Samaritan (AH-10) Damaged By Grounding

SUN 24 SEP 1944
Pacific
As Japanese shipping shifts south from Luzon in the wake of the heavy attacks there over the previous days, TF 38 follows, its planes hitting targets ranging from the Calamian group to the Visayas. Aircraft from three task groups (TG 38.1, TG 38.2, and TG 38.3) from TF 38 (Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher) participate. Off Calamian Island in Coron Bay, TF 38 planes sink flying boat support ship Akitsushima, cargo ship Kyokusan Maru and army cargo ship Taiei Maru, and damage ammunition ship Kogyo Maru, army cargo ship Olympia Maru, cargo ships Ekkai Maru and Kasagisan Maru, supply ship Irako, oiler Kamoi and small cargo ship No.11 Shonan Maru, 11°59'N, 120°02'E. South of Mindoro, other Navy carrier aircraft sink torpedo boat Hayabusa, 13°00'N, 122°00'E; minelayer Yaeyama and submarine chaser Ch 32, 12°15'N, 121°00'E. Off Masbate, they sink auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 39 and auxiliary minesweeper Wa 7, 12°18'N, 122°46'E, merchant cargo ship Shinyo Maru, 12°21'N, 123°00'E, and cargo ships No.17 Fukuei Maru and No.2 Koshu Maru, and transport Siberia Maru, 11°54'N, 123°10'E. In Visayan Sea, they sink army cargo ship Chuka Maru and tanker Kenwa Maru, 11°13'N, 123°11'E. In the South China Sea, they sink tanker Okigawa Maru, 14°00'N, 119°00'E.

TF planes also damage supply ship Irako and oiler Kamoi, Coron Bay.

Aircraft also sink Japanese army cargo ship Chuka Maru, 11°11'N, 123°11'E; army cargo ship Olympia Maru 11°58'N, 120°03'E; and merchant cargo ship Shinyo Maru, Manila; cargo ship No.2 Koshu Maru is damaged by aircraft, 11°56'N, 123°08'E.

Hospital ship Samaritan (AH-10) is damaged by grounding on Tauu Island Reef to the northeast of Bougainville.

Submarine Barbero (SS-317) bombards Japanese radar installation on Batag Island off north coast of Samar.

Motor minesweeper YMS-19 is sunk by mine off southeast coast of Angaur, Palaus, 06°53'N, 134°10'E.