Attack Transport

KAMIKAZE


Thirty-seven knife-edged bows sliced the waves at 13.5 knots as the transports and escorts zig-zagged on a base course of 169 degrees True. Having just departed from the Lingayen Gulf beachhead on the afternoon of the previous day, the U.S.S. Zeilin, and her retinue, steamed off the coast of Manila in the early morning dawn of 13 January, 1945. Bound for Leyte, the Zeilin was the fleet guide for this task group, and active headquarters for Commodore Homer W. Graf (Commander of Transport Division 23).

Dark, gray clouds blanketed the sky as wary gunners strained their eyes in scanning the horizon to the heavens for any tell-tale speck which might materialize as yet another dreaded Japanese suicide plane. The officers and crew had good reason to worry, for the "Mighty Z" carried a far-less-than-gentle reminder onboard: a number of wounded and dying seamen from the U.S.S. Belknap (APD-34) - a high-speed transport struck amidships by a kamikaze the day before.

Immediately upon report of enemy aircraft spotted within the vicinity of the transport division at 0815 hours, The Zeilin went to General Quarters, and "All guns were loaded, magazines fitted to automatic weapons and placed on safe."

Prior to the alarm, Boatswain's Mate Elmer Cerwin's routine hour-before-sunrise vigil at his 20MM on the aft port side of the housetop was coming to a close, and he was ready for breakfast,

"As a matter of fact, I had already taken my life jacket off, and I was ready to go when we were told that there were enemy planes in the area - but not to fire because there were friendlies up there too!"

Radioman 1/c Marr was in the generator room when General Quarters sounded, but he simply ignored it as just another routine G.Q. and continued repairing some operator headsets.

Richard Schell remembers that he was "eating in the mess hall sitting near, and haggling, 'SnoBall' Stoubaugh - a Gunners Mate - about repaying $10 he owed me." When G.Q. sounded, they all jumped to their feet and took off; Schell heading to the Bridge, while 'SnoBall' raced to his 20MM gun position on the housetop.


"I, along with several others, was on the port quarterdeck standing in the chow line," wrote Reg Duncan, "About that time, General Quarters was again sounded and we all double-timed to our General Quarters stations."

At approximately 0820 hours, defensive gunfire from other vessels heralded the appearance of a lone Japanese aircraft.

"I was on the Flying Bridge," recalled Fire Controlman Nihlean, "when I saw this Japanese plane come flying across the front of us. There were two U.S. Navy planes chasing it. The clouds were rather low, and they went into the clouds and, apparently, the Navy planes lost sight of the Jap."

Following his initial pass and evasive maneuver into the relative safety of the cloud cover, the Japanese pilot executed a 180 degree turn and shot down toward his target - the Zeilin. Captain Fitzpatrick later wrote that, at about 0821 hours,

"A Japanese single engined plane, either a 'Frank' or 'Grace' was sighted coming out of low hanging clouds on the port quarter of this ship, at a range of about one thousand yards. The plane came out of the clouds, banking to the left and then straightened out, heading for the ship in a 40 degree dive. When first sighted it bore 60 degrees True (230 degrees relative). On sighting the plane fire was opened with the after 40-mm battery and the port battery of automatic weapons. The plane came through the fire and as it approached close to the ship it appeared to bank slightly to the left."

"As I saw him coming toward us," said Cerwin, "all I was concentrating on was his propeller thinking, 'Boy, that's a meat chopper.' That was what got to me; I didn't even notice if there were flashes of gunfire coming from his wings - all I could see was that propeller."

Hoffman was on his 40MM back on the fantail. He had seen the plane make its first pass, disappear, then come screaming down at his ship. But, still, he did not fire - the Captain hadn't given the order, and any gunfire from the Zeilin might well strike other ships in the convoy. Closer and closer, the kamikaze shot toward the silent Mighty Z, when the Acting Gun Control Officer on the fantail finally shouted out for Hoffman to commence firing.

"I was already on target," said Hoffman, "so I squeezed the old trigger and, just about the time I squeezed it, they hollered 'Cease Fire,' because the 20MMs were also firing and hitting our own ships as my 40MM fire was going up and over the convoy."

Venting their pent up anxiety, the gunners on seven of eight port 20MMs, and two out of the five port .50 caliber machine guns unleashed a brief storm of fire on the suicidal Japanese pilot. From his gun position on the housetop,

"Nobody gave the word to fire," said Cerwin, "but he was so close that I had to fire a couple of rounds off - I had to do something."

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