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THE QUEST OF THE USS QUINCY

OR

THE SAGA OF THE MIGHTY “Q”

Being a history of the travels and adventures of one

F. D. King while aboard this mighty warship, a heavy

cruiser of the U. S Navy, from December 1943

(commissioning date) until transferred, October 1944.

(Part 2)

THE INVASION OF NORMANDY

June 3, 1944 - we left Belfast today to keep our appointment with the Nazis. We

have 6 other cruisers with us, the TUSCALOOSA, being the only other American

one. The rest British, HMS BLACK PRINCE, HAWKINS, ENTERPRISE, etc. with

6 of our destroyers. We rendezvous off Plymouth with some more ships, our ultimate

destination near Cherbourg. First, 15,000 tons of bombs will be dropped on the

beachhead by the 8th Air Force, then 5 LSTs loaded with rockets will bombard the

beach. 30,000 paratroopers will be landed on Sunday night, D-Day is to be Monday,

June 5. We will arrive 3 hours ahead of H-Hour and wait for developments at anchor,

from whence we will pump 1,400 rounds of 5” shells on the beach., along with the

destroyers and other ships. The English Channel has been patrolled inch by inch for

a week against subs and mines. We will be surrounded by PT boats commanded

by Comdr. Buckley, new ones capable of 53 knots. A message from Eisenhower

was read to us this morning and the Captain also spoke, saying we were the newest

and best of the ships in our force and that he had every confidence in us. Yesterday

we had Chaplain Moody of the USS TEXAS aboard for Communion service which

we participated in. He is a good speaker, looks like Tom Dewey.

June 4, 1944 - We passed Longships Lighthouse and Land's End last night,

and this morning the coast of England is visible on our port beam. We are in

company with six other cruisers, 4 destroyers in single file. The invasion has

been delayed for 24 hours, so we are just going around in huge circles off Land's

End. I can see Longships Lighthouse and First-Last House very plainly as we

are close to shore. Large masts for aerials, probably radar, have been erected

here since I last visited as a boy of 7 in 1929. We passed a convoy of about 200 Liberty

ships going the other way, escorted by corvettes. Saw several PT boats pitching up

and down, we pass them by. We have Spitfires patrolling overhead. Talked to a

British Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery from Bournemouth, he is aboard to

coordinate fire control. Have a correspondent aboard too, Richard Strout, from

the Christian Science Monitor.

June 5, 1944 - Still going around in large circles waiting, but we get underway for our

destination late this morning. We passed through a convoy of LST’s. loaded with

troops and landing craft. Floating overhead are hundreds of silver barrage balloons.

Must be at least 200 LST's in convoy. Nice day and fair. Tomorrow, June 6th, is

D-Day. After a heavy bombing of the peninsula we will fire for 90 minutes with our

5” battery. We go into General Quarters tonight at midnight. Received a message

from our task force commander, "The greatest invasion in history and to which we are

proud to be a part is now underway. Soon we will meet the enemy in the most vital

battle of modern times and we will defeat him. Put home that Army-Navy touchdown!

God speed and God bless all of us."

The Chaplain followed this with a prayer for our victory and safety.

June 6, 1944 - D-DAY - General Quarters at midnight. Set condition Zebra.

Anchored at 0130 for 3 hours, will then move into 12,000 yards and commence firing.

0135 Several C-46 transports passed overhead, on return trip from dropping paratroopers.

0145, a plane crashed off our starboard bow.

Before going to G.Q. we saw bomb explosions reflected in the sky on the distant horizon.

A channel had been swept of mines and was marked for us by red and green lights

dimly lit. We are anchored about 6 miles from shore and several of our

planes have been shot down. Heavy anti-aircraft fire from the beach against

our bombers. We can feel it when the block-busters drop, even when 9 miles out.

0525 -The Chaplain is now describing action topside, we are being fired on

by shore batteries but luckily they are falling short or wide of us. We are standing

by to open fire on beach as soon as our spotting plane gets range.

0534- Other ships are now firing on beach, but we have not commenced firing as yet.

Why? Let's get them before they get us! All five of us on this repair party

are on our feet, helmets on, gas masks ready, lifebelts on in readiness to go

topside in case we have to fight a fire, etc. Can hear muffled gunfire down here.

0537 - Commenced firing! Look out, Hitler!

0550 - Troops in landing barges from transports started into beach.

