USS OAKLAND
WORLD WAR II HISTORY
Page 2

16 Jan 1944 – Sortied with Task Group 58.1 and set course for Marshall Islands, final  approach from the southwest.

29 Jan 1944 – Strikes were launched against Maloelap in the Marshall Islands. On the following day attacks were made on Kwajalien.

4 Feb 1944 – Entered Majuro Atoll Lagoon in the Gilbert Islands Group.

12 Feb 1944 –  Oakland got underway with Task Group 58.1 and headed west to
attack the Japanese Naval Base at Truk in the Central Caroline Islands.

15-17 Feb 1944 –  Strikes were launched against Truk.

22 Feb 1944 –  Heavy strikes were launched against the Marianas Islands
concentrating on Saipan. Our approach was detected and we were forced to fight our way to the objective. During the night and early morning the Oakland shot down two enemy

7 Mar 1944 – Following a brief stop at Majuro, the Oakland sortied with her group and  headed for Espiritu Santo.

20 Mar 1944 – Task Group 58.1, now designated Task Group 36.1 supported landings on Emirau Island in the Bismarck Archipelago.

27 Mar 1944 – The Oakland and her group returned to the operational control of the Commander FIFTH Fleet and resumed the title, Task Group 58.1.

30-31 Mar 1944 – Strikes were launched against Palau and Yap Islands in the Western Carolines. During Jap attacks on the Task Group, the Oakland possibly shot down one of the raiders on the night of

30 Mar 1945 – Continued strikes against Palau and Yap Islands in the Western Carolines.

31 Mar 1945 – While withdrawing, hit Woleai.

13 Apr 1944 – After a week's stop at Majuro, Task Group 58.1 sortied to support the landings on Hollandia, Sawar, Wakde area of New Guineas.

20-22 Apr 1944 – Operated off the coast of New Guinea in support of the landings.

29-30 Apr 1944 – Attacks directed at Truk and Satawan while retiring from New
Guinea theater.

1 May 1944 – Ponape subjected to air attack and surface bombardment by Task Group 58.1 while returning through enemy held waters to our base at Kwajalein.

4-13 May 1944 – Anchored in Kwajalein Lagoon.

14 May 1944 – At anchor in Majuro Atoll Lagoon.

6 Jun 1944 – Underway from Majuro en route to the Marianas.

11-13 Jun 1944 – Strikes launched against Guam.

15-16 Jun 1944 – Volcano and Bonin Islands attacked.

19-20 Jun 1944 – Task Group 58.1 joined other groups of Task Force 58 to the west of the Marianas and intercepted the Japanese Fleet in the First Battle of the Philippine Sea.

20 Jun 1944 – 06/20   First Battle of the Philippine Sea continues:
West of the embattled Marianas, TF 58 sped to intercept a large Japanese surface force approaching from the Philippines. In the ensuing Battle of the Philippine Sea, the famed "Turkey Shoot" took place as the U.S. carrier planes decimated the trained air groups of three Japanese carrier divisions, almost eliminating Japanese naval aviation.

Toward the end of the battle, as darkness was creeping in, the returning American pilots were desperately attempting to locate their aircraft carriers. Admiral Mitscher, on the bridge of his flagship, concerned for his men, gave the order to "Turn on the lights". In response, OAKLAND's 36-inch searchlights were flicked on helping light up the Philippine Sea like a motion picture premier.

Oakland's 36" searchlights

We also fired 5" 38 cal starshells to further light up the sky for our American pilots.

23 Jun 1944 – Pagan Island attacked.

24 Jun 1944 – Iwo Island subjected to heavy strikes.

27 Jun 1944 – Task Group 58.1 entered Eniwetok Atoll in the western Marshall Islands.

30 Jun 1944 – Oakland in company with her group sortied from Eniwetok.

3-4 Jul 1944 – Strikes conducted against Iwo Jima and Bonin Islands.

7-21 Jul 1944 – Operating in the vicinity of Guam, softening defenses for the landings that were to follow.

9 Jul 1944 – Oakland and Helm (DD 388) operated in close vicinity of Guam for purpose of rescuing any downed aviators. From 1130 to 1230 the Oakland bombarded military objectives near Agat Town.

15 Jul 1944 – The ship suffered her first personnel casualty when a man accidentally fell overboard and was drowned. VELARDI, JOSEPH S F1c Lost at Sea.

26-28 Jul 1944 – Strikes were launched by Task Group 58.1 against Yap, Ulithi, and Fais in the western Caroline Island Group.

4-5 Aug 1944 – Task Group 58.1 attacked Iwo Jima and the Bonin Islands.

Battle Action Report # 1 covers this action http://www.rtcol.com/~oakland/action1.html

4 Aug 1944 – Oakland, with Cruisers Sante Fe, Mobile, and Biloxi, attacked shipping northwest of Chichi Jima, sinking an enemy destroyer and a 7,500 ton AK in a night action.

