Through 23 May 1945; thirteen missions were undertaken by task group 70.4. Over 1600 tons of essential supplies have been delivered to guerrilla forces at Bohol, Cebu, Negros, Masbate and Mindanao. These supplies consisted of arms,.ammunition, signal equipment, fuel, medicine, food, clothing and on occasion jeeps and trailers. Approximately 2700 guerrilla troops have been furnished transportation either in connection with operations against the enemy or in order to effect necessary re-dispositions. An undetermined number of Japs have been killed as a result of bombardment, Quantities of enemy equipment and supplies have been destroyed and much has been captured, including arms, ammunition, trucks, barges, food and clothing. Valuable enemy documents have been captured, among which, were the Jap plans for the defense of Mindanao. In spite of repeated bombardment of enemy positions, frequently no more than 50 yards from shore, and the putting ashore of landing parties with guerrilla assault troops in search of intelligence and enemy documents, no casualties have been sustained by personnel of Task Group 70.4.

Description of the various missions follows:

Mission No. I
On 3 February 1945, the task group departed from Leyte Gulf for Jligan and Misamis on the north coast of Mindanao, stopping en route at Mambajao, Camiguin. After delivering approximately 100 tons of supplies at these towns, consisting of arms, ammunition, clothing, medicines and food, the task group sailed east along the north coast of Mindanao and on 7 February stood 50 yards off the town of Talisayan, where it bombarded Jap installations in the town, setting fire to fuel and ammunition dumps. No return fire was received.

Mission No. 2
On 10 February 1945, Task Group 70.4 delivered about 120 tons of supplies at the guerrilla held port of Sibonga, Cebu, and returned.

Mission No. 3
On 16 February 1945, the group took on about 120 tons of supplies and unloaded the same at the guerrilla held port of Bais, Negros, on 17 February. While the LCIs were unloading supplies, the two LCSs bombarded the Jap held town of Dumaguete for about two hours from about 100 yards offshore, hitting the electric plant, and Jap occupied buildings and installations. The bombardment allowed civilians held by the Japs to escape and carry information on enemy conditions in the town, and destroyed three Jap motor launches on the beach and seven fuel dumps. No return fire was received. Inspection of the town pier, as a result of guerrilla reports to the effect that Jap midget submarines were using the pier as a fueling point and lying to in the daytime under the pier, revealed no submarines; however, a small oil dump was discovered at the end of the pier, indicating that the pier was being used for fueling of some sort. The oil dump was destroyed.

After bombardment the LCSs moved north to the Jap held town of Sibulan, where the. guerrillas were attempting to take the town. The guerrillas at the time controlled the coast between Bais and the northern outskirts of Sibulan, The LCSs arrived at Sibulan at 1300 on the same day and standing off shore bombarded various targets furnished by several guerrillas aboard for about one hour. As a result of the bombardment, several Jap occupied buildings were burned down, and the guerrillas were successful in taking the town and the coastal area southward to the Dumaguete airstrip north of Dumaguete. After bombardment the LCSs returned to Bais for the LCIs which in the meantime had been unloading supplies at Bais. The Task Group then returned to San Pedro Bay without incident,

Mission No. 4
On this mission the Task Group left San Pedro Bay on 22 February 1945, and unloaded 120 tons of supplies at Claver, a guerrilla held town on the northeast coast of Mindanao. Colonel W W. Fertig, commander of guerrilla forces on Mindanao, also went along on the mission and conferred with the regimental commander of guerrilla troops of Surigao Province, Mindanao, while supplies were being unloaded. The return to San Pedro Bay was accomplished without incident.

Mission No. 5
On March I, 1945, while supplies were being delivered to Toledo, Cebu, by the LCIs of Task Group 70.4, the LCSs shelled and dropped rockets on the Jap occupied sugar central at San Carlos, Negros, just across Tanon Strait from Cebu. In accordance with arrangements previously made with the guerrilla forces on Negros, at the conclusion of the bombardment, and after the main Jap garrison retreated from the central, the guerrilla troops moved in and finished off the few Nips remaining alive. About fifty of the enemy were killed by the bombardment, and a type A enemy barge loaded with oil was destroyed at the pier.

