The Enterprise in World War II, Part IV by T.L. Clemens

Why didn't the Japanese subs finish off Chicago? Were they discovered and destroyed?

On the Jap subs and the Chicago, it would have been suicide to try and get into the Task Force and within range to sink her, and she was already badly damaged.

I'm a little lost in the overhaul process. First "E" returned to Pearl Harbor for a major overhaul. What did the crew do during the overhaul. Were you part of the process or did you get some time off? 

The time in Pearl Harbor was not an Overhaul.  It was just a patch up job to keep her afloat and fighting. 

Before we went to Bremerton the ship morale was at an all time low.  We were in Esperito Santos harbor waiting for the Japs to come down from Rabual, when it was announced we were going to off load all aviation supplies, ammo etc and return to Pearl to go on to Bremerton.  I never worked so hard in my life. 

The humidity was beyond belief and I always remember my dungarees being as wet as if I jumped overboard.  One day out of Pearl, Commander Crommelin, who had been our Air Officer, Exec Officer was designated Commanding Officer and was in charge of the return trip, announced on the PA system that he had just been advised that we would not be going to the States but that we were going to train Air Group 12, fresh out of the States.  Needless to say the new Air Group was not popular with Ship's Company. 

After several short excisions during their training we were in fact dispatched to Bremerton.  We arrived in the Straits of Juan De Fuca in a fog, and all at once a lone tree showed thru the fog.  The crew went wild.  We anchored off of the Navy Yard.  The crew had been divided into 3 leave groups of about 800/900 men per group.  Being an old hand I was in the first group.  Tugs took us over to the ferry dock in time to catch the last ferry to Seattle.  The clerk just threw up her hands and said get aboard the ferry.

  The women on the Ferry locked themselves in the women's restroom.  We had a high old time in Seattle until morning when we could catch a train home. (San Diego/Imperial Beach for me as my mother lived there.)  Of the first leave group approximate 75 percent got married, 50 percent for the second leave party and about 30 percent for the third leave party.  Each group had a 30 day leave.  About 40 percent of the crew left the ship for other duty and we got a whole bunch of new recruits and land based sailors to replace them.  While we were in Bremerton we lived in barracks at the Navy Yard and EVERYONE below Chief stood fire watch for the welders.  Liberty was good in Seattle.  When we left the Navy Yards and headed back to Pearl the divorces started and were in direct proportion to the marriage rates.

It is obvious that the 1943 overhaul provided the "E" with lots of new firepower. Was the torpedo blister ever proof tested in combat? I'd be curious as to the mechanics of blister. Did it affect maneuverability? 

As for the blisters installed on the ship, I could not tell any difference in speed or maneuverability.  She did not list in tight turns quite as much.  The blisters never were hit by a torpedo that exploded, but we did have two big dents in them where duds had hit on two different occasions.

The 5 inch 38 Cal AA guns were semi fix ammo.  The projectile and powder case being two separate items.  Their speed depended on the training of the gun crew.  The worst job was Hot Shellman who had asbestos gloves and had to catch the powder case as it came out of the breach.  I would guess that if they got off a round every min they were doing good.  There was a Pointer for elevation, a trainer for Azimuth, a fuse setter, and a sight setter that locked onto the controllers.  Yes, this system was far better than before the controllers.

I'm sure it was a great comfort to have an Armada, new F6F hellcats,and the protection of North Carolina with you as you left for the 560 day campaign. Don't think I'd care to be launched by catapult. That is a short runway!!  It sure didn't take long to take Makin, although I suspect the ground and Jungle fighting to keep it was brutal.

Actually being launched by catapult was desired, as you knew you were going to have flying speed, whereas, takeoff runs down the deck were a more hairy, as if old Prat and Whitney misfired you were in the drink without having gained take off speed.

Having a battle ship in the task force was always good as they had many AA guns.

Makin was just one of many landings we covered during the period after Guadalcanal.  We also struck Truk and Raboal.  Truk was the Jap Pearl Harbor and we first met the new Jap fighters, which were better than the Zeros.

Flying at night without instruments landing on a dark carrier sounds like a recipe for disaster. Was there a significant learning curve for the pilots, or a lot of "attrition."

Night carrier landings are always an experience and require great skill of the pilot.  There were small lights embedded in the flight deck that could only be seen from dead astern. Of course the Landing Signal Officer had his lighted wands.  But most flight crews change underwear after each night landing. O’Hare Airport was named for the fighter ace we lost in that battle.

What did you think of your new skipper, Gardener? 

As for skippers of the Big "E", we always said that Captains had to put in their practical factors with us to get promoted to Admiral.  We had several skippers during my tour.