5 Aug 1944 – Task Group 58.1 attacked Iwo Jima and the Bonin Islands. Oakland bombarded Futami Ko area of Chichi Jima. During the bombardment the Oakland was unsuccessfully fired upon by shore batteries of 5 or 6 inch caliber.

8 Aug 1944 – Captain Kendall S Reed, USN, relieved Captain William K Phillips, USN, as Commanding Officer.

9 Aug 1944 – At anchor at Eniwetok for replenishment and overhaul.

29 Aug 1944 – Sortied with Task Group 38.2 en route to Palau.

6-8 Sep 1944 – Aircraft from Task Group 38.2 struck Palau in company with planes from Task Group 38.1 and 38.3.

9-10 Sep 1944 – The Philippines were brought under attack for the first time when  planes from Task Force 38 hit Mindinao.

12-14 Sep 1944 – Central Philippines were attacked by Task Group 38.2.

21-22 Sep 1944 – Luzon was the center of attack as planes from Task Force 38 struck at Manila Bay area.

28 Sep 1944 – Anchored at Saipan for one day.

2 Oct 1944 – Entered Ulithi Atoll Lagoon with Task Force 38.

6 Oct 1944 – Sortied from Ulithi with Task Group 38.2 and set course for Okinawa.

10 Oct 1944 – Strikes launched against Okinawa.

12-14 Oct 1944 – Formosa was struck by Task Force 38. Violent enemy air opposition was experienced.

14 Oct 1944 – Formosa was struck by Task Force 38. Violent enemy air opposition was experienced. Oakland was shifted to Task Group 38.1 to cover the withdrawal of 2 damaged cruiers.

17-19 Oct 1944 – Luzon was attacked by planes of Task Group 38.1.

20 Oct 1944 – Attacking aircraft were directed against the beaches of Leyte as landing operation commenced.

24 Oct 1944 – Oakland with Task Group 38.1 en route to Ulithi; at 1030 Commander Third Fleet ordered Task Group to return, because of Jap Fleet entering Sibuyan Sea and Sulu Sea.

25 Oct 1944 – Task Group 38.1 fueled and stood toward Leyte Gulf. At 1025 strikes were launched which hit the main Jap battle force to the east of Samar, and hastened its withdrawal.

26 Oct 1944 – Task Group 38.1 steamed in the vicinity of San Bernardino Straits conducting strikes against the fleeing Jap Fleet.

29 Oct 1944 – Task Group 38.1 anchored in Ulithi Atoll Lagoon.

Nov and Dec 1944 – Operated in various task groups of Task Force 38 supporting the Southwest Pacific amphibious operations in the Philippines. Targets on Luzon and in the Visayas were hit repeatly.

18 Dec 1944 – Oakland weathered the typhoon in which 3 destroyers capsized.

18 Dec 1944 –  Typhoon east of the Philippine Islands heavily damages ships of the Third Fleet. United States naval vessels sunk: Destroyers HULL (DD-350), MONAGHAN (DD-354), and SPENCE (DD-512), by typhoon, east of Philippine Islands. PT-300, by suicide plane, Mindoro area, P. I., 12 d. 19'N., 121 d. 05'E. United States naval vessels damaged by typhoon, east of Philippine Islands: Light carriers COWPENS (CVL-25), MONTEREY (CVL-26), CABOT (CVL-28), and SAN JACINTO (CVL-30); escort carrier ALTAMAHA (CVE-18), NEHENTA BAY (CVE-74), CAPE ESPERANCE (CVE-88), and KWAJAlEIN (CVE-98); light cruiser MIAMI (CL-89); destroyers DEWEY (DD- 349), AYLWIN (DD-355), BUCHANAN (DD-484), DYSON (DD-572), HICKOX (DD-673, MADDOX (DD-731), and BENHAM (DD-796); destroyer escorts MELVIN R. NAWMAN (DE-416), TABBERER (DE-418), and WATERMAN (DE-740); oiler NANTAHALA (AO-60); fleet tug JICARILLA (ATF-104).

Christmas Eve 1944 – Orders were received to return to the United States for overhaul.

26 Dec 1944 – Oakland departed from Ulithi.

End of 1944 History

1 Bronze Battle Star was awarded for each of the following.

Marshall Islands operation

Bismarck Archipelago operation

Asiatic-Pacific raids (1944)

Western New Guinea operations

Marianas operation

Western Caroline Islands operation

Leyte operation

A total of (8) or  for the years 1943 and 1944.

Favorite anchoring and beer drinking places.

Majuro Atoll Lagoon in the Gilbert Islands
Kwajalein Lagoon in the Marshall Islands
Eniwetok Atoll in the western Marshall Islands
Ulithi Atoll Lagoon in the western Caroline Islands

This Web Page was created and
is maintained by Paul D. Henriott
Last updated 31 March 2005