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Notable events involving LCI(L)-545 include:

30 Jul 1944

Operation Globetrotter.

This operation was amphibious landings on Middelburg and Amsterdam Islands (east of Cape Sansapor) and to the west of Cape Sansapor and later also to the east of Cape Sansapor.

Forces involved.

Task Force 77 was the Attack Force under T/Rear-Admiral R.A. Fechteler, USN.
Task Group 77.1 was the Force Flagship, the destroyer USS Swanson (T/Cdr. W.K. Ratliff, USN, flying the flag of T/Rear-Admiral R.A. Fechteler, USN).
Task Group 77.2 was the Main body and was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Unit 77.2.1 was Fire Support Group A and was made up of the destroyers USS Morris (T/Cdr. G.L. Caswell, USNR, with COMDESRON 2, T/Capt. E.A. Solomons, USN, on board), USS Hughes (T/Cdr. E.B. Rittenhouse, USN), USS Mustin (T/Cdr. M.M. Riker, USN) and USS Russell (T/Cdr. L.R. Miller, USN).
Task Unit 77.2.2 was Fire Support Group B and was made up of the destroyers USS Fletcher (T/Cdr. J.L. Foster, USN, with COMDESDIV 42, T/Capt. A.E. Jarrell, USN on board), USS Radford (T/Capt. G.E. Griggs, USN), USS Jenkins (T/Cdr. M. Hall, Jr., USN) and USS La Valette (T/Cdr. W. Thompson, USN).
Task Unit 77.2.3 was Fire Support Group C and was made up of the destroyers USS Stevenson (T/Cdr. F.E. Wilson, USN, with COMDESRON 19, T/Capt. J.R. Pahl, USN on board) and USS Welles (T/Cdr. D.M. Coffee, USN).
Task Unit 77.2.4 was the High Speed Transport Unit and was made up of the high speed transports USS Kilty (Lt. L.G. Benson, USNR, with COMDESDIV 22, T/Cdr. D.L. Mattie, USN) on board), USS Schley (Lt.Cdr. E.T. Farley, USNR), USS Ward (Lt.Cdr. F.W. Lemly, USNR), USS Crosby (Lt.Cdr. W.E. Sims, USNR) and USS Herbert (T/Cdr. J.N. Ferguson, Jr., USN).
Task Unit 77.2.5 was the LCI Unit and was made up of the LCI's, USS LCI(L)-546 (Lt.(jg) W.B. Campbell, USNR with, COMLCIFLOT 8, T/Cdr. F.B.C. Martin, USN, on board), USS LCI(L)-544 (Lt.(jg) L.V. Sternberg, USNR), USS LCI(L)-545 (Lt.(jg) T.B. King, USNR), USS LCI(L)-547 (Lt.(jg) J.S. Peacock, USNR), USS LCI(L)-548 (Lt.(jg) J.B. Reeves, USNR), USS LCI(L)-577 (Lt.(jg) E.J. Morgan, USNR), USS LCI(L)-578 (Lt.(jg) W.D. Rounds, USNR), USS LCI(L)-579 (Lt.(jg) J. Wood, USN), USS LCI(L)-661 (Lt.(jg) P.B. Pylant, USN), USS LCI(L)-957 (Lt.(jg) J.F. Hartmann, Jr., USNR), USS LCI(L)-958 (Lt.(jg) W.R. McCracken, USNR), USS LCI(L)-961 (Lt.(jg) R.P. Games, USNR), USS LCI(L)-962 (Lt.(jg) R.L. Steele, USNR) from LCI Flotilla 8 and USS LCI(L)-430 (Lt. P.C. Hill, Jr., USNR, with COMLCIFLOT 7, T/Cdr. H.F. McGee, USN on board), USS LCI(L)-62 (Lt.(jg) J.M. Roye, USN), USS LCI(L)-334 (Lt.(jg) M.E. Staed, USNR), USS LCI(L)-335 (Lt.(jg) J.A. Latimer, USNR) and USS LCI(L)-519 (?).
Task Unit 77.2.6 was the LST Unit and was made up of the LST's, USS LST-18 (Lt. C.W. Radke, USCG, with COMLSTGR 21, Cdr. F.D. Higbee, USCG, on board), USS LST-26 (?), USS LST-28 (Lt. B.D. Quirk, USNR), USS LST-66 (Lt. W.H. McGowan, USCG), USS LST-170 (Lt.(jg) J.C. Baquie, USCGR), USS LST-202 (Lt.Cdr. T.N. Kelley, USCGR), USS LST-206 (Lt.(jg) J.D. Robertshaw, USCGR) and USS LST-466 (Lt. R.E. McCarthy, USNR).
Task Unit 77.2.7 was the Special Service Unit which was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Unit 77.2.71 was the Control Section which was made up of the patrol vessels, USS PC-1120 (Lt.Cdr. C.S. Molitor, USNR), USS PC-1132 (Lt. W.E. Quint, USNR), USS PC-1133 (Lt. J.C. Chandler, USNR) and USS PC-1134 (Lt. D.J. Callaghan. Jr. USNR).
Task Unit 77.2.72 was the Rocket Section which was made up of the LCI(R)'s, USS LCI(R)-31 (Lt.(jg) L.J. Haidet, USNR), USS LCI(R)-34 (Lt.(jg) R.J. Sponsler, USNR) and USS LCI(R)-73 (Lt.(jg) N.M. Taylor, USNR).
Task Unit 77.2.73 was the Salvage Section which was made up of the tug USS Vireo (Lt.(jg) S. Delamater, USNR).
Task Group 77.3 was the First Reinforcement Group and was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Group 77.3.1 was the LST Unit which was made up of the LST's USS LST-452 (Lt. G.W. Miller, USNR, with COMLSTGR20, Cdr. D.M. Baker, USNR on board), USS LST-171 (Lt. L.H. Smiley, USNR), USS LST-395 (Lt. A.C. Forbes, USNR), USS LST-397 (Lt. W.R. Hitch, USNR), USS LST-456 (Lt. G.W. Prue, USN), USS LST-458 (Lt. F.W. Hinrichs, USNR), USS LST-462 (Lt. W.D. Gregory, USNR) and USS LST-463 (Lt.(jg) A.E. Grounds, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.2 was the Escort Unit which was made up of the destroyers USS Hobby (T/Cdr. G.W. Pressey, USN, with T/Capt. COMDESDIV 38, W.S. Veeder, USN on board), USS Gillespie (T/Cdr. J.S. Fahy, USN), USS Anderson (T/Lt.Cdr. J.F. Murdock, USN) and USS Stockton (T/Cdr. W.W. Stark, Jr., USN).
Task Group 77.4 was the Second Reinforcement Group and was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Group 77.4.1 was the LST Unit which was made up of the LST's USS LST-469 (Lt. L.E. Green, USNR), USS LST-181 (Lt. R.J. Wilson, USNR), USS LST-204 (Lt. C.W. Radke, USCG), USS LST-245 (Lt. M.J. McCabe, USNR), USS LST-457 (Lt. W.P. Sullivan, USNR), USS LST-468 (Lt. I.K. Stevenson, USNR), USS LST-470 (Lt. D.J. Guthridge, USNR) and USS LST-475 (Lt. M.S. Whitsett, USNR).
Task Group 77.4.2 was the Escort Unit which was made up of the destroyers USS Wilkes (T/Cdr. F. Wolsieffer, USN, with COMDESDIV 24, T/Capt. A.J. Greenacre, USN on board), USS Nicholson (T/Cdr. W.W. Vanous, USN), USS Grayson (T/Cdr. W.V. Pratt, 2nd, USN) and USS Stack (T/Cdr. R.E. Wheeler, USN).

