Edward J. Huxtable, Jr.: Lead Airmen on USS Gambier Bay During the Battle of Leyte Gulf

World War II  | 0 comments  |  Print This Post  |  Email This Post

‘For extraordinary achievement as commander of a carrier based aircraft squadron in the brilliant and heroic leadership of his squadron in many attacks against ground installations and personnel in the battles for the occupation of Saipan and Tinian Islands from 15 June to 30 July 1944. In air-support of ground troops, work of a most exacting, important and dangerous nature, he demonstrated remarkable ability for cool and intelligent attack leadership.

‘On one occasion his flight, against determined anti-aircraft opposition, attacked enemy guns that were severely harassing our troops, knocking them out, and contributing directly to the advance that immediately followed. On another occasion, a hazardous low-level attack on enemy troops in a gully resulted in particularly heavy enemy casualties. In addition to these and many other successful attacks, he, as air coordinator, directed an extremely accurate bombing attack on the Tinian landing beach which materially reduced opposition [to] the first invading troops, and later sent an attack against coastal guns that were firing on and damaging our naval warships and landing craft. His work at all times was conspicuously and consistently brilliant, fearless and intelligent, and contributed directly to the success of our forces in these important operations. His actions were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the naval service.’

Gambier Bay and its planes next supported the occupation of Guam and the invasion of the Palau Islands. Huxtable scouted Ulithi Atoll in September, before Gambier Bay became the first U.S. vessel to anchor there since the war began. In mid-October, Gambier Bay headed for the Philippines and its fate in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

The escort carrier Gambier Bay became part of Taffy 3, six baby flattops with three destroyers and four destroyer escorts, assigned to provide air cover for troops invading Leyte Island. On October 24, 1944, Gambier Bay’s planes did just that all day from a position west of Samar Island.

Taffy 3’s commander, Rear Adm. Clifton Sprague, knew Japanese ships sent to destroy the Leyte beachhead were in the vicinity. But a combination of circumstances favorable to the Japanese meant that Taffy 3 personnel were completely surprised to spot the pagoda masts on Japanese warships steaming through San Bernardino Strait and around Samar Island early on the morning of October 25.

Mishaps the previous night in the hangar and on the flight deck prevented Gambier Bay’s planes being ready for a quick launch that morning. The other jeep carriers were equally unprepared to launch aircraft.

At 6:30 a.m., Huxtable was in the wardroom. When general quarters sounded, he thought it was going to be just another long day and he would miss lunch. Determined to get at least toast and juice, he stayed in the wardroom as all the other men ran out. The ship’s personnel officer fetched him from the wardroom, Huxtable related later. They ran for the flight deck, and Huxtable climbed into his Avenger.

‘I asked Gutzwiller, my plane captain, if I had a bomb load,’ Huxtable wrote. ‘When he said no, I told him to call Borries, the air officer, over the voice tube about a load. We hadn’t turned up the engines yet, and I couldn’t see any use of going off without a bomb load. I saw Borries move forward to talk to Capt. [Walter] Vieweg [the ship's skipper] and the captain made a sweeping motion with his arm as though to say ‘Get ‘em off!’

‘About this time, I heard what seemed like a big bore rifle shot next to my left ear. I looked and saw a salvo of heavy caliber stuff splashing alongside USS White Plains [another jeep carrier]. Until that instant, I had no idea the enemy was so near! I was more than ready to get on the catapult.’

Through an overcast, Huxtable saw the Japanese fleet of four battleships, six cruisers, two light cruisers and 11 destroyers. Huxtable decided to attack the cruisers. His only weapon was less than 100 rounds in his .50-caliber machine guns.

Tags: 20th - 21st Century, Historical Conflicts, Sea-Air Operations, World War II

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.