0600 - We made a direct hit on shore battery

About 50 friendly planes from England now overhead. Chaplain says

They are P-38's, an air umbrella. Says also that all the ships are pouring

shells into the beach and that it's an All-American team in a single wing-back

formation; the NEVADA., QUINCY & TUSCALOOSA in tailback position.

0610 - A smokescreen now being laid by low flying planes screening us from the beach.

0611 - Another direct hit for the Mighty Q on #2 target. Our 8” battery is doing

most of the firing which is contrary to plan. We fellows here on damage control

are stretched out on the deck. In case of a hit, we won't be too good a target.

0615- The 5” battery now starts in earnest, rocking the ship from side to side as they

all fire at once. Mounts 1, 3, 5 & 6, total of 8 guns. Landing craft are going

in, in single file and getting splendid support from the larger ships. Can see

the shells explode on the beach like a series of electric light bulbs.

0620 -Now the smoke screen is enveloping us and blocks our vision. Those

5" guns sure rock the ship and make lots of noise.

Pots and pans in the galley overhead rattle and roll around.

0625 - Fires are started on the beach from shellfire and bombs. Just heard we

hit that shore battery that fired on us, on the third salvo! LST's are now firing

their rockets at the beach.

0655 - The USS CORRIE is hit by shell fire and is sinking. The USS HOBSON

has also been hit on No. 3 mount. Both are destroyers.

0705 - First troops landed on beach. Small craft now picking up Corrie survivors.

0715 - Landing barges are going into beach in a steady stream,

0730 - Shore batteries cease fire on us and all barges are returning empty.

0835 - Just made direct hit on our number three target on first salvo.

0850 – LST loaded with troops blown up by mine 1,000 yards off our port beam.

0900 – Troops are landing with relatively no loss.

1135 – A lull in the fighting since early this morning. Just announced that a shore

battery that had been firing on us had been "taken care of.” We only fire

intermittently now, and have done so for the past three hours or more.

1300 - Went topside to have a look around, lovely day, sun shining and warm.

Water is a lovely shade of green. We are in a bay, (Bay de La Seine) land is on

both sides of us. LCI's and LST's with silver barrage balloons overhead are

grounded on the beach. Spitfires are constantly patrolling overhead in fours

and eights. Painted with black and white stripes underneath on their wings.

The stripes are a new identification scheme just for the invasion.

We are the only ship firing now. Our gunfire has been the most accurate of all,

demolishing all our targets with one or two salvos. We have a large new battle

flag flying from the mainmast, and also a smaller one from the foremast. Shell

cases litter the deck, as proof of the heaver firing we did this morning. One of

the German shells missed our stern by only 20 feet, besides several other near misses.

2015 – We have been firing intermittently with our 8" guns at targets inland. We have

been most accurate and are taking over some of the TUSCALOOSA'S targets.

Spitfires and P-38 Lightning’s are constantly overhead keeping all of the

Luftwaffe planes at a distance none of which have as yet appeared. Saw a destroyer

(USS NELSON) go along the beach about 500 yards out firing very rapidly

with their 5” guns, almost as fast as a 40 mm. at shore targets.

The German shells were missing her by inches all the way and she never

was hit. Can see the USS CORRIE sunk on the beach, superstructure still visible.

Lots of Army field ration cases, life rafts, preservers etc. fill the water

from sunken landing craft evidently. All the troops are landing regularly and

are about 5 miles inland already. Our radio announces that Churchill states

"loss of paratroopers is much less than expected." The water here is green

and very clean like Puerto Rico. The shoreline has smooth beaches, then woodland

and our part of this sector has sheer cliffs.

2045 - Topside again to see 26 C-47 transport planes go over each towing a glider.

Ten minutes later another wave of 26 pass overhead. The sky was black with them

and their Spitfire escorts. They flew in low, over the beach and did not encounter any

AA fire as we had knocked them all out. Then they circled, cut the gliders loose and

returned to England. An impressive sight and a good indication of our air power.

Still no German planes in view.

2400 - Half of crew secured from GQ. We slept here on station. Transports

and gliders are still going overhead and landing troops.

June 7, 1944 - Happy Birthday to me, 22 today. How nice it would be to be at home

instead of here on the coast of France. General Quarters at 0500, secured an hour later.

Guns have ceased firing, and the expected E-boat or German plane attack never happened.

0800 - Cool, windy, cloudy day topside. Saw a PT boat alongside with rescued pilots.

