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28 Dec 1941

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DM/L9-3L11-1(89430)

TB-BB 28 December 1941

From:		The Commander Mine Craft Battle Force.
To:		The Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet.
Subject:		Compilation of Reports of Ships of Mine Divisions I and II and USS Oglala with respect to Japanese Planes observed shot down, December 7, 1941.

1. At the time of the Plane and Submarine attacks on Pearl Harbor, the four ships of Mine Division One were in the Repair Basin at Berths 15 and 18 which is in the Navy Yard east of Ford Island, and the four ships of Mine Division Two were at buoy D3 in Middle Loch, to the west of Ford Island. From these two vantage points separated by the width of the harbor, an excellent view of the attack was obtained. This report is made as the result of a conference in which officers from all the ships of a division were present with the Commander submitted by individual ships. This conference was for the purpose of eliminating duplication of reports and determining as near as possible after check and recheck the exact number planes seen to fall by these eight vessels and by the Commander Mine Craft in the Oglala, the latter vessel being at the pier of 1010 dock near the middle of the harbor and between the two divisions.
2. PLANES SEEN SHOT DOWN BY MINE DIVISION I
   (Pruitt, Sicard, Preble, Tracy)
   
   One olive colored medium sized bomber in flames passing over Repair Basin at 300 to 400 feet from northeast to southwest, gliding down. Seen by Ensign A.A. Richards in Pruitt.
   
   One fighter plane about 100 feet over Sicard heading parallel to pier, i.e., 210°, being hit by 30-caliber Lewis & Brownings of Pruitt and Sicard, smoking, maneuvering wildly and losing altitude rapidly, just missed hitting roof of Boiler Maker Shoyp, must have fallen in Navy Yard. Seen by Commander J.F. Crow of Mine Division I in Pruitt about 1030. Also seen by B.V. Holder, Fire Controlman 2c, in Pruitt.
   
   One fighter passed over Preble and Tracy at altitude of 80 feet from north of east heading toward seaward end of Ford Island, smoke coming out of him, would fall on seaward end of Ford Island or in water near it. Seen by V.B. Holder, Fire Controlman 2c, on watch in Pruitt.
   
   One fighter in flames all over body came from north of east, passed over Tracy and Preble, 150 feet altitude, cut across building 67 and went down behind it in direction of Hospital. Seen by V.B. Holder, Fire Controlman 2c, in Pruitt.
   
   One plane hit by vessels near Submarine Base, Torpedo of plane exploded, blowing plane to bits but tail came down. Seen by men of Sicard coming from their quarters at Receiving Barracks to their ship.
   
   On plane shot down by Marines with rifles at Main Gate. Seen by Sicard's men coming by gate from barracks to Sicard.
   
   One plane, silver color, flew approximately over 1010 dock from northeast to southwest at 30 feet altitude over Oglala and Pennsylvania, apparently falling near Hospital.
   
   One plane shot down by .50 caliber machine guns of destroyer Cummings, moored outboard of Preble; Tracy's and Preble's men helping to man Cummings' guns. Seen by Lieutenant Commander H.D. Johnston, Commanding Officer of Preble. Also reported and seen by Tracy, Ensign L.B. Ensey of Tracy.


3. MINE DIVISION II
   (Gamble, Montgomery, Breese, Ramsay)
   At Buoy D-3 in Middle Loch
   During latter half of attack stood out of harbor.
   
   Ramsay underway at 0855 following Monaghan and one other destroyer out, among first ships to go out. Ramsay shot down a plane near buoy #6. The plane was coming up the channel from southeast; after being hit, burst in flames and glided down toward Fort Weaver.
   
   The following five planes were flying low over Middle Loch from east; they were fired at variously by Gamble, Breese, Montgomery and Ramsay. Gamble at 0925 shot down with .50-caliber machine gun one plane passing over Division at 800 feet altitude, falling in water 1,000 yards on port beam of ship in Middle Loch. This was one of group flying from eastward and leveling off over Middle Loch after attacking Battleships. Seen to fall also by Ensign M.J. Silverman of Montgomery, also seen to fall by Lieutenant A.B. Coxe, Jr., of Breese.
   
