Summary of Hubbard's military record
This index in original sequence
- in approximate date sequence
- and sorted by subject and date
From: Joe's Garage (swatron@hotmail.com) Subject: long: LRHs driveby shooting Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology Date: 2001-12-30 17:07:52 PST
In light of what we now know of L. Ron Hubbard, I think his Naval Investigation requires further evaluation. This investigation reminds me of the Lisa McPherson case. The important records that could be either really exonerating or damaging turn up missing or inadequate, and the key witnesses are strangely ignorant about what was happening in front of them, even though the visibility was fine.
It is apparent from testimony that, in general, Hubbard cultivated the kind of behavior in people that training is supposed to weed out. By that I mean you don't want people firing artillery around you who don't even bother to look where they are aiming. Training is supposed to catch the misfits, but that is not what caught these guys. It took a complaint from a foreign government.
The investigating board held the investigation "with open doors." Hubbard was present during the first day of questioning and at least some of the following days' questioning. This puts an "x" factor into the evaluation of the investigation, especially when you consider that the crew knew he was in trouble for shelling Mexican land, according to one man's testimony. Was their commanding officer, later to be described in a U.S. court as a "pathological liar," sitting behind the questioners signaling with scowls, raised eyebrows and head movements what answers were to be given by his subordinates? He was apparently permitted to do so under the circumstances decided upon by the board in advance.
The sequence of events, in general, was that Hubbard picked out a floating aerial target for an impromptu gun firing. That was his first mistake. It apparently did not occur to him that planes bombed downward, and his gun shot horizontally along the earth's surface. The gun was a 3 inch caliber, with a barrel about 12 feet long (3"/50), and was capable of hitting something more than 5 miles away. Gunners correct me on this, but I think the extended range on those things might be 10-12 thousand yards. It may have been less 50 years ago.
Four shots were fired from his moving ship at a target that was ten feet above the water a couple of miles away. This sort of firing resulted in a spraying of shells behind the target, where an island or two happened to be located. Apparently some peopl e who were watching Hubbard's ship also saw shells fall, some on land. If both the distant ship and the fall of the shells were in their line of sight, that is an indication that the observers were in the line of fire. To Hubbard's dismay, they were als o on Mexican soil, and in a much better position to describe the firing of his artillery than he was. There is a good probability the Mexican government did the USA a favor by filing a complaint about Hubbard. The highest US authority to officially comm ent on this report was the Secretary of the Navy.
Here is part of what the gunner said the first day, with Hubbard present:
15. Q. Does your projectile have a bursting charge?
A. No, sir.
16. Q. What was your target?
A. To fire at the floating pyramid.
17. Q. Was the target close to land?
A. I could not see what the range was, but the Coronados were in the background.
18. Q. Could you see the land behind the target clearly?
A. It was in the background.
19. Q. Did you see any splashes from the shots that were fired?
A. No, I did not see any.
20. Q. Was the land behind the target in the line with your fire?
A. I could not actually tell, I wasn't checking up.
21. Q. Did you see any of the shells fall on this land?
A. No, sir.
22. Did you hear anyone say that shots fell on this land?
A. Not that I recall.
23. How long did it take you to fire the 4 shots?
A. from 20 to 25 seconds.
24. Q. Were there any other ships in the vicinity when the PC 815 was firing?
A. Not that I recall.
25. What was the estimated range to the target when the order to commence firing was
given?
A. About 3,000 to 4,000 yards.
Here is what the guy who was steering the ship said:
12. Q. Did the firing take place in the general direction of this land?
A. I would say it did, sir.
13. Q. Was the line of fire in the general direction of land?
A. Yes, it was.
14. Q. Do you know what land you had in sight?
A. Yes, it was the Coronados Islands.
Here are some other some interesting highlights.
Master navigator Ron Hubbard apparently had some doubt as to what Mexican territorial water was, from the following statement:
Hubbard: Additional bombing was witnessed by myself and my officers well inside these waters referred to as Mexican Territorial Waters.
And previously he Hubbard had stated:
"At no time was I aware of invading Mexican Territorial waters, ..."
Yet those were the waters in which he gave orders to anchor his ship. There were other (non-Navy, non-US) vessels in the vicinity as well, and one of the Mexican vessels even went out to visit Hubbard's ship. Hubbard's executive officer refused the requ est for 10 gallons of gasoline. His rebuff could potentially have been the final insult to the locals and the straw that was to effectively break any chance Hubbard had of a successful naval career.
Hubbard got the authority he needed to fire artillery from the predecessor to his reactive bank, according to his answer from the following question.
25. Q. What authority did you have to fire you [sic] 3" gun in the afternoon of 28
June 1943?
A. Only the authority that I did not know it was forbidden to fire a non-scheduled firing.
Attention gunners: what's the following mean? (pls e-mail or post)
29. Q. Had you already fired your structural test?
A. The gun had never been structurally fired under the supervision of an ordnance officer,
but had been fired during illumination practice.
In the next answer it's easy to see what Hubbard was gauging his testimony to.
32. Q. What was your estimated distance?
A. Beyond 3 miles. (i.e., the International limit of territorial waters)
Hubbard answered the above without knowing the position of the ship, nor the position of the target he was firing at.
Here's what Hubbard saw on one of the "uninhabited" islands before he fired in its general direction.
A. On Sunday, the 27th, bearing between 320 degrees and 330 degrees true from the
anchorage I observed a lighthouse and 2 small houses [i.e., habitations for people] which
appeared to me at that time to be deserted. Upon anchoring on the 28th I again obs erved
these houses and saw two or more people on the ridge near the lighthouse. The light was at
all times extinguished.
You'd almost think that an extinguished lighthouse meant "fire when ready." In the following question, the interrogator let slip a small bit of information that indicates there was a hotel on the island, which fact would have been part of the official complaint.
44. Q. At any time did you see a building resembling a hotel?
A. At no time.
The following question shows what the investigating board was up against.
64. Q. Would it have been possible to spot the splashes if you had been looking in the
direction toward which you were firing?
A. As I said before I noted no splashes.
In the next questions, XO: is the Executive Officer
18. Q. Did the Commanding Officer inform you that the gun practice would be fired on the 28th? XO. No, sir.
19. Q. Did the Commanding Officer, ask your advice for the practice? XO. No, he didn't. The Commanding Officer is much more qualified than I am and did not ask my advice.
48. Q. Did you ever hear of the 3 mile limit? XO. I heard of it yes, but thought it applied to peace time only and not war time.
46. Q. Do you know whether or not any maneuver was made to ease the ship out of the sea and relieve the wind and spray conditions? XO: No, sir, I think the captain likes to see the crew get wet.
And finally, LRH conned ships, too! ;-)
56. Q. Did you observe the course. The compass course she had?
A. No, sir, I just know I could tell approximately what direction we were going. The
captain was conning the ship.
The following transcript of Hubbard's investigation is a little bit out of order, but is not too far off from the original. Some of the questions were chopped off, and ... indicates words too faded to be legible. That would be great if someone could figure out the right order these should go into. A horizontal bar indicates the beginning/end of a page, and you might be able to figure out the order by the question numbers. Sorry pages numbers were missing.
UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET
Flagship of Commander, Fleet Operational Training Command
A17-25
Serial 992
13 Jul 1943
The proceedings and finding of the investigation in the attached case are approved.
Lieutenant Lafayette R. Hubbard, D-V(s), U.S. Naval Reserve, has been relieved as commanding officer, and given a letter of admonition. Lieutenant (junior grade) George Eilton Asmann, D-V(s), U.S. Naval Reserve, has also been given a letter of admonition.
It is recommended that no further action be taken.
Frank
A. Braisted,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy,
Commander, Fleet Operational Training Command, Pacific
United States Pacific Fleet
Flagship of Commander, Fleet Operational Training Command COTCPac File:
P13
Serial 0487
15 July, 1943
CONFIDENTIAL [crossed out]
From: Commander, Fleet Operational Training Command, Pacific
To: Lieutenant Lafayette Ron Hubbard, D-V(S), U.S.N.R.
Via: Commandant, ELEVENTH Naval District
Subject: Letter of Admonition.
Reference: (a) Record of Proceedings of a Board of Investigation convened on board the U.S.S. PC 815 on June 30, 1943, by order of Commander, Fleet Operational Training Command, Pacific.
1. The facts and testimony contained in reference (a) indicate that on June 28, 1943, while serving as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. PC 815, you:
(a) Disregarded orders by having the vessel under your command conduct a gunnery practice without proper authority; and
(b) Disregarded orders by anchoring in Mexican Territorial waters without proper authority.
2. The above led to the receipt of a complaint against the vessel under your command from Mexican Authorities.
3. Because of the short time that you have been in command and the exigencies of the service, this letter of admonition is written in lieu of other more drastic disciplinary action which would have been taken under normal and peacetime conditions.
4. A copy of this letter will be made a part of your official record.
F.
A. BRAISTED
Copy to: Bupers, Cincpac
COPY
ENCLOSURE (B)
[stamped] Reclassified to FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY by authority of Chief of Naval Personnel Note, this material was declassified over half a century ago.
United States Pacific Fleet
Flagship of Commander, Fleet Operational Training Command COTCPac File:
A17-25
Serial 0518
CONFIDENTIAL [crossed out]
From: Commander, Fleet Operational Training Command, Pacific.
To: The Chief of Naval Personnel.
Subject: HUBBARD, Lafayette Ron, Lieutenant, D-V(S), U.S.N.R. - assignment of.
Reference: (a) BuPers conf. despatch 151430 of July 1943.
Enclosures: (A) Copy of Record of Proceedings of a Board of Investigation convened on
board the U.S.S. PC 815 on June 30, 1943, by order of Commander, Fleet Operational
Training Command, Pacific.
(B) Copy of COTCPac conf. ltr. P13, serial 0487 of 15 July, 1943.
1. In accordance with instructions contained in reference (a), enclosures (A) and (B) are forwarded herewith for information in connection with the assignment of subject officer.
/signature/ F.
A. BRAISTED
[stamp] Reclassified to FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY by authority of Chief of Naval Personnel Note, this material was declassified over half a century ago.
Dec 9 1943
End--7
Subj: Bd. of Inves. -Firing of 3 shots from the USS PC 815 and the anchoring of that
vessel in the vicinity of the Middle Coronados Islands;
conv. by Comdr., FltOpTraCommand, Pac, 30 June 1943
1. The proceedings and findings of the board of investigation in the attached case and the actions of the convening and reviewing authorities thereon, subject to the remarks of the Judge Advocate General and the Chief of Naval Personnel; have this date b een approved by the Secretary of the Navy.
2. The Secretary of the Navy held that there is a matter of interest contained herein, which, within the purview of Title 34, Section 276, United States Code, relates to the records of the following named officers:
Lieutenant Lafayette R. Hubbard, D-V(S), U.S.N.R. and
Lieutenant (jg) George Milton Asmann, D-V(G), U.S.N.R.
T.L. Gatch Judge Advocate General
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS of a
BOARD OF INVESTIGATION
Convened on board the
U.S.S. PC 815
By order of
Commander, Fleet Operational Training Command, Pacific
to inquire into and report upon the circumstances attending the firing of three shots from
the U.S.S. PC 815, and the anchoring of that vessel in the vicinity of the Middle
Coronados Islands on 28 June 1943.
