The U.S. Coast Guard cutter George M. Bibb (Builder's No. CG-71) was built at
the Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina, and was launched in 1937.
She was commissioned on 10 March 1937. The ship was 327 feet in length, with a
draft of 12 and a half feet. Her propelling plant consisted of twin propellers
powered by geared turbines supplied with steam from oil fired boilers. The first
assignment of George M. Bibb after her commissioning was to the Fifth Coast
Guard District, with Norfolk as her home port. Sometime in May or June of 1937
her named was shortened to Bibb.
In 1938 the ship made a special practice cruise with cadets from the Coast Guard
Academy, and in 1939 spent about three months on temporary duty with the Navy,
engaging in joint maneuvers. Later that year Bibb joined a destroyer squadron
for the assistance of shipping in the North Atlantic. In the winter of 1939 she
was part of the Grand Banks Patrol.
When the Grand Banks cruises were discontinued on 27 January 1940 Bibb was then
assigned duty with on the weather stations. These had only recently been
implemented on a suggestion by then CDR Edward H. "Iceberg" Smith, LCDR George
B. Gelly, and a more influential suggestion by President Franklin Roosevelt.
Since the war had stopped the flow of weather data from merchant ships, the
Coast Guard drew the duty of maintaining a continuous weather patrol consisting
of 327-foot cutters at two stations in the mid-Atlantic located as follows:
Station No. 1, 35° 38' N x 53° 21' W and Station No. 2, 37° 44' N x 41° 13' W.
Here the cutters steamed continuously within a 100 square mile area from the
center of the station with each patrol lasting approximately 21 days. Each
cutter embarked meteorologists from the Weather Bureau who made observations
with radiosondes and balloons, and the cutters provided Pan American Airways
Boeing 314 flying boats: Yankee Clipper, Dixie Clipper, and American Clipper,
with weather and position reports and transmitted radio signals to allow the
planes to take accurate bearings. The Bibb spent much of 1940 and 1941 on
weather patrol.
Anti-submarine weaponry was added in mid-1941 and under Executive Order of 11
September 1941, Bibb became eligible for transfer to the Navy by agreement
between the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Coast Guard. The
Navy then designated her as WPG-31.
The Bibb made her first attack on an enemy submarine on 3 April 1942, firing
five "Y" gun charges and dropping two depth charges on what proved to be a
doubtful sound contact. The Bibb was underway on zig-zag courses at five knots
at the time from Norfolk to Casco Day, Maine. She had barely arrived at Casco
Bay on 3 April when she was underway again searching for a Navy plane that had
been forced down at sea. The search was unsuccessful but the cutter
depth-charged another submarine contact. Ordered to Boston Navy Yard for
repairs, she searched en route for a Coast Guard plane reported down in the
vicinity of White Island.
Standing out from Boston, after repairs, the Bibb received a message from the
cutter Modoc (WPG-46) on 13 April that a plane had reported a periscope in her
vicinity. Proceeding to the area she searched with the Modoc without results. On
14 May Bibb was en route to Iceland as the flagship of Task Unit 24.6.2 with the
USS Leary (DD-158) and USS Badger (DD-126). On the 6th two other destroyers, USS
Schenk (DD-159) and USS Babbitt (DD-128) were relieved, and USS Decatur (DD-341)
and cutter Duane (WPG-33) joined the escort, which had met the 13-ship convoy
ONSJ-94 on a southerly course to Iceland. Two depth charges were dropped on a
sound contact on the 7th and the search continued for two hours before rejoining
the convoy. Again on the 13th, off Skagie Point, Iceland, a charge was dropped
on a doubtful contact.
On 9 June 1942 Bibb was underway as escort commander for convoy SCL-85,
consisting of 14 ships. Dropping a 600 lb. depth charge on a doubtful sound
contact, a school of stunned fish appeared on the surface. While circling the
area to renew contact a whale and school of porpoises was also encountered. The
search was discontinued. On 6 July 1942 the Bibb was moored in Hvalfjordur,
Iceland, while part of the officers and soundmen received training on the
anti-submarine attack teacher aboard HMS Blenheim. The cutter assumed its duties
of escort commander of convoy ONSJ-110, with 13 ships, on the 7th, in company
with Babbitt. This convoy was part of an east bound trans-Atlantic convoy which
had broken off and was headed for Iceland. On the 8th, with Skagie Point abeam
to port, the Free French Corvette Roselys joined the task force. Two depth
charges were fired on an undersea contact with no visible effects. On the 9th
Roselys sank a floating mine and later dropped one charge on a doubtful contact.
On 3 August 1942, Bibb, with escort commander in the cutter Ingham (WPG-35), was
again on convoy duty. The Iceland Unit, consisting of seven ships, detached from
the main convoy at 1900. At 2210 Bibb received a challenge on bearing 340
degrees and answering it, the challenge was identified as the submarine HMS
Seawolf on the surface below the horizon. The Bibb was again underway on 31
August 1942 screening the port bow of the eastbound trans-Atlantic convoy SC-97.
At 0809, a large explosion was observed on a ship in the convoy. Shortly after
this flames ware observed on a second ship, just ahead of the first one. No
sounds of any kind were heard but the deduction, from visual impressions, was
that both ships had been torpedoed. Five minutes later the ship on which the
explosion had occurred sank, bow first. Ten minutes later the second ship sank,
stern first.
Twice during the next two hours, first two and then one ship in the convoy fired
into the water, and one of the escorts, HMS Burnham proceeded alongside one of
the ship. that had fired and dropped three depth charges. An hour later, another
ship in convoy fired at an unidentified object and soon afterwards the lookout
on Bibb reported a wake crossing the bow from port to starboard at a distance of
about 500 yards, which faded. That evening gunfire was sighted on the horizon,
presumed to be HMS Broadway in contact with an enemy submarine. Shortly
afterwards, star shells, denoting a submarine attack, appeared in the same area.
On the next morning, 1 September 1942 at 1110, Bibb made a sound contact and
five minutes later dropped a barrage of six small and two large depth charges.
Regaining the contact ten minutes later she again attacked with a barrage of six
charges. The contact was not regained after the last attack. That evening 11
ships of the convoy bound for Iceland departed the main convoy with Bibb, Ingham
and Schenck as escorts. Shortly afterwards an American airplane, which had been
patrolling over the main convoy reported two submarines each 24 miles distant on
different bearings. On the 2nd Bibb made a sweep astern and on the 3 September
dropped a large depth charge on a doubtful sound contact. By noon on the 3rd the
convoy was standing up the swept channel towards Reykjavik, Iceland.
Standing out of Reykjavik harbor on 21 September 1942 Bibb awaited the assembly
of a convoy of two columns of five ships each which was underway by 1600. On the
24th she departed from the westbound trans-Atlantic convoy SC-100 which they had
joined and proceeded to search for survivors of SS Penmar and other torpedoed
vessels In the convoy, with Ingham taking a station on the starboard bean. On
the 26th at 0710, after sighting a red flare, she proceeded to investigate and
three hours later came upon a freshly broken spar, while passing through an area
of oil slicks and debris. An hour later there were numerous red flares and
shortly afterwards a lifeboat and raft ware sighted. At noon two boats were
lowered and they began bringing 61 survivors aboard, including one naval officer
and 23 enlisted men.
Within two hours after being brought aboard, all survivors had been fed,
showered, wrapped in blankets and placed on mattresses on the mess deck and in
the engineer's passageway. There were no seriously ill men among those brought
aboard but all were weak and many required aid in going below deck. These men
had been some 60 hours in rough seas in an open boat and on rafts and their
condition was much better than would be expected. Many of them were suffering
from exposure and edema, but after treatment almost all recovered. It is
believed that the type of rubber suit worn by the survivors contributed greatly
to their withstanding the exposure. Many had edema of the hands, which resulted,
it is believed, from the tight fit these rubber suits have about the wrist. If a
type of glove had been incorporated in the suit instead of the tight fitting
wrist bands, this edema, it is believed, would not have occurred. The Penmar had
been torpedoed about 2200 on 22 September 1942 and had sunk in about 10 minutes.
Two and a half hours after this rescue, Ingham sighted red flares and Bibb
proceeded to cover Ingham while she picked up eight survivors from SS Tennessee.
There was also an unoccupied lifeboat awash and two unoccupied rafts. On the
27th Bibb, in company with Ingham, searched for survivors of the torpedoed SS
Athan Sultan, but being unable to sight anything, even though both vessels had a
radar signal which was about 2 to 8 miles distant, they fired three star-shells.
They rejoined the convoy on the 28th.