USS NEVADA firing her 14-inch guns but we are silent. Sky is full of Spitfires, P-47’s,

Lightning’s, Hellcats, also medium sized bombers and transports. Landing craft are still

lying to, waiting to unload. Destroyers occasionally run parallel to beach firing inland at

targets chosen by shore-fire control parties.

1500 - have been firing at inland targets using up all of our 8 inch shells. We hit a bridge

14 miles inland from our position six miles out in the bay on the second salvo. PT boats

brought survivors aboard from planes, also dead sailors from the Corrie. Crew called to

division parade as the dead were buried off the starboard side.

1730 – Underway for England to replenish our ammunition. Can see minesweepers

setting off mines they have swept up. Large explosions!

2215 - Arrived in Portland, near Weymouth, for ammunition after proceeding at full

speed (35 knots) across the Channel, leaving our escorting destroyer far behind.

Plenty of supply ships and LST's anchored here. Saw two flights of 50 B-17's,

Flying Fortresses, pass overhead on way to bomb the enemy. Talked to a British

general., who I thought was a Marine, until I asked what the red band on his hat

signified. We have a CBS correspondent name of Bill Cheddell. He is on his way to

London to send a radio broadcast back home.

June 8, 1944 In Portland. Started loading 8-inch ammunition early this morning.

We are moored to a buoy inside a breakwater. Entered it between high cliffs on one

side, very high mountain on the other.

1830 - Underway to the battle area in France at 32 knots. Saw the USS NEVADA

returning to replenish her supply of ammunition. We have the hanger dock full of

empty powder cans, from firing 1,000 rounds at the Nazis.

2245 - Arrived off France, same location as before off Caen (near Cherbourg) and

dropped anchor. USS TUSCALOOSA firing as we approach. Four British cruisers

here and usual landing craft with their barrage balloons floating overhead.

2305 - Sounded air defense. Enemy planes in vicinity

June 9, 1944 - Very quiet day. All Liberty ships, and landing craft are now unloading

on the beach as all enemy guns are knocked out. We fired very little today. Took

Admiral Drury aboard as the USS Tuscaloosa went back to England to replenish ammo.

June 10, 1944 - Our tin cans (destroyers) repulsed an E-boat attack last night.

The E-boats are the German equivalent of our PT boats. We fire occasionally

during the day, otherwise nothing out of the routine has occurred.

June 11, 1944 - German shore batteries still firing on our destroyers. We, and

the other heavier ships, knock out their gun crews and they replace them with new

men. The guns are in concrete emplacements, and cannot be destroyed entirely

by gunfire. They sank the USS NELSON, a destroyer. A Spitfire flew overhead

last night and our shore batteries and all ships anchored here in the bay fired

on it but luckily missed. They fired in error thinking it was an enemy plane.

Saw the HMS Warspite here today. It looks like our Arkansas or Texas, and is

the one Dad worked on during the last war when he worked in a British Navy Yard.

A belly tank dropped from one of our planes floated past us tonight and

several shots from rifles and pistols were fired at it for target practice.

USS TUSCALOOSA brought back mail on her return. Stayed up till

1 a.m. to wait for it to be sorted and read. It was handed out every 10 minutes

or so. I received over 50 letters from Mother and others.

June 12, 1944 - Still getting mail this morning. Sure is nice to hear from

home after not having had mail for so long. Sure hope we get back soon.

June 16, 1944 - Still anchored off Normandy, hardly any firing for the past few

days. A-26 light bombers go over to attack. Scuttlebutt says we are going back

soon. I hope so. The last two nights we have had a few bombs drop very close

to us, shaking the ship and, of course, waking a few cursing sailors. Still

lots of destroyers and PT boats around us.

June 18, 1944 – Last night we shifted our anchorage and went to GQ for an hour

as lots of enemy planes were around. Heavy AA fire was put up by our ships and

landing craft on the beach, shooting down two. Moved again tonight and light

AA fire is again being put up. Buried an American airman yesterday and today a

British CPO whose bodies were picked up as they floated past our ship. The

TEXAS and NEVADA have left us, for home we hear. We are anchored very close

(1000 yards) from the beach. There is a high cliff running for 3 miles or so and

grass with trees on top where we are establishing an airfield. Further down,

the cliff ends and a sloping beach begins where our supplies are being landed.

Hundreds of all types of ships, freighters and 'landing craft fill the horizon.

All of them flying barrage balloons, which reflect sunlight, are like silver sausages.