After full and mature deliberation the board finds as follows:
FINDING OF FACTS
1. That the U.S.S. PC 815 fired 4 rounds of 3"/50 caliber target ammunition at about 1619 on 28 June, 1943 from the one 3"/50 caliber gun mounted on board.
2. That no navigational data was available to determine the position or course of the PC-815 at the time the shots were fired at about 1619 on 28 June, 1943.
3. That the position of the ship was in general, Northeast of South Coronados Island at an undetermined distance.
4. That land was in the line of sight at the time of firing and that this land was some part of the Coronados Island.
5. That neither a safety officers nor a check-sight observor was stationed at the gun.
6. That all the fall of shot of the 4 shots fired from the 3"/50 caliber gun were not observed by any officer on the ship.
7. That an undetermined number of splashes were observed in the water in the direction of land during the firing.
8. That evidences of shells hitting land or rocks on the Northern end of South Coronados Island was observed on two separate instances during the conduct of the firing.
9. That evidence of a shell hitting land or rocks on the Northern end of South Coronados Island or on land behind the Northeastern end of South Coronados Island in the line of fire was observed on a third instance during the conduct of the firing.
10. That the ship was underway at the time of firing making one-third engine speed, about 9 knots.
11. That there was no U.S. Naval directive prescribing that the PC-815 fire guns of any caliber in any area on 28 June, 1943.
12. That upon completion of firing of the 3"/50 caliber gun the PC-815 proceeded on various courses and speeds and at about 1706 on 28 June, 1943, anchored about 500 yards off the Eastern short of South Coronados Islands in 7 fathoms of water with 65 fat homs of chain to the starboard anchor with the lighthouse structure on the Northeast sector of South Coronados Island bearing about 326 degrees true and the left tangent of South Coronados Island bearing about 285 degrees true.
13. That after anchoring on the afternoon of 28 June, 1943, firing of .30 caliber and .45 caliber weapons was conducted from the port and starboard quarters of the PC-815 by certain officers and members of the crew during the period from about 1730 until sometime after sunset.
14. That approximately 80 rounds of .30 caliber and 40 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition was expended, some of which were fired into the water in the direction of South Coronados Island.
15. That shots from the small arms firing were not observed to hit the South Coronados Islands.
16. That the ship remained at anchor throughout the night of 28-29 June, 1943.
17. That the ship did not at any time on 28 June, 1943, anchor in the vicinity of the Middle Coronados Island.
18. That the PC-815 anchored in the vicinity of South Coronados Island on the afternoon of 27 June and remained overnight in approximately the same position as the ship anchored on 23 June, 1943.
19. That there was no U.S. Naval directive authorising the PC-815 to anchor in the vicinity of the Coronados Islands on 27 and 28 June, 1943.
Jacob E. Cooper
Commander, U.S. Navy, Senior Member
Gene M. Marris,
Lieutenant, D-V(S), U.S. Naval Reserve,
Frank G. Morris, jr.,
Lieutenant, D-V(G), U.S. Naval Reserve.
The record of proceedings of the investigation was read and ... and the board having finished the investigation, then, at 12:37 ... 3 July, 1943, adjourned to await the action of the convening authority.
Jacob E. Cooper, Commander, U.S. Navy, Senior Member.
Noel J. Dyer,
Ensign, D-V(S), U.S. Naval Reserve, recorder,
INDEX Page
Organization of the board ..
Findings of facts 71
Final entry 72
Adjournments 24, 31, 34, 72
TESTIMONY
Examined Examined Examined by Examined by
Name of Witness by the by the Interested Counsel for
Board Recorder Party Interested
Party
HUBBARD, Lafayette R. 1,2,3 1,2,5 32,64
Lieut., USNR 33,70
NAVARRO, Lewis J.
Ensign, USNR 6,9,11,42 5,23,43 11,12
WALKER,Darrel
Ensign, USNR 7,67 6 69
MORAN, George A.
GM3c, USN 12,50 12
WEST, Billie J.
82c, USN 14 14
McCONCHIE, Robert J. jr.
82c, USN 15 15,16 16
ASMANN, George N.
Lieut. (jg) USNR 17,19,20,52 17,19,20 20 55
PRICE, G.T.
SM1c, USN 21,47,49 25 21 49
COATS, C.C.
SC1c USN 22 22
SOBCZYRSKI, A.P.
MoMM2c, USN 23,64,65 23 Q 64
WEYMOUTH, C.E.
Ensign, USNR 27,44,46 26,46 38,46
WEAVER, J.E.
Cox, USN 29 29 30
McGUIRE, George
SoM2c, USN 37 35 43
WELCH, Lonnie W. jr.
SoM2c, USN 57 56
DEITER, J.S.
QM3c, USN 61,63 60 62,63
RIESING, Robert
McMM1c, USNR 65 65
Admitted into
Evidence
Exhibits Character of page
A Extracts from Quartermaster's notebook of the PC 815 3
from 1400 to 2100, June 28, 1943
B Extracts from Engineer's Bellbook of the PC 815 from 3
1400 to 2100, June 28, 1943
C Extracts from Deck Log of the PC 815 from 1400 to 2100 3
June 28, 1943
D Weekly Operating plan formulated at District Operations 3
Officers conference, Saturday, June 26, 1943
E June, 1943, for the course application to the investigation 5
F Chart of the Los Coronados Island 24
UNITED STATED [sic] PACIFIC FLEET
Flag ship of Commander, Fleet Operational Training Command.
A17-25
Serial 847
30 June 1943
From: Commander, Fleet Operational Training Command, Pacific
To: Commander Jacob E. Cooper, U.S. Navy
Subject: Board of investigation to inquire into and report upon the circumstances attending the firing of three shots from the U.S.S. PC 815 and the anchoring of that vessel in the vicinity of the Middle Coronados Islands on 28 June 1943.
1. A board of investigation consisting of yourself as senior member and of Lieutenant Gene M. Harris, D-V(S), U.S. Naval Reserve, and Lieutenant Frank G. Morris, jr., D-V(G), U.S. Naval Reserve, as additional members, and of Ensign Noel J. Dyer, D-V(S), U.S. Naval Reserve, as recorder, will convene on board the U.S.S. PC 815 at the earliest opportunity for the purpose of inquiring into and reporting upon the circumstances attending the firing of three shots from the U.S.S. PC 815 and the anchoring of tha t vessel in the vicinity of the Middle Coronados Islands at or about 1600 on 28 June 1943.
2. The board is empowered to call witnesses and to take testimony under oath.
3. You will notify Lieutenant L. Ron Hubbard, D-V(S), U.S. Naval Reserve, of the time and place of meeting, and that he will be a party to the investigation in the status of an interested party and will be accorded the rights of such party in accordance with the provisions of Naval Courts and Boards.
4. The court will thoroughly inquire into the matter hereby submitted to it and will include in its findings a full statement of the facts it may deem to be established.
5. The proceedings will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter X. Naval Courts and Boards.
Frank
A. Braisted,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy,
Commander, Fleet Operational Training Command, Pacific.
The board met at 1:00 p.m.
Present:
Commander Jacob E. Cooper, U.S. Navy, senior member.
Lieutenant Gene W. Harris, D-V(S), U.S. Naval Reserve, and
Lieutenant Frank G. Morris, jr., D-V(G), U.S. Naval Reserve, members; and
Ensign Noel J. Dyer, Ensign, D-V(S), U.S. Naval Reserve, recorder.
The recorder introduced ... U.S. Navy, as reporter.
The convening order, hereto prefixed, was read by the Recorder, and the Board determined upon its procedure and decided to sit with open doors.
Lieutenant L. Ron Hubbard, D-V(G), U.S. Naval Reserve, Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. PC 815, entered as Interested Party, and stated that he was unable to obtain counsel and waived his right to counsel for the first day's proceedings.
The Interested Party was informed of his rights.
No witnesses not other wise connected with the investigation were present.
The Interested Party was called as a witness by the Recorder and was duly sworn.
Examined by the Recorder:
1. Q. State your name, rank, and present station.
A. Lieutenant Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, D-V(G), U.S. Naval Reserve, Commanding Officer of
the U.S.S. PC 815.
2. Q. How long have you been attached to the PC 815?
A. Since her commissioning on April 20, 1943.
3. Q. Were you on board on June 28, 1943?
A. I was.
Examined by the Board:
4. Q. Relate the movements and operations of the PC 815 from 1500 to 1700 on 28 June
1943.
A. The operations during that period to the best of my knowledge and belief is, that at
1600 or thereabouts, this ship received permission from OTC to secure from exercises. In
view of the fact that it was only 1600 and in view of the fact that this ship had been
informed that it must make every effort to complete its shakedown, of which it had had
very little, due to delay in repairs at the Destroyer Base, San Diego, California, I
ordered general quarters and exercises at general quarters. The ship cam e to general
quarters and as there was a target in the vicinity used by aircraft for bombing practice I
ordered that four rounds of target ammunition be expended when I observed the range was
clear of ships. The order to commence fire was given. The exe rcises having been concluded
and the night appearing foggy and this vessel being without accurate calibrations, and in
that I had had a very arduous day and have not yet been able to train my officers to
dependability in piloting, I proceeded to the bank at the East side of South Coronado
Island and anchored there in 7 fathoms of water after the chain had been ......, bearing
182 degrees on the South Point, 336 degrees on the North Point of South Coronado Island -
degrees are gyro. The ship secured and the men at dusk fished for whatever they could
catch. The gunner's mates and other people of the landing party fired small arms from the
starboard side of the fan tail at a target thrown over from
... could have ricocheted into the Coronados as I supervised it personally. A very small quantity of ammunition was expended for I was trying to teach my officers to safely handle a .45. At no time was I aware of invading Mexican Territorial waters, and had no intention whatsoever of causing any damage to Mexican property, or to frigthen the Mexican population. ... and the men in it requested of us 10 gallons of gas to get to the mainland, which gas my Executive Officer did not see fit to expend. There were several fishing vessels, names not recorded, lying well inside us close to shore and in communication with it . At no time did anyone even casually refer to the Island being shelled. My actions during this period were based upon: (1) the necessity of training the gun crews at every possible chance; (2) the unofficial statements to me at the Saturday conference by Commander Ferguson that it would be all right for me to arrange for plan es which I took to include as permission to hold non-scheduled firing practice; and, (3) an attempt to obtain enough rest for myself so that I could competently instruct my officers on the following day in mousetrap firing and anti-submarine warfare train ing. That is the answer to the Board's question to the best of my knowledge and belief.
5. Q. Who was the OTC of your group at about 1600, 28 June 1943?
A. The YP 593.
Reexamined by the recorder:
6. Q. Are you the custodian of the Quartermaster's notebook?
A. Yes, I am, here it is.
7. Q. Refer to the Quartermaster's Notebook which you have, and state at what time you
gave the order to commence firing to the 3" battery.
A. At 1617 general quarters was sounded - it must have been immediately thereafter and I
do not know the exact moment. To the best of my memory, a very short time after general
quarters sounded. Not more than 10 minutes until the 4 rounds were expended.