After bombarding San Carlos, the LCSs returned to Toledo, Cebu, to pick up the LCIs which by this time had finished unloading its supplies at the pier. All four ships then proceeded to Milagros, Masbate, discharged about 60 tons of supplies, and the LCIs took on 230 guerrilla troops under the command of Major Donato of the guerrillas. The Task Group then sailed to Dimasalang, Masbate, where the first amphibious landing of guerilla troops was made. The LCSs stood off the town. and bombarded the whole bay area for approximately one hour after which the LCIs beached and the guerrillas waded ashore in waist deep water. This bombardment had been preceded by two Corsairs from Marine Air Group 12 which strafed the town and dropped two one thousand pound bombs. The Japs retreated to the hills with the guerrillas in pursuit killing about 120 of them.

As a result of the bombardment, 11 Japs were killed, 50 tons of ammunition were blown up and oil fires started. In addition, considerable ammunition, food and one 75 mm gun and souvenir materials were captured. Also captured were the Jap company records, as well as other papers of intelligence value. The Group returned to Tacloban flying captured Jap flags from the halyards when passing though San Juanico Strait. The only casualty suffered as a result of this mission was caused by the explosion of a hand grenade in the pocket of a guerrilla at Dimasalang, and he was picked up by a PBM and flown to Leyte for treatment.

Mission No. 6
On 9 March 1945, the Task Group delivered supplies to San Carlos, Negros, the town which the Task Group had previously cleared of Japs during their bombardment on 1 March, After unloading supplies, the ships proceeded to Dumaguete. As previously states in the report on the third mission, the guerrillas had advanced to Dumaguete airstrip. During this mission the group furnished fire support prior to an advance of the guerrillas across the airstrip. All four ships of the Task Group hit the area around the airstrip, destroying a number of Jap positions by gun fire, and the guerrillas captured two enemy positions. Also destroyed during the bombardment were two new large type A enemy barges, enemy quarters, and a small fuel dump. An inspection was again conducted around the pier for midget submarines with negative results.

Mission No. 7
On this mission Task Group 70.4 split up into two units, with each unit consisting of an LCS and a LCI. On 16 March one unit went to Lianga Bay on the east coast of Mindanao where it unloaded supplies and embarked the headquarters company of Colonel Fertig, commander of the guerrilla forces in Mindanao, for transport to Iligan. The other unit went to Mambajao, Camiguin Island, arriving on March 15, while the LCI stood by and the LCS proceeded to Loay, Bohol, arriving 16 March, At Loáy information was obtained from the guerrillas concerning disposition of Jap troops in Baclayon, Bohol, approximately 10 miles west of Loay. The LCS then proceeded to Baclayon on the same day 16 March, and bombarded the town buildings occupied by the Japs, destroying the buildings and forcing the Japs to evacuate the town which was then occupied by the guerrillas. While the guerrillas were occupying the town, the LCI went to the anchorage of a Japanese lugger, cut the mooring lines and towed it away. The LCS stayed overnight at Baclayon, proceeding on the following day to a Jap occupied town between Maribojar and Tagbilaran On Bohol, bombarding it for about a half an hour, after which the guerrillas closed in on the town. It was not possible to observe the damage caused by the bombardment or to learn of the number of enemy casualties. The LCS returned to Loay, picked up the barge it had captured the day before and towed it to Mambajao where it was left for repair and use by the guerrillas.

By this time the unit which had picked up Colonel Fertig's headquarters company arrived at Mambajao and the entire group proceeded to Iligan where the headquarters company and supplies of one LCI were unloaded. After unloading on 18 March the group proceeded on the 19th to Lagonglong on the east coast of Macajalar Bay, Mindanao, where the LCIs picked up 380 guerrillas. On the following afternoon, 20 March, the entire group bombarded Talisayan, Lipata, Sipalong and Bugdan, Mindanao, all towns within five wiles of each other, for about an hour, destroying houses, ammunition dumps, straddling the Jap headquarters in the area, and flushing 8 Japs who left their rifles, packs, bayonets, ammunition, etc., behind. A total of 32 Japs were killed during the initial landings by the guerrillas, with no guerrilla casualties. During the operation, a total of 145 Japs were killed and 6 captured, with 6 guerrilla casualties. Included in the material captured were two trucks with Chevrolet motors, two usable type A steel barges, 20 rifles, many cases of ammunition, 60 sacks of polished rice, motor maintenance tools, three radio sets, gasoline, fuel oil, and documents giving the disposition and strength, as well as defense plans, of the entire Jap forces on Mindanao. To date these plans have been followed fairly closely by the Japanese retreats inland. The trucks were conditioned by the motor machinist mates of the LCS 10 and were running the same afternoon. The group remained in the area to discourage any counter attacks by the Japanese and when the guerrillas had the situation well in hand, the group returned to its home port, towing one captured Jap steel barge to Mambajao for repairs on the way.