Cover Forces.

To provide cover for the operation, Task Forces 74 and 75 were deployed.

Task Force 74 was made up of the heavy cruiser HMAS Shropshire (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN, flying the flag of Commodore J.A. Collins, CB, RAN) and the destroyers USS Hutchins (T/Cdr. C.B. Laning, USN, with COMDESRON 24, T/Capt. K.M. McManes, USN, on board), USS Bache (T/Cdr. R.C. Morton, USN), USS Beale (T/Capt. J.B. Cochran, USN), USS Ammen (T/Cdr. J.H. Brown, USN) and HMAS Arunta (Cdr. A.E. Buchanan, RAN).

Task Force 75 was made up of the light cruisers USS Phoenix (T/Capt. J.H. Duncan, USN, flying the flag of COMCRUDIV 15, Rear-Admiral R.S. Berkey, USN), USS Boise (Capt. J.S. Roberts, USN) and the destroyers USS Abner Read (T/Cdr. T.B. Hutchins, 3rd, USN, with COMDESDIV 48, T/Capt. J.B. McLean, USN), USS Daly (T/Cdr. R.G. Visser, USN), USS Mullany (T/Cdr. B.J. Mullaney, USN) and USS Trathen (T/Cdr. J.R. Millett, USN).

Chronology of the passage towards the operations area.

0800K/27, Task Force 75 (see above) departed Seeadler Harbour, Manus for the operations area.

2300K/27, Task Force 77 (TF 77.1 and TF 77.2, see above) departed Maffin Bay for the operations area. This was known as Echelon G-1.

1000K/28, Task Force 74 (see above) departed Humboldt Bay to make rendezvous with Task Force 75. Rendezvous was affected around 1500K/28. Both Task Forces now operated in company as Task Force 78, Covering Force.. A naval bombardment for the landings was not planned, Task Force 78's orders were to just provide cover for the landings.

0800K/29, USS LCI(L)-958 parted company to proceed to Mios Woendi as reserve. One of the other LCI(L)'s also parted company as there were 16 LCI(L)'s present during the landing operations.

2330K/29, Echelon G-2, made up of Task Group 77.3 (see above) departed Maffin Bay for the operations area. The four escorting destroyers from Destroyer Division 38 had actually departed Humboldt Bay around 2245K/28 and joined the convoy of LST's on leaving Maffin Bay having first conducted an A/S patrol in the area. 2315K/29, Echelon G-3, made up of Task Group 77.4 (see above) departed Maffin Bay for the operations area. The four escorting destroyers from Destroyer Division 24 had arrived at Maffin Bay from Humboldt Bay earlier in the day.

Chronology of the landing operations in the operations area.

0700K/30, Task Force 77, (TF 77.1 and TF 77.2) commenced landing operations east of Cape Sansapor and on Middelburg and Amsterdam Islands. No enemy opposition was encountered.

0830K/30, Task Force 78, was released and set course to proceed to Mios Woendi. Around the same time the LCI(L)'s departed the operations area to return to Maffin Bay escorted by USS PC-1122 and USS PC-1133.

1800K/30, The LST's, having completed unloading, departed the area to return to Maffin Bay. Tug USS Vireo was with them. They were escorted by USS Swanson, USS Fletcher, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, USS La Vallette, USS Stevenson and USS Welles.

0800K/1, Echelon G-2 arrived commenced beaching the LST's to unload which was completed later the same day following which they set course to proceed to Mios Woendi having been joined by the three 3 LCI(R)'s and the tugs USS Whippoorwill (T/Lt. C.L. Knopp, USN) and HMAS Sprightly (Lt. G.S. Duck, RANR(S)). They were escorted by USS Morris, USS Hughes, USS Mustin, USS Russell, USS Hobby, USS Gillespie, USS Anderson and USS Stockton.

0800K/3, Echelon G-3 arrived commenced beaching the LST's to unload which was completed later the same day following which they set course to proceed to Mios Woendi.

15 Sep 1944

Operation Tradewind.

This operation was an amphibious landing on Morotai.

Forces involved.

Task Force 77.
The force flagship was the Amphibious Force Command Ship USS Wasatch (T/Capt. A.M. Granum, USN, flying the flag of T/Rear-Admiral D.E. Barbey, USN. Reserve flagship was the destroyer USS Russell (T/Lt.Cdr. J.E. Wicks, Jr., USN).

Task Group 77.1 was the Escort Carrier Group under T/R.Adm. T.L. Sprague, USN. It was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Unit 77.1.1 was made up of the escort carriers USS Sangamon (T/Capt. M.E. Browder, USN, flying the flag of COMCARDIV 22, T/R.Adm. T.L. Sprague, USN), USS Suwanee (T/Capt. W.D. Johnson, USN), USS Chenango (T/Capt. G. van Deurs, USN) and USS Santee (T/Capt. R.E. Blick, USN).
Task Unit 77.1.2 was made up of the escort carriers USS Fanshaw Bay (T/Capt. D.P. Johnson, USNflying the flag of, COMCARDIV 25, T/R.Adm. C.A.F. Sprague, USN) and USS Midway / St. Lo (T/Capt. F.J. McKenna, USN).
Task Unit 77.1.3 was made up of the destroyer escorts USS Edmonds (T/Cdr. C.S. Barker, Jr., USN, with COMCORTDIV 63, T/Cdr. J.V. Bewick, USN, on board), USS Richard S. Bull (T/Lt.Cdr. A.W. Gardes, Jr., USN), USS Richard M. Rowell (T/Cdr. H.A. Barnard, Jr., USN), USS Eversole (T/Lt.Cdr. G.E. Marix, USN), USS Dennis (Lt.Cdr. S. Hansen, USNR), USS Shelton (Lt.Cdr. L.G. Salomon, USNR), USS John C. Butler (T/Lt.Cdr. J.E. Pace, USN) and USS Raymond (Lt.Cdr. A.F. Beyer, Jr., USNR).

