Mr. McMahon was a "plank owner" and sailed on the maiden voyage of the Bronson. He began his tour as a member of
the "Deck Force" but by early 1944 had requested and been approved to be "transferred to C div. as a Signalman Striker".
A Navy Signalman was responsible for transmitting, receiving, decoding, and distributing messages obtained via the visual
transmission systems of flag semaphore, visual morse code, and flaghoist signalling. The random messages Mr. McMahon brought home
and that his family has saved for almost 70 years offer a fantastic insight into life under fire in the Pacific. These messages were sent between
ships in the Task Force using flag signals - often during or just after the heat of battle.
This message was received June 26, 1944 just after the
Bronson had engaged in the First Battle of the Philippine Sea and itemizes the damage that was inflictied on the Japanese Navy from January to June 1944.
The Raid on Chichi Jima was August 4, 1944.
Commendation from Admiral William "Bull" Halsey Commander of Third Fleet.
The Task Force had just been engaged in the Battle of the Philippines and Battle of Leyte Gulf - Oct 24-26, 1944
On 10 February 1945 the destroyer Dortch (DD-670) sortied in a scouting line
ahead of TF 58 for the strike on the Tokyo Bay area of 16 February and 17. On the following day Dortch, with USS Clarence K. Bronson (DD-668),
attacked and seriously damaged an enemy picket vessel; Dortch received 10 casualties in the action. This message seems to be a report to Command of the events.
Message FROM the Destroyer Dortch to Command reporting the attack on the picket.
Commendation TO the Destroyer Dortch regarding her casualties during the attack on
the picket. On Feb. 19-22, 1945 Dortch and Bronson were patroling the assault landings on Iwo Jima.
The Iwo Jima Raid was followed by the Nagoya, Tokyo Raid of Feb. 25-26, 1945. Capt. E R
Wilkinson comanded DesDiv99 consisting of 5 DDs; Bronson, Cotten, Dortch, Gatling and Healy.
The CK Bronson was detached from Task Force 58.3 Pacific Fleet on March 3. 1945. The ship
left Iwo March 29 and headed back to Pearl Harbor and California for an overhaul and much needed Leave for the crew.
The Bronson arrived back at Iwo Jima again on March 4th. The ship bombarded Iwo and
covered troop landings March 6-7, took over ComScreen March 8th and returned to fire support and antisubmarine patrol duties off Iwo Jima from 3 to 29 March.
Commendation from Arleigh "Thirty One Knot" Burke - Chief of Staff of TF58 (March 1944 to June 1945).
(there is a delay in the availability of DesDiv99? - How to hasten the assembly of DesRon50?)
DO YOU WANT TO SEE MORE OF THE CK BRONSON? CLICK HERE!