The Bibb closed eastbound trans-Atlantic convoy SC-101 on 30 September 1942,
screening the seven ship Iceland bound sector SCL-101 which was breaking off and
forming. The Iceland convoy was formed by 0900 and got underway, Bibb screening
the rear. At 0730 on 1 October a plane arrived to provide air coverage. On 2
October all ships were inside Grotta Point, Iceland, maneuvering for anchorages.
The Bibb remained anchored in Reykjavik Harbor, Iceland until 19 October 1942,
and then got underway escorting a convoy of five ships westward. At 0448 on the
21st she attacked a sound contact with a barrage of depth charges with
undetermined results, due to darkness and haze. Three hours later smoke was
sighted on the horizon and Bibb advanced speed to investigate, but friendly
aircraft in the vicinity, for air coverage, identified the smoke as coming from
friendly vessels. Next day she sighted a merchant ship on the horizon and
challenged her by blinker. The vessel was identified as the Norwegian SS Mosdale
bound for Liverpool. On the 24th Bibb changed course to effect a rendezvous with
convoy SC-105, joining the convoy on the 26th. An hour later the Iceland bound
section of the convoy departed the main convoy. That might at 2011 two bright
red lights were sighted in the convoy and it was learned that the steering
machinery on one of the vessels, the SS Orbis, had broken down. The Duane was
directed to stand by while repairs were made. Four hours later Orbis was
underway to rejoin. The convoy stood up the swept channel to Reykjavik Harbor,
Iceland on the 29th and anchored.
On 31 October 1942 Bibb was again underway escorting SS Nova along the southern
coast of Iceland. The Nova discharged and took on U. S. Army personnel at Bay
dar Fjord on the 1st of November and then proceeded to Seydis Fjord where she
remained overnight. On the 2nd they were en route to Raufarhofn, where Nova
discharged and loaded passengers. On the 3rd they stopped at Akueyre. On the
14th they observed a plane, which was providing air coverage, crash at sea. The
bodies of the navigator and observer were recovered.
The Bibb was underway on 9 November 1942 screening the right flank of a west
bound convoy of eight ships. She was joined by the Ingham. On the 11th the
convoy became scattered about noon by winds of gale force and heavy seas but was
reformed six hours later. The Ingham and two merchant vessels were missing.
Difficulty was experienced on the 12th in keeping formation due to high winds
and heavy seas. At 0900 Bibb received word that Ingham had the missing ships in
company. On the 15th Bibb sighted the west-bound trans-Atlantic convoy and
delivered five ships, Ingham having delivered two earlier on the same date. The
Bibb returned to Reykjavik Harbor, Iceland on the 10th where she remained until
the 25th.
On 25 November 1942, Bibb stood out of Reykjavik Harbor to screen in the van of
west bound convoy ONS-148 consisting of eight ships. On 14 December two British
escort vessels departed with some of the ships of the convoy for St. John's,
Newfoundland. On the 5th a friendly plane was sighted. On the 6th Bibb, together
with USS MacLeish (DD-220) was relieved of further escort duty and departed the
convoy setting a course for Argentia, where she arrived on the 7th.
The Bibb stood out of Argentia Harbor on 7 December 1942 with MacLeish and USS
Simpson (DD-221) and on the 11th made rendezvous with two Russian submarines,
taking station on them to act as senior escort to Halifax, Nova Scotia. On the
12th she delivered the two submarines to a local Canadian escort unit off the
Sambro Light vessel. She then proceeded with the two Navy destroyers to point
"COLD" to rendezvous with two more Russian submarines. At 1015, Simpson was
ordered to proceed to the rendezvous position at utmost speed. Seven hours later
Bibb fired a barrage of depth charges on a sound contact and a few minutes later
the McLeish reported a sound contact which was almost immediately lost. Being
unable to re-establish the contact the vessels returned to their former course.
At 0810 on the 13th they effected a rendezvous with the Simpson and the two
Russian submarines and set a course for Halifax, delivering the submarines to
the Canadian corvette HMCS Liscomb at noon on the 11th. The Bibb then set a
course for Boston and moored at Pier 3, South Boston on the 15th. She remained
in South Boston Navy Yard until 16 January 1943 undergoing repairs to her hull
and machinery.
The Bibb remained at South Boston Navy Yard until 16 January 1943, and then
stood out of Boston Harbor for Casco Bay, Maine, where on the 18th she went into
battle practice with the cutter Comanche (WPG-76), making practice runs and
simulated attacks on a U. S. submarine. On the 25th she proceeded to Argentia in
company with USS SC-688 and USS SC-189. Investigating a radar contact astern on
the 26th it was found to be the USS SC-689 which had separated from the company
during the night. Later that afternoon Bibb dropped an eight charge barrage on a
sound contact and whet appeared to be a torpedo wake. On the 28th she moored at
Argentia. On the 31st she was underway escorting USS Saturn (AF-40) to St.
John's Newfoundland, where she arrived at 0900. At 0946 she set a course to
rendezvous with convoy SC-118.
On 1 February 1943, Bibb was underway from St. John's to join eastbound convoy
SC-118 and reported to commander Task Unit 24.6.1 at 1005. On the 3rd
information received was that there were some indications that enemy submarines
were nearing the convoy. On the 14th Bibb obtained two high frequency direction
finder bearings and began running them down. Eight hours later she dropped one
embarrassing charge on a contact believed to be using "pillenwerfer" tactics,
whereby a U-boat uses an underwater decoy to enable the submarine to escape. The
5th was spent covering the rear of the convoy. The next day, after an airplane
had dropped a charge directly ahead, Bibb fired a Hedgehog barrage of depth
charges on a sound contact. At 0250 on the 7th she sighted four star shells in
the vicinity of the convoy and a vessel was reported torpedoed. Additional star
shells were fired an hour later, indicating another torpedoing.
The star shells marked the successful attack by a U-boat. On 7 February 1943,
the U-402 torpedoed SS Henry S. Mallory, a troop transport, bound for Iceland,
after the Mallory straggled behind the convoy. The passengers panicked and leapt
overboard into the 50° water. Those who did not make it into a life raft died
from hypothermia. Lookouts aboard the Bibb sighted one of the Mallory's
lifeboats at 1000 and, disobeying an order to return to the convoy, Bibb's
commanding officer, CDR Roy Raney, ordered his cutter to begin rescuing
survivors.
Many of Bibb's crewmen leapt into the water to assist the nearly frozen
survivors, and the cutter Ingham assisted. One of Ingham's crew described the
scene, a dreadfully common one along the North Atlantic that year:
"I never saw anything like it, wood all over the place and bodies in life
jackets ... never saw so many dead fellows in my whole life. Saw lots of mail
bags, boxes, wood, wood splinters, empty life jackets, oars, upturned boats,
empty life rafts, bodies, parts of bodies, clothes, cork, and a million other
things that ships have in them. I hope I never see another drowned man as long
as I live."
Rescue operations continued throughout forenoon, 202 survivors being taken from
three lifeboats and numerous rafts. Six hours later while returning to the
convoy Bibb picked up 33 survivors from the Greek SS Kalliopi. The Mallory had
been torpedoed at 0600. No lifeboats were believed to have gotten away from the
starboard side of the vessel, which had 499 persons on board. The torpedo struck
in a hold occupied by Marines, which probably accounted for the relatively small
number of Marines rescued. The occupants of the lifeboats were in excellent
condition when brought aboard.
As raft after raft were brought alongside Bibb, it became necessary to leave
dead bodies on the rafts, there being no time for the dead, when the living were
clamoring to be saved. The rafts were of the doughnut type and, due to the
height of the sea, it was rarely possible to see more than two or three rafts at
a time. The temperature of the water was 50 degrees, so that the survivors who
wore winter underclothing suffered less in the water. The next day another ship
was reported torpedoed. The Bibb made a full pattern attack on a sound contact
at 0440 and ten hours later dropped three full patterns on three separate
contacts. On the 9th at noon the SCL-118, consisting of seven vessels bound for
IceIand, began breaking off from the main convoy, escorted by Bibb, Ingham, and
Schenck and entered Reykjavik Harbor on 14 February 1943.
On 15 February 1943, the Bibb departed for Hvalfjordur, Iceland. On the 17th she
was underway to report to the escort commander of convoy HX-226. The Bibb joined
the convoy on the 19th. On the next day she departed the convoy in company with
Schenck and arrived at Hvalfjordur that evening, proceeding to Reykjavik next
day.
