Leyte Gulf - USS Natoma Bay CVE-62

The destroyer screen of the beseiged carriers has been
sent against the Jap force. This is a brave and desperate
effort to turn, stop, or slow down the battleships and
relieve the carriers from the merciless shelling.
The Kaiser carrier Midway (St. Lo) has been sunk. the
number of survivors is unknown.
The destroyer screen of the group has been sent to
attack. A lone destroyer, the USS Heermann has sent this
message: "I am engaging enemy force consisting of two
battleships, eight cruisers, twelve destroyers. Action
continues."
The Heermann has been hit and is dead in the water.
The destroyers' gallant attack was in vain and all but
two have been sunk or crippled.
0920 - The most remote of the carriers, Taffy One, is under
air attack and cannot come to the aid of the other groups.
The Japanese force has flanked Taffy Three and is
shelling the five carriers remaining who are now without
either protection or ability to launch offensive aircraft.
The Japanese force is, at the same time, rapidly overtaking
Taffy Two whose flagship Natoma Bay is astern of the other
carriers. From the ships of this group the salvoes of the
battleships can be clearly seen as geysers in the water.
This battle is without the usual confusion of battle.
Every seaman in the ships of Taffy Two can estimate that
within 20 minutes, the shells of the Jap will be falling on
the flight decks of this one unhurt but defenseless group of
ships. The six little carriers, the three destroyers and
three destroyer escorts can hardly dent the heavy ships
pursuing them. If the handful of planes does not stop the
Japanese force no one expects that any ship will be afloat
when night falls.
The men on these ships are watching the salvoes coming
closer and are wishing that aid would come and knowing that
it will not. The old U.S. battleships are fighting other
Japanese forces in and around Leyte Gulf; the great and
famous Task Force 38 is far to the north. No help is coming.
0935 - Taffy Three is now under air attack as well as under
the shelling of the battleships.
Three of the carriers of Taffy Three, the Kalinin Bay,
Gambier Bay, and Kitkun Bay have been hit by Jap