Mission No. 8
On 26 March 1945, Task Group 70.4 got under way with the group again split into two units, each consisting of an LCS and an LCI. One unit proceeded to San Carlos, Negros, where it unloaded supplies, while the other proceeded to Marintoc, Masbate, where it unloaded supplies and obtained information from the guerrillas concerning Jap dispositions at Masbate City, and also made arrangements for the embarking of guerrillas. After unloading supplies at San Carlos, the unit sailed to Marintoc and rejoined the other unit. A total of 75 guerrillas were taken aboard one of the LCIs. Approximately 200 guerrillas had the Japs bottled up on the peninsula by Masbate City, and these guerrillas advanced while the group bombarded the city and hills west of Masbate City. The group entered the harbor in the darkness of early morning on 29 March and started the bombardment at dawn. The bombardment lasted for approximately one hour and one LCI docked at the pier and unloaded 75 guerrilla troops, while the other three ships continued the bombardment, concentrating on the "military crest" of Japanese held hills. The gunnery on this particular target was extremely difficult, because any overs would land among guerrillas on the slopes of the hills behind the Japs.

All four ships were inside the bay during the bombardment and within 200 yards of shore. It was impossible to get any further away because of the extreme narrowness of the channel, which in peacetime required the services of a pilot. When the group entered the harbor it took some machine gun fire between the two LCSs which led the way in single file because of the narrowness of the channel. During the course of this operation the LCS 9 grounded close to the shore beneath the Jap positions, as result of the failure of its pitch control mechanism which made it impossible for the vessel to go into reverse, The task group commander in the LCS 10 immediately went alongside the LCS 9 to render assistance and to work over Jap positions in order to prevent any disastrous shore fire, All attempts to free the LCS 9 were to no avail, and as a result both ships received small arms fire sporadically until the LCS 10 aided by a rising tide, was able to tow the 9 clear, about midnight.

Four personnel of the LCS 9 were grazed by small arms fire causing bruises to the skin and some paint was also chipped off the ships by small arms fire. One guerrilla, wounded by small arms fire after the landing was carried across the landing in a small boat of the LCS 9 and small arms fire directed at this boat failed to cause damage. It is not known how many Japs were killed in the operation because reports stated an indefinite "many" Japs killed. A number of small fires were started during the bombardment, and one Jap plane was captured intact on the airfield, according to the guerrilla reports, which also reported about 200 Japs as being in Masbate City, The ships remained until midnight and departed for home base with the LCS 10 towing the LCS 9 which was inoperative because of its pitch control failure and damage done to its screws by the grounding.

Mission No. 9
On 4 April 1945 the group left for Iligan, Mindanao, stopping off at Mambajao, Camiguin Island, to pick up the captured barges previously left for repairs and towing them to Iligan where supplies were unloaded. Approximately 150 guerrillas were taken aboard at Iligan and unloaded about five miles below Dipolog, Mindanao to furnish the necessary guerrilla troops to hold the Dipolog airstrip which was threatened by the Japs. It is understood that these troops turned the tide and held the field. One LCS and one LCI then proceeded to Clagur, Mindanao, and embarked 100 guerrilla troops while the other LCS and LCI unloaded supplies at Gingoog.

There was no pier for unloading and the beach was too shallow to allow close landing of supplies. The unloading problem was promptly solved by the Filipinos who tied two Filipino borotos or outrigger canoes end to end, making an improvised causeway from the ramp of the LCI to the beach. The Filipinos then put the supplies ashore by hand.