Task Force 77.2 was the Cover and Bombardment Force under T/Rear-Admiral R.S. Berkey, USN. It was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Unit 77.2.1 was made up of the light cruisers USS Phoenix (T/Capt. J.H. Duncan, USN, flying the flag of COMCRUDIV 15, Rear-Admiral R.S. Berkey, USN), USS Boise (Capt. J.S. Roberts, USN) and the destroyers USS Hutchins (T/Cdr. C.B. Laning, USN, with COMDESRON 24, T/Capt. K.M. McManes, USN, on board), USS Bache (T/Cdr. R.C. Morton, USN), USS Beale (T/Cdr. D.M. Coffee, USN) and USS Daly (T/Cdr. R.G. Visser, USN).
Task Unit 77.2.2 was made up of the heavy cruisers HMAS Australia (Capt. E.F.V. Dechaineux, DSC, RAN, flying the flag of Commodore J.A. Collins, CB, RAN), HMAS Shropshire (Capt. H.A. Showers, RAN) and the destroyers HMAS Arunta (Cdr. A.E. Buchanan, RAN) and HMAS Warramunga (Cdr. N.A. Mackinnon, RAN), USS Ammen (T/Cdr. J.H. Brown, USN) and USS Mullany (T/Cdr. B.J. Mullaney, USN).
Task Unit 77.2.3 was made up of the light cruiser USS Nashville (T/Capt. C.E. Coney, USN) and the destroyers USS Abner Read (T/Cdr. T.B. Hutchins, 3rd, USN, with COMDESDIV 48, T/Capt. J.B. McLean, USN) and USS Bush (T/Cdr. R.E. Westholm, USN).