8. Q. What guns fired when you gave the order?
A. Number 1 gun only.
Reexamined by the board:
9. Q. At what time did you secure from general quarters?
A. At 1652, according to the notebook.
10. Q. At what time did you anchor?
A. At 1706.
11. Q. How much chain did you have out?
A. In 7 fathoms of water with 5 shots of chain out.
12. Q. What time did you get underway the next morning?
A. At 0734 anchor was weighed.
13. Q. At what time did you conduct the firing from the ship at small arms?
A. After we anchored, no specific time can be stated. We had been at anchor about 35 to 40
minutes, approximately 1745.
Reexamined by the recorder:
14. Q. Are you the official custodian of the Quartermaster's Notebook, Engineer's
Bellbook, and Deck Log of the PC 815?
A. I am.
I offer in evidence these documents and ask that an extract from the Quartermaster's Notebook from 1400 to 2100 on 28 June 1943, be made, certified as a true copy by the recorder and attached to the record as Exhibit "A". I further ask that extracts from the Engineer's Bellbook and the Deck Log for the same time and date be appended to the ...
They were submitted to the Board and Interested Party. No objection was made and the documents were admitted in evidence and permission given to append certified copies of extracts from them.
16. Q. I show you an operating plan dated 26 June 1943. Do you recognize it?
A. I do.
17. Q. Did you receive a copy of the operating plan dated 26 June 1943?
A. I did.
I offer in evidence this document and ask that it be admitted in evidence as Exhibit "D".
There being no objection the document was admitted in evidence as Exhibit "D".
Reexamined by the board:
18. Q. Referring to Exhibit "D", did the operating plan authorise you to
anchor for the night?
A. It does not specifically so authorise.
19. Q. Did you remain in the areas assigned during 28 June 1943?
A. Yes, the areas assigned includes the Coronados.
20. Q. Did you have authority to anchor for the night?
A. Yes, sir.
21. Q. What was this authority?
A. The authority of custom as given to me by the Sound School instructor who was aboard as
instructor (Ensign Weymouth) and whom I believe to be in possession of all pertinent data.
22. Q. Did you receive orders for night steaming or night operations in the areas
assigned for the night of 28-29 June 1943?
A. An examination of my radio log and signal logs will demonstrate that I had received no
such orders while operating, and none had been given to me prior to departing on Sunday,
27 June 1943.
23. Q. Had you received any verbal orders prior to departure in connection with the
operation of your vessel during the night of 28-29 June 1943?
A. No operating order was given me for that period aside from those contained in Exhibit
"D".
24. Q. During the small arms firing, which occurred after anchoring on the 28th, what
was the largest caliber weapon that was fired?
A. .45 pistol.
25. Q. What authority did you have to fire you [sic] 3" gun in the afternoon of 28
June 1943?
A. Only the authority that I did not know it was forbidden to fire a non-scheduled firing.
On Wednesday, 30 June, on which date, with the knowledge of Commander Ferguson, and on his
advice, I had arranged for a place with the Air Command here to rendesvo us with me during
a blank period of the schedule. Nothing was said to me of authorized firing areas and I
happened
26. Q. What type of ammunition did you fire on the 28th?
A. Target was ordered to be fired, and I believe that target ammunition was fired.
27. Q. What allowance of target ammunition do you have for your 3"/50?
A. We have 4 rounds.
28. Q. Were those 4 rounds remnants from previous practices or were they rounds for
unspecified practices?
A. I believe they were rounds for unspecified practices. I believe we were supposed to
fire common on the following day. These rounds were fired as a test of the guns and crew
preliminary to serious target practice and spotting.
29. Q. Had you already fired your structural test?
A. The gun had never been structurally fired under the supervision of an ordnance officer,
but had been fired during illumination practice.
30. Q. What was your position when you fired the 3"/50 caliber?
A. Northeast of South Coronados Island. I did not have sufficient navigation information
to accurately fix this position.
31. Q. Could you see the South Coronados Island at the time of firing?
A. Yes, sir.
32. Q. What was your estimated distance?
A. Beyond 3 miles.
33. Q. What was the point of aim?
A. There was a floating target which aircraft had been bombing throughout the day.
34. Q. What was the position of the float?
A. I do not have it fixed on the chart. I believe it was about 260 degrees true from us at
the time we fired.
35. Q. At what range did you open fire?
A. I do not know the range. It was given by my fire control officer.
36. Q. How high out of the water was the float?
A. About 10 feet, the remains of a pyramid target.
37. Q. How close to the target did you pass?
A. Between 1,000 and 2,000 yards, but I could not swe4ar to it.
38. Q. Was the target and any part of the South Coronados Island in your line of sight?
A. To the best of my knowledge and belief, no.
39. Q. Did the line of sight include the Middle Coronados Island?
A. To the best of my knowledge and belief, no.
40. Q. Were you at any time during the afternoon or evening of 28 June near the Middle
Coronados Island?
A. No, sir. We were never to the Westward of South Coronados during that day's operation.
On the following day, 29th of June, we passed close to South of Middle Coronados Island,
outside the kelp area assisting in a search for a crashed plane and a pilo t who was
reported to have bailed out in that area. On this date we observed, as we had the day
before, a large amount of aerial bombing close to Middle Coronados Island and South
Coronados Island.
...on one island in the vicinity of your anchorage?
A. On Sunday, the 27th, bearing between 320 degrees and 330 degrees true from the
anchorage I observed a lighthouse and 2 small houses which appeared to me at that time to
be deserted. Upon anchoring on the 28th I again observed these houses and saw two or more
people on the ridge near the lighthouse. The light was at all times extinguished.
42. Q. Did you notice any other U.S. Naval vessels at the anchorage?
A. No, I did not, but I have been informed that this was their customary anchorage.
43. Q. Did you anchor in the same place on the 27th as you did the 28th?
A. Yes, on the same advice, and for the same reason. I was very conscious of fog, on
coming out of the gate that morning I had almost been run down my an ACV.
44. Q. At any time did you see a building resembling a hotel?
A. At no time.
Neither the Board nor the Recorder desired further to examine the Interested Party at this time.
A witness called by the Recorder, entered, was duly sworn, and informed of the subject matter of the investigation.
Examined by the recorder:
1. Q. State your name, rank and present station.
A. Lewis Joseph Navarro, Ensign D-V(G), U.S. Naval Reserve, U.S.S. PC 815.
2. Q. How long have you been attached to the PC 815.
A. Since June 2, 1943.
3. Q. What are your present duties?
A. Navigator, Assistant Communication Officer, and Assistant Gunnery Officer.
4. Q. Were you on board the PC 815 on 28 June 1943? What were your duties?
A. Yes, sir, I was. My duties were as navigator and taking various sights.
5. Q. Do you have any information which would be helpful to this board in fixing the
position of this ship at approximately 1600, 28 June 1943?
A. Yes, sir.
6. Q. What is that information?
A. We were in the vicinity of the rendesvous which was point 'Charlie'.
7. Q. Did you fix the position of the ship at 1600?
A. No, sir.
8. Q. Are you the custodian of the Bearing Book and Navigation Work Book?
A. Yes, but I have no Bearing Book.
9. Q. Will you produce the Navigation Work Book?
A. I have the Navigation Work Book, here it is.
I offer in evidence extracts from the Navigation Work Book of the PC 815, dated 28-29 June 1943, for the hours applicable to the investigation and ask that a copy be made, admitted in evidence and marked Exhibit "E".
... append certified copy of extracts from it.
Examined by the Board:
10. Q. Have you a record of the track of the ship for the 28th of June? ...ebook
The board then directed the witness to reproduce the ship's track from 1400 to the time of the anchoring.
The witness was warned and withdrew.
A witness called by the recorder, entered, was duly sworn, and informed of the subject matter of the investigation.
Examined by the recorder:
1. Q. State your name, rank, and present station.
A. Darrell Walker, Ensign D-V(G), U.S. Naval Reserve, U.S.S. PC 815.
2. Q. How long have you been attached to this ship?
A. Since January 20, 1943.
3. Q. Were you on board on 28 June 1943, What are our duties?
A. Yes, I was. My duties are Gunnery Officer, Commissary Officer and Communication
Officer.
4. Q. Were you the officer directly in charge of the firing of the 3"/50 caliber
gun on that day?
A. No, the Assistant Gunnery Officer had charge particularly of that gun. I was observing
the crew.
5. Q. Did you observe the firing on that date?
A. I was on the flying bridge and particularly watching the functioning of the gun crew.
6. Q. In that position were you able to observe the burst of the shell?
A. I was not watching the burst of the shell?
7. Q. Were you able to observe how far the ship was from the Coronados Island?
A. I did not at all, but believe we were North of the Island.
8. Q. Are you able to give the Board an estimate of the distance from the Island?
A. No, sir.
9. Q. Do you recall small arms firing by the crew on the evening of June 28?
A. We did some small arm firing, instructing the men in the handling of .45 and .30
caliber rifles.
10. Q. Did you observe the firing?
A. Yes, sir.
11. Q. Did you supervise any of it?
A. Yes, sir.
12. Q. What was the target, if any, for that small arms firing?
A. We were taking small milk cans and breakfast food boxes.
13. Q. Were any of those targets floating toward the shore at the time of firing?
A. We ...
...
A. Yes, sir.
15. Q. Is that Eastward?
A. It was away from the Island.
16. Q. Could you give the Board an estimate of how far ...
A. About 1,000 yards or more.
17. Q. Did you observe any building on the shore?
A. Above our starboard bow there were a couple of buildings and a lighthouse.
18. Q. How many buildings were there?
A. I remember 2 buildings.
19. Q. Did either of those 2 buildings resemble a hotel?
A. Not like any I had ever seen.
Examined by the board:
20. Q. Who ordered you to prepare the battery for firing?
A. The Commanding Officer.
21. Q. What was the target?
A. We spotted those floating rafts the aircraft were flying over for bombing practice.
22. Q. How far were those targets from the nearest land?
A. I don't know. The approximate distance was 5 miles.
23. Q. What was the range and deflection set on your sight scale?
A. I was not doing the spotting.
24. Q. Who was doing the spotting.
A. Ensign Navarro. He had charge of the exercise.
25. Q. Could you clearly see the targets with your naked eye?
A. Yes, sir.
26. Q. Could you see any land?
A. No, sir.
27. Q. How many rounds did you fire?
A. Four rounds in all.
28. Q. What type of ammunition was fired?
A. Target ammunition.
29. Q. Describe the projectile in your 3"/50 target ammunition.
A. I can't describe it.
30. Q. Does it have a time fuse?
A. No, sir.
31. Q. Does it have a bursting charge?
A. I don't know.
32. Q. Is it blind loaded?
A. I don't know.
33. Q. What was the rate of fire for the 4 shots?
A. I don't know exactly, the time was in rapid fire.
35. Q. Were you interested in how near the shots came to the target?
A. As I mentioned before I was primarily interested in the function of the gun crew.
36. Q. Are you the Gunnery Officer.
A. Yes, sir.
37. Q. What did the crew do between shots?
A. Stand by.
38. Q. Have you any record of times and ... of the firing in question?
A. I have a record that we fired the 4 shots.
39. Q. Is there a record of the spotting officer's estimate of the fall of shot?
A. No, sir.
40. Q. At what time did you conduct the firing?
A. After we had finished our operation for that afternoon.
41. Q. What was the range and visibility at the time?
A. Very good.
42. Q. Could you see the natural horizon clearly?
A. Yes, sir.
43. Q. Were there other ships in the same vicinity?
A. There were not any in the direction of firing, and not close.
44. Q. Did you observe any ships firing at the same time you were firing or shortly
before or after?