The LCS and LCI took aboard two companies of guerrillas of Division Special Troops numbering 220 men and Major Paul Marshall, commanding officer, 110th Guerrilla Division. The four ships then rendezvoused below Bilas Point, Mindanao, putting ashore the 320 guerrilla troops and departing south to split again, but this time into three unequal units. One LCI took the commanding officer of the troops, who had supervised the initial deployment, to his headquarters at Tinigbasan on the east coast of Butuan Bay, Mindanao, to confer with the local regimental commander with reference to the next operation, and then back to Gingoog where he was put ashore. One LCS with the other LCI continued a bit further south to the Jap held town of Cabadbaran, Mindanao, lobbed a few shells into the town to discourage the Japs from heading north and interfering with the guerrilla movement on the end of the Suriago Peninsula. In the meantime the remaining LCS of the group had sailed to the extreme southern end of Btituan Bay to the Jap held town of Buenavista and shelled it for approximately one half hour, setting large fires in the rear of the town which continued to burn all during the night and were observed when the ships were leaving the area forty miles away.

The LCSs and one LCI then met offshore near Buenavista and continued to Jap held Nasipit, Mindanao. There the usual bombardment from sea destroyed houses and set fire to stores. All three ships entered the harbor and shelled houses and possible gun positions on the waters edge. Two type A Jap barges were riddled and one small fuel dump was burned. The pier was inspected and found suitable for landing troops. The three ships then left and rendezvoused with the remaining LCI and the group returned to Leyte, arriving on 10 April.

Mission No. 10
On 14 April 1945, Task Group 70.4 got underway with the port of destination being Iligan, Mindanao. The LCI 361 split her shaft off the tip of Leyte island and had to be towed back to port by LCS 9, but before returning transferred part of her cargo to the LCI 363. The LCS 10 and LCI 363 then proceeded to Iligan and discharged part of her cargo and proceeded to Gingoog where the remainder of her cargo was discharged. At Gingoog the LCS 10 and LCI 363 rendezvoused with the LCS 9 returning with the LCI 429 discharged part of her cargo at Gingoog in order to take on 220 of guerrilla Division Special Troops. The LCS 9 and LCI 429 then left and disembarked the troops at Diuata Point, Mindanao, to move southward and prevent Jap movements to the west from Nasipit. The LCS 9 and LCI 429 took on 200 troops at Tinigbasan and waited for the LCS 10 and LCI 363 which were bringing the division chief of staff to command the landing guerrillas. The LCI 363 upon arriving at Tinigbasan, embarked 100 guerrillas and the four ships proceeded to Nasipit, arriving before dawn The task group bombarded the town from within and without the harbor for approximately one hour after which the guerrilla troops were put ashore. The bombardment killed eight Japs and the guerrillas killed 54 Japs between the town and Buenavista, five miles east of Nasipit. The holding force previously put ashore at Diuata Point prevented the Japs from retreating westward. Only three Japs retreated in this direction and all were killed.

Considerable Jap equipment and supplies were captured at Nasipit, including 3 machine guns, 20 rifles, 2 class A barges, ammunition, 20 drums of gasoline, food and fuel oil. The ammunition loot amounted to the largest yet found on the north coast and consisted of 105 mm and 70 mm howitzer shells, 60 mm projectiles and fuses, 37 mm anti-tank shells and .25 and .30 caliber rifle rounds. Also captured were one truck and one sedan in fair condition. The Navy machinist mates attached to the group had them repaired and transporting captured ammunition in the afternoon.

The LCS 9 and LCI 363 then stayed behind to furnish fire power if needed to prevent the Japs from returning to the town. The LCS 10 and LCI 429 discharged cargo at lligan the following morning and returned to Leyte. The LCS 9 and LCI 363 proceeded to Gingoog on the following day where the LCI 363 became stranded on the beach and had to wait until high tide to depart and return to Leyte.

