July 1

Launched two VF(N)¹ at 2:30 AM to keep the Nips awake. Hit Rota again.

* 150 miles SW of Saipan (13-50 N 143-38 E)
1. VF - U.S Fighter Aircraft

July 2-3

Hit Rota.

July 4

Launched last strike on Rota. Refueled
destroyers.

July 5

Enroute to Eniwetok.

* Berth 11, Eniwetok, Atoll, Marshall Islands from July 6-14

July 6

Arrived Eniwetok 10:00 AM. Our air group now has 101 planes, that does to her credit.

July 14

Left Eniwetok for Mariannas

Disposition:
• DDs¹ - Stanley², Dyson³, Osborne⁴, Caldwell⁵, Spence⁶, Thatcher⁷.
• CLs⁸ - San Diego⁹, Houston¹⁰, Miami¹¹, Vincennes¹².
• CVs¹³ - Essex¹⁴, Princeton¹⁵, Langley¹⁶.

1. DD - Destroyer
2. U.S.S. Stanley DD-478
3. U.S.S. Dyson DD-572
4. U.S.S. Ausburne DD-570
5. U.S.S. Caldwell DD-605
6. U.S.S. Spence DD-512
7. U.S.S. Thatcher DD-514
8. CLs - Light cruisers
9. U.S.S. San Diego CL-53
10. U.S.S. Houston CL-81
11. U.S.S. Miami CL-89
12. U.S.S. Vincennes CL-64
13. CVs - Large carriers
14. U.S.S. Essex CV-9
15. U.S.S. Princeton CVL-23
16. U.S.S. Langley CVL-27

July 17

At 4:00 PM we were 78 miles from Guam. Fueled DDs¹. ASP² spotted sub 29 miles. Submerged when within 3 miles of it.

1. DD - Destroyer
2. ASP - Anti-submarine Patrol

July 18

Four strikes on Guam today.

July 19-20

Launched 8 strikes on Guam.

* 60 miles SE of Guam (13-34 N 145-40 E)

July 21

3rd Marine div. and 77th Infantry are making these landings on Guam today.

* Battle of Guam July 21, 1944

July 22

Refueled Essex and DDs¹.

* 130 miles SE of Guam (12-04 N 146-34 E)
1. DD - Destroyer

July 23

Launched four strikes on Tinian. 5th Marine div. landed on Tinian. Took on VF¹. We can see Rota.

* Battle of Tinian July 24, 1944 1. VF - U.S. Fighter Aircraft

July 25,26,27

Launched 7 air strikes on Tinian.

* 100 miles E of Guam (13-26 N 146-34 E)

July 27

Departed for Saipan.

July 28

Entered Saipan harbor and anchored about 6:30 AM. Loaded bombs all day. Left at 6 PM.

* Berth A-27, Saipan Harbor

July 29

Launched special strike on Guam. Left east side of Mariannas and went between Rota and Agafia to west side. Joined other task forces who were attacking Palau and Yap.

July 30

Changed disposition.

• CVs¹: Essex², Langley³, Princeton⁴.
• BBs⁵: Alabama⁶, New Jersey⁷, Iowa⁸,
  Indiana⁹.
• DDs¹⁰: Marshall¹¹, Tingey¹², Owen¹³, Sullivan¹⁴, Potter¹⁵, Miller¹⁶, Laws¹⁷, Wisconsin¹⁸.
• CL¹⁹(AA)²⁰ : San Diego²¹

1. CVs - Large carriers
2. U.S.S. Essex CV-9
3. U.S.S. Langley CVL-27
4. U.S.S. Princeton CVL-23
5. BBs - Battleships
6. U.S.S. Alabama BB-60
7. U.S.S. New Jersey BB-62
8. U.S.S. Iowa BB-61
9. U.S.S. Indiana BB-50
10. DDs - Destroyers
11. U.S.S. Marshall DD-676
12. U.S.S. Tingey DD-539
13. U.S.S. Owen DD-536
14. U.S.S. Sullivan DD-537
15. U.S.S. Potter DD-538
16. U.S.S. Miller DD-535
17. U.S.S. Laws DD-558
18. U.S.S. Wisconsin BB-64
19. U.S.S. San Diego CL-53

July 31

Launched photo planes to Guam