The sea here is very clean and green in color. Our chow has been terrible the

past week. We must be going home soon, as what little food is left we are giving

to PT boats and destroyers.

June 22, 1944, 4 a.m. - We are now underway; rumor has it for Weymouth.

Before we left France last night there had been a very heavy sea running for the

last few days which had prevented the LCT'S, LCI'S, etc. from landing their equipment.

Two British LCT's are tied up to our starboard side and they have had no hot food

for 4 days. We tossed them candy and cigarettes. They have amphibious jeeps

with black drivers aboard. The chow we have had the past week or so has been

really terrible; stew, liver, cold cuts or hamburgers, nothing solid. Everyone is

complaining and is hungry. Plenty of candy is being consumed to fill up. I should

lose weight now. Can't go up for my 2nd class rating this month as the Bureau of

Personnel has frozen storekeeper rates temporarily. From our anchorage off Caen

France, we can see hundreds of ships landing supplies and also planes taking off

from a fighter strip along the coast. Saw a flight of 25 P-51 Mustangs go over us last night.

0730 - Arrived in Portland near Weymouth again on a lovely sunshiny morning. The

breeze is blowing from the land and I can see nice green fields neatly divided by hedges.

Looks very nice, especially with the green trees spotted here and there. It's a lovely

warm day. I had the 4 to 8 watch. We refueled by a tanker alongside and have two tin

cans, USS Murphy and USS Hambleton tied up alongside. Music from records

topside, a nice warm peaceful day. We get liberty tomorrow in Weymouth.

June 23, 1944 Worked hard today in small stores as tin can sailors are buying

up all they can. The smaller ships are not carrying clothing as we do. Had liberty from 1700 to 2030 in Weymouth; 5-minute landing barge ride, then a 10-minute ride to town. Headed straight to a telephone and placed all my calls to Eric, Bill and Wilf. Went to American Red Cross club; nothing there. Walked up the Promenade and bought some picture cards and English cigarettes for Dad to try when I get back home. Mailed letters to Grandma Avis also to Wilf and Bill. Everyone here wears metal taps on their shoes and it makes an awful clatter. The ATS girls are sloppy in looks and appearance, khaki stockings and low shoes. The WRENS look the nicest, also the WAAFS of the RAF. Saw some pretty girls, but not so many as at home. Talked to one in the post office who was very good looking without any makeup at all. Showed some of our coins, interested, but thought it difficult to count up such small ones compared to some of the larger British coins. Waited from 1845 till 1915 for call to Viv. She was very surprised to hear from me and was almost speechless, so by the time she got over her stage fright my 3 minutes were up. Ten minutes later got Wilf who was almost overcome after not having talked to me for

15 years. He said, "How are you old boy? I'd give 100 quid to see you right now.”

He sounds like Dad. Had to rush back to the ship without my call being completed to Eric. Got Swindon, where Dad was born, at the last moment but Billy and May were out, so I could not talk to them. Stopped in at a bake shop and bought a jelly roll and meat pie but they weren't very good. Had to run a mile back to the dock and just managed to catch the last liberty boat to the ship and was aboard by 2100. Quite a thrill being back in England since leaving when I was a boy 7 years old.

June 24, 1944 - Still anchored as before in Weymouth. The destroyers that are tied up alongside are buying us out of clothes and ice cream. Keeps me bushed from running down to the store every half hour or so for some officer. We get underway tonight for Cherbourg to bombard shore batteries. We are told to expect more opposition this time.

June 25, 1944 - Had 12 to 4 watch last night on base conditions, then got 4 to 8 watch on Condition 2, 8 hours straight and no sleep. Underway at 0500 for Cherbourg. We have the Texas, Arkansas, Tuscaloosa, HMS Glasgow and HMS Enterprise and 7 destroyers with us. Also overhead is an air umbrella of P-38 Lightning’s.

0845. General Quarters is sounded over the PA system. We are almost there.

0900 -Arrived off Cherbourg but the army advanced last night and captured several of our targets and is now in our line of fire. We will not fire now until the Army gives us instructions.

1100 - Several German railway guns have been destroyed by the Germans themselves as the army is advancing.

1200 - We are going in closer to shore, alone, preceded only by a mine sweeper.

1215 - Germans are firing at us while a British cruiser is firing on them to cover our advance until we get in range to use our 5 inch guns. We are within 3,000 yards of the beach and still have not fired a shot.

