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to remember
Masoner Jr., William John, LCDR USN(Ret).
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The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, William John Masoner, Jr. (NSN: 0-82264), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron NINETEEN (VF-19), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-16), in action against enemy Japanese forces on 24 October 1944, during the Battle for Leyte Gulf, in the Philippine Islands. Intercepting several groups of enemy planes while leading his division in a long-range search for hostile aircraft, Lieutenant Masoner skillfully directed his planes in a determined onslaught and sent thirteen of the opposing aircraft flaming to the ground, personally accounting for six and sustaining no loss to his own formation. By his brilliant airmanship and indomitable courage and intrepid fighting spirit Lieutenant Masoner contributed materially to the infliction of considerable damage upon the enemy Japanese forces during this battle. His dauntless fighting spirit and unswerving devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander 1st Carrier Task Force: Serial 0763 (October 30, 1944)
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant William John Masoner, Jr. (NSN: 0-82264), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron NINETEEN (VF-19), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-16), when he led his division of fighter bombers against a Japanese Fleet engaged by his task force in the Philippine Sea, on 25 October 1944. Pressing his run to a low level through intense anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant Masoner made an accurate drop of his bomb and then strafed units of the Fleet so that their anti-aircraft fire was disrupted and thus materially assisted the torpedo and dive bombers in making hits all of which resulted in the sinking of a major enemy carrier. His courage and skill were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant William John Masoner, Jr. (NSN: 0-82264), United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron NINETEEN (VF-19), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-16), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Battle for Leyte Gulf, on 25 October 1944. Leading a division of fighter bombers against a Japanese Fleet engaged by his Task Force, Lieutenant Masoner pressed his run to a low level through intense anti-aircraft fire, made an accurate drop of his bomb and strafed units of the hostile Fleet, completely disrupting their anti-aircraft fire and materially assisting the torpedo and dive bombers in making hits which resulted in the sinking of a major enemy carrier. His superb flying ability, initiative and inspiring devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander 2d Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0572 (December 22, 1944)
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant William John Masoner, Jr. (NSN: 0-82264), United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron NINETEEN (VF-19), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-16), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands on 5 November 1944. Pressing his attack through intense anti-aircraft fire during a strike against an enemy heavy cruiser, Lieutenant Masoner skillfully maneuvered his fighter plane to disrupt the enemy fire and obtained two direct hits, contributing materially to the success of the group in sinking this hostile cruiser. The next day he overcame difficult cloud conditions to intercept and down an enemy aircraft, probably averting a suicide dive on one of his Task Group. His courage and unswerving devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander 2d Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0572 (December 22, 1944)
Asiatic-Pacific Specified Raids (1944)/Naval attack of Truk (Operation Hailstone)
From Month/Year
February / 1944
To Month/Year
February / 1944
Description Operation Hailstone was a massive naval air and surface attack launched on February 16–17, 1944, during World War II by the United States Navy against the Japanese naval and air base at Truk in the Caroline Islands, a pre-war Japanese territory.
The U.S. attack involved a combination of airstrikes, surface ship actions, and submarine attacks over two days and appeared to take the Japanese completely by surprise. Several daylight, along with nighttime, airstrikes employed fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo aircraft in attacks on Japanese airfields, aircraft, shore installations, and ships in and around the Truk anchorage. A force of U.S. surface ships and submarines guarded possible exit routes from the island's anchorage to attack any Japanese ships that tried to escape from the airstrikes.
In total the attack sank three Japanese light cruisers (Agano, Katori, and Naka), four destroyers (Oite, Fumizuki, Maikaze, and Tachikaze), three auxiliary cruisers (Akagi Maru, Aikoku Maru, Kiyosumi Maru), two submarine tenders (Heian Maru, Rio de Janeiro Maru), three other smaller warships (including submarine chasers CH-24 and Shonan Maru 15), aircraft transport Fujikawa Maru, and 32 merchant ships. Some of the ships were destroyed in the anchorage and some in the area surrounding Truk lagoon. Many of the merchant ships were loaded with reinforcements and supplies for Japanese garrisons in the central Pacific area. Very few of the troops aboard the sunken ships survived and little of their cargoes were recovered.