On 25 February 1943, a convoy was formed with Bibb as escort commander,
escorting seven vessels, with Babbitt in company. Next day, due to high seas,
only four ships remained in the convoy while three had passed from the radar
range and were scattered. One ship was reported later to have returned to
Reykjavik safely. At the same time one of the convoyed vessels, SS Elizabeth
Massey, gradually lost position due to heavy seas and light condition and begun
to fall behind. The Babbitt was directed to join and try to bring her back to
convoy. By the 28th the ships were widely scattered and seldom in contact with
each other. At 1340 on that date the smoke of the main body of Convoy ONS-169
was sighted and two of the escorted vessels joined that convoy. The Bibb changed
course to join convoy HX-227.
On 1 March 1943, Bibb was underway to join convoy HX-227, which she did at 1625.
On the 2nd Bibb received a report from a ship with call letters KFFL that she
had been torpedoed. A second message followed an hour later adding that the
vessel was now on fire. An hour later Bibb was ordered to detach from the convoy
and return to Iceland, with SS Toltec. The Bibb left Toltec at the swept channel
buoy No. 4, Reykjavik, on the 3rd and proceeded out of the channel under orders
to locate SS Collis P. Huntington, which was in the vicinity of Sangerdi Light
and without navigational information on Iceland. The Bibb located Collis P.
Huntington and led her safely to anchorage at Reykjavik. She then proceeded to
Hvalfjordur, returning to Reykjavik on the 5th.
On 7 March 1943, Bibb got underway from Reykjavik to augment the escort of
convoy SC-121. Next day she intercepted a message from SS Vojvoda Putnik stating
that the vessel had been torpedoed and was sinking. The Bibb joined convoy
SC-121 and maneuvered to a position near the cutter Spencer (WPG-36). An hour
later Spencer sighted a submarine dead ahead on the surface at about 2,000 yards
and she proceeded to attack. The next day at 0411 Bibb attacked a doubtful
contact which was lost a few minutes later. Ten hours later word was received
from a ship in the convoy that a torpedo had crossed her bow and five hours
later Bibb, while sweeping 15 miles astern of the convoy, sighted a submarine
fully surfaced about 14 miles away. The Bibb proceeded to the area and heard
faint propeller beats but was unable to obtain a sound contact.
At 2152 word was received that a vessel in the convoy had been torpedoed. The
Bibb proceeded to the area and screened SS Melrose Abbey, the convoy's appointed
rescue ship, as she picked up survivors. Soon after midnight on the 10th two
more vessels in the convoy were torpedoed. By 0305 the rescue ships had
completed operations and were underway to rejoin the convoy. An hour and a half
later Bibb sighted a raft close aboard with survivors, and three hours later
dropped two charges on a doubtful sound contact, while HMS Dauphin screened the
rescue ship. Twenty minutes later she sighted a life raft with three men on it
end she directed the rescue ship to pick them up. The rescue ship failed to
locate the raft and as the increasingly rough weather and impending snow squall
made it imperative that the men not be lost sight of, Bibb rescued the three
survivors from SS Coulmore.
A few minutes later another raft was sighted dead ahead and two survivors of SS
Bonneville were taken aboard. The Bibb now maneuvered near Coulmore and found
her in good condition and floating on an even keel, even with the torpedo hole
in her bow. There were no persons aboard. Four hours later the Bibb proceeded to
the assistance of SS Rosewood, reported sinking, but could not locate her in the
darkness and storm. The next day, the 11th, Bibb sighted a ship on the horizon
and proceeded toward it. It turned out to be the stern of a torpedoed tanker,
with no signs of life on board, though one boat and one raft remained on board.
The Bibb began searching for survivors and lookouts sighted large quantities of
debris, including a swamped lifeboat. Later she returned to the wreck and left
it in a sinking condition from gun fire and depth charges. The next day she
sighted the bow of the tanker and left it in sinking condition also. Several
hours later she again encountered the abandoned Coulmore. Soon afterwards she
got underway to join Trillium and relieved her of escort of SS Empire Bunting.
On the 13th the Bibb set a course for Reykjavik and anchored there on the 25th,
later that day proceeding to Hvalfjordur.
The Bibb left Hvalfjordur for Reykjavik on 18 March 1943 and stood out to sea en
route to join Iceland bound convoy HXL-229A. The cutter reported to the escort
commander on the 20th and was assigned a station. That afternoon she had an
underwater sound contact and made an embarrassing depth charge attack 5,000
yards ahead of the convoy with no visible damage. On the 22nd she broke off from
convoy HXL-229A and began screening ahead of convoy HXL-229. Entering Reykjavik
on the 23rd she proceeded to Hvalfjordur where she entered a floating drydock on
the 27th and remained there until the 29th.
On 3 April 1943 Bibb left for Reykjavik and later got underway standing out of
the harbor to form convoy ONJ-176, consisting of three vessels with USS Symbol
(AM-123) in company as escort. Next day she identified convoy ON-176 and
delivered the section from Iceland. Then she proceeded towards Iceland and
arrived at Reykjavik on the afternoon of the 5th.
On 6 April 1943 Bibb got underway in company with USS Vulcan (AR-5) and Ingham
and on the 8th moored at the naval anchorage at Moville, Ireland. She remained
there only seven hours and at 1729 stood out of Loch Foyle in company with
Ingham and Vulcan for a trip direct to Norfolk, Virginia. The next day she had a
sound contact and carried out an embarrassing attack, dropping two depth
charges. The contact was evaluated as probably non-submarine. That evening
Ingham made an embarrassing attack on what was reported to be a periscope. The
three vessels arrived off the entrance to Chesapeake Bay on the 17th. On the
18th Bibb dropped the escort of Vulcan and stood out of the swept channel in
company with Ingham en route Boston, where she arrived on the 19th for ten days
availability. On the 30th she departed Boston for Casco Bay, Maine.
On 9 May, 1943 Bibb proceeded to New York and anchored in Sandy Hook Bay on the
13th in company with Task Force 66 consisting of Bibb, as flagship, Ingham and
seven Navy destroyers. On the 14th the task force got under way escorting convoy
UGA-8A for Casablanca. Sound contacts were attacked that day and the next and on
the 16th four more destroyers of Task Group 21.3 joined the escort group. On the
26th the escort carrier USS Card (CVE-11) reported a suspected submarine ten
miles ahead. Ten other destroyers dropped charges on doubtful contacts and Bibb
made an embarrassing attack on a contact at 600 yards at 1430. A submarine
periscope was reported close aboard. The Bibb regained contact and slowed for a
Hedgehog attack. At the same time she opened fire with her 20 mm cannons on a
periscope reported ahead. Then she increased to full speed and dropped a full
pattern of depth charges. Soon after, a streak of heavy oil, 30 yards long, was
sighted. The Bibb was unable to regain contact and rejoined the convoy. On the
31st, the Casablanca section of the convoy, consisting of 27 ships, began
breaking off. On 2 June 1943, Bibb moored in Delpit Basin, Casablanca.
The Bibb was underway again on 9 June 1943 as flagship of Task Force 66 in
company with Ingham and six Navy destroyers and six French escort vessels. The
Casablanca section started joining the main convoy from Mediterranean ports. On
the 14th several high frequency direction finder bearings were reported and on
the 19th the convoy made an emergency turn on a contact which later proved to be
non-submarine. Another emergency turn was made on the 21st on a radar contact at
300 yards and at 0512 Bibb dropped one depth charge on an underwater sound
contact that disappeared at 700 yards. The New York section of the convoy began
breaking off on the 26th, with Ingham, as senior escort with four Navy
destroyers, and the rest of the convoy stood into Chesapeake Bay entrance. On
the 27th Bibb was en route to New York where she anchored in Gravesend Bay,
moving over to Brooklyn on the 28th to moor.
Standing down New York Harbor on 8 July 1943, in company with Task Force 63,
consisting of four Navy destroyers, Bibb reported at Buoy 'BW' and the force
stood out to sea on the 9th, covering a section of convoy UGS-12 to Norfolk.
That afternoon Bibb attacked a sound contact with a full nine-charge pattern and
some heavy oil and light bits of debris resulted. A few minutes later a vessel
in the convoy fired a machine gun at a reported visual contact. The Bibb picked
up oil samples and ordering USS Portent (AM-106) to remain in the vicinity,
rejoined the convoy. Oil was still rising in the area. The Portent made a
Hedgehog attack and dropped five depth charges on a sound contact one mile north
of Bibb's attack.
Mooring at Norfolk on the 11th three more destroyers reported to the task force
and they departed the same day to escort convoy UGS-12 to North Africa ports. On
the 13th Task Group 21.13 joined, departing the next day. On the 15th USS
Edwards (DD-619) departed for Bermuda, her sound gear inoperative. On the 21st
Portent stood by to cover one of the convoy vessels that had steering trouble.
