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U.S.S. Canopus

U.S.S. Canopus

War diary of U.S.S. Canopus (AS-9).

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

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9 December 1941

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.

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10 December 1941

(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

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11 December 1941

(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

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12 December 1941

(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

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13 December 1941

(Alongside Pier 3 Manila) 0603 Air raid sirens sounded – no planes appeared. 1155 Air raid sirens sounded. 1232 Twenty heavy bombers approached from north

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14 December 1941

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

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15 December 1941

0817 Air raid alarm sounded — no planes sighted. Radio reported later that planes had headed toward OLONGAPO. 1210 Air raid alarm sounded. Eighteen heavy

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16 December 1941

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

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17 December 1941

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.

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5 April 1942

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

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6 April 1942

0205 One friendly plane took off. 0615 One Jap observation plane sighted. 0858 – 1615 Twelve air attacks by groups of 2 – 9 planes

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7 April 1942

0214 – 0423 Friendly planes took off. 0730 Jap observation plane sighted. 0840 – 1800 Twenty-three attacks by groups of 2 – 0 planes on

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8 April 1942

0215 One friendly plane landed, and took off again at 0410. 0225 Night air attack on front lines. 0430 – 0510 Cabcaben and Mariveles Air

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9 April 1942

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

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