Crommelin, John G., RADM

Memories
The invasion bombardment announcing America's first

major thrust into the central Pacific began 20 November at

0500, and 76 battle-filled hours later, Tarawa and Makin

Islands were captured. LISCOME BAY?s aircraft played their

part well in the 2,278 action sorties provided by carrier

based planes which neutralized enemy airbases, supported

landings and ground operations in powerful bombing-strafing

missions, and intercepted enemy raids. With the islands

secured, the U.S. forces began a retirement.



On 23 November, the Japanese submarine I-175 arrived

off Makin. The temporary task group built around Rear Adm.

H. M. Mullinnix's three escorts, LISCOME BAY, CORAL SEA

(CVE-57) and CORREGIDOR (CVE-58) commanded by Rear Adm.

Robert M. Griffin in NEW MEXICO (BB-40) was steaming 20

miles southwest of Butaritari Island at 15 knots. At 0430,

24 November, reveille was made in LISCOME BAY. The ship

went to routine general quarters at 0505 as flight crews

prepared their planes for dawn launchings. There was no

warning of a submarine in the area until about 0510 when a

lookout shouted: " . . . here comes a torpedo!" The missile

struck abaft the after engineroom an instant later with a

shattering roar. A second major detonation closely followed

the first, the entire interior burst into flames. At 0533,

LISCOME BAY listed to starboard and sank, carrying Admiral

Mullinix, Captain Wiltsie, 53 other officers, and 591

enlisted men down with her; 272 of her crew were rescued.

Gallantly her men had served; gallantly they died in the

victorious campaign giving their lives for the Nation's future.



LISCOME BAY received one battle star for World War II