On the 22nd Bibb had a sound contact and fired a pattern of nine depth charges
with no apparent results. Next day she fired her port K-guns on a contact with
negative results. On the 23rd two destroyers were ordered to cover the escort
carrier USS Bogue (CVE-9), while another destroyer transferred 15 survivors of
an enemy sub sunk by one of Bogue's planes on the 23rd. On the 28th the main
convoy was turned over to the British escort and the Casablanca section began
breaking off and anchored at the breakwater at 1240. Three hours later Bibb
stood into the harbor and moored, remaining there until the 31st.
The Bibb remained moored at Casablanca until 6 August 1943 and then stood out of
the harbor, forming Task Force 63 consisting of Ingham and five destroyers en
route to Gibraltar, where they arrived on the 7th. On the 8th she stood out of
Gibraltar Harbor in command of Task Force to meet convoy GUS-11 at the straits.
On the 9th the Casablanca section, escorted by two destroyers, joined the main
convoy. On the 13th Bogue reported an attack by her aircraft four miles astern
of the convoy and two destroyers were detached to assist the plane, who rejoined
later reporting negative results. On the 16th Bibb attacked a doubtful sound
contact with three starboard throwers without results. On the 18th Portent made
a depth charge attack on the starboard quarter of the convoy. Next day the Bibb
fired her starboard thrower in an embarrassing attack on what was probably a
non-submarine. On the 24th, the New York section of 19 ships detached with four
escorts. On the 25th a plane reported sighting a submarine diving 14 miles from
the convoy and the Bibb increased speed to search the area. She had a sound
contact at 900 yards and dropped a full pattern with negative results. On the
26th the Delaware section of the convoy departed under escort of Ingham and USS
Threat (AM-124) and at 0935 the lead ships were ordered to follow Bibb to the
swept channel of New York harbor. On the 27th Bibb departed for Boston and
moored at the South Boston Navy Yard on the 28th.
The Bibb , with Ingham , departed Boston on 8 September 1943, for area "R" off
Block Island Sound for anti-submarine warfare practice, which consisted of
simulated depth charging and head throw weapon runs on a submerged U.S.
submarine and also acted as target for PT boats in combined destroyer and PTB
exercises. On the 11th she stood down the Block Island swept channel for Norfolk
and moored at the Naval Operating Base on the 12th. On the 14th she stood out of
Norfolk preparatory to acting as escort commander of convoy UGS-18 en route to
North African and Mediterranean ports. Task Force 63 also included Ingham and
seven destroyers. When completed on the 15th the convoy formation consisted of
12 columns of ships. On the 20th Bibb investigated a sound contact, which proved
to be non-submarine and was probably due to fish. A fire which broke out on Bibb
on the 21st proved to be rags burning in a bucket. On the 27th USS Chase
(DE-158) departed for Gibraltar and on the 2nd the main convoy stood up the main
channel through Gibraltar straits. On the same day two vessels broke off for
Europe Point and the convoy was joined by the Gibraltar section. British ships
took over escorting the convoy on the 3rd and Bibb with four Navy destroyers
proceeded toward Casablanca where they arrived on the 14th.
On 7 October 1943, Bibb with the four Navy destroyers departed Casablanca for
Gibraltar and on the 9th began escorting the Gibraltar section of convoy GUS-17.
Later on the same day Ingham and a destroyer, joined with the Casablanca section
and two PC escorts later departed for Casablanca with four vessels from the main
convoy. The passage across the Atlantic continued without incident. On 25
October the New York and Delaware sections broke off, escorted six vessels and
the others continued to Norfolk. On the 26th, the escort duty completed, Bibb
proceeded to South Boston Navy Yard Annex, mooring there on the 28th and
remaining through the balance of October.
The Bibb departed Boston on 8 November 1943 in company with Ingham en route San
Juan, Puerto Rico, for duty with Task Group 26.4 and arrived there on the 13th.
On the 17th Bibb was patrolling the southeast entrance to Vieques Sound, being
relieved by submarine chasers and then escorted the French aircraft carrier
Bearn departing San Juan on the 27th. She was relieved on 30 November by
submarine chasers and arrived at Guantanamo Bay on 1 December 1943.
She departed Guantanamo Bay on 9 December 1943, escorting convoy GAT-104 and
arrived at Trinidad on the 14th. Leaving Trinidad on 20 December, escorting
convoy TAG-104, Bibb arrived at Guantanamo Bay on the 25th. The Bibb departed
Guantanamo Bay on 29 December 1943, escorting convoy GAT-108 and arrived at
Trinidad 3 January 1944. On January 6th she left Port of Spain, Trinidad,
escorting U. S. Army Transport S-17 to San Juan. She arrived at San Juan on 7
January 1944 and departed on the 8th for Guantanamo Bay where she arrived on the
9th. Departing the same day for Trinidad, she arrived at her destination and on
the 11th left Trinidad for Guantanamo Bay, arriving on the 19th. Departing
Guantanamo on the 23rd she arrived at Norfolk on the 26 January 1944.
The Bibb was moored at St. Helena Navy Yard in Berkley, Virginia, until 10
February 1944 undergoing overhaul. On the 11th she was underway proceeding to
Norfolk and on the 12th was standing down Hampton Roads, anchoring in Lynnhaven
Roads. On the 13th she stood down Chesapeake Bay swept channel and maneuvered
while awaiting the formation of the convoy. The commander of Task Force 66 was
in the Bibb, while ComCortDiv 45, consisted of six Coast Guard-manned destroyer
escorts and one Navy-manned destroyer escort. The Task Force was escorting
convoy UGS-33, consisting of 78 merchant vessels to North African ports and also
USS Brant (ARS-32) and six LCIs to the Azores. On 25 February the convoy
dispersed in heavy weather with four escorts rounding up the stragglers. On the
17th a Navy seaman was transferred by pulling boat from one of the convoyed
vessels to the Bibb for an appendectomy. On the 21st a doctor from Babbitt was
transferred to Bibb to treat that ship's doctor who had been stricken with
pneumonia. On the 27th friendly aircraft were sighted screening the convoy. By
March 1st the Azores group had departed and on the same day the Casablanca
section of the convoy, consisting of seven merchant vessels and USS Cossatot
(AO-77), with three escorts detached. On March 2nd four merchant vessels
detached for Gibraltar and Task Force 66 was relieved of escorting the convoy by
a British task force. Task Force 66 relieved course and began standing up the
Straits of Gibraltar and on the 3rd entered Casablanca Harbor.
On 7 March 1944, Bibb departed Casablanca with Task Force 66 and on the 8th
relieved the senior British escort in HMS Bittersweet of convoy GUS-32. On the
same day eight merchant vessels with the oiler Cossatot, escorted by Coast Guard
manned destroyer escorts USS Vance (DE-387) and USS Chambers (DE-391), joined
the convoy. At the same time eight merchant vessels under escort of PC vessels
were detached for Casablanca, making the total number of ships in the convoy 82,
plus the oiler. On the 12th three more merchant vessels joined. On the 16th all
electric power on Bibb failed, the rudder jammed and the main turbines stopped.
The vessel fell off to northward and commenced drifting toward the convoy.
Auxiliary diesel power for radio and lighting systems was cut in and the cutter
shifted to hand steering. The breakdown had been caused by the tripping of
circuit breakers on the main switchboard and within 35 minutes Bibb had again
shifted to power steering.
On the 20th a Liberator was sighted screening the convoy. The barometer dropped
and the winds rose with a number five sea. Because of the weather zigzagging was
discontinued. One merchant vessel was detached for St. John's. On the 22nd the
Norfolk section of the convoy was detached, escorted by four destroyer escorts,
and a little later the Delaware section left under escort of two destroyer
escorts. On the 23rd the convoy entered New York Harbor and Bibb moored at
Brooklyn Navy Yard with availability expiring April 2nd.
The Bibb departed Brooklyn for Casco Bay, Maine, on 3 April and on the 5th began
exercises which continued through the 7th. Standing out of Casco Bay on that
day, she moored at Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, on the 9th, moving to
Lynnhaven Roads on the 12th. On the 13th she stood down the Norfolk swept
channel and than reversed courses and stood up to the Naval Operating Bases for
imperative repairs. Later in the day she took station "one" in convoy UGS-39
forming off Norfolk swept chanced as flagship of Task Force 60, with six Coast
Guard-manned, and six Navy-manned destroyer escorts. One of the destroyer
escorts was damaged in collision and returned to Norfolk Navy Yard for repair.