Task Force 77.3 was the Attack Force.
Task Group 77.3.1 was the Attack Force for White Beach under T/Rear-Admiral D.E. Barbey, USN, with USS Wasatch as flagship and was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Group 77.3.11 was made up of the destroyers USS Morris (T/Cdr. G.L. Caswell, USNR, with COMDESRON 2, T/Capt. E.A. Solomons, USN, on board), USS Mustin ( T/Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hughes, USN), USS Russell, USS John Rodgers (T/Cdr. J.G. Franklin, USN) and USS McKee (T/Cdr. R.B. Allen, USN).
Task Group 77.3.12 was made up of the amphibious transport HMAS Kanimbla (Cdr. A.V. Bunyan, RANR(S)).
Task Group 77.3.13 was made up of the high speed transports USS Ward (Lt.Cdr. F.W. Lemly, USNR), USS Schley (Lt.Cdr. E.T. Farley, USNR), USS Kilty (Lt. L.G. Benson, USNR), USS Crosby (Lt.Cdr. W.E. Sims, USNR) and USS Herbert (T/Cdr. J.N. Ferguson, Jr., USN).
Task Group 77.3.14 was made up of the LCI(L)'s, USS LCI(L)-28 (Lt.(jg) W.T. Witt, USNR, with COMLCIFLOT 7, T/Cdr. H.F. McGee, USN, on board), USS LCI(L)-25 (Lt.(jg) G.W. Connelly, USNR), USS LCI(L)-29 (Lt. J.F. McNamara, USNR), USS LCI(L)-30 (Lt.(jg) L.E. Larson, USNR), USS LCI(L)-224 (Lt.(jg) W.K. Bohn, USNR), USS LCI(L)-225 (Lt.(jg) W.S. Ogilvy, USNR), USS LCI(L)-226 (Lt.(jg) W.L. Harned, USNR), USS LCI(L)-361 (Lt.(jg) A.J. Hawkes, USNR), USS LCI(L)-430 (Lt. P.C. Hill, Jr., USNR) and USS LCI(L)-432 (Lt. M.D. Coppersmith, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.15 was made up of the LST's, USS LST-470 (Lt. D.J. Guthridge, USNR, with COMLSTGR20, Cdr. D.M. Baker, USNR on board), USS LST-245 (Lt. M.J. McCabe, USNR), USS LST-459 (Lt. N. Waggener, USNR) and USS LST-474 (Lt.(jg) H.T. Ross, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.16 was made up of the LCT's, USS LCT-947, USS LCT-939, USS LCT-940 and USS LCT-941.
Task Group 77.3.17 was made up of the patrol vessels USS PC-1119 (Lt. J.E. Martin, Jr., USNR) and USS PC-1134 (Lt.(jg). W.B. Marshall, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.18 was made up of the LCI(G)'s, USS LCI(G)-68 (Lt.(jg) J.D. Devaney, USNR), USS LCI(G)-70 (Lt. R.M. Jordan, USNR) and LCI(R)'s USS LCI(R)-72 (Lt.(jg) J.F. Dray, USNR) and USS LCI(R)-73 (Lt.(jg) N.M. Taylor, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.19 was made up of the tug USS Sonoma (Lt. W.R. Wurzler, USNR) and USS LCI(D)-227 (Lt.(jg) A.S. Eskind, USNR) [D = Demolition] ().
Task Group 77.3.2 was the Attack Force for Red Beach under T/Rear-Admiral R.A. Fechteler, USN, with USS Hughes (T/Cdr. E.B. Rittenhouse, USN, flying the flag of T/Rear-Admiral R.A. Fechteler, USN) as flagship and was made up of the following Task Units.
Task Group 77.3.21 was made up of the destroyers USS Fletcher (T/Cdr. J.L. Foster, USN, with COMDESDIV 42, T/Capt. A.E. Jarrell, USN on board), USS Radford (T/Cdr. G.L. Caswell, USN), USS Jenkins (T/Cdr. M. Hall, Jr., USN), USS La Valette (T/Cdr. W. Thompson, USN) and USS Stack (T/Cdr. R.E. Wheeler, USN).
