CINCSWPA POST-BATTLE
NAVAL MESSAGE
From the personal collection of Tony Potochniak
The following DECLASSIFIED naval message was sent by General Douglas MacArthur, CINCSWPA, two days after the battle.
| TOP SECRET (DECLASSIFIED) | |||
| FROM | CINCSWPA | ||
| FOR ACTION | COMINCH | ||
| INFORMATION | CNO CINCPAC COMSOPAC |
||
| DATE | 27 OCTOBER 1944 | ||
| PRECEDENCE | OP PRIORITY | ||
| PAGE 1 OF 2 | |||
|
CINCSWPA SENDS VIA COM 7TH FLT. ACTION COMINCH INFO CNO CINCPAC COMSOPAC. BATTERED REMNANTS OF JAP STRIKING FORCES RETIRING WESTWARD AFTER THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF. CONFLICTING REPORTS STILL OBSCURE TOTAL DAMAGE INFLICTED AND RECEIVED. IN ADDITION TO CASUALTIES PREVIOUSLY REPORTED GAMBIER BAY, CVE FELL BACK ON 1 ENGINE AFTER 1ST ATTACK BY STRONG JAP FORCE AND TOGETHER WITH JOHNSTON, DD, ROBERT*, DD, AND 1 DE MUST HAVE BEEN SUNK BY ENEMY GUN FIRE. ALL 4 ARE MISSING. 5 REMAINING CVE OF UNIT SUBJECTED TO CRASH BOMBING ATTACK BY 6 SUICIDE PLANES. 3 PLANES HIT BY AA WERE NEAR MISSES. KITKUN BAYS PORT CATWALK HIT BY 1 PLANE. ANOTHER SKIDDED LENGTH OF KALININ BAY FLIGHT DECK OVER BOW. |
|||
| PAGE 2 OF 2 | |||
|
REMAINING PLANE PIERCED SAINT LO FLIGHT DECK AND SHE BLEW UP. PILOTS REPORT FOLLOWING MINIMUM DAMAGE INFLICTED ON JAPS BY THIS UNIT. 1 CA SUNK. ANOTHER CA BLASTED AND LYING ON SIDE. 3 MORE CA'S TORPEDOED. 1 BB DAMAGED. TORPEDO HIT SANTEE. SUICIDE PILOT CRASHED ON SANGAMON. PRACTICALLY ALL CVE'S WERE DAMAGED. THE JAP FORCE WAS DRIVEN BACK. FANSHAW BAY, WHITE PLAINS, KALININ BAY, KITKUN BAY PROCEEDING TO MANUS FOR REPAIRS. PERSONNEL CASUALTY REPORTS FRAGMENTARY. 2 PC, 6 LCI SEARCHING BATTLE AREA OFF LEYTE FOR SURVIVORS. ADVANCING AND RETURNING ECHELONS CONTINUE TO MOVE ON SCHEDULE. MACARTHUR. |
|||