The convoy consisted of 102 merchant ships. On the 14th three more destroyer
escorts joined the task force. On the 16th two YMs detached for Bermuda. On the
20th a destroyer escort reported picking up Morse Code signals on their
underwater sound gear, and an hour later Bibb picked up the same signals. Ten
minutes later escort vessels of the inner screen dropped one depth charge each,
followed at short intervals by two more sets of charges, by each escort vessel
of the inner screen. Two hours later a white wake was sighted passing astern
from port to starboard and Bibb maneuvered on various courses at 15 knots for a
sound contact, resuming normal patrol speed an hour later.
On the 23rd the Bibb sounded the submarine alarm on receiving a sound contact
and dropped one depth charge 600 yards ahead of one of the convoy columns. The
contact was analyzed as doubtful. One merchant vessel detached for the Azores.
On the 28th four merchant vessels and one destroyer detached, the vessels to be
escorted to Oran by a British task force. An hour later three merchant vessels
detached for Casablanca under escort of two USPC vessels and a French destroyer.
Another merchant vessel from Casablanca joined the convoy. On the 29th a general
alarm was sounded on receiving a radar contact at a range of 11 miles, thought
to be a possible aircraft. Shortly afterwards the convoy was secured from
general quarters as the contact proved to be negative. An hour later a
Netherlands war vessel joined the task force as an anti-aircraft ship. On the
30th Cossatot and four escorts detached for Oran and two destroyer escorts
joined the task force. On 1 May seven merchant vessels were detached under
escort of a destroyer escort for Algiers. On the 2nd five merchant vessels
joined the convoy from Algerian ports. On the 3rd the convoy commenced standing
up the Tunisian War Channel and six hours later Task Force 60 was relieved of
convoy UGS-39 by HMS Dart at the entrance to Bizerte swept channel. The Bibb
remained moored at Bizerte until 11 May 1944, and then was underway as flagship
of Task Force 60 relieving HMS Pheasant of convoy GUS-39 in the vicinity of
Bizerte swept channel.
On the 12th four merchant vessels were detached for Bone, Algeria, while three
merchant vessels from that port joined. On the 13th, sixteen merchant vessels
detached for Algiers while 23 merchant vessels joined from that port. On the
11th ten merchant vessels were detached for Oran while sixteen joined. On the
15th a destroyer escort fired across the bow of a fishing boat to keep it clear
of the convoy after the fisherman had refused to follow orders. Eight merchant
vessels were detached for Gibraltar on the 15th. Next day six merchant vessels
detached for Casablanca while eight joined. One convoyed vessel detached for
Horta, Azores on the 20th and two joined. On the 27th two merchant vessels were
detached for New York. On the 28 May 37 ships detached for Hampton Roads. The
New York section, with the commander Task Force 60 in Bibb, now consisted of 148
ships in 8 columns. The convoy arrived at New York on the 30th and Bibb moored
at Brooklyn Navy Yard with an availability period until 10 June 1944.
On 4 June 1944, CDR H. T. Diehl, USCG, relieved CDR C .A. Anderson, USCG, as
commanding officer of Bibb. On the 10th the cutter stood out for Casco Bay,
Maine, where she held exercises and drills until the 18th, when she departed for
Hampton Roads. On the 24th she was underway out of the swept channel with Task
Force 60, consisting of six Coast Guard-manned destroyer escorts and six Navy
destroyer escorts, the escort oiler USS Mattaponi (AO-41) and two French
escorts, escorting convoy UGS-46 to North African ports. The convoy consisted of
69 merchant ships, 19 LSTs and one British aircraft carrier. On the 28th one
merchant vessel returned to Norfolk unescorted due to machinery failure. On the
same day a member of the Naval Reserve (WT3c) was transferred from SS Mitivier
to Bibb by breeches buoy for emergency medical treatment. The broken blower
crankshaft of one of the merchant vessels in convoy was repaired on Bibb and
transferred to it by breeches buoy.
On 4 July 1944 there were detachments from the convoy for Horta, Azores and for
Casablanca on the 9th and 11th. Vessels joined the convoy at Gibraltar on the
10th. Various members of the Task Force departed as escorts for detachments and
others joined for temporary duty. A warning of the presence of unidentified
aircraft was received on the 12th. At 0115 Bibb, at general quarters, began
making smoke to cover sector one of the convoy. At 0330 various escorts reported
bandit planes closing over the convoy. All escorts were given permission to open
fire at will on unidentified aircraft. At 0336 escorts on the convoy's port side
began firing and two minutes later escorts on the starboard side began to open
fire. The planes drew away at 0440, the escorts ceased firing, and at 0448 the
all clear was sounded and Bibb, ceasing to make smoke, was secured from general
quarters. The attack took place at 36º 23' N x 00º 26.5' E. No planes came
within range of Bibb during the entire action. Much credit was given to the
smoke screen for warding off possible air torpedo attacks. The smoke hung low,
never rising above 100 feet, the wind was steady and moderate and from a most
favorable position dead ahead of the convoy. The night was dark throughout the
action, though the moon was bright and cast a bright path. The convoy proceeded
toward Bizerte, where, on the 18th, the Bibb was relieved as escort flagship by
HMS Pheasant and moored until the 20th.
The Bibb departed for gunnery exercises on 20 July 1944 and, having completed
these, got underway to take station one of Task Force 60, escorting convoy
GUS-46. At 1521 she relieved HMS Fleetwood as Task Force Commander. Two merchant
ships joined on the 21st; six detached and six joined on the 22nd; and nine
detached and seven joined on the 23rd. Also on that day two British escorts
detached. The convoy entered the Straits of Gibraltar on the 24th as six
merchant vessels detached and seven joined the convoy. Another joined on the
29th. On August 6th Bibb expended 11 depth charges on a sound contact which was
later evaluated as non-submarine. The convoy began break-off operations on the
7th. Thirteen merchant ships under escort of Bibb and ComCorDiv 45, consisting
of six Coast Guard-manned destroyer escorts, proceeded to New York, while the
remainder, under the Navy manned-destroyer escorts of ComCorDiv 67, detached for
New York. The Bibb was relieved of escort duty on 8 August and proceeded
independently to the Brooklyn Navy Yard and moored. On the 19th she proceeded to
Casco Bay, Maine, where she engaged in various drills and exercises until tie
28th. Then she departed for Norfolk and moored there for the rest of August.
On 2 September 1944, Bibb stood down Chesapeake Bay channel and departed for
North African ports as flagship of Task Force 60, escorting, convoy UGS-53. The
USS Johnson (DE-683) detached temporarily from the task force on the same day
and proceeded to Bermuda for repairs, rejoining on the 6th. Meanwhile, one
merchant had joined the convoy and another had detached for Bermuda on the 5th.
Between the 8th and 12th, Bibb took aboard crew members from three merchant
vessels in convoy for medical treatment. On the 17th three merchant vessels
detached for Casablanca and, on the 18th, one detached for Gibraltar and two
merchant ships and three British submarines joined the convoy. On the 19th and
20th a number of ships were detached for Oran and Algiers, others joining from
those ports. Three destroyer escorts left to escort three of these detached
ships, two of the escorts returning on the 20th and 21st. The other merchant
ships who detached proceeded in groups, without escorts from the task force. On
the 22nd, two merchant vessels joined from Bone, Algeria. On the 22nd Task Force
60 was relieved of escort duty by British vessels and Bibb stood into Bizerte
swept channel and moored.
The Bibb departed from Bizerte on 23 September 1944, and was joined by Escort
Divisions 45 and 67, forming Task Force 60. She anchored in Palermo outer
harbor, moving next morning to the breakwater. On the 27th she stood out of
Palermo and on the 28th, following gunnery and tactical exercises, the task
force relieved HMS Shield as escort for convoy GUS-53. On the 30th, two merchant
ships detached and 10 joined from Algiers. On 1 October the convoy was augmented
by 30 merchant ships and three Navy vessels. Four merchant ships were detached
for Gibraltar and one joined just before the convoy changed course to stand
through the Straits. Three merchant ships joined the convoy on the 3rd and four
were detached for Casablanca; three more joined on the 7th. From time to time on
the voyage Bibb rendered medical assistance to crew members and to one German
prisoner of war aboard the various convoyed ships. On the 13th the commander of
Task Force 60 was transferred aboard USS Merrill (DE-392) relieving the Bibb as
flagship. The Bibb assumed a new patrol station until the 15th, when she
departed independently for Charleston, South Carolina. She arrived on the 17th,
remaining there for the rest of October.
