ZP-11 Squadron Diary

7/29/2019 ZP-11 Squadron Diary

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9 June

CZ5-c. ic?;(jGyI ..

.,2AirshijsSc4u,y.dronzT,Ei,TcN :{;a.s n.l;;ce< in c om-rm i s si o n a t the 6 .S . N s v n . 1 Air S t r t i o ~ i ,South

Ti;tiY1i~~~th,.. . ?/ lass~ .c l iuse t t s n accordcince wi th-CIVO comniss ion ing order s . L i eu te~x-~ntornziia.nder 1Samuel &I. BBILEZ, USN, assumed com~and. p. . .

';.,u-r;s'c 012 temporary lo.:r, f rc;.x Air 9 S!::u?.?.rcn .y:,:ELJTE. I .i.K-3 e i ~ c u t e o p i c k u p convoy cbserved f r o m a. .lst,ywnce the torzed.,2ing o f S;S R ~ ; \ ; C ~ ~ T : I N S ~ N .T]?e . z , i r sh ip tilcn prcceed5d 60 the scei ie ,d i r e c t e d t h e crew to reboard the s r l v z . g e ~ . b l e ..f r e i g h t e r , :;n5 sumncned. s u r f z c e . s u p p c r t . K-3s tood b7 KEG~~~ ?R I f l S EEn t i l vessel 1c;cr.s t z$en int 17: . ..,..:..13 June Jq4,2 I le , ,

received. sh2ir.p lL&O c o l ~ t s ~ c t ,n6. ' drogpec one bomb i.50 y e r d s ail'3adof ~i:ia!.;e. There %-ereno appa ren t :.r e s u l t s from t h e bordoing . 4-irs h i p recjues-ked ,r ece ived surfsce znti .zir suypcr t . K-8 13marked e.n.6 buoyed t h e sp o t bu t ob t a in ed no ..,f u r t h e r TUiD con tac t s . .....6 J u l y 1942 ..K-6 qas r i p p e d from t s mooring mzst and ..def s t e d nhen a torizLdo struck NPiS S ou th i,?ieymcu-th..

10 J u l y 19~ :Z ..fi convey .!;jas provided. a l l n i g h t a i r-L cever&gef o r t h e f i r s t time by a n a i r s h i p (K-l+) o f Sciuzdmii::;

20- i i u g b s t 194.2 I


2/41

. Seve1-e thuili;erstcTm w i t 1 1 high :>;inzs E!.& h a i ldamzged ncse a . s s e i ~ ~ b l i e sf t h r e e floored o u te i r s l l i p s of n'nich tv;o h a d to be f lown to NPPS -c.lI 'S.akehurst f o r r ~ p -

K -3 landed a t S~.ua .dron xpe2it ibns . ry bzse ;:..tB2.r H::,rboY, liq:$ine t o j.x&.u.;ur?.te use of' t h & tf ' z . c i l i ty .3 0 Septckber 191+2t02 October 19Lk2

7 711-3, b>.sed 2t BET fi?-rbor, grovid.eS- spec.ia1a i r cov2rsge to US5 '$:J~~.


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. ,>T'-7 ', ..,: - ,..r,',- ; Gy .- 7 . ~ -, ,-- ,- .>: - . ,~ c . j .L(,~. ;,; i2i l ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~ u y, - -. slCifi----1. i t h i;l.lTe;z j L i 5 : 1 c1inu-q to it, , ~ ' h ec ir 12571,- .i?~yj


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r"'lhe $j&v&iA i r Si;;tiQn, S o u th T e ~ ~ m ~ ~ i ; h ,~.iz,s L-3 S e p t ~ ; - ~ b e r944, struck hg a huri.ic~:.r?_c ho c e l l t e r of r::lich ,>-T,2 ,c C, ~ , - i.,-ver l;i?e b s s o S G : > T ~ ~ : . J z - f t e y ?li]r? on

.1 /: S c;t lLj 2 : * : 1 ~: ..L .--- i - ; ~ i. ..::cron ~5iJVziQ z i r s i 1 i l sTiyere docked an?- none v;as dan;&ed by t h e storm..'X-; 5 loca , t ed yIT;JjTy .,r:r)16 E,e;2terfibey 191;.4 $ A ---A,L 7 i l . T i ~ y i l j & t , & ~ f - p ~ - p J cduring t h e r e c e n t 11urrica.ne. J!U;D locsted! t h ewreck ~ ? i t l ? i nne hzlf hcur of ;:hen see r ch began.

17-24.Septcnioer 1944


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28 February 1945

29 >:l~.rch 94.5

I(-19 nzde annu a l bird c ou nt f l i g h tf o r F i s h znd V i i l d l i f e S e r v i c e .Commander Fl ee t Airs h in s , A t la nt ico rd.~r ;ec ! h e t em p0ra . r~ s s i gnm ent t oF l ee t A i r s h ip f f i n g OI'BE o f s i x a d d i -t io Lr a l a i r s h ip s cfmhich t ~ oered e s t i n e d f o r B l i m p Squadron ELEVEN .t h u s r a i s i n g t h e , sq ua dr on f s t r e n g t hf r o m s i x t o e i g h t s h i p s .K-50 s ea rch ed fo r fishing v e s s e l re-p o r t ed i n C ii st re ss , l o c z t e d i t , andhorned surffice c r z f t t o it.K-100 estzblished 2-ieak $$AD c o n t a c twhich co inc ided b l i th scund con ta c t sof su ;yort ing SCs. Depth chi


6/41

16 May 1945

2 May 1945

28 Lky 1945

8 June 1945

s h i p ~::;.ovement.CofiiinCh 5x6. CNO conf iC .e n t ia l d i s -m t c h 141956 directed . the decom-

-.missioning of Blimp Squadron SLEVEN.Elimp Squadron ELWEN r e p o r t e d t oComander A i r Force, A t l a n t i c F l e e tf o r n p e r a t i o ~ lcon t ro l . -(see Appendix A ) .Zonrn-&nderA i r F or ce , A t l a n t i c F l e e td i rected Commander Fleet Airsh ips ,A t l an t i c t o assume o p e ra t i o n a l con-t r o l o f B limp Squhdron ELEVEE and pro-c e e d v i t h i t s C~ecommissioning.Blimp Squaclron ELEVEN assumed thoseu t i l i t y commitments of A i r s h i p U t i l i t ySquadron ONE r e q u i r i n g t h e serv i 'cesof K-type e i r s h i p s . Th i s was i naccordance w i t h o r d e r s from Cornan& rF l e e t A i rs h ip s , A t l a n t i c , and. V J ~ - sf i r s t car r ied . ou t fo ur days l a t e r .Blimp Squadron T'fiELVE w a s d i r e c t e d b yCommander F le e t Ai rsh ips , A t l a n t ict o e s t a b l i s h a detachment a t NAS Sou thWeymouth an6 upon t h e e s t ab l i s h m en tt h e r e o f t o assume t h e u t i l i t y con- .n i t m e n ts of Blimp Squadron ELEVEN.( s e e A p p e ~ d i x ) .IC-92 ph otog raphed t h e USS RAKEFIELDas she br oug ht t h e f i r s t l e r g e g roupof r e t u r n i n g ETO v e t e r s ns i n t oBoston Elarbor.T r a n s fe r of a l l Blimnp S qu adr on ZLEVEJNa i r s h i p s t o ot h e r coaliisnd-s v:as com-p le t ed . w i t h t h e f e r r y i n g of t h e K-50t o HAS Lakehurs t .Blimp Squadron ELEVEN w a s decommis-:sio ned i n accordance vri th Corninch andCNO conf iden t ia .1 d i sps tch 141956Xa,y 1-94.5. (see Append-ix c ) .


