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Casualty Info
Home Town Fort Pierre, SD
Last Address 25 Catherine St Newport, RI
Casualty Date Jun 16, 1945
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Torpedoed
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Black Hills National Cemetery (VA) - Sturgis, South Dakota
Wall/Plot Coordinates MB 106 (memorial marker)
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
In June 1945, the battle for Okinawa was drawing to its close. USS Twiggs (DD-591) continued radar picket duties in the western fire support area and supported strikes on Iheya Shima and Iheya-Aguni with pre-landing bombardment and gunfire support. On 16 June, Twiggs was on radar picket duty off Senaga Shima in the western fire support area. At 20:30, a single, low-flying plane dropped a torpedo which hit Twiggs on her port side, exploding her number 2 magazine. The plane then circled and completed its kamikaze mission in a suicide crash. The explosion enveloped the destroyer in flame; and, within an hour, she sank. Despite the hazard of exploding ammunition from the blazing Twiggs, 188 survivors were rescued from the oily waters.
Among the 152 dead and missing was CDR Philip. He was listed as missing in action and later declared dead.
Comments/Citation:
Service number: 074871
Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Twiggs (DD-591)
General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 053 (January 1, 1946)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Commander George Philip, Jr. (NSN: 0-74871), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. TWIGGS (DD-591), during operations against the enemy in the vicinity of Okinawa Gunto, Nansei Shoto, from 25 March 1945 to 16 June 1945. Despite frequent attacks both day and night by enemy aircraft, and in the face of tremendous difficulties, Commander Philip directed the operation of his ship in such a manner that every mission was accomplished effectively. When his ship was damaged by an enemy suicide plane, Commander Philip brought her safely through the attack and supervised repair of battle damage in the combat area, returning to action in the minimum possible time. By his heroism in the destruction of enemy aircraft and shore installations, by his courage and endurance while commanding one of the destroyer pickets at Okinawa, an extraordinarily hazardous duty, and by virtue of conspicuous personal leadership in maintaining the fighting morale of a battle-worn crew under extremely trying conditions, Commander Philip distinguished himself and his command and contributed greatly to the success of a very difficult operation. His determination and heroic conduct were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Silver Star
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander [then Lieutenant] George Philip, Jr. (NSN: 0-74871), United States Navy, for gallantry, intrepidity, and meritorious performance of duty in repeated actions against the enemy as Executive Officer and Navigator of the Destroyer U.S.S. O'BANNON (DD-450), operating as a unit of a Task Force in the Solomon Islands from 10 January to 6 April 1943. During this period his ship acquitted itself with distinction, participating in three bombardments of enemy shore installations; operated against enemy air and surface forces attempting to relieve Guadalcanal, and surprised on the surface and sank an enemy submarine on the night of 15 April. By his skill, fearlessness and outstanding leadership, Lieutenant Philip was instrumental in the successful accomplishment of all the missions of his ship in the above actions. His conduct was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
New Georgia Campaign (1943)/Battle of Kolombangara
From Month/Year
July / 1943
To Month/Year
July / 1943
Description The Battle of Kolombangara ( known as the Second Battle of Kula Gulf) was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the night of 12/13 July 1943, off Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands.
Battle
At 01:00 on 13 July, the Allied ships established radar contact about 20 mi (17 nmi; 32 km) east of the northern tip of Kolombangara. Ainsworth assumed he had complete surprise, but the Japanese had been aware of the Allied force for almost two hours. The destroyers increased speed to engage the Japanese force while the cruisers turned to deploy their main batteries, but the Imperial destroyers had already launched Long Lance torpedoes and turned away. Jintsu engaged the Allied ships, but all Allied fire was concentrated on the largest ship. Jintsu was reduced to a wreck while Leander was struck by a torpedo and, severely damaged, retired from the battle escorted by Radford and Jenkins. Jintsu was finally broken in two by torpedo hits and sank at about 01:45, with the loss of nearly her entire crew, including Vice Admiral Izaki.
Ainsworth pursued the Imperial destroyers, but both St. Louis and Honolulu were struck by torpedoes and damaged, while Gwin was struck amidships and scuttled at 09:30 the next morning.
Aftermath
Honolulu and St. Louis were out of action for several months, while Leander was under repair for a year and never returned to action during World War II.
Except for Jintsu, the Japanese force escaped damage, and the transport destroyers successfully landed 1,200 men at Vila. The Emperor's men had won a tactical victory, but of the action the naval historian Samuel Eliot Morison wrote: "A string of such victories added up to defeat."
Though at a severe cost, Ainsworth also accomplished his mission of preventing an attack on the Marines, and combined with the earlier Battle of Kula Gulf, successfully deterred the Japanese from future use of Kula Gulf in reinforcing Munda. After the Battle of Kolombangara, the Japanese chose to use Vella Gulf, Blackett Strait, and the more constricted passage at Wana Wana, resulting in a series of nightly attacks by U.S. destroyers and PT boats against their reinforcement efforts.
