Early October, 1944

In early October, the task force rendezvoused and headed northwest to the Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa. On the morning of the 10th, while strikes were sent against Okinawa and other islands of the Nansei Shoto group, the Mobile and two destroyers were dispatched to intercept two Japanese ships sighted by aircraft about 30 miles away.

By the time they arrived, one ship had already been sunk by aircraft. The remaining vessel was a 700 ton cargo ship which was quickly sunk by salvos from the Mobile. After the destroyers picked up survivors, the group headed back to their task force.

According to the official record, the force only feinted toward the northern Philippines. Joe's notes indicate that on October 11th the Mobile actually participated in an air strike there, on the city of Aparri on Luzon Island.
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From the Data Section of Joe's Journal:

19- Ryukyu Is. ___________Oct 10, 194[4]
Okinawa air strike
110 Jap planes shot down
95 destroyed on ground

_ Jap ships sunk ___________ Prob sunk
1- destroyer Escort ________ 1-mine sweeper
4- small submarine _______ 10-small ships
14 cargo ships ____________ 9 " craft
1 sub tanker
25 small ships
411 barges & small craft

Jap ships damaged
8 cargo ships
1 large mine layer
19 small ships
also numerous Japanese luggers and barges


Philippine Is. ___________ Oct 11, 1944
Luzon ___ } ___ air strike
Aparri ___ } ___15 planes destroyed on ground.
_________buildings & warehouses were damaged.