A. No, sir.
45. Q. How many rounds of small arms ammunition were expended on the exercise that you
conducted on the 28th?
A. About 80 rounds of .30 and about 40 rounds of .45.
46. Q. Did you collect unexpended ammunition upon the completion of that firing?
A. No, sir.
47. Q. Did live ammunition remain in the custody of the crew?
A. No, sir.
48. Q. At what time do you estimate you anchored on the 28th?
A. Shortly after 1700, about 1730.
49. Q. Was the firing in the general direction of the Coronados Islands?
A. No, sir, because there was no land visible in the direction we were firing.
50. Q. Did you fire to port or starboard?
A. On the starboard bow.
51. Q. How many men participated in the firing off the Coronados Islands?
A. About 6.
52. Q. At all times under the observation of the officer?
A. Yes, sir.
53. Q. So that in your opinion it would have been impossible to fire at the island
without the knowledge of the officer?
A. Yes, sir.
... to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was priviledged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brou ght out by the previous questions.
The witness made the following statement: One thing I might say is that the small arms firing was at very close range.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
The board recalled Ensign Navarro as a witness, and warned that the oath previously taken by him was still binding.
Re-examined by the board:
11. Q. From the record of the Bearing Book of courses and speeds of the ship, what did
you determine the position of the ship to be?
A. Records of navigational bearings, courses, and speeds of the ship are not in record in
sufficient quantities, nor is there a track of the ship showing the 1600 position.
12. Q. Were you on the bridge during the greater part of the day on the 28th?
A. Yes, sir.
13. Q. How many times did you anchor on the 28th?
A. Once.
14. Q. Did you anchor in the vicinity of the Middle Coronados Island?
A. No, sir.
15. Q. Are you the Assistant Gunnery Officer?
A. Yes, sir.
16. Q. You fired at a target on the 28th with a 3"/50 caliber gun. What was the
range to the target?
A. Estimated range was between 4,000 and 6,000 yards.
17. Q. How far was the target from land?
A. I did not see land behind the target.
18. Q. What course were you on at the time the firing was conducted?
A. I don't know.
19. Q. How far was the ship from land when the firing was conducted?
A. Land was off the starboard bow.
20. Q. What was the distance to the land?
A. Quite distant.
21. Q. Did you observe the fall of shot of the 3"/50 caliber firing?
A. I did not observe the fall of shot.
22. Q. Did you see any splashes?
A. No, sir.
23. Q. Did you make any spots?
A. No spotting, just original setting of the gun.
24. Q. What was the object of the practice?
A. To have the opportunity to fire.
25. Q. ...
27. Q. At any distance?
A. No distance.
28. Q. Did you observe the gun as it was firing?
A. No, commander.
29. Q. What were you doing during this firing?
A. Directing fire control.
30. Q. Had you planned to conduct this firing on the 28th?
A. No, Mr. President.
31. Q. Why had you not planned to conduct it?
A. As fire control officer I thought it was beyond my jurisdiction.
32. Q. Had you any information concerning other practices to be fired during the period
27 June to 3 July, 1943?
A. Yes, by reading the operation plan.
33. Q. From reading the operation order did you get the idea to fire on the 28th?
A. No, I did not get any information at all.
34. Q. In reading the operation order did you expect to anchor on the night of 28 June?
A. We were to remain at sea and not to return to the base.
35. Q. What is your interpretation of the phraselogy 'to remain at sea'?
A. To stay at sea.
36. Q. Do you call anchoring remaining at sea?
A. Yes, Mr. President.
37. Q. How many times have you anchored off Coronados Island for the night?
A. This was the second time.
38. Q. Were there any other Navy ships off Coronados Island?
A. No, sir.
39. Q. Did you think that the Coronados Islands belonged to the United States?
A. In admitting my ignorance, I thought that they did.
40. Q. Did you consult the Coast Pilot of the Pacific Coast in connection with
anchoring off Coronado Island?
A. No, Commander.
41. Q. Did you observe any shells fired from the PC 815 to fall on land?
A. No, sir.
42. Q. Have you any information or know about any person on board the PC 815 who did
hear of any shots land that had been fired from this ship?
A. No, sir.
43. Q. Were you watching for the fall of shot?
A. I was watching for the first one, after that I did not watch.
44. Q. Why?
A. That was the first time I had done any actual spotting and I didn't observe.
...
A. Land slightly on the starboard bow, target slightly on the port bow.
46. Q. Did you fire to port or starboard?
A. Fired to port.
___.
47. Q. In view of the proximity of known land, did you consider it necessary during that
afternoon of the 28th to take bearings and sights to ... the position of this vessel?
A. No.
Reexamined by the Board:
48. Q. In answer to the last question, what known land were you referring to?
A. The Coronados Islands.
49. Q. In your previous testimony you stated that you did not know what land you
sigthed at the time of the 3" gun firing. Do you wish to change that testimony or is
that correct?
A. That is correct.
The Board then at 1800, took a recess until 1910, at which time it reassembled.
Present: All members, the recorder and the Interested Party.
The witness resumed his seat, and warned that the oath previously taken by him was still binding.
50. Q. What was the bearing that the ship anchored on, the night of 28 June?
A. Approximately 186 degrees true from South point of the Island, 336 degrees true from
line on North point.
51. Q. On point of what Island?
A. South Coronados.
52. Q. How did you know it was the South Coronados Island?
A. I assumed it was the South Coronados.
53. Q. What was the visibility at the time of anchoring.
A. It was fair.
54. Q. Was it in yar4ds or miles?
A. About 8,000 yards.
55. Q. Did the Captain tell you it was the South Coronados?
A. The Captain told me nothing.
56. Q. How did you know it was not the Middle Coronados?
A. I would have seen the others.
57. Q. Did you at any time during the day see North Coronados?
A. Yes, sir.
58. Q. Did you at any time during the day see Middle Coronados?
A. Yes, sir.
59. Q. How long did you keep it in sight?
A. I made no attempt to keep them in sight.
...
A. We took no bearings.
61. Q. Did you see the Middle Coronados any time subsequent to 28 June?
A. I don't think so.
...
A. No, sir.
63. Q. What was the state of visibility at approximately 1619 when the 3"/50 was
fire?
A. I judge it to be about 4,000 to 5,000 yards.
64. Q. Would it have been possible to spot the splashes if you had been looking in the
direction toward which you were firing?
A. As I said before I noted no splashes.
Re-examined by the Interested Party:
65. Q. Had this ship been anchored near the Middle Coronados would it have been
possible for you to have taken a bearing on the light structure?
A. No, there is no light tower on Middle Coronados.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the Interested Party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was priviledged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brought out by the previous questioning.
The witness stated that he had nothing further to say.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
A witness called by the recorder, enter, was duly sworn, and informed of the subject matter of the investigation.
Examined by the recorder:
1. Q. State your name, rate, and present station.
A. George Arthur Moran, gunner's mate third class, U.S. Navy, U.S.S. PCC 815.
2. Q. How long have you been attached to the PC 815?
A. I joined the crew in January, 1943.
3. Q. Have you been on board since January, 1943?
A. Yes, sir.
4. Q. What is your battle station?
A. Gun captain of the 3".
Examined by the board:
5. Q. On June 28, what time of day did you fire?
A. Late in the afternoon.
6. Q. What watches do you stand?
A. Lookout in the third section.
7. Q. Were you on watch on the 1200 to 1600 on 28 June?
A. I had that watch.
...
A. I was at general quarters.
9. Q. Did you fire to port or starboard?
A. To port.
10. Q. What range and deflection was set on your sights?
A. I don't know, sir.
11. Q. At what degrees was the gun elevated?
A. About 10 degrees elevation.
12. Q. How long was it before you went to general quarters that you knew you were going
to fire?
A. We never knew until we were at general quarters.
13. Q. What type of ammunition did you fire?
A. Target ammunition, sir.
14. Q. Describe the projectile and the target that you fired on.
A. Our target projectile was the same as the AA projectile, but it did not have any fuse.
15. Q. Does your projectile have a bursting charge?
A. No, sir.
16. Q. What was your target?
A. To fire at the floating pyramid.
17. Q. Was the target close to land?
A. I could not see what the range was, but the Coronados were in the background.
18. Q. Could you see the land behind the target clearly?
A. It was in the background.
19. Q. Did you see any splashes from the shots that were fired?
A. No, I did not see any.
20. Q. Was the land behind the target in the line with your fire?
A. I could not actually tell, I wasn't checking up.
21. Q. Did you see any of the shells fall on this land?
A. No, sir.
22. Did you hear anyone say that shots fell on this land?
A. Not that I recall.
23. How long did it take you to fire the 4 shots?
A. from 20 to 25 seconds.
24. Q. Were there any other ships in the vicinity when the PC 815 was firing?
A. Not that I recall.
25. What was the estimated range to the target when the order to commence firing was
given?
A. About 3,000 to 4,000 yards.
26. Q. Have you ever ... on a 3" battery before?
A. This is the first time I have ever been detailed to a 3" battery.
27. Q. you have seen them fire?
A. Yes, on the OKLAHOMA.
28. Q. You said you fired the shots in about 25 seconds, was that
29. Q. Did you participate in the small arms firing at the Coronados?
A. No, sir.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was priviledged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brou ght out by the previous questioning.
The witness stated that he had nothing further to say.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
A witness called by the recorder entered, was duly sworn.
Examined by the recorder:
1. State your name, rate and present station.
A. Billie Joe West, seaman second class, U.S. Navy, U.S.S. PC 815.
2. Q. What is your battle station?
A. Trainer on gun 1.
3. Q. Were you on board June 28, 1943?
A. I was, sir.
Examined by the Board:
4. Q. Tell us about the matter in discussion.
A. At the time of the firing I was trainer on the AA gun. I was told to train on a
floating target in the water. We fired 4 rounds of target ammunition then trained in and
secured.
5. Q. What did you see when you looked through your sight?
A. A wooden pyramid target.
6. Q. Did you see any water?
A. Yes, cause the target was in the water.
7. Q. Did you see any land in your sight?
A. I could not see any land in my sight.
8. Q. How did you know what the subject under investigation is?
A. Nearly everyone of the crew knows about it.
9. Q. What does the crew know about it?
A. I was told when we were firing one of the shells hit the Island.
10. Q. When did you find this out?
A. About this noon.
11. Did you see any of the splashes or shots fired from this ship?
A. Yes, sir, in the water near the target.
12. Q. How many splashes did you see?
A. Almost 4 direct hits and 4 splashes in the water.
13. Q. Were they all close to the target?
A. All were about in the target.
15. Q. Did you train your gun around very much during general quarters?
A. No, not until they said, "action port!"
16. Q. Did you see land any where around?
A. Yes, there was land in the distance beyond the target.
17. Q. How far beyond the target was land?
A. About 2,000 to 3,000 yards.
18. Q. What was the distance to the target?
A. About 500 to 800 yards.
19. Q. Could you see the shore line of the land closer at any time that you were at
general quarters?