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8/41

:-C ._. .,. [-. I gI:1;

. . . . . .. . . .... .

0pera t i .o .n~ ere rcj:,t:'ne and uneven t fu l fo r Ai r sh ip Sql-ELEVEN d u r i n g t l i e f i r s t s ix dsys .?? opera t ion, On t he s e ve mday, 9 June 1942 a t 0650, the K-3 while proceeding from U SSouth Fleymcuth f o r a reg ul ar anti-submarine mission, s igh tedl ar g e eastbound convoy. With h i s bi no cul ars o n th e d-i s tan t cvoy as i t czme over the- horizon,' t h e E-3's p i l o t , Li eu t. W. R

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .EELER, US;IJ., saw a l a r g e column- of water r i s e from th e bow of. . . . . . . .. ~ I . : . , - . . .. . . . . . .. , , ~ , . .-sh ip th a t \-$as l a s t i n formstion. Judging i t t o be a . torpedoplosion, he hesded f o r the scene a t f u l l speed and s e n t a p l alanguage re po rt t o t h e base req ue st in g sup por t, Almost iinrrtea second explosion on the same ship wzs observed by Lieu t . PEthrpugh h i s bi.noculars.

k t 6 4 kn i t s , t he K -3 proceeded to, t& damaged ship vii~cproxed t o be the Idor-wegizn SS KRGNPRINSEN out of Oslo, a la^

X _ " * - . . * & - - -* * % - - - . - --- -f re igh te r loaded wi th Army motor cars and trucks-, ak one of- -

was begun 2mmedi-ately by -tihe K-3 be fore %he s.urf@e -support,-* > ,.. d . Br-;tishDD:174 andst%"&cari;ettes 140 and 141, ar?$@i$i.and bd&

t h e i r search f o r the suspected U-boat.- - r. -The T K R ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ S E J ! Jad s topped se t t l ing, ~ 8 sl i g h t l y downt h e -bow, and her s t e r n .&most, . blown o f f . A f t e r surveying the. . . .

. . . .. . . . . . . . ,. :. : ,~~~-oond&~~&on.-,o~~~~~h$@;i.,rri~;f;~gStt,bb:,,~ E & L ~ , ~ & : c + & & & ~ , .h;lt salvage , of ,!> ;;>:;:rj._. . ,. . - ....... .-,...-,.w.r.rr.,* *a& -...,, ,b.; . ........ , % >- < > ...... -% ..G2.~., .=*** . .:. ..,.::.............. . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . .ve.,sex:RZ , S ps.sr2j1-ec.'A6visin.g f &pr erste.a,p'art i e . -zccordi,ng.Xt h e K-3 by rad io recuested th a t tugs be sen t ou t . The a i r s h ivfas then in st ru ct ed by t h e su r f a c e sup por t commander t o d i r e

-2-


9/41

t he c re ff t o r e t u r n - to t h e i r s h i p . This was done by rounG-iu p a l l t h o s e l i f e b o a t s still i n t h e v i c i i L V . Upon boardingt h e KRONPRINSEN, the crew soon g o t up steam and s e t u p commc a t i o n s w i t h t h e a i r s h i ? by v i s ua l s i g m l s . The r e que s te dsur f ace suppor t a r r ived , took t he ve s s e l i n tow, and headedf o r a Nova Scotia por t . The K -3 t h e n r et ur ne d t o South Weymwhere i t landed w i t h only 26 ga l lons of fu e l rema in ing a f t e r26 hours i n t h e a i r .

- A

On 11 June 1942, t h e K-6 r ep laced the K-3 xhich had beef e r r i e d t o th'e Naval A i r S t a t i o n , L a k ~ h u r s t ,New Jersey on t

I

preceding day. The K-3 had been operat ing for Squadron ELEVon a temporary l o a n frorn Airship Squadron TWELVE a t ~akehursI t was not u n t i l 1 7 September that an a i r s h i p wa.s permanentl-assigned t o Squadron ELEVEN; on t h a t date the K-11 vras rece-. . - . .--.-- - - -a i r s h i p s were i n t e r m i t t e n t l y and t emporzr i ly as s8gGed t o AirSquadron ELEVEN f rom Airship Squzdron TIYELVE from 3 Jurie 194

-320c86ber- 1942; airships involved w e r e t h e K-3, K-4, 'K--5, K-6-. - - -- / - I - - - -.--and K-8.On sane 13th, the K-6 i n i r e s t iga t ed of1 s l i c k s anC IJMD c- < .

tacts over as he's Ledge. I t w ~ ombs were dropped w i t t i no ap

A t 1300 on 29 June, about 3 miles south of Buoy 3 J ' e f f r. . . . . . ................... ................ .........Z .+ . . a . : Le~g.e,:,,~h~.~,K.-~a~.~~~,,Ag.htedL_.. .. . . . . .:.. --*.-.,--,3s u.s..picihzls..:Y-s:ha&... > - - . - r i p p l e of f We.p. . . . . .: : 2- 22..2:..2.7.. - . . . . . .: : . ~ :, . . . . . . . . . . . ..., . . . . . . :I " e r . ..-i--iA.'.-.*... -..--.~ . . . . . . . . - . . -. . . . .......... ..-....... ...,__* .... _ . . . . . .&..,ho~J.,~e~.d~..-Mg-Mg~~30000.r..e1a~-i:yed i . s t a n t L50 yards. . The sh ip - ,sbtain- - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .,.. . . , . ~... . . . .. . . .Sh2r.p MAD cont5:ct s.nd dropped one bonb .SO yzrds shead of t h e

v ~ i t h o a.ppsrerlt results. Surfti.ce a.nd a i r s u p p o r t was req.uf


10/41

-nd. received. The K-8 marlied and. buoyed the spot but lie further--A3.D contz.cts x e r e obte ined .

-lics,ring in :i.ithcut v;z:.rning, a torllzcTo struck Scuth :;?e:7n1outh. . .in t h e ez,rly evenil= of 6 J u l y 194.2. A tvfist ing cqlumn o f wind,. . . . . . . . .................. .. .... . . .. . . . . . ........... . . .. .- , . - . . . . ................:.. : . . -~ . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . ..- . . . : .......


