1950.09.15 Korea Inchon Com7thFleet, USS Taussig operation
"Our group of the Badoeng Strait, Sicily and DesDiv72 were a unit of Task Force 90 during the Inchon landings of September 15-17, 1950 with the Marine Air squadrons embarked giving close support to the troops." -- Comdr. William C. Meyer USN CO USS Taussig.
Task Group 96.8 operated together from 6 August 1950 to 26 December, with Marine Air Group flying Corsairs, embarked on Badoeng Strait and Sicily, giving close air support to the First Marine Division -- first in the Pusan Perimeter Defense, and later at the Inchon landings on 15 September, and covering the Division at Pohang, Wonsan, Hungnam and Iwon. Flight operations, day and night, in support of the Marine 1st Division were very intense and seemed to run continuously. There were a few accidents and we picked up a few pilots who had bailed out or crashed on take-off or landing. Again, destroyer plane guards were always on the job.
Operations during this period kept us sailing from the Yellow Sea on the west side of Korea to the Sea of Japan on the east side of the Peninsula and back again. We did get short breaks in operations, occasionally, and did get a break of 10 days to have some R&R in Hong Kong. But there was one period (December) that we had to operate, primarily in the Sea of Japan, for 34 straight days, with ice and snow covering the ship. We began to get low on food and finally had to try underway replenishment on Christmas Day. It was rugged, and under normal peace time operations we would not have attempted the operation because of the danger to personel on the iced decks. We did luck out, and completed loading underway. We had to postpone Christmas Dinner until evening, due to the replenishment operation. (see Christmas Day service broadcast on intership radio to ships company. Also see Taussig menu)
I should mention at this time -- August-early September 1950-- that BuPers had started to get Reserve Officers and men recalled to active duty and aboard ship. Watch and Watch routines were virtually done away with.
Then orders were received to proceed to Guam. At least we had some warm weather. After arrival at Guam, we replenished ship overnight and sailed the next day escorting our favorite CVE -- the USS Sicily -- back to the war zone. Outside of the 24-hour stop for logistics in Guam, we did not reach a port for any extended time until 55 days had passed, and we got the R&R trip to Hong Kong.
On the 25th of December 1950, CTG 96.8 received the following dispatch from Com7thFleet:
"For Rear Admiral Ruble. Task Group 96.8 has consistently rendered superior close air support to our ground forces in Korea. Outstanding teamwork and stamina have invariably been displayed. Your valuable contribution to the First Marine Division March from Chosen Reservoir and to the Tenth Corps Retirement from Hungham have gained the respect of all hands in the Seventh Fleet. WELL DONE to you and to your splendid Task Group. -- A. D. Struble, Commander Seventh Fleet "
-- Comdr. William C. Meyer, CO USS Taussig
1950.09.15 Korea Inchon Com7thFleet, USS Taussig operation
"Our group of the Badoeng Strait, Sicily and DesDiv72 were a unit of Task Force 90 during the Inchon landings of September 15-17, 1950 with the Marine Air squadrons embarked giving close support to the troops." -- Comdr. William C. Meyer USN CO USS Taussig.
Task Group 96.8 operated together from 6 August 1950 to 26 December, with Marine Air Group flying Corsairs, embarked on Badoeng Strait and Sicily, giving close air support to the First Marine Division -- first in the Pusan Perimeter Defense, and later at the Inchon landings on 15 September, and covering the Division at Pohang, Wonsan, Hungnam and Iwon. Flight operations, day and night, in support of the Marine 1st Division were very intense and seemed to run continuously. There were a few accidents and we picked up a few pilots who had bailed out or crashed on take-off or landing. Again, destroyer plane guards were always on the job.
Operations during this period kept us sailing from the Yellow Sea on the west side of Korea to the Sea of Japan on the east side of the Peninsula and back again. We did get short breaks in operations, occasionally, and did get a break of 10 days to have some R&R in Hong Kong. But there was one period (December) that we had to operate, primarily in the Sea of Japan, for 34 straight days, with ice and snow covering the ship. We began to get low on food and finally had to try underway replenishment on Christmas Day. It was rugged, and under normal peace time operations we would not have attempted the operation because of the danger to personel on the iced decks. We did luck out, and completed loading underway. We had to postpone Christmas Dinner until evening, due to the replenishment operation. (see Christmas Day service broadcast on intership radio to ships company. Also see Taussig menu)
I should mention at this time -- August-early September 1950-- that BuPers had started to get Reserve Officers and men recalled to active duty and aboard ship. Watch and Watch routines were virtually done away with.
Then orders were received to proceed to Guam. At least we had some warm weather. After arrival at Guam, we replenished ship overnight and sailed the next day escorting our favorite CVE -- the USS Sicily -- back to the war zone. Outside of the 24-hour stop for logistics in Guam, we did not reach a port for any extended time until 55 days had passed, and we got the R&R trip to Hong Kong.
On the 25th of December 1950, CTG 96.8 received the following dispatch from Com7thFleet:
"For Rear Admiral Ruble. Task Group 96.8 has consistently rendered superior close air support to our ground forces in Korea. Outstanding teamwork and stamina have invariably been displayed. Your valuable contribution to the First Marine Division March from Chosen Reservoir and to the Tenth Corps Retirement from Hungham have gained the respect of all hands in the Seventh Fleet. WELL DONE to you and to your splendid Task Group. -- A. D. Struble, Commander Seventh Fleet "
-- Comdr. William C. Meyer, CO USS Taussig