A. Not while we were firing at the target.
20. Q. Was this land you saw behind the target the same land at which you anchored that
night?
A. Yes, sir.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was priviledged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brought out by the previous questioning.
The witness stated that he had nothing further to say.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
A witness called by the recorder entered, was duly sworn, and was informed of the subject mater of the investigation.
Examined by the recorder:
1. Q. State your name, rate, and present station.
A. Robert Joseph McConchis, Jr., seaman second class, U.S. Navy, U.S.S. PC 815.
2. Q. Were you on board the PC 815 on 28 June?
A. Yes, sir.
Examined by the Board:
3. Q. Did you participate in the firing of the gun on that date?
A. Yes, sir.
4. Q. What range was set in the sight of the gun?
A. I remember one range was 3,000.
5. Q. Did you see any splashes?
A. No, sir.
6. Q. Did you see land behind the target?
A. No, sir. I never saw what we were firing at.
7. Q. Where was the sun during the time you were firing?
A. Late in the afternoon.
8. Q. Was it over your left shoulder, right shoulder, or behind?
A. I don't know.
9. Q. Which side did you fire to?
A. To port.
10. Q. Was the ship underway at the time of the firing?
A. Sir, the engines were stopped.
...
A. The engines are always stopped when we are having practice or one-third at the most.
12. Q. How man previous practices have you fired from this gun?
A. Four times, sir.
13. Q. This was the fifth time?
A. Yes, sir, the fifth time.
14. Q. Did you notice whether it was 10 minutes before or 10 minutes after you fired
the gun that you saw land?
A. I noticed the Coronados in the distance.
15. Q. Where were you on watch when you sigthed the Coronados?
A. I was quartermaster on watch.
16. Q. Was this before or after the gun was fired?
A. Before, sir.
17. Q. What were you doing when you last saw the Coronados before the gun was fired,
and what was the bearing to the ship?
A. The Coronados were bearing about 285 relative when I was putting my earphones on.
18. Q. How long was it after this that the first shot was fired?
A. About 45 minutes.
19. Q. During that time did you see which course you were on?
A. The ship was changing course very much.
Re-examined by the recorder:
20. Q. Is it your testimony, that at the time you fired, the engines were stopped?
A. Yes, sir.
21. Q. Can you tell the board how much time elapsed between the stopping of the engines
and the starting again?
A. I can't say.
Examined by the interested party:
22. Q. Can you feel the vibration from the engines on the forecastle when they are
started?
A. Yes, sir.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was priviledged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brou ght out by the previous questioning.
The witness stated that he had nothing further to say.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
A witness called by the recorder entered, was duly sworn, and was informed of the subject matter of the investigation.
Examined by the recorder:
1. Q. State your name, rank, and station.
A. George Wilton Asmann, Lieutenant (jg), U.S. Naval Reserve, Executive Officer and
Engineering Officer, U.S.S. PC 815.
2. Q. Were you on board the PC 815 on June 28?
A. Yes, sir.
3. Q. What was your battle station at the time?
A. Chemical recorder, located in the pilot house.
Examined by the board:
4. Q. At about 1600 on June 28 the PC 815 exercised at general quarters and fired their
3"/50 caliber. State all that you know about the circumstances concerning the firing
of the 3"/50 caliber on that occasion.
A. Shortly after the Sound School exercises had terminated general quarters were sounded
and I proceeded to my general quarters station as chemical recorder in the pilot house,
and the usual routine of checking up was carried out. Not much longer after t hat I had
ordered the word to be passed to pick up the target. Shortly after I saw the gun trained
to port and I was in the pilot house when they fired and did not notice in particular what
they were firing at.
5. Q. Did you see what they were firing at?
A. The guns were pointing at the target.
6. Q. Did you see land in line with the tripod in the water?
A. No, sir.
7. Q. Who gave the orders to train on the target to port?
A. The Commanding Officer gave the orders from the flying bridge.
8. Q. Did you sign the log on the 1600 to 2000 watch on 28 June?
A. Yes, sir.
9. Q. You were the OOD during the firing, is that correct?
A. I was OOD, the Captain had the conn of the ship.
10. Q. Is the Captain of this ship expected to perform the duties of the OOD with
respect to routine and keeping the log?
A. He isn't expected to keep the log.
11. Q. What course were you on?
A. I could not say, sir.
12. Q. Can you refer to the Quartermaster's log and tell me?
A. Yes, sir.
13. Q. Did you see any land before or after the order to commence firing was given?
A. The bearing was Southwest.
14. Q. Are you sure they were the Coronados Islands to the Southwest? ...
15. Q. What was the range to them at the time of firing?
A. They were about 5 to 7 miles.
16. Q. Do your recall having seen the sun at the time of firing?
A. No, sir.
17. Q. What was the relative bearing of the Islands at the time?
A. I could not say. At the time of the firing I was not looking at them. We were in sight
of the Coronados all day.
18. Q. Did the Commanding Officer inform you that the gun practice would be fired on
the 28th?
A. No, sir.
19. Q. Did the Commanding Officer, ask your advice for the practice?
A. No, he didn't. The Commanding Officer is much more qualified than I am and did not ask
my advice.
20. Q. How long have you been Executive Officer?
A. Twenty eight days.
21. Q. I show you Exhibit "D", do you recognize it?
A. It is our plan for actual operations. It is a copy of the Operation Plan.
22. Q. Then you recognize Exhibit "D"?
A. Yes, sir.
23. Q. Do you prepare the daily schedule for the ship's training activities?
A. I have been trying to assume this particular phase of the ship's working organization.
24. Q. What is your station in coming to anchor?
A. On the bridge.
25. Q. What authority did the ship use in anchoring off the Coronados Islands on the
night of 28 June?
A. Our operations order called for remaining at sea. The weather was closing in and wind
was picking up, and had I been the Commanding Officer of the ship I would have done
likewise to take the ship to that shelter.
26. Q. Did your orders state that you were to anchor at discretion?
A. No, they did not, and neither did they say we could not.
27. Q. I quote from Exhibit "D" under the schedule for the PC 815 on 28 June,
1943, "Exercise 54-2. Vessels schedule for Sound School the following day will remain
at sea. Operating in Sound School areas plus 4626, 4726, 4826, 4825, 4725, 4625 unless g
iven other areas for night steaming and exercises. Other vessels, unless scheduled for
other exercises, upon completion of Sound School work will return to port prior
dark". Did you consider these orders to include authority to anchor if desired?
A. No, sir, I did not.
28. Q. Did you read the orders?
A. Yes, sir.
Re-examined by the recorder:
29. Q. When the PC 815 anchored off the Coronados, did you realise they were Mexican
waters?
A. It did not particularly come to my mind that they were Mexican Islands.
30. Q. Did you know they were Mexican Islands?
A. Yes, sir.
31. Q. Did you know of any specific authority which gave you permission to anchor
there?
A. I did not know of any specific authority, other than it appeared to me that it was the
intelligent thing considering that the weather was closing and wind was picking up.
Re-examined by the board:
33. Q. Do you recall the small arms firing?
A. Yes, I do.
34. Q. At what time?
A. Shortly before dark, about 30 to 45 minutes after anchoring.
35. Q. Did anything occur during the night of 28 June that you consider of interest?
A. One thing, a fisherman came over to get gas that he needed to get back in the morning.
36. Q. What time did this occur?
A. About 0115.
37. Q. What was the nationality of the fisherman?
A. A white man - presumed to be an American.
38. Q. Did he approach your ship without being hailed?
A. I was in the pilot house and presumed he was, but do not know. The man didn't come back
again.
39. Q. What was the condition of the weather on Sunday, 27 June at the time you
anchored?
A. It was rather dark.
40. Q. What or who called your attention to the anchoring Sunday afternoon?
A. As I remember the enlisted soundman saying that other ships undergoing operations had
taken anchorage near there too.
41. Q. Was it your understanding that the J&W ORID chart included the Coronados
Islands as Sound School operating areas?
A. Yes.
Examined by the interested party:
42. Q. Did you observe during the 27, 28, 29 June, any aircraft bombing operations in
these waters?
A. Yes, I said I know of aircraft bombing targets.
43. Q. ...
A. Yes, I saw several Gruman wildcat figthers.
44. Q. How close to the Middle Coronados would you estimate these aircraft were flying
to it?
A. About middle way between the two points of land.
45. Q. Did this substantiate your belief that these waters close to the Coronados were
in the operating area?
A. I have always assumed that was an operating area.
46. Q. Have you ever seen an order of any kind designating the waters immediately
adjacent to the Coronados as out of bounds for shakedown vessels?
A. No, and I have been in this area for over a year and a half, and never saw an order
prohibiting operations around the Coronados.
Re-examined by the board:
47. Q. You stated that the Sound Instructor gave your to understand that it was the
practice of vessels receiving shakedown training to anchor in the vicinity off Los
Coronados?
A. I got the impression that it was nothing unusual to do.
Re-examined by the recorder:
48. Q. Did you ever hear of the 3 mile limit?
A. I heard of it yes, but thought it applied to peace time only and not war time.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was priviledged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brou ght out by the previous questioning.
The witness made the following statement: I think the whole picture has been told very clearly and have nothing to add
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
A witness called by the recorder entered, was duly sworn, and was informed of the subject matter of the investigation.
Examined by the recorder:
1. Q. State your name, rate, and station.
A. George Turner Price, signalman first class, U.S. Navy, U.S.S. PC 815.
2. Q. Were you aboard the PC 815 on June 28?
A. Yes, sir.
3. Q. Where was your battle station?
A. On the wheel.
4. Q. Do you recall the 3"/50 caliber firing at approximately 1600, 28 June?
A. Yes, sir.
Examined by the board:
... ing?
A. On course 120.
6. Q. Did you fire to port or starboard?
A. To port.
7. Q. Did you see the target that was being fired at?
A. Yes, on the approaching course. I did not see the splash of the projectile.
8. Q. What was the relative bearing of the target as you were approaching it?
A. It was on the port bow, changed course to starboard, then came back to left.
9. Q. At what range was the target when it was no longer in your sight?
A. 2,500 to 3,000 yards.
10. Q. Was there land behind the target?
A. Yes, on the approaching course.
11. Q. How far was the land from the ship?
A. About seven or eight miles.
12. Q. Did the firing take place in the general direction of this land?
A. I would say it did, sir.
13. Q. Was the line of fire in the general direction of land?
A. Yes, it was.
14. Q. Do you know what land you had in sight?
A. Yes, it was the Coronados Islands.
Examined by the Interested Party:
15. Q. At general quarters who was in the pilot house?
A. ... was on the sound machine, Dexter was quartermaster, Lt. (jg) Asmann and Welch were
on the chemical recorder.
16. Q. Could you observe anything from the bridge?
A. As far as the operations on the bow, yes. I could not see the splashes due to the fact
that the pilot house door blocks out the view on one side and the chemical recorder on the
other.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was priviledged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brou ght out by the previous questioning.
The witness stated he had nothing further to say.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
A witness called by the recorder entered, was duly sworn, and was informed of the subject matter of the investigation.