11/41

with no appr ren t r e su l t s . The airship began development ofanother contac t \panerr t h e Will gear failed.

A t 1632 on 4 September, t h e IC-4 e s ta b l i s hed an U D ontAf te r a surface c r a f t s ea rch , the con tact was eva lua ted a s f sA t 1750, while p at r o ll in g ahead of t he convoy, th e K -4 sighteperisco pe about 150 yard s fomisrd of t h e blimp 's por t bean. per isc op e, mmediate ly disziipeared. The blimp rnade no attackbecause 3 minutes viere re(-uired bef or e th e s h i p was i n a p o sto a t ta ck . The s p o t IIES rnzrked with a s l i c k . A n i n t e ns ive sf ~ l l o ~ ~ e dnd a suspic ious objec t w k s twice s ighted by t h e K-Lnot id en t i f i ed . The K-L+ received ztnother hU.0 contzc t ; a DD hrepea t ed sonar contac t s and re lea sed 4 depth charges withoutr e s u l t s .

The K -11 wa.s r ec ei ve d on 1 7 September 1942; t h i s was t hea ir sh i p permanent ly a s signed to the Squadron.

Kinds .of gal e fo rc e v~hich ar ri ed v:ith them dense clouds-. .

d u s t k e p t a l l S ~ ~ u a d r o nersonnel busy o n - t h e -SouthWeyrnouth fca r ing fo r th re e masted a i r s h i ps on 2 7 September 1942, A l l ssucc essf ull y rode out th e s torm. On t h e foll o 'c~ ing ay a thunstorm, accompanied. by hig h winds and. h a i l s to ne s, swept ac ro sthe mat. Three z i r s h i p s were rnoored out and T'fere rnanned by p3.nd crevi t o p rev en t them from be ing blovin ;c.r-d~,y. After t h e st

. . ha?i pstssed, '$t~32,s o u n d $h2.,.t~ I T Q 'ships .bed s u f f e r e d s u f f i c i e. . . . - . . " -. . .. ,h . .- _ . . _ . - .. - ,-> .--, :damage t o t h e i r nose assemblies t o warrant t h e i r be ing f lown

NAS Lakehurst f o r r e p a i r s . Bangzir operstions e t NAS South Vied i d not begin unt i l comple t ion of Bangur #l on 3 TJovember 194


12/41

Septe!!;iser 1942 ; , ~ sm'rlied by t h e e s t e b l i s h ~ i e n t f a n ex-pec ', i t iomry b ss e ~t Bar Harbor, Msine. T h i s b ~ s ex s s e t upd u r i n g t h e l a s t neek of , t h e month and f i r s t used on "S Septe&BeP. - - ..-1942 when t h e K-3 l ~ n d e d nd was moored z f t e r executing e specia lmission of providing coverzge t o t h e USS ViLKEFIELD.

The K- 3 , besed ::t South V"eymouth, 1z .s ordered. o,n 2'9 Septembermi les1942 t o proceed o n t he fol:Lot5:ing da.y t o a p o in t 1 5 u e a s t of DigbgBay, N.S., t o f u r n i s h a i r coverage t o t h e USS WAKEFIELD beingtowed to t h e Bcston Navy Y z r 3 f o r re pz -i rs s f t e r t h e f i r e whichhad swept her a sh or t t ime before . The K-3 nas t o be based a tSquadron exped itiona.ry b ase a t Bar Hslrbor d u r i n g t h e e x e cu t i on o ft h i s -.m-ission.

Ensign P. DOYLE, USNEi,, a.nd Ens. E. L. ~TCC~:E~T~VZ~'Y,STJT;,, aeret h e p i l o t s c hose n t o handl e t h e th re e day assignment. Exce l lentweit her and cc,lrn seas, r ~ h i l e avo rin g th e tow, v:ere a l s o on t h es ide of the Germzn U-bokts, t h e de te rm im it io n o f which t o "getrft h e 141MEEFIELD had been voiced by H i t l e r . The tot? made a s i x knotspeed 511 t h e 'i!;~y, ~ i i t h he blimps doing a I7e&ve p n t r o l ekezd a ds u r f s c e c r a f t kee pi ng a sha rp lookout on the sur f ac e .

The K-3, vh i c h T:.s.asbased a t Bar Harbor on 30 September and1October, provided c i r coverzge e l l t h e m y around Nova Scotiaand dosin through the G u l f of bfaine &s f a r ;s Levtiston, ldaine wherei t v;as joined by hezv ier - th m-a i r uni t s . ' i: ith t h i s added coverage,the Vv'AIiEFIELD was sl in ae d dovm t h e i n si d e coz,s ta l route 'safe-ly- : .i n t o dry3ock a t Boston. The K-3, i t s mission completed, lan~t-?a t bIAS South i.uyrnouth on 2 October.

I n a b i l i t y t o xi",:..?.r~,ten f o u l w es ther o r t o pick up d e f i n i t e


13/41

,ses to en:


14/41

t h e INCA. The LL SXITH t hen too!:r t h e INCA i n to^.The I"olio~;in,~;2.37, t he Si.iuadronf t h r e e sir h i p s I(-11, K-12,

. . ... .-. .. and K-14 Tiere clocked. i n Hamgar $1. This was. t h e ~f-irstime, h a t . . . . . . . . .. . ... . . . . . . .. . . -......... . .th e ne.isly completed 1000 f e e t s t e e l hangar had housed an a . i r sh ip .

The I


15/41

Weather conditions continued unfavorable during Februa-ry1942 when 37 f l i g h t s (338.2 hours) were made on 15 dzys ofope rati ons. Twenty-eight ve ss el s were esc orte d during th e month.Several photographic and one c a l ib ra t i on f l i g h t were made bySquadron ELEVEN airships during February. On 18 February, t h eK-11 ma.de a n in ve nt or y of mig rato ry waterfowl; a U.S. Game Mamge-ment agent was aboard during t h i s f l i g h t which follovred t h e coa st-l i n e from North River, .hfassachuset ts t o th e Cape Cod Canal. .

- V?ith impr.oving weather, Squadron ELEVEN'S number of f l i g h t sduring March 1942 increased to 96 . Operations, however, wererout ine except for two MAD con tac t s by t h e K - 1 4 and K-38 on 14March; at te mp ts t o develop th es e co nt ac ts , however, were unsuccess-fu l . A t o t a l of 337 vessels were escor ted during t h e month.