During November 1944 through 29 January 1945, Bibb remained at the Charleston
Navy Yard, undergoing conversion to an AGC [Amphibious Command & Control]
vessel, her designation being then changed to WAGC-31. A training program for
the personnel was in progress during this time. On 29 and 30 January 1945 she
was depermed, degaussed and tested. Taking on ammunition at the Navy Yard until
the 4th of February, when she departed for Hampton Roads, Virginia. On the 7th
she stood up Chesapeake Bay and carried out various exercises and then proceeded
to Norfolk, mooring at the Navy Yard there on 12 February 1945. Escorted by USS
Barry (APD-29) Bibb departed Norfolk on the 15th of February and arrived at
Panama on the 22nd. She passed through to canal and departed Balboa on the 23rd
for Pearl Harbor. On the 27th she went to the assistance of USS Narragansett
(ATF-88) and floating drydock ARDC-12. Sighting Narragansett 15 miles distant,
Bibb came alongside and then proceeded to the floating drydock, two and one-half
miles away, and took her in tow. On 1 March 1945 she released the drydock to Tug
ATA-225 and proceeded to Manzanillo, Mexico. She departed Manzanillo on the 3rd
and reached Pearl Harbor on the 11th. The Bibb departed Pearl Harbor on 25 March
and arrived at Eniwetok on 3 April 1945. Departing for Palau on the 5th her
destination was changed for Ulithi Islands on the 9th and she arrived there next
day. On 14 April she departed for Guam where she arrived on the 15th and on the
19th rendezvoused with USS Aaron Ward (DD-132) which acted as her escort to
Okinawa. She anchored at Kerama Retto, Okinawa on 23 April.
When an enemy aircraft was sighted coming in from the northwest on 28 April 1945
Bibb commenced firing. The plane disappeared in a smoke screen. Again on the
29th Bibb opened fire on an enemy aircraft identified as a Japanese bomber.
Three ships in the area fired at the aircraft which was knocked down about 1,000
yards to the north of Bibb. Early on the 30th and again on the 6th of May Bibb
fired on enemy aircraft. All these planes were suicide planes which chose medium
sized and large ships at anchor as their targets, and used various tactics, some
attacking at night, some at dusk and others during daylight. All came in at low
altitude and seemed to approach a target from the stern, going into a steep
glide shout 800 yards on the quarter of their target. On 28 April some of these
planes, undetected and unreported by any unit, approached the southern
anchorage, flying at high speed about 100 feet above the water. Very few ships
were able to fire on it as it passed. The plane crashed into the starboard side
of USS Pinkney (APH-2), a transport for the wounded. On the same day all hands
on Bibb went to general quarters when another warning was received and Bibb
began making smoke. Then she began firing on an apparent target on the port
beam, but was stopped a minute later because the target could be neither seen
nor heard. On 1 May a radar picket at 0340 reported a "bogey" coming in 45 miles
from Bibb's position. Fourteen minutes later a bogey consisting of probably two
planes at low altitude, was reported as closing rapidly.
The Bibb commenced making smoke at 0354, even before SOPA ordered it 14 minutes
later. A minute later at 0359 an enemy aircraft was sighted at a range of about
5,000 yards and about 1,000 feet in altitude. It was a clear night with a
bright, full moon which made visibility very good. The plane had just flown over
Tokashika Shima and was approaching the southern anchorage near Bibb. Various
vessels near the path of the plane opened fire. The plane was in a slight glide,
losing altitude, apparently picking out one of the ships in the anchorage as a
suicide crash target. The Bibb's gun fired one round at the target when it was
dead astern but did not fire again because the crew had lost sight of the
target. Just as the plane entered its steep glide, preparing to crash dive, two
of Bibb's guns picked up the target and began firing. A few seconds later the
plane crashed in to the USS Terror (CM-5) starboard amidships.
On the morning of 6 May 1945, at 0846, SOPA warned that bogeys as well as many
friendly planes were within four miles. Hellcat fighters were being vectored to
intercept the raid. Two minutes later lookouts on Bibb sighted one aircraft
identified as an Aichi D4A "Val" dive-bomber at a range of 8,000 yards appearing
just over Hokaji Island, at an altitude of about 1,000 feet. The 5" battery
expended seven rounds. The target was taken under fire by vessels in the
anchorage but apparently escaped, damaged, and disappeared flying north toward
Geruma Shima. Another Val, taken under fire by naval units, westward of Geruma
Shim was brought down. Ten minutes later a kawasaki Ki-61 "Tony" fighter
aircraft was sighted at about 5,000 yards, and Bibb commenced firing, but the
firing was checked as the bearing became foul. The Tony crash dived into the
stern of the USS St. George (AV-16) causing only superficial damage. No other
enemy action took place in Bibb's vicinity during the rest of May and she
remained anchored, continuing as flagship of COMINPAC.
On 14 June 1945 Bibb stood out of Kerama Retto, in company with two other Navy
vessels, and escorted by three destroyers, to ride out a reported storm at sea.
She returned to Kerama Retto, next morning and remained anchored there for the
balance of June. At 1840 on 21 June Bibb sighted one Nakajima Ki-44 "Tojo"
fighter aircraft and one Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar" fighter aircraft closing rapidly
at about 800 feet altitude. The Tojo split off, passing Bibb's starboard beam by
250 yards, and crash dived into the starboard side of USS Curtiss (AV-4). The
Oscar then took a course northward, climbed to about 1,000 feet, reversed course
and began maneuvering for a crash dive, with her probable target Bibb, YMS-331,
or USS Kenneth Whiting (AVP-14) all within close range of each other. The Bibb
opened fire on the Oscar before it began reversing and maintained fire until it
was in the last phase of the crash dive. The plane received several visible hits
on the left wing, close to the fuselage at the peak of the dive and began
trailing black smoke, crashing into the water near the Kenneth Whiting. The
Bibb's fire was thought to be directly responsible for causing the attack to be
frustrated and the plane splashing harmlessly into the water.
The Bibb continued at anchor in Kerama Retto until 7 July 1945 when she
proceeded to Buckner Bay, where she anchored remaining through the 16th. On the
17th she departed in convoy to a clear area, when a typhoon was expected to
strike. The Bibb returned on the 21st and proceeded to Buckner Bay, where she
remained at anchor during the balance of July. The Bibb remained at anchor in
Buckner Bay, Okinawa, during August, 1945, as flagship for Commander, Mine
Craft, Pacific Fleet.
On 10 September 1945, the Commander, Mine Craft, shifted his flag to Terror, and
the Bibb became relief flagship for RADM Arthur D. Struble, USN, newly appointed
Commander, Mine Craft. On the 16th she got underway in the van of a number of
Navy craft who stood out of Buckner Bay and proceeded independently in
accordance with the typhoon plan. She returned to Buckner Bay on the 18th and
anchored, acting as supply and provision ship for YMS type of vessels. On 28
September Bibb again departed Buckner Bay. She remained underway except for
three days, until 11 October, carrying out typhoon plan X-RAY. On the 11th she
anchored in Buckner Bay and acted as flagship for Task Group 52.9 until 1
December 1945, when she departed for the United States.
The Bibb then returned to Coast Guard control after she was converted back to
her cutter configuration at the Navy Yard in Charleston. Once the conversion was
completed she was again classified as WPG-31. During the conversion, her wartime
armament was removed, structural modifications were made, and towing equipment
was installed, preparatory to resuming her peacetime Coast Guard duties. With
these modifications, she was well suited to assume the additional tasks to be
performed on weather patrols as well as routing search and rescue work. The
weather patrols (later termed "ocean station patrols") consisted of sailing for
three weeks on one of four assigned stations in the North Atlantic, and each
cutter assigned performed four or five such patrols each year. Their primary
task was to report meteorological information, which was used in weather
forecasts for the burgeoning trans-Atlantic commercial air traffic as well as
for surface vessels. The ocean station vessels also provided communications and
navigation assistance and were always standing by for and search and rescue
emergencies. After the conversion was completed, she was ordered to Boston,
which remained her home port through October of 1973.
Other duties besides conducting weather patrols included search and rescue
standby and other patrols for the First Coast Guard District, making reserve
training cruises, and occasional search and rescue details at Bermuda and
Argentia. She participated in refresher training under the Fleet Training Group
at Guantanamo Bay every two years to maintain her military readiness. It was a
combination ocean station patrol and search and rescue operation that brought
Bibb and her crew international recognition when, while operating on Ocean
Station Charlie on 14 October 1947, the transoceanic airliner Bermuda Sky Queen
was forced to make a landing during a gale with high winds and in rough seas
when the flying boat ran low on fuel.
