8 December 1941
CANOPUS at anchor 1000 yards east of Cavite entrance buoy. Loading ship with ammunition and stores after Navy Yard overhaul. 0335 Received notice by dispatch
CANOPUS at anchor 1000 yards east of Cavite entrance buoy. Loading ship with ammunition and stores after Navy Yard overhaul. 0335 Received notice by dispatch
0050 Observed air attack on Nichols Field (Army). Large fires started almost instantaneously. Ground defenses apparently replying with heavy but ineffective fire of machine guns.
(Alongside Pier 1 Manila) 1239 Received radio flash “many enemy planes approaching Manila”, Air raid sounded. Sighted 27 heavy bombers almost immediately, approaching from NW
(Alongside Pier 1 Manila) 0020 Air raid sirens sounded (False alarm). 1047 CANOPUS shifted berth to south side of Pier 3. Camouflaged topside with red
(Alongside Pier 3 Manila) 0350 Air raid sirens sounded (False alarm). 0955 Air raid sirens sounded. No planes sighted but heard OLONGAPO was attacked, with
(Alongside Pier 3 Manila) 0603 Air raid sirens sounded – no planes appeared. 1155 Air raid sirens sounded. 1232 Twenty heavy bombers approached from north
0516 and 0840 False alarms on air raid sirens. 1052 air raid sirens sounded. 1058 Twenty-six bombers in 3 waves were sighted going south above
0817 Air raid alarm sounded — no planes sighted. Radio reported later that planes had headed toward OLONGAPO. 1210 Air raid alarm sounded. Eighteen heavy
0010 SEAADRAGON stood out for southern waters, emergency repairs completed. 0755 changed clocks to minus nine time. During the day transferred all provisions except a
Torpedo overhaul and some optical shop equipment transferred to Corregidor, along with Gunner Willhoite and torpedo personnel in accordance with verbal orders of Comsubs AF.
0120 One friendly plane took off. 0252 Ft. Frank firing. Heavy artillery fire noted, on front lines. Heard report later that landings had been attempted
0205 One friendly plane took off. 0615 One Jap observation plane sighted. 0858 – 1615 Twelve air attacks by groups of 2 – 9 planes
0214 – 0423 Friendly planes took off. 0730 Jap observation plane sighted. 0840 – 1800 Twenty-three attacks by groups of 2 – 0 planes on
0215 One friendly plane landed, and took off again at 0410. 0225 Night air attack on front lines. 0430 – 0510 Cabcaben and Mariveles Air
Continued evacuation operations during the night. Pumped remaining CANOPUS fuel into lighter for further transfer to Corregidor, wrecked all machine tools, radio equipment, etc. on