The K - 1 4 su f fe red a s t e e r in g casua l ty due t o a locking key .fai1uk.e and d r i f t e d h e l p l e s s l y i n high ~ ~ 2 n d ~ithout rudder controlf o r a p p r o x i m a t e l 30 minutes i n t h e v i c i n i t y o f t h e Naval A i rSta t ion , Sou th Vleymouth, Massachuse tts on 28 A p r i l 1943. A t f i r s ti t was bel ieved th a t t he cont ro l wires had par ted outs ide of t heshi p but Ensign P. DOYLE, USMR, S t ru c t u re and Repair Officer ofSquadron ELEVEN, took or"f i n an SNJ, c i r c l e d t h e K-14, and foundth a t re pa ir s could be made from wi th in the ship. The p i l o t of t heK-14 , Ensign H. F. SIJIITH, USNR, was so not if ie d. and the mechanicaboard th e s hi p ma,de r e p a i r s by breaking o ff th e small ends off i l e s and insertins: them a s su bs t i t u t e keys i n the keyvrzys. A sth e r e s u l t of t h i s in ci de nt , Bureau Change Number Seven was ordered.

An a ir s hi p expedi t ionary uni t from the Squadron was d is pa tc he d '


16/41

to Trenton, ( ~ a rarbor) idaine on 29 April 1943. The K-42landed, ~ i a s erv iced on t h e mc.s t , and took off vii thout incident, . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . ... . . . .,- ,.. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . .. . .The g round h a d n g p a rt y was up of a few key . -menfrom South - - . .-.:j.~.:.:............ .Keymouth plus personnel frora Bar Hsrbor Se ct io n Base and C iv il A i rPa t ro l pe rsonnel a t T renton . The s e c ti o n ba se quartered. and sub-s i s t e d p ers onne l from FIAS South Keymouth. The Naval Air Sta t ion ,Brunswick, Maine, provided su bs is ten ce , q ua rt er s, and se rv ic in gf o r t h e Squadron tru ck s enroute t o and from B ar "~ ar bo r,

Operat ions f o r Miiy 194.3 Qere routine and uneventful exceptf o r &n a t t a c k made by t h e K-38 on an MAD con tac t on t h e l4.th ofthe month. The K-38 dropped one bomb on what was evalua.ted t obe a-WBck. During May, Squadron ELEVEN f lew 140 f l i g h t s t o t a l l i ng

hours .A s par t o f i t s program for enl is ted training, Airsh ip S q u ~ ~ 6 x ~ n

ELENEN est abl i she d an En lis ted Lighter- than-Air School designed t ot r a i n Squadron personnel t o ' b e f1Qua-1LTAtT ( ~ u a l i f i e d . ,Lighter- than-A ~ F ) . This school wzs pat te rned upon the Enl i s ted Airsh ip TrainingSchool a t NAS Lakehurst . F i r s t c la ss graduated.f rorn t h e Squadron.school ,on 29 June. 194.3; ,57.enlisted personnel were designated"Qua1 LTAu t h a t d a te .

On 1 5 J u l y 1943, i n l i n e with a genera l reorgan iza t ion ofthe At lan t ic F le e t l igh te r - than-a i r o rgan iza t ion , Air sh ip SquadronELEVEN was redesignate d - ~ l i r a ~quaCron ELEVEN.

The Chief o f t h e Hingham, Lfassachusetts, F i r e Depertraent f o r -warded a v el y a p p r e c t a t i ~ r c e t t e r i n c o nn ec ti on w i t h t h e d js co ve ryof a f o r e s t f i r e by a Squadron a ir sh ip on the evening of 22 J u l y


17/41

P i l o t and co-pilot observed the f i r e , placed L message i n aCixie cup, used an apple for a cover, and dropped t h i s ~~sserfon the lawn of 2 nearby farm house from which t h e message wasforv~zrded o th e Fi re Department. A s t he f i r e was i n a n inaccs i b l e l o c a ti o n, i t i s doubtful whether i t xould heve been othev i se discovered before the next morning. T h i s was t h e same piwho previqusly reported a f i r e i n the t o m of South Weymouth;que st io n aros e whether t o appoint him a deputy f i r e chief or lhim hang a b e l l on one of the bl imps and p a in t i t red.

Rear Admiral Charles E. ROSENDAHL, U S N , newly appointedChief of Ma.val Airship Training and Experimentation, and h i s sconducted an i n s p ec t i o n of Squadron personn el, material, and hspaces on 29 July 1943.

The K-11, ~ n s i g n. L. QUIVEP, USNR, p i l o t , wag. n .anescmission on 31 J u l y and a t 2020 was ordered to re t u rn t o base because of expected thunderstorms. The K - l l headed towards the bf am .Cape Anne , .ex per ien cin g t .urbulence. Lightning was observ

. inland. A t 2132, the K - 1 1 recrossed th e .coastat S c i t u a t e , f l y ia , t 450 f e e t . Lights a top t he hangar were vi s5 bl e. Lightning wobserved. t o the north and south, b u t r a i n had not y e t commence

A t 2137, l i g h t r a i n began and RPMs on b o th engines were increased t o 1300. The K-11 w a s flying normzlly and t h e ground

. * ......... .was. a2pro.x-i.qat,gly 2.5:ry~tS'.' A t 21-39 th e r & i nbectime heavy w i t....... . . . . . . . . . . . -.............. . . . . h a i l s t o n es ; t h e mind' ncreased and b eg sn t o s h i f t t o t h e n orth wThe s h i p was becoming progress ive ly heas ie r and t he p i l o t decidt o r e t u r n t o Cape Cod Bey t o d ro p b a l l a s t . An at tempt V J Z S made

-11-


18/41

t o ga in a l t i tu d e i n orde r t o make a turn. The K-11 xvas dl'oppinga t the r a t e of 150 f e e t per minute. Fu l l up e l e v a t or and f u l l

. .. . . . . .'. .,:..........throt t le were applied a.nd the rudd-erm~n as ins t ruc ted not ,to-..-

. .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . .. . . .. .. . .. - -t u r n the r u d d e r l e s t he br ing t h e nose down. The port engineresponded t o th e th r o t t l e and turned. up t o 1800 RPMs. The s t a r -board engine sputtered and never got above 1400 RPXs.

The s h i p w a s s t i l l s e t t l i n g a t t h e r a t e of 150 f e e t perminute a.nd viii;as a.ls'o d r i f t i n g r ap id ly t o p or t w ith p r a c t i c z l l y noforward speed. I t could. be seen by use of t h e la.nc?ing light t h a tt h e s h ip was above t h e t r e e tops. The engines were throttled back.Th-e e leva to r man then cu t t h e s a f e t y and forward engine switches.A t 2144, the ca r s t ruc k the t r e e tops, then the top o f e two story

~p:'


19/41

LELLON, USNR, proceeded t o t he designated a r e a 2nd searched thea rea wi th ' negat ive r es u l t s , Extending t h e s r e a of search, the . . . . .....;.....:.:.. :................ . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .K-14 sighted overturned skiff at 1620, f.r-e.. ..gg'ast...df...?... 3 s . . . - .................... . . . . . ., . . . . . . .. ............................... . . . . , , .... . _ .... _ ...........................................---...Brant Rock. Three men were cli ng in g t o th e bost. The a i rsh ip -dropped i t s l i f e r a f t a n d marked t h e sp ot w i t h a smoke flti.re; theni t d i r e c t e d a f ishr ing vess e l t o th e rescue of t h e , th re e men. Afo ur th man had previously drovarned.

