Leyte Gulf - USS Natoma Bay CVE-62

At that time it had T.U. 77.4.3 under fire. A successful
attack was pressed home in the face of heavy, accurate AA
fire, without benefit of fighter support, and two hits
were seen to register, one on a CA of the ATAGO class,
another on a CA of the TONE class. In this attack two
planes were damaged. Lt. Morton's plane sustained hits
which caused complete hydraulic failure. He also sustained
a shrapnel wound in the right knee. Because of the
condition of his plane, Lt. Morton requested and received
permission to "ditch" his plane, which was successfully
accomplished in the vicinity of the formation. The entire
crew was rescued from the water by USS LERAY WILSON (DE
414) and subsequently returned to the ship. The second
plane, piloted by Lt. W. F. Hiser, USNR, was struck in the
fuselage, aft, by a shell which exploded within the
radioman's compartment, Cole, M. C., 655 11 99, ARM2c,
USNR, was seriously wounded, receiving a broken arm, a
large wound in the left chest, beneath the arm pit, and a
severely lacerated leg. Prompt action on the part of
Bosze, J., 710 89 57, ARM2c, USNR, in applying a
tourniquet and other first aid, undoubtedly saved Cole's
life. In order to obtain immediate treatment for his
wounded radioman Lt. Hiser elected to proceed to Tacloban
Air Field on Leyte Island, where he made a successful
emergency landing. After seeing the wounded man safely to
a hospital, Lt. Hiser returned to the ship. The remaining
two planes, piloted by Lt.(jg) J. Cady, USNR, and Lt. R.
A. Lindstrom, USNR, returned to the ship without further
incident. By 0910 the enemy had closed to within 14 miles,
and masts and smoke were visible on the horizon astern. At
0916 radar reported the main enemy force as bearing 296° T,
distance 18.5 miles. At 0918 received order from C.T.U.
77.4.2 to arm all available VT in this unit and be
prepared to launch on present course of 120° T (wind from
049° T, force 7 knots) to attack enemy force consisting of
2 BB and 1 CA, closing this formation. At the same
time an order from C. T. U. 77.4.2 was relayed by VHF to
airborne planes to expedite torpedo attack on the
battleships closing this formation. At the time of
the receipt of this order, the second VT strike from
this ship, 2 planes, piloted by Ens. R. F. Voltz, USNR,
and Ens. G. W. Gainnie, USNR, were orbiting in the
Leyte Gulf 57