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The ship's aircraft during this period provided direct support for operations ashore and anti-submarine and combat air patrols. 2. This task Unit's primary mission was to provide direct air support for the landing operations of the First Cavalry Division and the 24th Infantry Division on northern Leyte. In addition, the Task Unit was made responsible for: Providing Combat Air Patrol for the northern transport and objective areas. Providing a part of the Anti-Submarine Patrol for the transport area. Providing own Combat Air and Anti-Submarine Patrols for the local defense of own ships against submarine and air attack. 3. Responsibility for the interception of any major surface attacks upon any units of the Seventh Fleet engaged in the support of the landings was understood to be assigned to the Third Fleet. However, this Task Unit had been enjoined "to be ready to load torpedoes on short notice" and to be prepared to attack enemy surface forces if directed. 4. Prescribed bomb allowance for each CVE for this operation included only a limited number of 500# SAP bombs, as well as the normal allowance of nine (9) aircraft torpedoes. No A.P. bombs were included in the allowance. (Note: A.P. bombs carried originally were placed ashore to make room for the increased number of G.P. ' s prescribed as bomb allowance for this operation). Thus, by inference, operations by this Task Unit against enemy surface craft were expected to be of limited scope and to be confined to those executed pursuant to specific timely directives, in each case, from authority higher than the Task Unit or Task Group Commander. No search responsibilities had been assigned this Task Unit. 5. The presence of enemy surface units to the south (Surigao Strait) was known by reason of intercepted dispatches but no knowledge existed in the ship of any enemy force having sortied through San Bernardino Strait. First knowledge of such a force came at 0645 when this Task Unit made direct contact. 6. At 0500, 25 October 1944, the scheduled objective combat air patrol of 8 VF was launched by catapult. The Task Unit was then approxi mately 70 miles northeast of Suluan Island on a launching course of 040° (T). This course was maintained until launchings of the other carriers had been completed and at about 0550, the course of the Task Unit was changed to 350° (T). page
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