Task Group 77.3.22 was made up of the amphibious transport HMAS Manoora (Cdr. A.P. Cousin, RANR(S)).
Task Group 77.3.23 was made up of the LCI(L)'s, USS LCI(L)-546 (Lt.(jg) W.B. Campbell, USNR, with, COMLCIFLOT 8, T/Cdr. F.B.C. Martin, USN, on board), i>USS LCI(L)-543 (Lt.(jg) L.S. Mosley, USNR), USS LCI(L)-544 (Lt.(jg) L.V. Sternberg, USNR), USS LCI(L)-545 (Lt.(jg) T.B. King, USNR), USS LCI(L)-547 (Lt.(jg) J.S. Peacock, USNR), USS LCI(L)-577 (Lt.(jg) E.J. Morgan, USNR), USS LCI(L)-578 (Lt.(jg) W.D. Rounds, USNR), USS LCI(L)-579 (Lt.(jg) J. Wood, USN), USS LCI(L)-663 (Lt.(jg) F.B. Stimson, Jr., USNR), USS LCI(L)-744 (Lt.(jg) J.B. Vallely, USNR), LCI(L)-746 (Lt.(jg) E.H. Chittenden, USNR), USS LCI(L)-747 (Lt. R.M. Burnes, USNR), USS LCI(L)-748 (Lt.(jg) D.R. Hassell, USNR), USS LCI(L)-750 (Lt.(jg) S.A.R. White, USNR), USS LCI(L)-958 (Lt.(jg) W.R. McCracken, USNR), USS LCI(L)-962 (Lt.(jg) R.L. Steele, USNR), USS LCI(L)-964 (Lt.(jg) H.R. dePue, USNR), USS LCI(L)-965 (Lt.(jg) A.T. Wellman, USNR), USS 967 (Lt.(jg) H.M. Piper, Jr., USNR), USS 968 (Lt.(jg) B. Shaw, USNR), USS 969 (Lt.(jg) J.W. Clement, USNR), USS 971 (Lt.(jg) V. Muse, Jr., USNR), USS 976 (Lt.(jg) W.C. Lawtom, USNR), USS 977 (Lt.(jg) J.T. Morgan, Jr., USNR), USS 978 (Lt.(jg) P. Tackett, USNR), USS 979 (Lt.(jg) M.J. Fleischman, USNR), USS 981 (Lt.(jg) T.J. Bailey, USNR), USS 1014 (Lt.Cdr. R.W. Moncure, USNR) and USS 1015 (Lt. G.Y. Harry, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.24 was made up of the LST's, USS LST-466 (Lt. R.E. McCarthy, USNR), with COMLSTFLOT 7, T/Capt. R.M. Scruggs, USN on board), USS LST-181 (Lt. R.J. Wilson, USNR), USS LST-452 (Lt. G.W. Morris, USNR), USS LST-456 (Lt. G.B. Libby, USNR), USS LST-462 (Lt. W.D. Gregory, USNR), USS LST-467 (Lt. M.B. Taylor, USNR), USS LST-468 (Lt.(jg) L.H. Bellis, USNR) and USS LST-472 (Lt. W.O. Tally, USN).
Task Group 77.3.25 was made up of the LCT's, USS LCT-948, USS LCT-942, USS LCT-943, USS LCT-949, USS LCT-950, USS LCT-951, USS LCT-952 and USS LCT-953.
Task Group 77.3.26 was made up of the Landing Ship Dock USS Carter Hall (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Harris, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.27 was made up of the patrol vessels USS PC-1120 (Lt. H.T. Smith, Jr., USNR), USS PC-1122 (Lt. L.C. Hall, USNR), USS PC-1133 (Lt. J.C. Chandler, USNR) and USS PC-476 (Lt. D. Knapp, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.28 was made up of the LCI(G)'s, USS LCI(G)-69 (Lt.(jg) H.R. Roesti, USNR, with Lt.Cdr. A.M. Holmes, USNR, on board), USS LCI(G)-23 (Lt.(jg) M.L. Russell, USNR), USS LCI(G)-64 (Lt.(jg) F.G. Love, Jr., USNR), USS LCI(G)-65 (Lt.(jg) C.J. Macaluso, USNR) and LCI(R)'s USS LCI(R)-31 (Lt.(jg) L.J. Haidet, USNR) and USS LCI(R)-34 (Lt.(jg) R.J. Sponsler, USNR).
Task Group 77.3.29 was made up of the minesweepers USS YMS-8 (Lt.(jg) E.S. Conway, USNR), USS YMS-9 (Lt.(jg) B.F. Hildes, USNR), USS YMS-46 (Lt. H.J. Topping, USNR) and USS YMS-51 (Lt.(jg) W.F. Montgomery., USNR).

