WW II History

According to a document submitted to the Secretary of the Navy on 1 October 1945 by W. P. Starnes, the Commanding officer of the USS Caperton. What follows is the History of the USS Caperton (DD650) from Commissioning to date. which was then 1945.


 
 








 


1943

  • 30 July Commissioned, Boston Navy Yard, Unit of Destroyer Division 100, Destrloyer Squadron 50.

  • 31 Oct Departed from the West Coast of the United States for war operations in the Pacific.

  • 27 Nov Crossed equator and on this occasion all pollywogs were duly initiated into the Order of trhe Deep.

  • 17 Oct Transited the Panama Canal.

  • 8 Oct Departed for the Pacific Theater of Operations.

  • 15 Aug - 8 Oct Underwent shakedown training off Atlantic Coast.


1944

  • Dec-Jan 1944 Participated in final covering operation of Tarawa.

  • 30 Jan Participated as a unit of Task Group 58.1 in first bombardment of Kwajalein with WASHINGTON, INDIANA, MASSACHUSESTTS, and Destroyer Division 100.

  • 31 Jan-2 Feb Participated in the first air strike on Truk with Task Group 58.1.

  • 21-22 Feb Participated in first air strike on Saipan as a unit of Task Group 58.1.

  • 18-26 Mar Participated as a unit of Task Group 36.1 providing air cover for landings on Emirau Islsand, Bismark Archipelago.

  • 29 Mar-2 Apr Participated in first air strikes on Palau, Yap and Woleai as a unit of Task Group 58.1.

  • 13-28 Apr Participated in invasion of Aitape and Hollandia, new Guinea as a unit of Task Group 58.3.

  • 29 Apr-1 May Participated in second air strikes on Truk and Ponape as a unit of Task Group 58.3

  • 6 Jun - 22 Jul As a unit of Task Group 58.3, participated in air strikes on Marianas; air support for the landings on Saipan and Tinian; holding strikes on Tinian, Rota, Pagan and Guam; first Battle of the Philippine Sea, shore bombardment and anti-shipping sweep on Guam and air support for landings on Guam.

  • 24-28 Jul Participated in second air strike on Palau and Yap as a unit of Task Group 58.3.

  • 30 Aug - 8 Sept Participated in shore bombardment of Peleliu Island and air cover for Palau landings as a unit of Task Group 38.3.

  • 3 Sept Crossed equator and on this occasion all pollywogs were duly initiated into the Order of the Deep.

  • 9-10 Sept Participated as a unit of Task Group 38.3 in first air strikes on Mindanao.

  • 12-14 Sept Participated in first Visayan air strikes as a unit of Task Group 38.3.

  • 21-22 Sept Participated in first air strikes on Luzon as a unit of Task Group 38.3.

  • 24 Sept Participated in second Visayan strikes as a unit of Task Group 38.3.

  • 10-27 Oct Participated as unit of Task Groups 38.3 and 38.4 in first air strikes on Okinawa, Formosa, third Visayan strikes, screening retirement of crippled HOUSTON and CANBERRA, and Battle of Leyte Gulf.

  • 3-10 Nov Participated in screen and escort of damaged RENO from Philippine area back to base

  • 20 Nov Participated in search for enemy midget submarines in Ulithi harbor.

  • 25 Nov Participated in third air strikes on Luzon and Manila area as a unit of Task Group 38.3

  • 14-24 Dec Participated as a unit of Task Group 38.3 in air strikes on Luzon which were cut short by hurricane.


1945

  • 3-5 Jan Participated in second air strike on Formosa as a unit of Task Group 38.3

  • 6-7 Jan Participated in further air strikes on Luzon as a unit of Task Group 38.3

  • 9 Jan Participated in additional air strikes on Formosa as a unit of Task Group 38.3

  • 10-20 Jan In South China Sea participating in first air strikes on Camranh Bay, Saigon, hong Kong, Canton and Hainan as a unit of Task Group 38.3

  • 21-23 Jan Participated in air strikes on Formosa and Okinawa as a unit of Task Group 38.3.

  • 27 Jan Received orders to return to the United States for Navy Yard overhaul ater 16 months' of war operations.

  • 15 Feb-15 Apr Underwent Navy Yard overhaul, Todd Shipbuilding Company, San Pedro, California

  • 19 Apr Departed West Coast for Pearl harbor, T.H.

  • 24 Apr-1 May Underwent training period, Pearl harbor, T.H.

  • 1 May Departed Pearl harbor, T.H., for forward area.

  • 1-26 Jun Participated as a radar picket ship in occupation and defense of Okinawa and Southern Ryukus.

  • 1 Jul To cessation of hostilities with Japan, Participated in attacks against Tokyo and Japanese home islands with Second Carrier Task Force of Third Fleet as a member of Task Groups 38.1 and 38.4

  • 27 Aug Participated in occupation and demilitarization of Japan as a unit of Heavy Covering and Support Force under Task Force 35 and Task Force 53.