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31 JULY - 8 AUGUST '45 WE ARE INTRODUCED TO A FEW OF THE MANY TYPHOONS THAT HIT THE JAPANESE WATERS. DURING THIS TIME WE ARE FUELED, TAKE ON AMMUNITION, TOWED SLEEVES, CONDUCT GUNNERY EXERCISES AT TOWED SLEEVES, AND LAUNCHED AIRCRAFT FOR EXERCISES IN SQUADRON TACTICS. FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME, NO STRIKES AGAINST THE ENEMY BECAUSE OF TYPHOON CONDITIONS. A NEW ITEM IS ADDED TO OUR VOCABULARY -- ATOMIC BOMB. WE HEAR THAT ON AUGUST 6, 1945, AN ATOMIC BOMB IS DROPPED ON THE CITY OF HIROSHIMA. 9 AUGUST '45 THE WEATHER HAS FINALLY STARTED TO COOPERATE. WE FLY STRIKES AGAINST NORTHERN HONSHU AND HOKKAIDO. OUR PART OF THE STRIKE IS TO ATTACK THE AIR FIELD OF MISAWA. AA POSITIONS ON THE AIRFIELD WERE BOMBED; 3 SMALL FISHING VESSELS WERE STRAFED, OF WHICH 2 CAPSIZED; 6 UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT DESTROYED ON THE GROUND AND 4 IDENTIFIED (3 SINGLE ENGINE AND 1 TWIN ENGINE) STRAFED AND DESTROYED. ONE FTD, ANCHORED IN MIYAKO HARBOR, WAS SUNK BY ONE OF OUR SUBCAP FLIGHTS. DURING THE STRIKES, THE FLAK WAS MODERATE AND MEDIUM ACCURATE. ONE TBM AND ONE F6F WAS DAMAGED BY ENEMY FLAK. 10 AUGUST '45 AS A FAREWELL TO NORTHERN JAPAN, AIR GROUP 47 BURNS 7 "SITTING DUCKS" FLOAT PLANES NEAR AOMORI, SETS AFIRE A LARGE MERCHANT VESSEL, BURNS OIL STORAGE TANKS, BOMBS AND ROCKETS FACTORIES, RAIL YARDS, A DESTROYER AND SMALL SIZED SHIPPING. THE FIRST REPORT OF A JAPANESE OFFER TO SURRENDER IS RECEIVED. WE LISTEN TO DESCRIPTIONS OF PEACE CELEBRATIONS IN MANILLA, CHUNGKING, LONDON, AND NEW YORK. WE PREPARE FOR OUR NEXT STRIKE. 11 - 12 AUGUST '45 MORE PEACE REPORTS AND CELEBRATIONS, BUT, THE PLANES ARE GASSED AND ARMED FOR STRIKES AGAINST TOKYO. 13 AUGUST '45 TWO STRIKES SENT OUT; THE FIRST ATTACKS A LARGE INDUSTRIAL PLANT IN HACHIOJI, THE OTHER HITS KISARASU AIRFIELD, ACROSS THE BAY FROM TOKYO. THE AFTERNOON SUBCAP FLIES COVER FOR A DUMBO WHICH PICKS UP A PILOT AND TWO AIR CREWMEN FROM TOKYO BAY. 14 AUGUST '45 TENSIONS KEEP INCREASING. INDICATIONS --- PEACE IS IN THE AIR. 15 AUGUST '45 STRIKE IS SENT OUT AGAINST TOKYO. AT 0635, RADIO MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM GROUP, FORCE, AND FLEET COMMANDERS TO RECALL ALL STRIKES. OUR PLANES RETURN TO THE SHIP WITH THE PILOTS SINGING "OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING" INTO THEIR MIKES -- THEIR FIRST REAL BREACH OF RADIO DISCIPLINE. THEY LAND ON DECK AS GRINNING MECHS POINT TO THE LETTERS "V-J" CHALKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ISLAND. THE WAR IS OVER. PEACE -- IT'S WONDERFUL! 16 - 19 AUGUST '45 WE ENJOYED THE FIRST SWEET DAYS OF PEACE AND WAITED TO PLAY OUR PART IN THE OCCUPATION OF JAPAN. 20 AUGUST '45 THREE DETACHMENTS OF THE BATAAN'S PERSONNEL ARE TRANSFERRED FROM THE SHIP FOR TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL DUTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE OCCUPATION. THEY ARE CAPTAIN FRANK WILKINSON AND THE SHIP'S MARINE FORCE OF 2 OFFICERS AND 35 MEN, LT. HERMAN AND 34 MEN, AND LT. (JG) LAWRY AND HIS GROUP OF 4 BOMB DISPOSAL EXPERTS. THE PREVIOUS EVENING, COMMANDER N. K. BEAR AND 2 HOSPITAL CORPSMAN WERE TRANSFERRED FOR THE SAME REASON. THESE ARE THE BATAAN'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE OCCUPYING FORCES. 21 AUGUST '45 WE SAY GOODBYE TO AIR GROUP 47, WHICH IS TRANSFERRED TO THE SAN JACINTO FOR TRANSPORTATION HOME. IN EXCHANGE, WE GET AIR GROUP 49 FROM THE SAN JACINTO; RELATIONS BETWEEN THE SHIP AND SQUADRON CONTINUE TO BE THE BEST. 25 AUGUST - 1 SEPTEMBER '45 WE CONDUCT AIR OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE OCCUPATION. THE ONLY ANTI-AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY CONSISTS OF SOME STONE THROWING BY A FEW SMALL BOYS. OUR PLANES ALSO RECONNOITER ALLIED PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS AND ARE GREETED BY JUBILANT WAVES FROM PRISONERS. 31 AUGUST '45 THE BATAAN TODAY STEAMED 150,000 NAUTICAL MILES SINCE COMMISSIONING.
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