The Bibb, under the command of CAPT Paul D. Cronk, had picked up an aircraft on
radar heading west at 0232 (GCT) on 14 October 1947. It was the Boeing 314
flying boat Bermuda Sky Queen (NC-18612), on a trans-Atlantic flight from Foynes,
Ireland to Gander, Newfoundland with 62 passengers and 7 crew on board. After
flying beyond Bibb, the pilot of the flying boat, Captain Charles M. Martin,
decided to return to the cutter to attempt an emergency landing because
unexpectedly strong head winds had caused the aircraft to consume too much fuel
for them to make landfall safely. After establishing communications with Bibb,
Martin made a successful landing in the 30-foot seas at 1004 (GCT) near the
cutter. After maneuvering close to the Bibb to secure a mooring line, the flying
boat lost control and collided with the cutter's hull, damaging the nose of the
aircraft as well as both wings and their attached floats.
With the waves cresting at 30 feet and the cutter rolling 30 to 35 degrees,
getting the passengers and crew of the Bermuda Sky Queen aboard Bibb proved to
be a tremendous challenge. Attempting various methods, including using a pulling
boat and various rubber rafts from both the cutter and the flying boat, three
passengers of the latter volunteered, only two hours before sunset, to attempt
to make it to the cutter using one of the flying boat's small rafts. The Bibb
laid down an oil slick downwind of the Bermuda Sky Queen prior to crossing her
bow to create a lee for the three men. They then began paddling towards the
cutter, but the seas were too great. As they cleared the flying boat, Bibb
drifted as close a practicable and threw lines to the men, bringing them safely
aboard. This method would prove impossible for the women and children on board,
so the cutter launched her motor surfboat that towed a 15-man raft to the Queen.
Using that raft as a bridge between the flying boat and the motor surf boat, the
Coast Guardsmen managed to save 28 persons in three trips and get them back to
Bibb. On the fourth trip, the surfboat, taking on water after being battered
against the hull of Bibb, began to sink. Fortunately Bibb was able to pull all
21 survivors and Coast Guardsmen on board the surfboat and in the raft to
safety, leaving 22 on board the Queen. One more attempt was made with a pulling
boat that night, but again the rough seas and darkness prevented their success
and captains Cronk and Martin agreed to wait until the next morning to save the
remaining passengers and crew.
The following morning the seas had abated somewhat and Cronk ordered a rescue
attempt with his personal gig. After one successful trip, the gig's engine broke
down and the Coast Guardsmen once again launched a pulling boat. The pulling
boat successfully rescued the remaining passengers and crew and the captain's
gig finally got its engine going again and both boats were then brought back
aboard Bibb. Cronk and Martin agreed that it was impossible to tow the Queen to
safety and Cronk then ordered her sunk as a hazard to navigation. Obtaining
permission to leave the ocean station and return to Boston with all of the souls
who had been on board the Queen, the cutter arrived to a hero's welcome. The
rescue demonstrated the utility and importance of the ocean station program and
historian Robert E. Johnson noted that "The Bermuda Sky Queen incident must rank
with the Coast Guard's outstanding rescue feats."
In September of 1948 Bibb steamed at full speed into forty foot seas to save 40
men and a dog from the sinking Portuguese fishing schooner Gaspar some 300 miles
off Newfoundland. She departed Boston on 20 December 1947, en route to Ocean
Station Charlie via Argentia, relieving CGC Androscoggin (WPG-68) on 26 December
1947. She departed Charlie upon relief by Duane on 16 January 1948. She arrived
Argentia on 19 January and stood by the hull of the Army transport Joseph V.
Connolly and assisted in towing her to port. The tow was taken over by the
commercial tug Curb and Bibb then proceeded to Boston.
During May-June 1949 she served on Ocean Station Able. In August, 1949 she
served on Ocean Station Dog. The next year, in June-July, she served on Ocean
Station How and in July of 1950 she and her sister Treasury-class cutters had
Mark 10 projectors installed. In October of 1950 she served on Ocean Station Dog
and in December it was duty on Ocean Station Easy.
On 27 February 1952 Bibb sustained minor damage when a Navy tug collided with
her while maneuvering in Narragansett Bay. Her next ocean station assignment was
during March-April 1952 when the Bibb served on Ocean Station Charlie and then
in November-December 1952 she served on Ocean Station Echo. In February 1953 she
served on Ocean Station Coca and in July it was duty on Ocean Station Delta. In
March-April 1954 she served on Ocean Station Bravo. In March-April 1956 she
served on Ocean Station Bravo again and in June 1956 she served on Ocean Station
Charlie. In August 1956 Bibb was on Ocean Station Delta and served there again
in December of 1956.
The Bibb ventured to the ocean stations again in August-September 1957 and once
again sailed on Ocean Station Delta. In May-June 1958 she served on Ocean
Station Echo and in July-August 1958 it was back to Ocean Station Delta. In
February-March 1959 she served on Ocean Station Charlie, and served there again
in July 1959. She sailed to Ocean Station Charlie again in April of 1960 and in
June and July of 1960 she served on Ocean Station Echo. On 24 July 1960 she
departed on a Reserve Cruise.
In May 1965 she served on Ocean Station Charlie. On 1 May 1965 the Treasury
class vessels were re-designated as High Endurance Cutters or WHEC. This
designation indicated a multi-mission ship able to operate at sea for 30-45 days
without support and Bibb was then re classified as WHEC-31. On 24-25 January
1966 Bibb escorted the disabled merchant vessel SS South African Victory to
Boston. In April of 1966 she served on Ocean Station Delta and on Ocean Station
Charlie in August-September 1967. She was soon assigned to duty with Coast Guard
Squadron Three in Vietnam which had been established to support the Navy's
Operation Market Time. She relieved Duane.
During her ten-month deployment, she cruised approximately 68,680 miles and was
underway for 75 percent of the time she was deployed. Her deployment summary
noted: "She met every operational commitment, never causing any delays and
frequently being extended on patrols due to her high state of operational
readiness. Once in South Vietnamese waters, she operated under the
Cruiser-Destroyer Group of the U.S. Seventh Fleet as a part of Coast Guard
Squadron Three. Her task was to prevent the infiltration of arms, ammunition,
and supplies to communist forces in South Vietnam by stopping, boarding and
searching vessels in her area of operation.
During her patrols she undertook 31 naval gunfire support missions in support of
Vietnamese Regional Forces amphibious assaults, U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Army and
Marine Corps operations primarily into enemy controlled areas of the Mekong
Delta. During these missions she fired 2,760 rounds from her 5"/38 main battery,
destroying 30 structures, 11 sampans, and four bunkers, while damaging 145
structures, 11 sampans and four bunkers--killing three and wounding 30 of the
enemy. She also caused 11 secondary fires and three secondary explosions.
On three patrols she participated in amphibious assaults on Phu Quoc Island. In
a Coast Guard press release, Radarman Second Class Richard Nielsen of New
Bedford, described the mission that took place on 24 November 1968: "South
Vietnamese junks landed Regional Force troops and their U.S. Army advisors on
the west side of the island while other troops came up from An Thoi. A U.S. Army
liaison officer boarded Bibb and worked with a spotter aircraft in coordinating
our fire in support of the troops." First Class Hospitalman James Jones of South
Portsmouth, Kentucky, added: "After the fighting we treated one of the South
Vietnamese soldiers for wounds in the right arm and leg. He returned to his unit
after treatment and we expect him to recover completely."
In another significant action on 13 September 1968 Bibb fired on an enemy supply
route in Khanh Lam Province. During this mission she destroyed eight structures
and seven sampans and damaged 21 structures and 16 sampans. On several occasions
she was praised for her gunfire support. On one such occasion the commander of
U.S. Naval Forces, Vietnam, said: "The outstanding naval gunfire support
provided by officers and men of USCGC BIBB (WHEC-31) to Advisory team 93, Kien
Hoa Province in indicative of your devotion to duty and exemplary
professionalism. Through your actions, you have significantly contributed to the
United States efforts in countering communist aggression in the Republic of
Vietnam." The Bibb was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for her
participation in "Operation Sea Lords" from October to December 1968.
In addition to her patrol duties this cutter also performed civic action
functions in the form of medical assistance and search and rescue. On two
occasions she sent a medical team ashore to the fishing village of Song Ong Doc
in An Xuyen Province, approximately 150 miles southwest of Saigon. Also, on one
of these occasions a working party laden with paint and brushes accompanied the
medical team and assisted the villagers in painting a church. On this particular
visit the village came under enemy mortar fire just as Bibb's personnel were
leaving. The nearby cutter was able to repel the attack with five-inch gunfire
while coming close inshore in relatively shallow water to retrieve her Medical
Civil Action Program team.
