TRUK

February, 1944

In February, the Mobile, as part of Task Force 58, assisted with air strikes at Truk Atoll in the Caroline Islands, where the Japanese lost a large number of ships and planes, and in the Marianas Islands.

Because the force was sighted on its way to the Marianas, they suffered numerous attacks by both Japanese torpedo and dive bombers. The Mobile shot down two planes and assisted in the takedown of two more. During one of these attacks, "a bursting anti-aircraft shell fired by another ship sprayed the starboard side of Moe with shrapnel, injuring thirteen men, one of them seriously."

Quotes from Captain Lewis's War Record and Ship's History of U.S.S. Mobile.
_________________________

From the Data section of Joe's Journal:

8 - Caroline Is. _____________ Feb, 12, 1943*
Truk } air strike _ we sank 24 ships & 7 more probably sunk & destroyed 288 planes.

9 - Marianas Is. ____________ Feb. 22, 1944
Saipan __ } air strike _ Mobile shot down three more
Tinian __ } planes. #

* Joe mistakenly put 1943. Should have been 1944.

# The Mobile was actually credited with 2 takedowns and 2 assists.