Examined by the recorder:
1. Q. State your name, rate and station.
A. Clair Earl Coats, ship's cook first class, U.S. Navy, U.S.S. PC 815.
2. Q. Were you on board the PC 815 on June 28?
A. Yes, sir.
3. Q. What is your battle station?
A. Gun Captain of the 20 millimeter gun.
4. Q. Where is that located?
A. It is located on the port side of the machine deck.
Examined by the board:
5. Q. Did you observe the 3" at about 1619 on 28 June?
A. The 3" is obscured from my view.
6. Q. Did you hear the firing?
A. Yes, sir.
7. Q. Did you see the target they were firing at?
A. There were two floating targets spearated [sic] about 1/2 mile.
8. Q. Did you see splashes from the shots fired by the 3" gun?
A. I was not looking at that target at the time.
9. Q. What was the range at the time?
A. About 2,000 yards.
10. Q. Was there land behind the target that you could see?
A. Yes, about three or four miles.
11. Q. Did you see any shots hit the land?
A. The land was mainly in view in the background.
12. Q. Did you see the gun point towards the land?
A. I could not see as it was obstructed from view.
13. Q. Had you fired your 20 millimeter at this time, would you have been firing
towards the land?
A. No, sir, about 1/4 to 1/2 miles to the East of the Island as far as I could figure.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was priviledged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brou ght out by the previous questioning.
The witness made the following statement: I think the whole picture has been told very clearly and have nothing to add
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
v A witness called by the recorder entered, was duly sworn, and informed of the subject matter of the investigation.
QUARTERMASTER'S NOTEBOOK
June 28, 1943 - 1400 to 2100
1400 ...
1401 A/E ahead full. C/C to 180.
16 - 20
1556 C/C to 150-T.
1559 A/E ahead 1/3
1601 C/c to 345-T. P/E stop. S/E ahead 1/3.
1617 Exercised at General Quarters drill, all guns manned and ready in 1' 15", Condition Afirm set in 1' 55". Fired 4 rounds of target from Gun 1 3" 50 Cal. No casualties.
1652 Secured from General Quarters.
1706 Anchored off the South Coronado Island in 07 fathoms of water, five shots of chain out.
1730 7.5 fathoms of water.
1745 7.5 fathoms of water.
1800 Bearing 185-324, 7 fathoms of water.
1815 7 fathoms of water. Small boat went over the side.
1830 7 fathoms of water. Bearing 186-223.
1845 7.5 fathoms of water.
1900 7.5 fathoms of water. Bearing 186-224.
1915 7 fathoms of water.
1930 7 fathoms of water. Bearing 185-225.
1945 7 fathoms of water
2000 - 2400
2000 7 fathoms of water. Bearing 185-326.
2015 7 fathoms of water.
2030 7.5 fathoms of water.
2045 7 fathoms of water.
2100 7.5 fathoms of water. Bearing 184-326.
EXHIBIT 'A' Certified to be a true copy of the original Noel J. Dyer.
42. Q. Did you have any discussion as to the location of the fall of shot in this
particular fire?
A. No, sir.
43. Q. Have you at any time heard any discussion concerning the firing either before,
during or after the conduct of the firing conducted by the PC 815 on the occasion under
discussion?
A. Nothing, sir, except it was said that it was off the port bow.
44. Q. Who told you that it was on the port bow?
A. I don't remember, sir. Just general discussion.
45. Q. What else was mentioned in that general discussion?
A. That is all I can remember, sir.
46. Q. Did the ship anchor off Coronados on the night of the 28th?
A. I don't remember the exact date, sir. But we were out there one night, sir.
47. Q. Did you anchor one night or two nights?
A. Two, sir, I think.
48. Q. You were standing at the chemical recorder?
A. Yes, sir.
49. Q. Where was Mr. Asmann?
A. I didn't notice, sir.
50. Q. Did you hear any target designated?
A. No, sir.
51. Q. Have you heard any discussion among the members of the crew concerning the
firing we have been discussing and the fact that it was under investigation since last
Wednesday?
A. A little, sir.
52. Q. Where did this discussion take place?
A. Aboard the ship, sir?
53. Q. Who took part in the discussion?
A. I don't remember anyone in particular, sir.
54. Q. Was it a member of the crew?
A. One or two, sir.
55. Q. Anyone other than members of the crew?
A. Not that I know of, sir.
56. Q. Then where did it take place on the ship?
A. I don't remember that, sir.
57. Q. Tell the board what the substance of this discussion was.
Objected to by the counsel for the interested party [Hubbard]. The objection was overruled.
A. Someone was wondering why we were being investigated and that's all, sir.
58. Q. Is that all that was said about it?
A. Yes, sir?
59. Q. No one gave any answer as to why it was being investigated?
A. I don't remember any in particular, sir.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the counsel for the interested party desired furtehr [sic] to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was priviledged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brought out by the previous questioning.
The witness stated that he had nothing further to say.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
A witness called by the recorder entered, was duly sworn, and was informed of the subject matter of the investigation.
Examined by the recorder:
1. Q. State to the board your name.
A. Jack Seymour Dexter.
2. Q. Your rate.
A. Quartermaster third class.
3. Q. Your present station.
A. U.S.S. PC 815.
4. Q. Were you aboard the PC 815 on 28 June, 1943?
A. Yes, sir.
5. Q. What was your battle station on that day?
A. Annunciator and bridge phone.
6. Q. Was your station on the bridge?
A. In the pilot house, sir.
7. Q. Do you know McGuire, soundman second class?
A. I don't know him personally.
8. Q. Could you recognize him if you saw him?
A. I think so.
9. Q. Did you see him in the pilot house on 28 June, 1943, during the firing of the
3"/50?
A. Yes, sir.
10. Q. Was he there at all times during the firing of the 3"/50?
A. I wouldn't say yes or not on that. I am not sure.
11. Q. Did you see him leave the pilot house before the firing of the 3"/50 was
concluded?
A. Before it was finished, no, sir.
12. Q. Where was he standing in the pilot house at that time?
A. Standing behind the sound stack.
13. Q. Did you see Ensign Weymouth in the pilot house at that time?
A. Yes, sir.
...
A. No, sir.
15. Q. Who passed the word to fire the 3" 50?
A. It came from topside.
16. Q. Did you pass the word through your phone?
A. No, I didn't pass any word at all.
17. Q. Did you discuss the firing of the 3" 50 with any of the members of the crew
on the 28th of June, 1943?
A. No, sir.
18. Q. At any time did you discuss the firing of that gun on that date?
A. No, sir.
19. Q. Have you ever heard any of the members of the crew discuss the firing of the
3" 50 on 28 June?
A. Yes, sir.
20. Q. What did you hear?
A. They fired the 3" 50 four rounds.
21. Q. What else did you hear?
A. They were firing at targets.
22. Q. Did you hear what kind of targets they were firing at?
A. Yes, sir.
23. Q. What kind of targets did they say they were?
A. Floating pyramid targets.
24. Q. Did they say that the shells fell near the target?
A. They fell near it. I'm not sure.
25. Q. Did they say that the firing was good?
A. I don't know whether it was good or bad.
26. Q. Do you recall who took part in that conversation that you heard?
A. I don't remember.
27. Q. At about the time of the firing of that gun on that day were you able to see
land?
A. No, sir.
Examined by the board:
28. Q. Were you looking out through any of the ports or openings in the pilot house
during the firing?
A. Yes, sir.
29. What were you look at?
A. Looking at the 3" gun.
30. Q. You were watching them firing?
A. I was watching them operate the gun itself.
31. Q. In what direction was the gun pointed when it was fired?
A. Off the port bow.
32. Q. How many shots were fired?
A. Four rounds.
33. Q. Can you give us an approximate idea of the length of time it took to fire those
four shots?
A. No, sir.
34. Q. Would you say that the gun was fired rapidly or slowly?
A. It might have been anything. I don't know. I didn't have a stop watch.
35. Q. You stated that you were watching the gun at the time it fired. Did you make any
attempt to follow the projectile after it left the gun, to see where it went?
A. No, sir.
36. Q. Did you see at any time the target they were firing at?
A. No, sir.
Cross examined by the counsel for the interested party.
37. Q. During the time you were in the pilot house during this general quarters period,
did McGuire, soundman second class, appear to you to be interested in the sound gear?
A. Yes, sir. He was leaning over it.
38. Q. By leaning over it, you mean he was leaning over the operator's back?
A. Over his shoulder.
39. Q. The soundman on watch was manipulating the hand control and observing the band
of the machine?
A. Yes, sir.
40. Q. And you did definitely see McGuire watching this work?
A. Yes, sir.
41. Q. Did you notice that more than once?
A. No, sir.
42. Q. During the time that the firing took place did you casually observe everything
that was going on in the bridge?
A. No, sir.
43. Q. Did you notice the executive officer around?
A. I noticed them all around there. Everybody that was on the bridge at the time.
44. Q. You know your executive officer was present?
A. Yes, sir.
45. Q. You know that the helmsman was carrying out his duty?
A. Yes, sir.
46. Q. Did you notice whether the chemical recorder operator was at the station?
A. Yes, sir.
47. Q. Now when the first shot was fired did anyone speak up and say that it was a hit
or was it a hit or words to that effect?
A. Not that I recall, sir.
48. Q. As soon as the concussion of the gun had passed did you look around or look out
the ports to seaward?
A. I'm sorry, sir. I don't recall at all.
49. Q. You did behave in a thoroughly natural manner, didn't you?
A. Yes, sir.
50. Q. You didn't see McGuire move or go after you noticed him there at the sound gear?
A. No, sir, I didn't.
51. Q. Did you at any time see McGuire at any of the pilot house ports along the port
side of the structure?
A. No, sir.
52. Q. Do you think you would have noticed him if he had gone there?
A. Yes, sir.
53. Q. Do you feel that you can safely say that he wasn't there?
A. Yes, sir.
54. Q. About how much space is there between the chemical recorder gear and the
gyrocompass for standing room purposes?
A. A foot and one-half maybe.
55. Q. Did you notice any person standing around in the open area in the deck behind
the helmsman?
A. Yes, sir.
56. Q. And who was that?
A. The executive officer.
57. Q. Do you now recall where Mr. Weymouth was at any time during the firing?
A. Leaning up against the chart table.
58. Q. And where is the chart table?
A. It is on the port side of the bridge by the wing of the bridge the bucket and the
ladder that comes up from the radioroom, sir.
Re-examined by the board:
59. Q. While you were watching the gun in action, did you observe whether it was
promptly reloaded after the previous shot was fired?
A. I think so, I'm not sure.
Re-cross-examined by the counsel for the interested party:
60 Q. Who, if anybody, did you see go on the port wing of the Bridge?
A. None that I can recall.
61. Q. Could McGuire have been on the wing?
A. I don't think so.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the counsel for the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was priviledged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brou ght out by the previous questioning.
The witness stated that he had nothing further to say.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
Adam F. Sobesynski, ......, was recalled by the board and warned that the oath previously taken was still binding
Examined by the board:
1. Q. In your previous testimony you stated that you saw some of the shots that were fired by the PC 815 hit. Will you relate everything that you know about the fall of shot as to location, range, and number of shots that you saw hit. Do you understand the questions?
A. Yes, sir. Well, I actually didn't see the 3" fired from my position; I couldn't
actually see, but I heard the noise of the gun as shots were fired and I am pretty sure
the first shot hit the target and the other shots, I don't think they hit the targe t.