Vice Admiral A. ANDRWiS, U S N , Commander Easte rn Sea F ro n t i e r ,v is i ted the Squ%d.~*onn 2 September 1943, making a study ofoper-ations of t h e Squadron and HedRon. I n t h e afternoon, t h eK-10 escor ted the MIGRLLNT, carrying Vice Admiral BNDREIkS fromBoston. Harbor t o t he Cape Cod Canal, the Admiral 's plane hsving

sen grou ded due t o wezther conditions.The K-69, re- erec ted on t h e base a f t e r i t was deflated during

an undocking accident of August 13, made i t s f i r s t t e s t f l i g h t on9 September and w a s pronounced satisfactory.

On 1 4 September, Cspljain G, He MILLS, USM, Commander F l e e tAirsh ips , At lan t ic , conducted a mi l i ta ry and m a t e r i d inspe ct ionof B l i m p Scjuadron ELEVEN. Cornrna.nder R. F. TYLER, USN, CommanderFleet Airship Wing ONE, and o f f i ce rs o f ' va r ious s t a f f s formedthe inspect ing party.

I n t h e first change of coprnand si n ce th e commissi.oning ofthe Squadron, Commander S, !A. BAILEX, USN, who had guided t h e .d e s t i n i e s of t h e u n i t s i n c e i t s inception, turned over command on

yteniber 24th 1943 t o L ieu ter xn t Comnla~derJohn S mMN O N y USN,. .. . .. . . .Officer of the Squadron s ince May 194.3 when Lieut. Come. . .


20/41

J. J. h'IcCORMICK, U S N , ka.d bea ci.etr.ched t o assume command of A i r - ................... . . .

2 . .. . . .sh ip Squadron TVilENTY-TWO . The ceremony took place ..i..'Hangk-.... . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. -. . .....................-............................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .'Plumber ONE where Commander BAILEY rezd the orders which detachedhim. Lieutenant Corfimander SHANNON followed with t h e r e a 4 . i ~ fhis orders and b o t h outgoing and incoming commanders inspectedthe Squa.dron personne l. Lieutenant Cecil A. BOLAM, USN, whoha.d been Operat ions Off ice r , wc s , nanled Executive O f f i ce r t o f i l lthe vacancy caused by the success ion of Lieu temnt ComnanderSHANNON to command.

On 31 October 1943, the K-12 wzs landed and. docked withoutd i f f i c u l t y i n t h e r e c e n t l y completed Hangar Number T#0. Althoughthe K-69, a f t e r its de f l e t io n on 13 August was re-erected i nHangar Number K O , t h e I(-12 a c t u a l 1 . y sirzs t he f i r s t s h i p t o bedocked t he re .

O p e r ~ t i u n s o n t in u ed ro u t i n e d u r i n g Novernber 19ik3 v ~ i t h 9missions znd 3 5 tr:inin,? 'fli,yhts flo'irn z.gp:regttinq 1063.8 hours .

Vice-Adairel H. F. LEBIIY, USN, Command-er Ea s t e rn Sea F r o n t i e r ,insl>ected t h e Syuad.r'on and. hangc;r spaces on 8 December.

Excel lent ground hztneling by Ensign J. F. FALLON, UShX, andc leve r manipulat ion of the eieva. tor controls by Ens ign R . L.E O V I N G , USNR, ; ; i lo t , snved t h e K-14 from s e r i o u s dan~ageor pro-bnbly def l s . t ion d u r in g dockin,g msneuvers a t about dusk on December9th. The ship, having j u s t l anded from a p z t r o l , v.as being vltlkedi l l to t h e hhng2r when gust ; of 3 0 k n o t s f r o r a the northwest , s t r uc k

. . . .i t , c z u s i n g I t . o kite t o an angle o f more t h m 60 degrees . The . . . ..tail of t h e s h i p pz.ssed i i i t h i n n feu, f e e t u f t h e hangar door,


21/41

i s ing c lear above i t , and. i n t h i s pos i t i on ,A t t h i s ~ o i n t , nsign FLLLON ordereci t he t r hc to r t o be backed 5 - w ~ ~from the door , p r even ting the t a i l from s t r ik in g .g$e ha.,ngsr'ig,,-

. .descent. The sh ip w e s then docked*The nonths o f J a n u ~ ! q .nd February 194.4 brought with them

severe v ~i n t e r ?era t ing conc li tions yround ing BlimpRon ELE3?EN e i r -s h i p s f o r 7 and 8 days r e spec t i ve ly ou t of ~ a c h onth. No con-t a c t s , a t t ~ c k s , e sc ue s, o r ot h er e ve n ts of importance occurredduring the two months.

Lieutenant ~ e c i l. BOLHiy USN, Executive Ofricer. of theSquadron since 2.4 September 1943, succeeded Lieutenant CommanderJohn SHANMON , USN, as Commanding O ff ic er i n ap pro priP .te ceremonieseld on the deck of Hangar Number O N E on 29 March 1944. Lieutenznt

Comnander SUTJTJGN ViLs detached t o sssunie 2 7ost i n t h e Bureau ofAeronaut ics i n Kzshington. L ieutenznt John F. PELR, USNR, wasnamed Exe cu tiv e Of fi ce r.

In t he e ~ r l y f t e rnoo n of 1 4 A o r i l 1944, t h e I


22/41

t o hold uptbiind from the f i e l d u n t i l th e su nset l u l l .. . . . .Ensign FORhND headed i n t o th e wind znd r i n h i s engin& a t , ..J.;.~.:........ . . .. . . . . . . . - ......... , . . ._,.... . . .. . ....... . .lowpee(Zj un t i l1730 Tihen he ,mzde a lan$Ja.itb..m:-y6uB iil . .; . . ......... . . . . . . .. . . . . .

gus ts to 26 knot?, A 1 1 th e fc b r i c ~ 2 sf f the gor t s id e of thef i l l , b u t none i . t .s to rn from around t h e e6ges, nor an;- the rudaersurfac e d~rnzged, Sur-pris ingly, th e f ab ri c on the por t s ide . hadheld xriithout c n y s i g n of weakening, and theBe hcci been no jsmmingor binding of th e co nt ro ls el though la rg e bunches of fa b r i c weredra.ped over t h e f i n b-race tficires and some were over t h e rudder - .con t ro i c sb le . The ~ i l o t a id tilst he' f e l t no l o s s of contro3,b u t detected a , s l ig h t v i 3 rz t ion o f t he rudder con t ro l s sometine-bef ore he Itnel,, of h i s f i n daaage. The most pla us ib le e x p l a m t io nwas th at v ib ra t io n csuses h thin chafed area which developed intoa s mall h o le ~ ~ l i i c hn t u r n caused t h e f a b r i c t o give i n t h e highgusty ninds. The -r.ind. s t one t ime dur ing t h e f l i g h t vzs 36-40Irnots vdith gus ts Lo 55 - 60 knots .