Another time a medical team was sent ashore to the Village of Phu Tho, 70 miles
south southeast of Danang. During these visits, Dr. John Bulette, the on-board
medical officer assigned to Bibb by the U.S. Public Health Service, treated over
220 persons. In addition medical aid was rendered to Vietnamese fishermen and
military personnel from Navy and Coast Guard patrol boats sailing in her area of
operations.
A distress message from the disabled SS Agenor gave the Bibb an opportunity to
resume its customary peace-time job of search and rescue. Quartermaster Third
Class Bill Batson, of Quincy, Massachusetts, reported: "We arrived on scene late
in the afternoon of 1 November. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Winnebago (WHEC-40)
had the Agenor's 17 crewmen on board. She transferred them to us as she had to
depart to fulfill operational commitments. For three days we provided the men
with food and shelter as we stood by the disabled ship. On 3 November we
transferred them to the commercial tug Neptunia for further transfer to the tug
Turmoil which then took them to Singapore."
The Bibb also provided logistical support to U.S. Navy "Swift" boats and Coast
Guard 82-foot patrol boats of Coast Guard Squadron One. The support included
providing fuel, food, water, ammunition, maintenance repair, battle damage
repair, and medical services. Frequently one, two or three boats were alongside
and on one occasion there were as many as nine boats alongside at the same time.
The Bibb also visited many foreign ports on her deployment, many of which she
had sailed into during World War II. These included Pearl Harbor, Guam, Subic
Bay, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Yokosuka. The Bibb also transited the Panama
Canal and crossed the equator and the international date line, with appropriate
ceremonies for her crew.
The Bibb completed her deployment in February of 1969 and was relieved by
Spencer. As Bibb departed the western Pacific for her return to Boston, the
commander of the Cruiser-Destroyer Group, U.S. Seventh Fleet, RADM Rudden, send
her a message: "As you depart the Cruiser-Destroyer Group, Seventh Fleet, your
performance is noted with pleasure. In the various areas of Coast Guard Cutter
operations which included Market Time Patrol and Naval Gunfire Support, you
leave behind an impressive record of operational excellence. All hands can be
justifiably proud of this accomplishment and of the fact that they have
contributed significantly to the mission of the Seventh Fleet and to the United
States efforts in Southeast Asia. Well done."
She returned to Boston, where she was home-ported until October of 1973. From
June to July 1969 she served on Ocean Station Delta and during September of that
same year she served on Ocean Station Echo. On 2 November 1969 Bibb towed to
safety the disabled merchant vessel SS Caravan, which was located 150 miles
southeast of Cape Fear. In January of 1970 she served on Ocean Station Charlie,
where she participated in a project to test for radioactive carbon dioxide in
seawater. From 14 August to 6 September of that same year she served on Ocean
Station Echo. During November she served on Ocean Station Charlie.
She began the year 1971 by serving on Ocean Station Bravo, where she served from
3 to 26 of January. Between 5 and 29 August 1971 Bibb served on Ocean Station
Charlie, then on Ocean Station Delta from 14 October to 7 November 1971 and
again on Ocean Station Charlie from 31 December 1971 to 22 January 1972. Later
that year she sailed back to Ocean Station Echo, where she steamed from 10 June
to 4 July. In September 1972 she medevaced crewman from the Greek merchant
vessel SS Christia midway between Bermuda and the Azores. She served again on
Ocean Station Charlie from 23 October to 17 November 1972.
She served on Ocean Station Hotel from 11 to 20 January 1973 and then on Ocean
Station Delta from 26 January to 15 February. From 11 April to 2 May 1973 she
served on Ocean Station Echo, serving there again from 12 June to 3 July that
same year. In the fall she steamed to Ocean Station Bravo, where she served from
27 September to 17 October 1973.
From October 1973 until she was decommissioned, Bibb was stationed at New
Bedford. From 26 November to 16 December she served on Ocean Station Bravo. Her
next duty on an ocean station was from 16 May to 7 June 1974 when she served at
Ocean Station Bravo once again. From 5 to 27 December of 1975 she served on
Ocean Station Hotel. With the advent of newer navigation and communication
technology the Coast Guard soon discontinued ocean station patrols. The Bibb,
relieved of this arduous duty, continued carrying out law enforcement and search
and rescue patrols. The mid-1970s were a period of transition for the Coast
Guard with the passage of the Fisheries Conservation and Management Act and the
nation's shift towards increased interdiction of narcotics smugglers. These
operations called for off-shore patrols of up to three weeks.
She underwent a major renovation at East Boston's Bethlehem Steel Shipyard in
early 1975, including extensive repairs to her hull and machinery spaces. New
navigation and communication systems were also added. After she returned to
service, Bibb undertook a cadet cruise to Bermuda and then to Europe.
In 1981 Bibb conducted a six-week patrol that included two training stops and
several rescues. She first underwent an equipment test by the Naval Underwater
Systems Center in Long Island Sound. She then sailed to Mayport, Florida, for a
week of training at the Navy Fleet Training Center. Then it was on to Guantanamo
Bay for more intensive training with the Navy. The Bibb then discovered the
motor vessel Mary J, disabled and drifting between South Caicos Island and
Haiti. After providing her crew of seven with provisions, Bibb towed Mary J to
Mathew Town, Great Inagua Island.
On 30 June 1981 Bibb sailed around Cape Hatteras and right into tropical storm
Brett. High winds and rough seas from the unexpected storm had put several
vessels in distress and Bibb was first directed to assist the motor vessel
Madil. The Madil's crew of three had been forced to abandon ship and take to the
life rafts, and they were then rescued by the motor vessel Salvatore. The Bibb
then proceeded to assist Nanaste which was being escorted by USS Bowditch
(AGS-21).
Before Bibb could reach Nanaste, she received an "SOS " from the 200-foot motor
vessel SS Vigilant, which was taking on water rapidly. The Vigilant was first
located by a Coast Guard aircraft from Air Station Elizabeth City, North
Carolina, and this aircraft directed Bibb onto the scene. When the cutter
arrived, nine of the Vigilant's 12 crewmen had abandoned ship in the heavy seas
of tropical storm Brett, with the remaining three attempting to save the vessel.
The Bibb launched a motor life boat to recover the men in the raft while Bibb
was rolling up to 40-degrees in the heavy seas. The three left onboard Vigilant
had to abandon their efforts and they took to a second life raft and Bibb's
small boat again set out and successfully rescued them. The Vigilant capsized
and sank one hour later.
The Bibb was then directed to coordinate the search efforts for the missing
sailing vessel Patriot with six crewmen aboard. At first light on 1 July, a
rescue aircraft from Air Station Elizabeth City was on scene and assisting in
the search. Nothing was found when the airplane, low on fuel, had to head back
for land. The Bibb continued searching until sunset when she was relieved by CGC
Dallas (WHEC-716) which had sailed from New York. The Bibb then returned to New
Bedford.
The following year brought a number of notable seizures for drug and fisheries
charges. On 17 July 1982 Bibb seized the motor vessel SS Grimurkamban 270 miles
southeast of Cape Cod with approximately 50 tons of marijuana on board. Later
that month she seized the motor vessel SS Rio Panuco with 50 tons of marijuana
on board. Later again that month and into August she seized the fishing vessel
Shanti after the crew of the fishing vessel threw approximately three tons of
marijuana overboard. On 23 of May 1983 Bibb seized a fishing vessel 50 miles
southeast of Cape Cod for fisheries violations.
In 1984 she participated in a multifaceted law enforcement operation code-named
"Operation Wagon Wheel" in the Caribbean. That operation involved several
different agencies including the Coast Guard, the Navy, the Drug Enforcement
Administration, and others. A Coast Guard press release noted: "Bibb once again
utilized its excellent boat operation capabilities to board and search over 40
vessels in the Caribbean Theater during a two month period." On 10 November 1984
she seized the Turkish motor vessel SS Captain Joe 100 miles east of Honduras
for carrying 11.5 tons of marijuana.
Due to the prohibitive cost of maintaining the aging Bibb, she was
decommissioned on 30 September 1984 after a career spanning over 48 years. She
was sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Florida in 1987.
Email
for more information.
414 Orange Street, Beaufort, NC 28516
(p) 252- 728-2265
(f) 252- 728-2581
| Click here to return to home page. |
|