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“YOUR NAVY” PROGRAM BROADCAST 0830 SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 20th 1945 (WEST LONGITUDE DATE) FROM ABOARD SHIP AT OKINAWA, DIRECT TO THE UNITED STATES OVER THE N.D.C. NETWORK.
This is your navy reporter speaking from Okinawa aboard a destroyer of the United States Pacific Fleet. Here is a story of violence and sudden death at sea, a story told in terms of modern naval warfare, but reflecting the ancient traditions of gallantry on which your Navy is built. The hero of this story is an American Destroyer commanded by Commander Baron Joseph Mullaney, United States Navy, of New Bedford, Massachusetts. The achievement of this magnificent fighting ship has amazed us here in the Pacific in much the same way that a baseball player might if he batted 800 for the season. This destroyer from which I am speaking now, in one hour and thirty-five minutes of furious action destroyed a total of 23 Jap suicide planes.
I am sitting with Commander Mullaney now in his cabin where he is ready to tell us what happened somewhere west of Okinawa just a few hours after the Germans surrendered in Europe. Commander, what was the mission of your ship at that time?
COMMANDER:
We were on patrol duty in the East China Sea, our mission was to report on the approach of the enemy to our forces supporting land operations on Okinawa. From past experience we knew we were sitting in a hot corner
LINK:
And I guess it wasn’t very long before the pot began to boil.
COMMANDER:
Well, in a way it came to a slow boil. We had been at General Quarters all night, Japs being in the vicinity, but not attacking us. Shortly after sunrise the Japs faded away, the sea calm, and it seemed like a good time to catch up on some sleep. And then the fireworks began. The Nips returned in force with over a hundred and fifty planes.
LINK:
Did you have any help to repel such a force?
COMMANDER:
Marine fighter planes and other patrol ship joined in the fight. Before we could bat an eye the Corsairs had knocked down 12 planes and that was only the beginning. Meanwhile groups of 4 to 6 Kamikazes began to attack our ship simultaneously. There were times when you could look in any direction and see a Jap approaching for what he hoped would be a kill. In the midst of the fury several Japs went by heading for Okinawa, but our men even went after them and “splashed” four in quick succession. The scene was one of the wildest confusion, the air was filled with thousands of tracers and puffs of smoke, while the sea was dotted with huge geysers of water formed as planes crashed. On all sides American ships and aircraft were waging a brilliant fight and at least one other Destroyer brought down well over a dozen planes.
LINK:
And what was the final climax of the battle?
COMMANDER:
For us the climax care about nine twenty that morning when ten Kamikazes ganged up on us at once. Four came in on the port bow, four on the starboard and two came from astern. They figured they had us that time.
LINK:
And what was the outcome?
COMMANDER:
Well, we’re still here and the Japs aren’t. All ten planes were destroyed.
LINK:
As near as we have been able to tell, no other ship of your size has ever come anywhere near your astonishing total of 23 planes in a single action.
COMMANDER:
Perhaps that’ s true, but it must be remembered that all our American patrol ship – Destroyers, Minesweepers, and our brave little Gunboats frequently encounter this type of action and take it as a matter of course.
LINK:
Commander Mullaney, have you commanded other ships during the war in the Pacific?
COMMANDER:
Yes, this is my second Destroyer.
LINK:
What was the name of your first?
COMMANDER;
Believe it or not, it was the Mullaney. She was [a] scrappy ship.
LINK:
Yes, I am informed that once when she made an attack on some Jap shore installations in the South Pacific, she got so mad that she wound up with only 76 rounds of ammunition left in her magazines.
COMMANDER:
That’s right. When I look back to those days, I can’t help thinking that there were two good reasons why it was so furious: the Japs on the target – and the Irish in the Mullaney. But in the end both ships have been good because of the crews that man them.
LINK
Thank you Commander Baron Joseph Mullaney, United States Navy, for telling us today about the great fight that our Destroyers and Patrol ships are waging here in the Pacific. And thanks too for those 23 Jap Planes. From an American Destroyer in the East China Sea, we return you now to the security of the United States