Report of The U.S.S. Helm
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CONFIDENTIAL
From: |
The Commanding Officer. |
To: |
The Commander Task Force FORTY-TWO |
Via: |
The Commander Destroyer Division Seven. |
Subject: |
Search for Survivors from USS Neosho - Report of. |
Reference: |
(a). Comdesdiv Seven desp. 131250 of May, 1942. |
(b). Comsowespacfor desp. 131530 of May, 1942. |
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(c). Helm desp. 171017 of May, 1942. |
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Enclosure: |
(A). Track Chart. |
(B). Paraphrases of references (a), (b) |
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(C). Copy of Medical Officer's report. |
1. In compliance with references (a) and (b), this vessel departed Noumea at 1922 GCT, 13 May, 1942 and proceeded towards the designated search area at speed of advance 13.5 knots. 2. Search was commenced at 1950 GCT, 15 May, 1942, speed 20 knots, zigzagging; speed of 3. At 2000 GCT, 16 May, resumed search. At 2145 GCT sighted a life raft with men on it. This raft was sighted by the rangefinder operator during a sweep of the horizon with the director. At 2210 lowered a boat, towed the raft alongside, and took aboard the following named men: SMITH, W.A., Seaman, Second Class These men were all in critical condition due to exposure, 4. The men were immediately questioned as to the possible existence of other survivors. They stated that they were the sole survivors of sixty-eight men who abandoned the NEOSHO on four life rafts on 5. At 2226 GCT, 16 May, resumed search, confining subsequent operations to the area to the westward of the last reported position of NEOSHO (see track chart). At 0505 GCT, BRIGHT, K.T., Sea. 2c, died as a result of exposure. Burial was held at 0705 GCT. At 0740 GCT discontinued search due to darkness and set course for Brisbane. Originated reference (c). 6. All searching was done at 20 knots speed. The zigzag plan in use provided: 7. SMITH, W.A., Sea. 2c, deserves special mention and great credit for his courage and spirit at the time of the rescue. The men on the raft sighted the ship before they themselves were sighted. Although greatly weakened by exposure, being even too weak to wave anything, SMITH got himself to a standing position in order that the raft might be more readily sighted, and remained thus, propped up with an oar, until taken off. It was his standing figure which first caught the attention of the man searching through the rangefinder. It is the opinion of the Commanding Officer, based on necessarily brief observation of, and conversation with, the survivors, that SMITH assumed the leadership of the group and by his courage and will to live materially contributed to the survival of the other men. 8. The survivors stated that they twice saw patrol planes over them, Information from delsjourney.com |