On 18 April 1944, 3 5 miles sou th of Nantucket I s land, a s ther e s u l t of a mid-air c o l l i s i o n of tvio tr ai ni ng planes f ly ing f rom

.............


23/41

l i f e r f f t s ls.s21ed totgett ier . A t t h i s t i n e , t h e SC 630 ;?bout7 miles from the scene accorr ,p~niedby another , ? i r sh ip , G-8 (!-ir-

. . . . . . ..... . i..... .s h i p U t i l i t y Squadron QME ) . The H-9 raclioed %.he f.,&ndi.ng..o&.,&:~' . . . . . . . . - ) : . .:::: .:. . . . .............. ..cr...r* ;-.... - < ....* . . . I -.... .................. ._ -...........su rv iv or s and hovered over them u n t i l t h e GI;$ arrfved. 1egd:irg t h e 7 " - - 'SC 63'3. The SC 633 toe% the tr to survivors zbozrd.

Xesuming i t s searc h h t 1725, the K-9 ~j.gc.in v~e pt he are a,2nd h t 1750, one of t h e cre-;; sig ht ed a srnz11 ob je ct i n t h e v~ a te rwhich proved t o be a man, ep pa re nt ly unconscious, i n a l i f e jacketf l o z t i n g f a c e up. The K-9 s i g m l l e d a PI!bozt ~vhichS:as on t h escene, a n6 th e PT picked the man up . Surface c r a f t and a 3 ~ p l a p e sthen secured , but the K-9 con tinued the sez rch u n t i l o rdered back-t o i t s base a t 1910.

The Squadron Commsnder, L ieu t . Comdr. ECLAM, USN., p i l o t e dthe K - 1 1 o n a t r a i n i n g f l i g h t on 7 May 1944 the purpose of which-..--vilc!,s t o insp ect the rece nt l y es tzbl isnei ! S :j,u~dro 'n ipe6. i t iamr yf e c i l i t i e s s . t t he N ~ ~ v a li r S ta t i o n , Brunsviick, 11Saine. Des pit eextremely poor v is ib i l i ty due t o f o g , th e K-11 lzndcd r t Bruns~-i ick, .~~;Iz.ine,t ? - s refueled , hnd r e tu rned t o South \Veyrnouth t h e same day.This landi ng of th e K-11 marked t h e i n i t i d use of t h e Squadron'sex p ed i t i o n a . r g f ac i l i t i e s a t Brunsviick.

Bar Harbor exp editi onary opertitions got und-erway on 8 Uay.194.4 when t h e ex pe di t i on ~. ry r h i l e r z nd ground handlers weredi sp at ch ed n o r t h ~ a r d rom South Weymouth under t h e comnand ofLieyt . C . J . BUmE, USl!lR. On th e fol lowi ng morning, th e K-12,L t . ( j . G. FRk-ZIEn, USNn, took or': Tor Tre nto n i i r p o r t ( ~ a r

.. .darbor) ind 1;nded there t o beg in 1944 opers t ions from t h z t bzse .


24/41

The nzonth of June 19/:,4.;:- s uncventf ul., op er at io ns were Iro u ti n e except fo r th re e minor inc id en ts !::hick occurred t o t h e

. .......K-69, K-38, and I{-lli.. On 22 June, t h e K-69 &n~>:.nc.d.. . h ~ . ~ ~ e . . & n : &. , ,... ..:........- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 2;:. . .bag i n a.n unexpected mzri-ner. I n running d o f ~ n nd ilivestip,.;tlng - 1 ' .P r;.&zrb l i p , t h e K-69 h i t ' its- t r ~ i l i n g ntennz zgc in s t t h e mzstof s sh ip znd l ~ u r l e d h e znt-rm;. through th e b2 2 f ev, inches fromt h e a i r t unne l j us t a f t of the czr . A l l of t h i s occ ur re d be f o r et h e p i l o t c o ul d s e e t h e s u rf ac e v e s s e l and a vo id t h e c o l l i s i o n .The K-68 re turn ed t o bas e vmlthout d i f f i c u l ty .

The same day .(22 June 1 9 4 4 ) ~ h e p i l o t of t h e K-38 ha.d a -s l ig h t sca re . During a pa t ro l mission , he f e l t a. sudden s h a r p .js r r in g throughout t h e cel.r. . F e ~ r i n g p s rt in g cf t he suspens ions ,he headed home irnmedistely, rad loi n: h i s suspec ted t rouble . T h es h i p s7:as ins pec ted . a f t e r i t r e tu rned success fu l ly and no t r oub l ecou ld he foun d. The probz-ble ex- pla mt lon i4iE.s t h h t o n that d&ythe re vlere ext remely heevy cx l ib r e guns f i r i n g i n h i s p a t ro l a r ea ;the concussion probzbly gevc the h-38 t h e v i o l e n t jrzr.

Con6-ucting a n inst rum ent search a t n ig ht on 27 June 1944, ona sp ec ia l sweep of Penobscot Bay, t h e K-14 came cl o se t o strikinga bridge between ti:eo islands. stand in,^: a t t h e vuiincishield, loo kin gforviard , th e p i l o t saw t h e o b s t r u c t io n i n tim e t o g i v e a ~ u ' i c korde r . f o r up e l evz tor , t hen dosi? e l eva tor to g e t t h e t ~ i lver

. t h e b r idge.T;Tnile conducting ; pecia.1 MAD search s t 4,l+-0511; 67-5- l ;

and 2 . t 2.n 2- l t i t ude of be taeen 200 2nd %5G fe e t , th e K-14 crasi?edi n t o t h e i;;te-r. i n f u l l f l i g h t 2 - t 22856 on 2 J i i l y 1944. During

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25/41

'

he ii'IPD se e r c h , t he K - 1 4 v ~ a s llovled t o g e t t o o c l o s e t o thevi;.ster. The F l i g h t Cap tz. in , vrho v"ss a f t i n t h e c a r , chanced t o

. . ..._...... . . . .ook out of th e port v:'indo~;snd, s s r t l e d a t the. p r o x ln i t y . Qf..:t.b . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

. . . . . .. . . ." . . . . . . - . . ........ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........I.._._........ 2.......................... . . .wa te r , r a n forviard t o o r d e r t h e s h f p t o n s a f e , z , l t i tude , but the;. . . .K-14 st ru ck t h e 1~:2..ter ~i l rn ost mi ed ia te ly .

