During the strike on Formosa Light cruiser RENO (CL-96) shot down six enemy planes. 14 OCT 1944, one suicide torpedo plane crashed and exploded on the RENO's main deck aft. Though Turret Six was partially incapacitated by the explosion, the turret captain succeeded in maintaining his fire against the attacking planes and ships. 22 d. 30'N., 124 d. 50'E.

At 1845 on 14 OCT 1944, approximately eighty miles south of Sakishima Gunto 22 d. 27'N., 124 d. 01'E., the light cruiser USS HOUSTON CL-81, which had just assumed the CANBERRA’s place in the screen of Task Group 38.1 as the point ship in the northwest sector of the formation, was even more severely damaged after being hit by an aerial torpedo amidships on the starboard side, just above the keel. All four-engine rooms on the HOUSTON became completely flooded to the overhead leaving the ship without power. A short time later a fire ignited in the after steering compartment and caused a complete loss of rudder control, jamming the rudder in the left full position. The impact of the torpedo left many hatches and doors warped and leaking. The main longitudinal beams of the ship were also found to be warped and bent and the keel was thought to be cracked or broken. The HOUSTON appeared to be breaking up. After receiving conflicting reports of the damage from damage control parties, the skipper, Captain William Behrens ordered the crew to abandon ship. The BOYD closed HOUSTON to approximately 300 yards and launched a whaleboat which was later swamped after rescuing approximately 30 of the swimmers who were delivered to COWELL. BOYD used cargo nets, knotted lines and swimmers to rescue 385 of the HOUSTON personnel from the water. Entire rescue was performed on moonless night while under enemy air attack. Both before and during rescue, BOYD fired on enemy planes, at least one of which was shot seen to blaze into the sea. The BOYD crew did a bang up job in sticking to their rescue stations in spite of the fact they were still under attack. BOYD remained close aboard to serve as a communications relay for the HOUSTON. The destroyer USS GRAYSON DD-435 rescued 194 men and the USS SULLIVANS DD-537 picked up 118 men. The USS COWELL (DD-547) rescued 195 men and received hull damage by collision, 22 d. 27'N., 124 d. 01'E.

Japanese broadcasts by Radio Tokyo, monitored continuously by Admiral Halsey's staff, indicated the Japanese believed Task Group 30.3.1 or "CripDiv I" as it was nicknamed, was the last crippled remnants afloat of Admiral Halsey’s Third Fleet. With this erroneous information, Admiral Halsey attempted to lure the Japanese fleet into the Philippine Sea using the disabled cruisers as bait in hopes of drawing the Japanese into a sea battle. A Japanese attack force departed Sasabo, Japan on the Inland Sea on 14 OCT 1944 with a mission to find a remnant of the American fleet and center the attack on its weak points.

10/14 Sat. OTHER United States naval vessels damaged, Luzon, P. I., and Formosa area: Carrier HANCOCK (CV-19), by horizontal bomber, 23 d. 30'N., 121 d. 30'E. Destroyer CASSIN YOUNG (DD-793), by strafing, 22 d. 30'N 124 d. 50'E.

After seven to eight hundred men had abandoned ship, the HOUSTON's damage control officer Lieutenant Commander George Miller convinced Captain Behrens that the ship could be saved and to rescind his abandon ship order. The HOUSTON signaled a request for a tow. At 0007 on 15 OCT 1944 USS BOSTON (CL-69) approached and maneuvered to pass the towing cable, took HOUSTON in tow and BOYD with COWELL formed screen about them. With the HOUSTON in tow the BOSTON set a southeasterly course for Ulithi Atoll.

Wryly designated "CripDiv 1." at 1200 on 15 OCT 1944 the group joined group towing CANBERRA and formed Task Unit 30.3.1 designated as "Streamlined Bait Unit" by Admiral Halsey. We were told that if an expected Jap surface raid which was supposed to be on its way down to stymie our landing in the Philippines, were to come off, we, "us cripples", were to go out and head them off. BOYD and her companions, playing up erroneous reports issued by the Japanese as to the degree of damage inflicted on "the defeated and fleeing" American force, hoped to draw out the Japanese in chase, so that the carrier task force could destroy them.

The Fleet tugs USS MUNSEE (ATF-107) and USS PAWNEE (ATF-74) received orders from Commander Third Fleet to stand by and be ready to respond rapidly when the call came for their services. Both fleet tugs were instructed to come about and proceed to the scene of the disabled cruisers. The MUNSEE was the first fleet tug to arrive on the scene and assumed the towing of the CANBERRA from the cruiser WICHITA.

More at USS Boyd DD-544 - (CripDiv I) Task Group 38.1 which conducted first strike against Okinawa in Ryukyus

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Regards, Michelle

Oliver Goldsmith, "I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines."