough for the FOOTE to open fire.

Three days ago the FOOTE operated with the PRITCHETT on the Kume Shima re-supply mission and six days ago the FOOTE and CALLAGHAN sailed together on convoy duty. The fortunate FOOTE’s luck continues to hold. The Radio Shack reports that over the week-end, after warning pamphlets were dropped, six Japanese cities were set on fire by 600 B-29 Bombers. In addition, more than 1,000 American and British carrier planes smashed transports, airfields and other military targets in the Tokyo area while American Battleships shelled Hamamatsu. Japan continues to reject the warning to surrender.

The FOOTE is still swinging on the hook in Hagushi Anchorage - went to G.Q. at 0215 when enemy aircraft approached the area. Word comes over the radio that CASSIN YOUNG is under attack on Radar Picket Station #9 and is made victim by a suicide plane for the second time when a low flying Kamikaze struck her starboard side. A tremendous explosion amidships was followed by fire, but the crew was able to get the fires under control and restore power to one Engine Room. She was able to make way in about twenty minutes and retire. She counted 21 of her crew dead and 39 wounded as she left the fury of Okinawa’s last Radar Picket Station - R.P. #9.

Verbal orders were received by the FOOTE at 0230 from Commander Task Unit 95.5.6 to relieve the USS BASS (APD-124) on patrol station Dog-1 about 15,000-yards out from the anchorage. It is reported that a Kamikaze has taken off her radar antenna - that’s getting pretty close. On station Dog-1 at 0303. At sunrise the USS LA PRADE (DE-409) relieves the FOOTE and she is directed to return to the anchorage. The remainder of the day is relatively quite, but it starts all over again with G.Q. at 2100 for about an hour, then again at 2300. Things get a little fouled up. Quite a few of the Bogies reported turn out to be friendly and you don’t want to be shooting at them.

On July 31st the FOOTE is ordered to get underway at 0630 to rendezvous with LST-1029 (Landing Ship Tank) off the anchorage area and escort her to Kerama Retto. The real purpose of this trip is to relieve the USS DYSON (DD-572) on a Jig Patrol at the south entrance to Kerama Retto (Wiseman’s Cove). It is quite a surprise to the crew when they arrive and discover that it is no longer used as a major anchorage - everything but a small group of ships have moves over to Buckner Bay. The DYSON is relieved and instead of leaving the area she is directed to move up to patrol the northern entrance to Kerama Retto. This is not the best place in the world to be on a Jig Line - reefs are close aboard and the islands make aerial radar practically useless. Guess these patrols are protecting the few ships in the anchorage and those unloading on the beach.

(USS FOOTE Deck Log, USS FOOTE War Diary and Gene Schnubelt’s account)
(Written by: Wilbur V. Rogers)