Why, I don't know. But it's just my own opinion that it didn't hit the target. As far as
distances goes I would be afraid to make any estimate. The target was one of these
aviation targets. That's what I think it was. A lot of pieces of wood, four cornered
pointing to a peak. Four shots were fired. That's about all I can say.
2. Q. Could you see where the other three shots fell?
A. Well, I'd say they were over the target and a little to the left of it. That's my own
judgement [sic]. I couldn't say for sure.
3. Q. Upon what visible signs do you base that estimate?
A. The target, sir.
4. Q. And you saw what else?
A. I didn't notice anything else. A lot of water.
5. Q. Did you see splashes?
A. Well, I noticed one or two splashes. There might have been more but I didn't pay any
attention to the others.
6. Q. Did you see McGuire, soundman second class, on board the PC 815?
A. I don't even know if we have a man like that aboard ship, sir.
7. Q. Did you hear anybody say whether or not the shooting was considered to have been
good shooting?
A. No, sir, not back where I was, sir.
8. Q. Well, at any time since the firing was conducted?
A. No, sir.
9. Q. How far from land would you estimate that the ship was at the time the firing was
conducted?
A. I wouldn't know, sir. I never even stopped to notice land.
Cross-examined by the counsel for the interested party:
10. Q. Either before or after the ship was secured from general quarters did you hear
anyone among the crew or officers say that some of the shells had struck some rocks?
A. No, sir.
Re-examined by the board:
11. When the 3" gun was fired at the time in question would you ...
A. I wouldn't know, sir? I think it stands to reason it would take time to reload your
gun. At any rate, I wouldn't have stopped to notice it.
12. Q. Did you think there was sufficient time between shots so that they waited or did
they just load and fire again.
A. I thought that they just loaded and when they came on the target they fired.
13. Q. It wasn't what you would call rapid firing, then?
A. No, sir.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the counsel for the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was privileged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brought out by the previous questioning.
The witness stated that he had nothing further to say.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
A witness called by the recorder entered, was duly sworn, and was informed of the subject matter of the investigation.
Examined by the recorder.
1. State to the board your name.
A. Ralph Riesing.
2. Q. Your rate?
A. Motor machinist first class, V-6, U.S. Naval Reserve.
3. Q. Present station.
A. PC 815.
4. Q. Were you aboard the PC 815 on 28 June, 1943?
A. Yes, sir, I was.
5. Q. What was your battle station?
A. Engine room. All my watches are in the engine room.
Examined by the board:
6. Q. When you are in the engine room when the engine is operating can you feel the
vibration of the guns?
A. Yes, sir, but we never know which one it is.
7. Q. When you are on duty in the engine room with the engines operating, can you tell
if the.. gun on forward part of the ship is fired?
A. I can tell when a ...fired, but I don't know which one it is.
8. Q. On the afternoon of ... 28, did you feel a gun fired on ...
9. Q. Do you know at approximately what time that occurred?
A. ... noon sometime.
10. Q. Can you get it down within an hours?
A. Sometime between 3:30 and 6:00.
11. Q. How many times was the gun fired?
A. That I am not sure.
12. Q. At the time the gun was fired, do you know what speed the ship was making?
A. No, I don't.
13. Q. I show you the engineer's bell book of the PC 815, Exhibit "B". At
what time during the afternoon of June 28 was the ship stopped, or the engines stopped,
rather?
A. We went through several stops. We went through one at 1652.
14. Q. Referring to the bell book, how many times was number one engine stopped?
A. 1601, 1654, 1705, 1708, stopped.
15. Q. What was doing on number two engine?
A. 1546, 1604, 1652, 1703.
16. Q. Assuming that the firing occurred at about 1619, what speed was shown on the
bell book?
A. 1/3 on shaft 2, 305 revolutions. 1/3 shaft 1, 305 revolutions.
17. Q. At 1600 which engines were stopped?
A. Revolutions were zero on shaft one. Shaft two stop was 1604.
18. Q. How long did the engines remain stopped?
A. Shaft one started in the same minute. 305 revolutions. Shaft two wasn't started until
three minutes later at 305 revolutions.
19. Q. What time was the next stop on number one shaft?
A. 1652.
20. Q. And on shaft two?
A. 1652.
21. Q. Did you hear any discussion among members of the crew as to the accuracy of the
firing which was conducted at about the time mentioned?
A. No, I didn't have any conversation with anybody.
22. Q. Did you ask anybody what they were firing at?
A. No, sir?
Neither the board, the recorder nor the counsel for the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was privileged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brought out by the previous questioning.
The witness stated that he had nothing further to say.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
...
oath previously taken and still binding.
Examined by the board:
1. Q. During the afternoon of the 28 of June, did you fire the 20 millimeter gun?
A. No, sir.
2. Q. Did you fire any 20 millimeter gun?
A. No, sir.
3. Q. The 3" gun was the only gun fired? What about the small arms fire on the
fantail after you anchored?
A. We did small arms firing after we anchored.
4. Q. Who designated the target for the 3"/50 to fire on?
A. The captain.
5. Q. By what means of communication did you receive this information?
A. By word of mouth from the captain on the flying bridge.
6. Q. Was the captain on the flying bridge also?
A. Yes, sir.
7. Q. What do you term as the flying bridge?
A. The part above the pilot house is the flying bridge.
8. Q. The captain was there beside you?
A. He could have been on the signal bridge.
9. Q. Later when the target was designated where were you?
A. I was upon either the flying bridge or the signal bridge.
10. Q. And were [sic] was the captain?
A. He was close enough so that I could hear what he had to say.
11. Q. Was he either on the flying bridge or the signal bridge also?
A. Yes, sir.
12. Q. What was the target that was designated?
A. A wooden floating raft.
13. Q. After the firing was there any discussion that you heard or took part in as to
the accuracy of the firing or the location of the fall of shot? Did you either take part
in any discussion or remember any discussion as to the accuracy of the fall of shot?
A. I don't recall.
14. Q. Did you ask anybody where the shots fell?
A. I don't remember asking anyone else, sir.
15. Q. Did the commanding officer discuss the firing with you? Did he discuss any phase
of the firing with you?
A. I don't remember that he did.
16. Q. Did the commanding officer discuss with you any phase of fire control activities
at all?
A. I can't remember.
17. Q. Did you try to determine through questioning of any member of the crew or
officers attached to the ship what the results of the firing were?
A. No, sir.
18. Q. Did you make any comment to anybody concerning the conduct of the 3"
firing?
A. I don't remember saying anything to anyone.
19. Q. What instructions did you give Mr. Navarro concerning the firing?
A. He was just to take charge of fire control.
20. Q. That he was to take charge of fire control of what?
A. Of the 3" gun.
21. Q. What reports did Mr. Navarro make to you upon the conclusion of the firing?
A. I don't remember his making any report to me.
22. Q. Did you inquire of Mr. Navarro concerning the conduct of the practice?
A. No, sir.
23. Q. Did you see any of the shots hit the land?
A. No, sir.
24. Q. Did you see any of the shots hit the water?
A. Yes, sir.
25. Q. Did you see the target at which they were firing?
A. Yes, sir.
26. Q. What was the target?
A. It was a floating wooden target.
27. Q. How far were you from the raft?
A. I think we were probably three to four thousand yards.
28. Q. What report did you make to the Commanding Officer upon conclusion of the
practice?
A. I don't think I made any report.
29. Q. Did you make a report that the ammunition was expended?
A. That report came up.
30. Q. I said, "Did you make a report that the ammunition was expended?"
A. No, sir.
31. Q. Did you make a report that the recoil cylinders were filled and had been
inspected?
A. No, sir.
32. Q. Did you make a report that the .. been instructed in safety precautions?
A. No, sir.
34. Q. Did you see any splashes around the target?
...
35. Q. Did you hear any comments concerning any splashes that were observed?
A. I don't remember any comments.
Cross-examined by the interested party.
36. Q. Do you think the government values the brass cases, the empties, of a 3"/50
gun?
A. Yes, sir.
37. Q. Have you had any trouble training the hot shellman to keep places aboard all
clear?
A. Yes, sir.
38. Q. What happened on the occasion of this firing?
A. We lost all four of our empty cartridges.
39. Q. In what way did we lose them?
A. The hot shellman seemed to be just a little afraid.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the counsel for the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was priviledged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brou ght out by the previous questioning.
The witness stated that he had nothing further to say.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
The interested party was called as a witness by his counsel. The oath previously taken by him was still binding.
Examined by the counsel for the interested party:
1. Q. Did you at any time on the 28th of June direct fire from the 3"/50 caliber
gun to be placed on any rock or island associated with the Coronados Islands as a target?
A. No, sir.
2. Q. Would you know whether or not the fire was directed at such a target?
A. In view of the fact that I saw a film of spray angling over the water beyond the target
which appeared to us to be the shell splash, it is my belief that the gun gun [sic] crew
had obeyed orders and used the aircraft bombing target as a target for the shell fire.
3. Q. Subsequent to the firing did you hear any remarks made about hits on any rocks?
A. I did not.
4. Q. Will you state to the best of your recollection whether or not the rocks
described as being off the northern tip of the south ... firing of either of the four
shots?
A. Such rocks were not in the line of fire for the first shot. Of that I am certain. They
may have been in the line of the last shot. The ship at that time was going forward at a
speed, ahead 1/3 all engines, nine knots.
Examined by the board:
5. Q. Calling your attention to the morning of June 30, 1943, do you recall having a
conversation with the chief of staff COTC PAC in connection with the firing in question?
A. Yes.
6. Q. Did you during that conversation state to the chief of staff that some one had
made the remark that one or more of the shells fired had hit a rock or land?
A. As I spoke to the chief of staff in my pilot house discussing our chart of the area I
was under great stress and terribly concerned, as I still am. I cannot distinctly recall
my conversation at that time, but I was so worried about the incident that I may have told
him that it was entirely possible that shell firing had reached that end of the island
inadvertently. That to the best of my knowledge and belief is all I remember.
7. Q. Is your answer that you did not make such a statement to him or that you do not
recall whether or not you did make such a statement? Which do you mean?
A. I don't recall whether or not I made such a statement.
8. Q. What was the elapsed time from the first to the last shot fired?
A. My best estimate would be less than three minutes.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the counsel for the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was privileged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter or the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brought out by the previous questioning.
The witness stated that he had nothing further to say and resumed his seat.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the counsel for the interested party desired to call any more witnesses.
The recorder desired to make no argument.
The counsel for the interested party desired to make no argument.
...
West Coast Sound School
San Diego, California
Friday, July 2, 1943.
The board met at 9:00 a.m.
Present:
Commander Jacob E. Cooper, U.S. Navy, senior member,
Lieutenant Gene M. Harris, D-V(S), U.S. Naval Reserve, and
Lieutenant Frank G. Morris, Jr., D-V(G), U.S. Naval Reserve, members; and
Ensign Noel J. Dyer, D-V(S), U.S. Naval Reserve, recorder,
Lieutenant L. Ron Hubbard, D-V(G), U.S. Naval Reserve, interested party,
Lieutenant Stanley T. Tomlinson, D-V(S), U.S. Naval Reserve, counsel for the interested
party.