Maikaze, along with several support ships, was sunk by U.S. surface ships while trying to escape from the Truk anchorage. On 17 February 1944, while evacuating convoys to Yokosuka from Truk following Allied attack on Truk, Maikaze, the cruiser Katori, and the auxiliary cruiser Akagi Maru were sunk by gunfire from the cruisers Minneapolis, New Orleans, and the battleship New Jersey 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Truk. Maikaze herself was sunk with all hands on board. The survivors of the sunken Japanese ships reportedly refused rescue efforts by the U.S. ships.
The cruiser Agano, a veteran of the Raid on Rabaul and which was already en route to Japan when the attack began, was sunk by a U.S. submarine, Skate. Oite rescued 523 survivors from Agano and returned to Truk lagoon to assist in its defense with her anti-aircraft guns. She was sunk soon after by air attack with the Agano survivors still on board, killing all of them and all but 20 of Oite's crew.
Over 250 Japanese aircraft were destroyed, mostly on the ground. Many of the aircraft were in various states of assembly, having just arrived from Japan in disassembled form aboard cargo ships. Very few of the assembled aircraft were able to take off in response to the U.S. attack. Several Japanese aircraft that did take off were claimed destroyed by U.S. fighters or gunners on the U.S. bombers and torpedo planes.
The U.S. lost twenty-five aircraft, mainly due to the intense anti-aircraft fire from Truk's defenses. About 16 U.S. aircrew were rescued by submarine or amphibious aircraft (several Japanese, whose crew took them prisoner). A nighttime torpedo attack by a Japanese aircraft from either Rabaul or Saipan damaged Intrepid and killed 11 of her crew, forcing her to return to Pearl Harbor and later, San Francisco for repairs. She returned to duty in June, 1944. Another Japanese air attack slightly damaged the battleship Iowa with a bomb hit.
An aerial view of the airstrike at Truk can be seen in the U.S. Navy film The Fighting Lady.
One well-known pilot, U.S. Marine Corps ace Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, survived this raid while being held prisoner on Truk, after being captured at Rabaul.
Aftermath
The attacks for the most part ended Truk as a major threat to Allied operations in the central Pacific; the Japanese garrison on Eniwetok was denied any realistic hope of reinforcement and support during the invasion that began on February 18, 1944, greatly assisting U.S. forces in their conquest of that island.
The Japanese later relocated about 100 of their remaining aircraft from Rabaul to Truk. These aircraft were attacked by U.S. carrier forces in another attack on April 29–30, 1944 which destroyed most of them. The U.S. aircraft dropped 92 bombs over a 29-minute period to destroy the Japanese planes. The April 1944 strikes found no shipping in Truk lagoon and were the last major attacks on Truk during the war.
Truk was isolated by Allied (primarily U.S.) forces as they continued their advance towards Japan by invading other Pacific islands such as Guam, Saipan, Palau, and Iwo Jima. Cut off, the Japanese forces on Truk, like on other central Pacific islands, ran low on food and faced starvation before Japan surrendered in August 1945.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
December / 1943
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories Lexington sailed via Alameda, California, and Pearl Harbor for Majuro, where Rear Admiral Marc Mitscher commanding Task Force 58 (TF 58) broke his flag in her (took command) on 8 March. After a warm-up strike against Mille, TF 58 operated against the major centers of resistance in Japan's outer empire, supporting the Army landing at Hollandia (currently known as Jayapura) on 13 April, and hitting supposedly invulnerable Truk on 28 April. Heavy counterattack left Lexington untouched, her planes splashing 17 enemy fighters; but, for the second time, Japanese propaganda announced her sunk.