The ccr r 'p idly f i l l e d ~ i t hE te-. Five me~nbersof the cr'ev:es cap ed f r om t h e c E r r r it h d i f f i c u l t y and made t h e i r u t i y t o af l o a t i n g f i n s ur fa ce . Then t h e f i n sank, they swam t o s sectionof t h e enve lope s t i l l p a r t i r l l y I n f l a t e d and af lo a- t. One of th ef i v e becane separF. ted f rom th e o t h e r s and disappeared . A t 0550Q,t h e four su rv iv or s viere picked up by the USS T&-TRIOT. The bodiesof the rern~~in ingi x melnbers of t h e cres: were rec ov er ed .

- .

Those ~ h oo s t ' t h ei r l i v e s i n t he a c c ide n t we re :L ie u t . C hs r l e s \ J . KLUBEB, 8118248, USNR.Edward J . DRZEV,X'ECKI, B608 84 34, fiR2c, USPaR.Viilliam H. ! I UNRO , $607 9 5 29, A RM ~ c , USNR.John V. OLDAR, i7224 81 75, M1iD$2c, USN.i i a l t e r P. OZESKY, $653 22 93, I;EM3cJ USNR.John I3. POITLES, #2 58 3 5 87, ARll2c, U S N .Ensign Id. I'. CARLSON, USNR, i n t h e K-25 p a r t i c i p a - t e d i n r e sc ue . ' .

work on th e c f t e rn oon of 1 August 1944,. H e UE,S d i v e r t e d f r o m 5gunnery f l i g h t t o t h e p o s i t i o n o f a fishing v e s s e l r ep o rt e d i n .

6: is t ress . He found t h eb r i f t , t h e JOFjiRE, a d r i f t wi t h no c o n t r o lbout 133 mi le s EhE of ?ori;lend v!ith her ensign f l y i n g u-oside down.

The I(-25 dropped t>?o messages t o he r deck t e l l i n g t h e crev: o f theJOFFRE 1;hs.t he lp i n t h e fo rm of a Coast Guard vessel was o n t h ei nw2y snd h or ni n. cn t lie a . irsh i;pls ra d i o . Ho-i~ever, t h e Cozst Guard

I

. .r;i.ft broke d-own am:. h ~ . d o be t.ou:.ed b2.ck t o b a s e a.nd t h e K-25 w s s. .

. r e c a l l e d th r e e houi: s a f t e r making conxta.ct w i th t h e JJOFPRE. S u r f a c e


26/41

crGft S o c ~ t e d l ie f is hi l ig ves sel th e foll .ov; ing ciay ~ n d . o-;.ed i ti n t o ;?art.

. . . . . . . . . > . . .A hurr ican e swept th e nor t hea st coast , i%s cenh,r:-p+s&&.g.?.,.......;... . . ................. . -* . . . .

over t h e ba se s h o r t l y a f t e r '0100 n I 4 Septe~nber. The St . -10n. .srcrned i n a.dvr;.nce served cis 2. por t of re fuge f o r hezvie r - thsn-a iru n i t s ui:) an6 down the c o ~ s t .na Sc:uaircn personnel turned o u t tohsndle the land-ing and. be rth in g op er at io ns . Lie ute na nt CornrnanderB,OLAU, USN, Sguairron Come-nder and Senior Fleet Naval viat tor. atSouth G'eymouth, assunicd comi~%nd-f ope ra t ions . I t u:as a t f i r s t

- - - -expected that about 130 planes would Jbe handled, bu t this numb-ex' -grew r a p i d l y a s t he a f te r noon o f 13 September mt on. The f i r s tp lznes.,. a r r ived. . a t 1230 and a f t e r. . . . h a t , f o r s i x h ou rs, a planeland.ed every minute u n t i l a t 1833 th er e ?;ere 326 plenes secured i nthe hangs= . . ?

The pla nes were SNJs, FAUS, S m s , TEFs, TBMs, F6Fs, RB-ls,FNs, G H s , GB-2s, GS2Us, SBDs, R50s, and PVs. They c a n e from7 >he s t e r l y , F.I . , Ch;.rlestok.n, f l . . I . , O t i s F i e l d , N~ss,, &rthatsVineyard, ;vIz.ss., Groton, Conn., Quons et P oi n t, R . I . , Charlestown,R.I., Lakehurst , N.J. aul NAS N ew York. The -sou th wind made i t

< .-

necessary f o r th e p lanes t o be l snded scro ss the Eas t mat, so t h el o n g e s t s t r e t c h o f runi.;g, p i r ~ l l e l o Hangar ONE vias not uszble .B u t dur ing the xhole operz t ion, involvin g 652 landings 2nd take-o f f s on a s t r a r ge f i e l d , t he r e w ere only two acc iden t s . One F6Fcrscked up on th e Ez st mat probably becau se t h e rough ground.caused a wing t~ ciip am1 s t r i k e th e ground.. Ltiter, v:hen 1s.ndirgsvwere being ma.de i n th e ssme di re c t i o n on th e Viest r ag t , a PV1 failedt o g e t down soon enough and c;.reened o f f the ed.ge of t h e f i e l d . i n t o

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27/41

2. rocky erea. where it hzd t o be dismantled.During the op er ~ . t i on he exper ience o f ~ l lquadron o f f i ce r s '

. . . . . . . . .- . ................. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .rith prev ious Heavier-than-Jiir t ra in in g was ut i l i ze&, . .OfMcersj-.. ..:.::::.:..::,:: :... :. - , . : . --../-...+*(I. > .I. ,+. _ .,- . . _ . .-.. _,.. ,_......:,::y........ . .were s ta t ion ed with flagi a t k e y p oi nt s over th & field . t o k e e pt h e floTi;ol" t raf f ic smooth am5 t o r o u t e th e v a r i o u s planes cor-r e c t l y so t h r t the;. c o u l d be docked. w i t h t h e i r o sn o u t f i t s as f a ra s poss ib le . A 1 1 F6Fs were do c k d f i r s t because t h e i r fo ld ing wingsmade it co m-p ~r at iv el y ;sy t o ma,neuver them among t h e blimps onth e hangar declr: I n ord.er, to r e le a se a.s few a s p os s ib le of t h e

. . . . . . . . . :. ......... & . . . . . . . . .l i n e s which secured ' t he b limys, t r z f f i c Lanes were.s e t ' 2lp 'Ln.the . . , , ' .. .hangars. I n t h i s vazy Dock Tvao v t s s f i l l e d wit11 F6Fs a l l t h e way t o 'th e North Doors even though a11 plan es were brougklt i n through the. .out'n doors and f i v e b l imps were i n th e hangar .

