11th June 1943
04:02 Radar CONTACT CL Santa Fe. Covering Force moves to intercept two enemy cruisers entering Munda anchorage from East. South Dakota fires first 16inch salvo 04:09. Enemy cruiser seen to sink at 04:35.
04:13 SS Seadragon reports sighting and engaging enemy heavy cruiser on a south easterly heading to the East of Kavieng.
04:46 SS Blackfish engages destroyer escort of two battleships near Lihir. Enemy task force on southerly heading.
05:23 Visual CONTACT CA Quincy. Damaged enemy cruiser spotted and engaged, enemy ship sunk 05:57.
06:34 SS Billfish reports two attacks by carrier planes to the East of Kavieng. Sub proceeds to shadow. COMSUBPAC orders all boats to attack. Be aggressive!
08:23 Lt Phillips sends message ***SIGHTED***ENEMY CARRIERS***
09:15 Second confirmed sighting of enemy flattops. Estimated two days out of Munda.
10:00 Enemy float plane shot down by CAP over Munda.
11:23 LRCAP scrambled as enemy planes detected incoming. Ki-43’s and D3A2’s. 30 enemy planes shot down. No loss.
13:45 TF 186 reports unloading completed, withdrawing.
15:09 CAP scramble as incoming raid detected from NW. 3 D3A2’s dive on CVE Sangamon, no hits. All enemy planes destroyed.
18:09 US I Corps receives message ***HAVE MADE EDGE OF AIRFIELD***TWO LINES OF BUNKERS DESTROYED***ENEMY HANGING ON***ATTACK TO CONTINUE TOMORROW***
Bytes and Dice 