1220 - We can hear the guns of the British cruiser and our own battleships firing rapidly at the Germans.

1230 - A destroyer is laying a smoke screen to protect us but the Germans have been firing at it so now we are putting a smoke screen in front of the destroyer by firing white phosphorus smoke shells.

1240 - German gunfire very ineffective; they are concentrating fire on our mine sweepers and small craft but are not hitting any.

1248 – HMS Glasgow just hit amidships by a German shell (learned later that it killed 3 men and injured several others, the shell having hit the bridge).

1300 - All firing so far is being done by British ships, we are told.

1305- We at last open fire with our 5 inch guns and in 10 minutes receive word from the shore fire control party that the mission is complete - target demolished. One more for the Quincy!!

1320 – Made a starboard turn and just afterwards, three shells fell in our wake!

1330 - Still firing with our 5-inch guns, much more noise around us than on D-Day and we are moving through the water fast too, not anchored in one place.

1337 - Just had two near misses, close, but they missed, that's good. Another shell burst 30 yards off the port beam.

1345 – Lots of noise from exploding shells all around us, one very near miss on starboard bow. Destroyers are laying a smoke screen around us. D-Day was never like this. We are firing back continually, using our 8 and 5 inch guns.

Shell hit so near to the stern that it put out all the lights in the after part of the ship. One of our signalmen was hit on the bridge by shrapnel. Our first purple heart!

1555 - We have been firing intermittently and have been fired on all afternoon. Several near misses but no hits. The commanding general of the army ground forces in Cherbourg has told us we can now retire. We have been drawing the German fire while the army came in the back way and knocked out several targets at close range.

1610 - The whole task force is now withdrawing, "mission accomplished."

1630 - HMS GLASGOW had two shells go right through their hull and explode on the opposite side. Reportedly, 10 men killed The USS O'BRIEN (DD) was also hit; 4 killed and 10 wounded. We are now returning to base in Weymouth, with no casualties!

June 26, 1944 - Last night was routed out of my sack at 0130 to go down into a storeroom and help move stock as shrapnel hit us and put a hole in the side, flooding the storeroom to a depth of 2 feet. Lots of cigarettes and candy ruined. Went on liberty in Weymouth, talked to Aunt May, Uncle Wilf and Aunt Patty, also Aunt Dorrie. All wanted me to visit them but of course could not get liberty under war conditions. There was a write up in the paper about our battle in Cherbourg yesterday they told me Uncle Bill was at work when I called. Wilf is working on radar and said he had written me twice. He asked that I send love to my parents and he had received a letter from me. Patty said she would ask Eisenhower to get me

some liberty to visit them. Fat chance! Cousins Pat and Maureen thanked me for the coins I sent them. Dorrie had seen Grandma Avis who wished she were in Penzance where they had a phone to talk to me. Eric was not home, wants me

to come down to see them. Yeah, right!

June 28, 1944 - Left Weymouth and England at 0800 for Belfast in company with

the USS TUSCALOOSA, NEVADA and TEXAS with 11 destroyers and three destroyer escorts. Three of the tin cans are new ones of the 2100-ton Fletcher class, mounting twin 5-inch 38's. The V-division and our planes came back aboard today.

Took a test for my 2nd class storekeeper rate in the afternoon.

June 30, 1944 - 1400 - Arrived in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Had liberty from 1630 to 0800 and went first to Bangor . Took a train that really flew to Belfast.

Bought souvenirs and had my first fish and chips. Went to Red Cross club and registered for bunk and ate supply of fresh Irish potatoes, peas and sausage. Sent a cable to Dad telling him I will be home soon. Went to a dance at White's and had a swell time. The Irish girls are more healthy and better looking than from Scotland &

England. None to compare with Louise, my Irish-American girl friend in Boston. Slept at Red Cross, up at 0600, took taxi to station powered by natural gas. Arrived Bangor at 0630, ate breakfast of fresh milk, buttered roll, fresh strawberries and cream, very sweet, even minus sugar. Back aboard at 0900, stood 12 to 4 watch. Took on some men formerly aboard, came over on transport from Boston only to go back again!

July 4, 1944 - Have been in Belfast until today and have had our hopes for an early return home dashed to the ground as It is rumored we will be assigned duty in the Mediterranean sea. Got underway at 1100 in company with the NEVADA, ARKANSAS, TUSCALOOSA, seven destroyers and seven transports, destination unknown.