A t f i r s t t h e p lan es mu l d cu t t h e l r motors a t t h e h an ga rdoors, f o l d th e i r w ings, and be pushed i n to p lzce by manpower,but t h i s tu rned ou t t o be too slow. Thereaf ter , p lanes kep tt he i r motors running and taxied t o th e center of t h e hgngarunder t h e i r own pomer. Altho i~ghundocking operations on t h e14th involved pushing a l l p lanes outs id>eby hand, - t h i s was ,dam

. . ... . ,even f a s t e r than th e docking had been. Planes began t& in g offa t 1000 and a l l were i n th e a i r by 1500.

The I


28/41

a c i r c le of 1 0 miles radiu s from th e origirx?l po si t i on of th e... v e ssL Th i s tras considered t o be th e area i n ir?hich th e vesse l .... ,.. ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . ;.. .. . .< ............. - , . ,. . :. ............Il

.d...... .ss most l i ke ly t .0 be found because., w h e n he&zxi.cane passed,-- ....,t h e f i r s t severe gales were blowing from the SE.

I n l e s s t han one half hour z f t e r the sea-rch was begun,t h e wreck of the "VIit'EYARD i3AVE1\Jf1 w a s loca ted by t he IS-25 bymeans of I I ~ D . The p os it io n of th e wreck vias approximately 1 1 / 2miles NIri! of t h e o r i g i m l p o si ti on , i n 1 6 fathoms. A few days a '1Later ; d ive rs aer e sent down arid the wreck was pos i t i ve ly i de n t i f i e d . ,-,. 4

The K-69, Task U n i t 22.3.2, Lieutenant R. T. CONNOR, USNR,p i l o t , took-off from South Weymouth a t 16402 on 16 September 1944 Ienroute t o Argentia, Newfoundland t o a s s i s t i'n anti-submarine- ' " "operzt ions by the use of $!LeiD gear. The K-69 a r r iv e d a t A r ge nt ia 1 7September a f t e r having landed and refu ele d a t Sidney, N,S, The iK-69 was ordered t o sta nd by a t Argen tia. From 1 7 September t o ,Ii24 September, t h e a ir s h ip was masted a t Argentia and a. wetch waskept i n t he s h i p by members of t h e combat a i r crews. During t h i stime the K-69 successfu l ly rode out ra in and winds which a t onet ime. reached a v e l o c i t y o r -6 0 kkpoOtsnd were o f t e n great-er than.40 knots. On ?4 Septeniber a t 07502 rivith Lieutemnt CornciderC. A. BOLPJ!, as p i l o t , t h e K-69 took-off from Argent ia f o r

L :South V,eymouth and landed a t NAS South Reymouth a t 22382.On 3 0 September the K - 9 , Lieutenant R. T. COMNOR, USNR,

p il o t, proceeded t o Yarmouth, N . S . on a. mviga t iom- 1 and ind oc t r i -na t ion f l&th . Yihile landing a t Y armouth, t h e s h ip was t+l.owno f fwind by n gu st on t h e por t bow. SimultG.neously, a member of t h eground handling crew became entan gle d i n a ho ld ing l ine and f e l l .


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Lieutenant CCNIJOR decided t o remain on the ground t o save the- -. ... . . . . . . . ........................... .. . . . . . .an entzngled i n the l in e . The. ship continue,d., ..qd r i f $ offl ,A,g%a37..,. ;.;: ....-. .......................

. . .. . ......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... ...........,...I ..-..... . , , ........................-. ...-. ^ *,-. -. .....-.... . . .......so f a s t , however, t h a t i t . as.....no$ :p os si ble t .0. bpi=-, &t up i.n%o:...:. ;.&.I.. . . . . . . . . .the wind before i t h i t th e mast parked a longs ide th e l.aridingarea. The K-9 de f l a t e d r a p id ly on the f i e ld .

- . a

One member of th e crern of t h e K-9 was sup e r f ic i a l l y cu t .One of t h e men on th e t op of t h e mast q pa re nt ly had unbuckled ," . - < "h i s s af e ty b e l t t o climb down. He was overcome by helium, f e l l

. . . . . .................. ..; - ..,;: ,.. ..- . . , . 4 - ..,.,;............. --.; .r, : . L * . . -r.-,*..at o t h e c on cr et e t a x i s ' t r ib , and was seriously .injiured. .His . . . . . . ,F-,~b.... . . . .. . - . .Cansdian as s i s t an t had a l so unbuckled h i s be l t , He f e l l --intot h e d e f l a t i n g m e l o p e and had t o be cut o u t . - . . " . . >The K-25, Ensign G. Re ANDERSON, USNR, p i l o t , d u r i n g routine Ip a t r o l on 23 October 1944 was diver ted. a t 1200 Q and ordered t o~. - , .sea rch f o r su rv ivors of an SBD which had c rashed a t sea South ofNantucket. A t 1551Q i n 40-42N; 69-l4W; a r a f t W~ L S sighted con-ta i ni ng two apparen tly uninjured survi vors . Planes were on thescene c i r c l i n g th e r e f t . The K-25 dropped i t s ov:n r a f t and t h esurvivors were seen t o change from th e i r r a f t t o the l a r g e r a i r -

. .s h ip r a f t . By means o f hand si g n a l s a n d megaphone, t h e K-25 l e dthe f ishing ves . se1 JEKFRY & JEPJIY to the scene from a p o s i t i o nthree miles a m y . The su rvivo rs were taken aboard t he f i sh in gve ss el a t 1615Q. The K-25 then s tood by t he c r a f t u n t i l t h esurv ivors were tr an sf er re d t o t he Army Crash Boat #C-39069 a t1735Q.

Leanwhile a t l 5 O O Q , t he K-27, Lieutenant Conmznder C. A.EOLAM, U S N , p i l o t toolc-off f o r the scene with gear aboard f opick u p survivors i f crashboats could not reach the scene before !i-23- ii


30/41

dzrk . The K-27 ~ . r r i v e d t t h e scene a t 1725 by vdlich time t h e ' .,..-

survivors had 'been picked up by t h e f i s h i n g v e s s el .. . . . .

........... . . . . . .............After a n ' in spec t ion of the Sq.usdron i n fs.ont.-R.B&Dga: . ,:, .:. , ,.,.:~.::I::,........... . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . ........I.............. .-_-.-..-"~,- -.-.. .............I-.._.._..-.. _-,,_..- ,..-. ..............;. ..... .. N,jmber n f 0 on 31 O c t o b e r - ' ~ ~ ~ 4 , - -f.&Gt-emj-&mma&er.~~~--6=:F.i..-P~EAR; .... ~,2:Li.-. .

USIJR, assumed comi~iand-of B l i m p Sr,uadron ELEVEN. L i e u t e m n tCorimander C. A. BCLAIYI, USN, xho had been i n comzand o f B l i m pSquad-ron ELEVEM s in ce 29 b r c h 1944, r ead h i s o r d e r s d e t ach inghim from t h e Squadron, Li eu tena nt Commader BEAR, t h e nevi i ",

ZP-11 Squadron Diary

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Transcript of ZP-11 Squadron Diary