The board convened on the third day at the West Coast Sound School, San Diego, California.
The recorder introduced Jack O. Conner, yeoman first class, U.S. Navy, as reporter.
The record of proceedings of the first and second day of the investigation was read and approved.
No witnesses not otherwise connected with the investigation were present.
The interested party was called as a witness by counsel for the interested party.
1. Q. I call your attention to questions 20 and 21, and the answers thereto, on page 3
of this record of proceedings: "20.Q. Did you have authority to anchor for the night?
A. Yes, sir. 21. Q. What was this authority?
A. The authority of custom given t o me by the Sound School Instructor who was aboard
(Ensign Weymouth) and whom I believe to be in possession of all pertinent data." Now
Captain, have you anything to add to the answers to questions 20 and 21 just quoted?
A. Yes. I wish to qualify the statement in view of the fact that such report came to me
through my executive officer and, who on further discussion, states that he said that the
soundman told him that SO's operating with the Sound School normally anchore d during the
night at the anchorage specified while under orders to remain at sea, the purpose of this
being to keep them close to the operating area and save wear and tear on their machinery
and personnel. I was at no time aware of any irregularity in m y anchoring as we later did
and do not now believe that I departed from my orders and instructions, having in the
absence of proper advice acted in accordance with naval practice in this area to the best
of my belief.
2. Q. Captain, why did you anchor at the Coronados Islands in the position shown by the
testimony on the 28th of June?
A. Because I have no officer with more than three and one-half months total officer of the
deck experience aboard naval vessels and because it was foggy and there were kelp beds and
menaces to navigation in my designated operating area, which I did not le ave. By so
entering I would have had to spend the entire night on the bridge a thing which I have
done on the ship many times before. On three separate occasions when leaving my officers
in charge of the bridge they have become lost, a fact which was da ngerous to the safety
of the ship. I am attempting to remedy their lack of experience as rapidly as possible but
at the time in question I do not think any commanding officer sensible of his
responsibilities would have guaranteed the safety of his ship u nless he utilised an
existing anchorage. There was no reason to continue steaming in these waters through the
night.
3. Q. Have you observed any firing by aircraft or surface vessels on the targets which
were observed by this board on July 1st?
A. Yes. During the entire time of our operation in this area I had to give considerable
attention to the danger of aircraft bombs falling around the targets which were close to
our sound operations, and on July 1st it is an established fact that aircraft were firing
machine guns near these targets. Additional bombing was witnessed by myself and my
officers well
inside these waters referred to as Mexican Territorial Waters. The bomb target being just to the south of the middle Coronados and off the middle of south Coronados. In view of the considerable amount of aircraft machine cannon firing, aircraft bombing and destroyer depth-charging ahead by the Coronados Islands I believe I was justified in interpreting the aircraft targets, as located by the Board on Exhibit "F" as being a firing area and it was upon this fact that I based my decision to train my three- inch gun crew.
4. Q. One Saturday, the 26th of June, 1943, was there a discussion at the Saturday
Operations Conference, at the Eleventh Naval District Headquarters, concerning firing in
the areas designated for operations?
A. Yes. At the conclusion of the conference I found that I had considerable time at sea
unoccupied by assigned and scheduled exercises or drills. I asked Commander Ferguson,
Operations Officer of Commander, Fleet Operational Training Command, Pacific, r egarding
my lack of time to train my crew in firing and asked that additional firing particularly
at planes be scheduled for me. He answered that this was not necessary, as I could request
planes which would tow sleeves for me from the Aircraft Training Command (VJ-7). On my own
authority I asked him if he would so schedule me for firing and he answered that such
schedule was not necessary. He referred me to Lieutenant (jg) Mosher of the Aircraft
Training Command (VH-7) who was at the conference and sa id Lieutenant (jg) Mosher would
arrange with me to send me targets and permit me to specify how I wished the planes to
behave during the firing, and specify the firing area. I took the statement of Commander
Ferguson to mean that it was not necessary to schedule firing in addition to firing called
for in the operational orders.
Examined by the Board:
5. Q. During the firing of the three-inch gun on 28 June, did you observe the fall of
shot?
A. I observed a splash by the target, well over behind it.
6. Q. Did you observe four splashes?
A. I did not. I was not looking for them.
7. Q. Which of the two previously located pyramid targets did you observe this one
splash near to, or which of the two targets in the area was the one splash that you
observed closer to?
A. The westerly of the two targets, which I at that time designated as the north target.
8. Q. At what distance beyond the target did the splash occur? Would you say a
considerable distance?
A. Well within 500 yards.
9. Q. Could you have seen it if it had been 2000 yards over?
A. I doubt it.
10. Q. Could you see land at any time in the direction of the line of fire?
A. No, not at the time of firing, but shortly afterward.
11. Q. After anchoring and during the conduct of small arms firing was firing conducted
from the port quarter and from the starboard quarter of the ship?
A. All firing was in an easterly direction, which I included to mean an east 090 to 160,
and it was very possible that men were standing on the fantail on the port side to fire in
that easterly direction.
12. Q. Were men firing from the port side of the ship?
A. Yes, I fired from the port side of the ship.
13. Q. Were men firing from the port side of the ship?
A. I observed no man firing from the port side of the ship.
14. Q. Were there any officers firing from the port side of the ship?
A. Yes, I fired from the port side of the ship.
15. Q. What was the direction of the aim?
A. Away from the South Coronados Islands to the eastward in a direction true of about 155
judging from the ship's head and true bearing of that point.
16. Q. How near to the ship was the target at which you were firing?
A. From fifteen to thirty yards.
17. Q. In general was the distance from the ship of the targets at which the people
engaged in this firing used?
A. In general, not over 75 yards.
Neither the board, the recorder nor counsel for the interested party desired further to examine the interested party.
The board informed the interested party that he was privileged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fu lly brought out by the previous questioning.
The interested party stated that he had nothing further to say.
Neither the board, the recorder, nor any party to the investigation desired to call any more witnesses.
The investigation was finished, all parties thereto withdrawing.
FOURTH DAY
U.S.S. PC 815
San Diego, California
July 3, 1943
v The board met at 2:05 p.m.
Present:
Commander Jacob E. Cooper, U.S. Navy, senior member,
Lieutenant Gene W. Harris, D-V(S), U.S. Naval Reserve, and
Lieutenant Frank C. Norris, jr., D-V(G), U.S. Naval Reserve, members, and
Ensign Noel J. Dyer, Ensign, D-V(S), U.S. Naval Reserve, recorder,
Arthur E. Calten, Y2e, V-6, U.S. Naval Reserve, reporter,
Lieutenant L. Ron Hubbard, D-V(S), U.S. Naval Reserve, interested party,
Lieutenant Stanley T. Tomlinson, D-V(S), U.S. Naval Reserve, counsel for interested party.
The board declared the investigation reopened because new evidence has been discovered.
The record of proceedings of the third day of the investigation was read and approved.
No witnesses not otherwise connected with the investigation were present.
A witness called by the recorder entered, was duly sworn, and informed of the subject matter of the investigation.
Examined by the recorder.
1. Q. Please state your name, your rate, and your present station.
A. Geln McGuire, Som2e, West Coast Sound School.
2. Q. Were you on board the PC 815 on June 26?
A. Yes, sir.
3. Q. Who ordered you to be aboard that ship that day?
A. I was under orders of the Operational Command and the Fleet Sound School.
4. Q. Did you observe the firing of the 3" 50 cal. gun on that day?
A. Yes, sir.
5. Q. At about what time on that date was the 3" 50 fired?
A. I would say somewhere between 1600 and 1700.
6. Q. Will you relate to the board all that you know of your own knowledge concerning the firing of the 3" 50 gun. Tell everything concerning the operation of the vessel PC 815 from the time you finished operating with the Sound School until 2000 that n ight.
A. Well, I don't know exactly what time we finished operations and since my days aboard
ceased of that date, I was just really an observer to the ship's following actions. The
word was passed general quarters would be sounded and firing of the guns was t o be the
termination of the general quarters period. From what I heard, we were in search of
targets previously spotted during the day. Those targets were merely observed, however,
they were not used at any time or, to my knowledge, at any time for firi ng purposes. The
day was the 25th of June. The next thing in order, to my knowledge, was the fact that a
target north of the South Coronados Island was to be used for firing purposes. Target was
a small island or large rock. The time was somewhere between 1500 and 1600. Judging my
time upon the position of the sun. The sun was directly behind the target, correction, it
was slightly to the right; but would definitely have a bearing upon the firing line of the
sun. The target was somewhat shaded due to the sun's position. The range, I judge, w ould
have been approximately 3,000 yards. The two first shots were observed by me to have
struck the target used. The third and final shot appeared to have gone slightly over the
target and struck a small island behind and directly in line with the targ et used. Three
shot were all I observed, and to my knowledge, at the termination of these shots the
firing was ceased.
Another parallel to the time of firing was that chow was down immediately afterward and it was dark. Concerning the firing at chow, I was not on the deck for some time afterwards, being both below deck and in the chart house.
At dusk word was passed we were to anchor off the eastern side of South Coronados Island. At the time of anchoring it was really dark and that, to my knowledge is all I know.
7. Q. How far was the PC 815 from land at the time the shots were fired?
A. I previously stated the range was approximately 5,000 yards. The target, which was a
small rock, was just off the tip of the South Coronados Island, the north tip;
consequently, land was no further than the target.
8. Q. Where were you standing when the shots from the 3" 50 were fired?
A. I was standing in the pilot house.
9. Q. Port or starboard side?
A. I was standing on the port side, which was the direction in which they fired.
10. Q. Were you able to see the impact of the shells at any time?
A. I saw evidence of their striking the rock.
11. Q. What do you mean by evidence?
A. Flying bits, sprays of rock or gravel or whatever the small rock consisted of.
12. Q. What was the visibility at the time of firing? Was it clear?
A. The visibility in general was good.
13. Q. Could the island be clearly seen?
A. The island was nearly directly in line with the sun. It's [sic] effect upon the island
made the target shaded upon the side observed.
14. Q. Did you hear the commanding officer or any other officer of the PC 815 give the
order to fire on the island?
A. No, sir.
15. Q. Did you observe any buildings on the island which you saw as the target?
A. It was barren.
16. Q. Did you observe the small arms firing after the PC 815 had anchored that
evening?
A. Not after it anchored.
17. Q. Did you observe small arms firing at any time?
A. Yes, sir.
18. Q. What time?
A. I don't even know which day or what time of that day.
19. Q. Can you recollect what small arms firing did take place on the PC 815 on the
28th of June?
A. The day I still don't recall.
Examined by the board:
20. Q. During the conduct of the firing of PC 815 on the afternoon of the 28th of June,
where were the two targets that you stated were being searched for at the time of firing,
with relation to the island and to the ship?
A. In relation to both the island and ship, they were North and somewhat East.
21. Q. The two targets which you mention in your previous testimony were to the North
and to the East of the ship?
A. That's correct.
22. Q. What was the range to those targets at the time of firing?
A. I have no idea. I cannot even say that they were in sight.
23. Q. Did you observe two shots hit the target in direct flight?
A. That was my observation.
24. Q. Did you see any splashes in the water as from a shell splash between the ship
and the island?
A. None whatsoever.
25. