| Original caption: “The gun crews of a Navy cruiser covering American landing on the island of Mindoro, December 15, 1944, scan the skies in an effort to identify a plane overhead. Two five-inch (127 millimeter) guns are ready, while inboard twenty millimeter anti-aircraft crews are ready to act.” Crew members of USS Phoenix (CL-46) at her port side midships 5-inch, 25 caliber, 20 millimeter (.78 caliber), and 40 millimeter (1.57 inch) anti-aircraft guns strain to identify a plane flying overhead, during the Mindoro invasion. This was a time of intense Kamikaze attacks, as the expressions on men’s faces indicate. Note whaleboat in the lower left, anti-flash clothing, and floater net enclosed in a bag at right. USS Phoenix’s crew witnessed shimpu (“divine wind special attack”) suicide crashes, which the Americans erroneously translated as “kamikaze,” on several occasions during the invasion of the Philippines. Rear Admiral Clifton A.F. Sprague (January 8, 1896 – April 11, 1955) warned Phoenix’s Captain Jack Harlan Duncan (September 21, 1894 – August 21, 1966) of the Japanese aerial onslaught on October 26, 1944: “They come in high and attack in a vertical dive.” On the morning of November 1, 1944, 10 Japanese torpedo bombers attacked Task Group 77.1, including USS Phoenix. 5 minutes after Phoenix opened fire at 0945 Hours, a kamikaze struck USS Claxton, killing 5 sailors and wounding 23. She then had to rescue 187 men from USS Abner Read (DD-526), which was hit by parts of an Imperial Japanese Navy Aichi D3A “Val” dive bomber, whose bomb detonated after falling down the stack into the fire room. Abner Read sank within 15 minutes. 24 crewmen were lost. More Japanese aircraft attacked while Phoenix and other ships rescued Abner Read’s crew. A major attack enveloped 3rd Fleet on November 25, 1944, striking fleet carriers USS Essex (CV-9), USS Hancock (CV-19), USS Intrepid (CV-11), and USS Cabot (CVL-28). USS Phoenix wasn’t present, but news of the attack would’ve filtered through the fleet. Phoenix avoided a torpedo dropped by a Japanese plane on December 2, 1944, which was shot down. On December 5, 1944, Phoenix shot down 2 Japanese aircraft and was targeted by an Aichi D3A “Val” kamikaze at 1706 Hours. Several American warships caught the Val in a crossfire, and it crashed, flaming, into the sea, 300 yards (275 meters) from Phoenix’s stern. Another kamikaze struck USS Mugford (DD-389). The next afternoon, 23 Japanese Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” medium bombers and 9 fighters overflew Phoenix and her Task Group, but continued on to drop their bombs on the transports at Leyte Gulf. It rained at Leyte Gulf on December 10, 1944. During a break in the squall, a swarm of Japanese aircraft overcame the 4 Lockheed P-38 Lightnings from Leyte flying Carrier Air Patrol, who ran out of ammunition; 3 were badly damaged. A twin-engined bomber attacked Phoenix’s stern at 1703 Hours and was shot down 50 yards (45 meters) away from her starboard side. USS Hughes (DD-410) was struck by a kamikaze, killing 23. As Task Unit 77.12.1 approached Mindoro to land an invasion force on December 13, 1944, near constant attacks by single kamikaze aircraft kept the Americans’ nerves on edge. At 1457 Hours, a kamikaze struck USS Nashville (CL-43), killing 133 sailors and wounding 190. When Nashville sailed for repairs 4 days later, Phoenix sent her sister ship a poignant message: “Officers and men of USS Phoenix wish to express their sympathy to their division mates of USS Nashville in the disaster they have recently suffered. We join you in mourning your gallant dead and wishing the injured a speedy recovery. During your absence, we shall strive to avenge your losses and hope that we shall be seeing you again soon. Good luck!” Additional Japanese aircraft flew nuisance raids on the Task Unit; the American warships expended hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Phoenix was so desperate at this point to stop the kamikazes that crew members manned searchlights during the day, hoping to blind Japanese pilots and throw off their aim. During the morning watch on December 15, 1944, antiaircraft fire splashed 2 Japanese kamikazes that crashed near escort aircraft carrier Marcus Island (CVE-77). At 1900 Hours, Phoenix shot down an intruder at 8,500 yards (7,700 meters). USS Phoenix returned to San Pedro Bay on December 17, 1944. The same day, a “welcome weather condition” kept Japanese planes away. The Mindoro operation gave the Allies a base from which to strike at Japanese ships passing through the South China Sea, and to soften up their forces on Luzon for forthcoming landings. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1626.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.10 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 2920 x 2420 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | December 15, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Mindoro |
| Country | Philippines |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-80-G-47471 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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