It may be of interest to note that the LCI embarked two Jap prisoners at Gingoog who had been captured during the operation at Talisayan on 20 March 1945, and transported them back to Eighth Army Headquarters for interrogation. When taken ashore in a duck the prisoners who until that time had been very sullen and quiet, were more than astounded to find themselves now riding in the water in a boat and then suddenly borne on land on wheels; in fact, both of them leaned over the side gibbering excitedly looking at the wheels and nearly fell off

Mission No. 11
On 25 April 1945, the task group departed for Iligan, rendezvousing at Mambajao, Camiguin Island, with two PT boat skippers and arriving at Iligan the following day where supplies were discharged. The group then went to Gingoog and discharged the remainder of their supplies, and on the night of 27 April proceeded to Balingasag, Mindanao, where the group again rendezvoused with the PT boats and started south into Macalajar (Macajalar) Bay. Prior to dawn on 28 April a simultaneous bombardment of Baluarte, Tagaloan and Buge was begun by the LCSs and PTs, followed later by the LCIs.

here were supposed to be some large caliber enemy guns in that area and the group attempted to locate these guns as well as possible beach barricades which would prevent landing of American troops to be made shortly. No trouble of any kind was encountered and the bombardment was continued southward around the bay past Agusan to Cagayan proper and into the mouth of the Cagayan river. One lugger camouflaged with coconut leaves and several bancas (two masted outrigger boats) were found at this point and sunk.

The group then returned to Baluarte where a party went ashore to look for heavy installations and Jap intelligence information. With the exception of one small 37 mm anti-tank gun with broken shells found at Tagaloan, nothing was discovered. The beach at Agusan was recommended for landing and the suggestion was followed. The landing party then returned to the ships and the group proceeded to Balingasag where Division Special Troops to be transported to Nasipit for reinforcement in the coming operation in Buenavista were embarked. These were put ashore at Nasipit, and Buenavista was taken on 29 April after bombardment, at the conclusion of which the group returned to Leyte.

Mission No. 12
The group got under way again on 6 May, discharged supplies at Iligan and proceeded to Gingoog, leaving off the LCS 10 at Balingasag on the way. The LCS 9 and LCIs 361 and 363 discharged their cargoes at Gingoog and embarked 191 guerrillas. The group returned to Batingasag, rejoined the LCS 10 and embarked 220 guerrillas. The group proceeded to Villanueva where the troops were disembarked. The LCS 9 and LCI 361 then returned to Gingoog while the LCS 10 and LCI 363 went to the east coast of Mindanao for a rice pickup arriving back at Gingoog at 0200 11 May. On the way into Gingoog Bay , the LCS 9 and LCI 361 passed the LCS 10 and LCI 363 as the former were en route to the east coast with guerrilla troops to stem a southward push by Japanese from the Butuan Bay area toward Lianga Bay. Each unit returned to Leyte after completing its missions.

Mission No. 13
The group left Tacloban at dawn on 18 May for lligan, Mindanao, where it arrived the following day to put ashore a cargo consisting mostly of food and fuel! oil. That night the group again sailed to Gingoog and completed the discharge of supplies. The possibility of one last combat mission disappeared when the enemy withdrew from a position in the east coast cliffs where the group was planning to shell them as the caves opened to the seaward and were accessible only from that angle. Redistribution of more food supplies between the guerrilla Bodega in Iligan and the troops in Gingoog was accomplished by one LCS and one LCI while the second LCI was unloading. Troops were taken aboard the LCI 363 along with a quantity of ammunition and more food to be transported up the Agusan river which empties into Butuan Bay.

The LCS 10 and LCI 363 ran the shallow entrance and led by the LCS, made the run up the river depending solely on charts for piloting. At Butuan unloading was completed speedily and the ships returned downstream with no difficulty.

A picture of the river's mouth was taken for the benefit of other Navy craft which might want to make the journey and might have difficulty in navigating along the course set by beacons over a shoal which had risen since the start of the war. The previously safe channel had suddenly sprouted a fish trap in its middle.

The ships rendezvoused by the southern tip of Leyte and proceeded north to San Pedro, and the supply of guerrillas and the chasing of Japs by the task group in the Visayans and Mindanao came to a close.

retyped 4/7/87, 7/26/96 by J.P. Lucey MOMIM 1/C, LCI 361

Day of the week list 1945 2/3/45 - Sat.,
2/7/45 - Wed.,
2/10/45 - Sat.,
2/16/45 - Fri.,
2/17/45 - Sat.,
2/22/45 - Thur.,
3/1/45 - Thur.,
3/9/45 - Fri.,
3/15/45 - Thur.,
3/16/45 - Sat.,
3/18/45 - Sun.,
3/19/45 - Mon.,