MilColl_WWII_34_Chapline_William_E_Jr_Papers_B1F9_Sinking_Report

Case of Y.P.-389 June 19, 1942 0235 Y.P.-389 Called all ships in Fifth Naval District saying she was being shelled off Diamond Shoals.

0236 Another call like above direct to the Hatteras Mine Field Patrol.

0237 Hatteras Mine Field Patrol called and said help was on the way.

0240 Y.P.-389 siad [said] she was headed for #4 buoy and about six miles north of it. She already had injured men and was keeping her receiver on to hear reports of assistance.

0315 When asked if she could report more, the Y.P.-389 said they were still being shelled and wanted help in a hurry.

0316 Asked her position, the Y.P.-389 said that she was 5 to 8 miles northeast of buoy #4.

0318 District Coast Guard Office ordered the motor life boat #3364 to aid Y.P.-389.

0346 The C.G.C.-462 reported that she had sighted gun flashes on her port bow and was proceeding, but had seen nothing in the last five minutes.

0355 C.G.C.-462 reports gun flashes continuing.

0405 Called Y.P.-389, but received no answer.

0421 Notified Section Base at Morehead City that we may have injured here soon.

0436 C.G.C.-462 said she had nothing to report for the last 15 minutes.

0437 Notified Naval Operating Base that no gun fire had been seen in last 15 minutes. We were told that plane left the field at 0410.

0440 C.G.C.-462 said gun flashes indicated double battery because flashes were so close together.

0505 When asked if she appeared to be getting any assistance, the C.G.C.-462 said, "No".

0512 Asked if she saw anything of Y.P.-389, C.G.C.-462 said, "No".

0513 C.G.C.-481 and 462 ordered to carry out search for survivors or wreckage.

0526 C.G.C.-462 reported plane just sighted. on scene.

0613 C.G.C.-486 ordered to vicinity to join in search.

0640 C.G.C.-462 called C.G.C.-481 over to him as he had just found survivors.

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Case [???] Y.P.-389, continued.

0654 C.G.C.-462 said that she and the C.G.C.-481 had picked up all survivors-approximately 14 or 15.

0657 C.G.C.-481 reported 3 hospital cases of injuries.

0658 Called Section Base (Morehead City) and reported that survivors had been found and that we would need first aid supplies. Asked them to tell N. O. B. at Norfolk that, and that we would need boats to evacuate wounded.

0700 Call to Disctrict Coast Gaurd Office asking for medical supplies down here by plane.

0703 C.G.C.-462 reported having 11 survivors, with 5 hospital cases (3 badly injured) aboard.

0706 Called the C.G.C.-481 for a report on survivors and they answered that they had 8 aboard with one of them injured

0710 C.G.C.-462 and 481 ordered to Ocracoke, N.C. as soon as survivors were picked up.

0718 Coast Guard plane #186 was asked if he had covered the situation and had any survivors aboard. He answered, "No".

0720 Suggested to plane that he might pick up wounded from C.G.C.-462 and take them to Cherry Point or Norfolk.

0723 C.G.C.-462 said plane could land.

0725 Asked C.G.C.-462 how bad the cases were.

0728 C.G.C.-462 answered that they should have doctor on plane with them.

0729 Instructed C.G.C.-462 to bring wounded in here where they would be put on plane.

0731 Coast Guard plane 186 indicated that there were no more surivors out there and that he was proceding to Ocracoke. Boats ordered to make full speed.

0745 Coast Guard plane 186 said Hall boat coming to take men off. It was decided not to move men from boat now.

0745 to 0918 Checking with C.G.C.-462 and 481 on list of missing men which follows:

CRABB, V.W. Jr. F.3c COLE, W.B. F.3c McLEAN, W.T. Sea.1c HIA, M. Sea.1c HENSLEY, Sea.1c

0845 Naval Intelligence ordered us to send uninjured men to Morehead City Section Base.

1030 C.G.C.-481 arrived Ocracoke with 7 men and one body.

1045 C.G.C.-462 arrived with 11 more survivors, several wounded.

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Case [tear in the page] Y. P.-389 continued.

1150 Informed Disrict that we were sending 4 to Norfolk in plane and one to Morehead City by boat.

217 Informed Morehead City Section Base that there would be one body and one badly injured going to Morehead City, and requested ambulance and hearse.

1345 Picket boat departed for Atlantic with one badly injured man, one doctor, the slightly injured and unijured man. Plane departed prior to that with doctor and 4 or 5 badly injured men.