Sunday 16 January 1944
Pg. 16
Zone Description +11
0000-0400
Underway in accordance with COMSUBPAC operation order #22-44 on course 285°T going ahead at f/s 14 kts. With 3 ME on propulsion. Aux. engine on battery charge. 0225 c/c to 253°T
J.W. Liddell
0400-0800
Underway as before. 0748 Changed course to 262°T
J.E. Casey
0800-1200
Underway as before. 0947 Changed speed to standard speed on two main engines. Commenced charging batteries on one main engine. 1000 Changed course to 220°T. 1127 Changed course to 255°(T)
B.J. Germerhausen
1200-2000
Underway as before on course 255°(T). Going ahead as s/s 14 kts. With 3 ME on Propulsion. 1230 Made radar contact on land bearing 286°(T) range 25,50 yds. 1232 c/c to 270°(T) 1315 Sighted MIDWAY ISLANDS bearing 290°(T) range 15,000 yards. 1328 Steering various courses and speed approaching entrance buoys. Received signal from SAND ISLAND to standby for pilot. 1425 Lying to aft entrance buoys waiting to pilot. Secured main engines and closed inductions. Tug with pilot aboard stood out and directed Flier to follow tug through channel since heavy seas prevented receiving pilot aboard. 1523. Passed entrance buoys abeam apparently equidistant on both sides. Going ahead at 2/3 speed 10 kts. Using main storage batteries for propulsion on course 350°(T) following pilot aboard tug 1000 yds ahead. Own vessel bearing set to right of channel by heavy seas. Immediately after passing through buoys, ship swung to 008°T. Set full left rudder and endeavored to come to 340°(T). Vessel grounded at 1524 bearing 345°(T) at lat. 28-12-3.15 N long 177-21-13.5 W. The fathometer had been in continuous operation since 1510 and indicated four fathoms immediately before grounding. “All ahead full” attempting to pass over obstruction. Unable to clear to gave “port stop, left full rudder” trying to turn clean. Maneuvering room reported fire which subsequent investigation showed to be rags ignited by sparks caused from screw driver [sic] falling across terminals for #4 MM. Fire was quickly extinguished without loss of power. Continued bearing full and emergency bells and full rudder trying to head vessel into sea. Started lightening ship by emptying variable tanks #1 & 2 NFOT and #3 & % FBT 1540 Ship had swing left to 300°(T) headed into sea, so tried to let go anchor in attempt to keep from being driven further up reef. The following two men in anchor detail
Approved: J.D. Crowley
Examined By: B.E> Adams, USN Navigator
Sunday 16 January 1944
Pg. 16
1200-200 Cont’d:
Were washed overboard: CAHL, JAMES FRANCIS PEDER, 725-72-09 TM 3/c, V-6, USNR., and GERBER CLYDE ARTHUR 328-81-09, TM i/c USN. CAHL drifted out of sight. CANCHER, GEORGE JOESPH, 663-91-06 MoMM 2/c V-6, USNR went over side with life preserver and life ring in attempt to reach GERBER, CANCHERO and GERBER eventually reached sand spit together. COMSUBFOR, PHCFLT, SUBORDINATE COMMAND reported that GERBER was taken to hospital and BANCHER to rest and recuperation center Sub Base #1504. Ship continued to swing left to 150°T then back to 200°T. Continued using full and emergency bells as lightening of ship continued. Used three main engine alternately because coral found sea suction causing overheating. #4 main engine out of commission due to being unable to zero out board glands. By use of trim and drain pumps and bucket brigade managed to keep ahead of water while taking up on pecking glands. When ship was as light as possible it became apparent that vessel could not pull clear by use of own power so at 1720 let go anchor with 35 fathoms of chain and re-flooded tanks in effort to settle ship more firmly to reduce pounding. At time men were washed overboard, DAGGY, WAITE HOYT 386-24-89 F1c MoMM2/c V-6, USNR received the following injuries in line of duty. From being washed against conning tower: laceration of right side about two inches long and one inch deep jagged laceration of lower lip which severed small vein, teeth #12 & 13 broken off, #14 loose and out of line preventing proper closure of jaw, #28 broken off, #25, 26, & 27 loose and out of line with possible fracture of jaw. At approximately 1720 USS MACAW (ASR 11) grounded on north heading approximately 75 yards west of Flier. 1730 Ship’s position lat 28-12-31.8 N long 177-21-09 W as fixed by following bearings of objects on SAND ISLAND: SW Radio Tower 276 ½ °(T) NW Radio tower 277 ½ °(T),
J.W. Liddell
2000-2400
[source: USS Flierproject.com]