   Breese at 0913 hit a dive bomber aft of pilot's cockpit with 3"/23 gun, fuse set 3 seconds. Plane fragmented in air, forward section with motor falling and burning for some time on north shore of Waipio Peninsula, west of Beckoning Point. Seen by Lieutenant Commander H.F. Stout, Commanding Officer of Breese, who stood by gun and followed tracer into plane at short range. Seen also by Lieutenant A.B. Coxe, Jr., Executive Officer Breese. Seen also by Montgomery.
   
   One plane seen by Montgomery to have wing knocked off crashed on west bank of Middle Loch. Reported by Lieutenant Commander R.A. Guthrie commanding Montgomery.
   
   One plane reported a seen by Ensign M.J. Silverman of Montgomery as shot down by machine guns of division, falling in water off Beckoning Point. This may be same as preceding plane and the two reports will be counted as one.
   
   One plane fell on shore near Pearl City, seen by Montgomery. Seen by Lieutenant A.B. Coxe, Jr., of Breese.
   
   One plane fell in water near Pearl City, falling between pier and buoy D-7. Seen by Montgomery. Seen also by Lieutenant A.B. Coxe, Jr., of Breese. Montgomery sent boat to pick up Japanese pilot swimming in water; he sank.
   
   Commanding Officer of Breese, Lieutenant Commander Stout, saw Curtis shoot tail off one plane, but did not see where it fell.
   
   One plane dove into and burned on Curtis. Seen by several ships of Mine Division II.

Oglala

Oglala fired at planes at close range with 30-caliber machine guns and one 3"/50 caliber gun. One plane, flying northeast to southwest over Battleships, seen in flames at about 1500 to 2000 feet altitude when passing over seaward end of Ford Island, would probably fall at Fort Weaver or in sea. Seen by Rear Admiral W.R. Furlong in Oglala, probably hit by Battleships or cruisers and destroyers anchored north of Ford Island.

One plane flying northeast to southwest over Navy Yard side of channel in flames at 1500 to 2000 feet altitude, when passing above Oglala, would probably fall at sea or on Fort Weaver. Seen by Rear Admiral W.R. Furlong in Oglala. 1.1 guns in battleships and cruisers were seen to be putting up rapid and heavy volume of fire.

The above eighteen enemy planes were seen to fall by above personnel of Mine Divisions I and II and the flagship Oglala. Some of these may be reported by other vessels. Of the eighteen observed, at least five were given the final blow by Mine Division II in Middle Loch and a sixth was shot down by Ramsay as she stood down the channel.

SUBMARINES CONTACTED BY MINE DIVISION II

By Breese

While Breese was patrolling off Pearl Harbor at 1180, a motor torpedo boat reported a periscope to Breese. At 1115 Breese dropped two depth charges, no results. Bearings: Barber Point (297°(t), Diamond Head 078°(t), and Hickham Tower 357°(t). However, at 1135 in same vicinity, Breese picked up sounds of submarine and dropped two depth charges, second of which brought up oil and debris. Breese knows to distinguish oil from brownish color that some times comes up from depth charge upon detonation. There were positive indications of oil and some debris. A second attack here a few minutes later with four deeper charges gave no tangible results. Several other destroyers depth charged in this locality following the Breese first attack.

By Gamble

At 1204 on sound contact with submarine dropped three depth charges, 168 True from Diamond Head light distant 2.5 miles.

By Ramsay

Monday, December 8, a few minutes after noon, Ramsay depth charged submarine on excellent sound contact 11 miles due west of Barbers Point. Reports bringing up positive oil bubbles. Heard submarine again about 20 minutes later and depth charged again, deepest charge 250 feet; got positive oil indications again.

[signed]
WILLIAM R. FURLONG
Rear Admiral, USN
Commander Minecraft Battle Force

ww2dbase

Source(s):
United States National Archives, Modern Military Branch

Added By:
C. Peter Chen

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