Chronology of the passage towards the operations area.

1000I/10, Task Group 77.1, the Carrier Cover Group, (see above), departed Seeadler Harbour for the operations area.

1300I/11, Echelon M-1, made up of all Task Units of Task Groups 77.3.1 and 77.3.2 (see above) departed Maffin Bay for the operations area.

2300I/11, Task Units 77.2.1 and 77.2.2 (see above) departed Humboldt Bay for the operations area.

1000I/12, Task Unit 77.2.3 departed Humboldt Bay for the operations area. On board USS Nashville General MacArthur and staff is embarked.

Chronology of the initial landing operations in the operations area.

0630I/15, The order ' Deploy ' was given for the landings which were to commence at 0830I/15 (H-hour). The LCT's which had been towed to the operations area by LST's had just been cut loose and were now proceeding on their own. YMS minesweepers commenced sweeping the landing area.

0700I/15, between around 0700 and 0830 hours the ships from Task Force 77.2 bombarded their selected targets near the landing area. Carrier aircraft from Task Force 77.1 conducted fighter and A/S patrols and were also available to attack land targets. Following the bombardment the ships of Task Force 77.2 remained in the area to provide cover for the operation. They were released from the operation at 1800I/16.

0830I/15, H-hour, Landing operations commenced.

0900I/15, USS Carter Hall departed the operations area for Mios Woendi. She was escorted by USS Herbert and USS Crosby. All three ships had completed unloading.

1030I/15, Almost all LCI(L)'s, having completed unloading, departed the operations area for Hollandia. They were escorted by USS Ward, USS Schley and USS Kilty.

2000I/15, Five LST's and four LCI(L)'s, having completed unloading, departed the operations area for Cape Sansapor. They were escorted by the destroyers USS Morris and USS Jenkins.

1800I/15, HMAS Kanimbla and USS Manoora departed the operations area for Hollandia. They were escorted by the destroyer USS Stevens and the patrol vessel USS PC-476.

1700I/16, The remaining seven LST's, having completed unloading departed Morotai for Cape Sansopor. They were escorted by USS Anderson and USS Stack.

More echelons transporting troops and supplies arrived at Morotai during the next days. [These will not be dealth with here.]