Okinawa USS Barrow (APA-61)

uss barrow emitting smoke

for next 4 days, number of kamikaze-damaged ships steadily mounted, barrow waited @ anchor orders unload. each evening, ship s smoke generators emit clouds of chemical smoke hide ship enemy aircraft reported lurking about. however, japanese planes did not appear in great number until 6th, when 355 enemy aircraft swarmed toward fleet. day, barrow s gunners splashed 1 bogey appeared off starboard bow, 3,000 yards ahead of ship, , contributed intense barrage sent american warships in vicinity. shifting berth later on, barrow took under fire aichi d3a val bomber approaching area @ 4,000 yards range. every gun barrow bring bear swung around , began firing. ship made several 40-millimeter hits before 5-inch gun scored direct hit sent plane steep , fatal glide ended when aircraft hit water , disintegrated.

on 7th, barrow resumed unloading cargo, working own lcvps variety of amphibious ships , craft. afternoon, of ship s embarked troops had gone ashore; and, 2320 on 8th, of cargo had been discharged. on 9th, barrow left okinawa , headed saipan, having emerged second major invasion unscathed. ship reached saipan harbor on 13 april. barrow spent entire month of may enjoying rest , rehabilitation @ saipan. on 7th, rear admiral jerauld wright , staff, embarked in attack transport, , served flagship amphibious squadron 5 until uss ancon (agc-4) arrived in area. admiral disembarked on 4 june, , staff transferred command ships uss mount mckinley (agc-7) , uss appalachian (agc-1).

barrow departed saipan on 4 june, set course solomons , reached florida island 8 days later. underway new hebrides on 15th, attack transport arrived @ espiritu santo on 17th. waited week orders, loaded cargo 26th 29th , departed new hebrides marianas. discharging cargo , disembarking passengers @ tinian 7 10 july, shifted guam overnight on 10th , 11th. soon, however, headed on united states, reaching san francisco on 30 july.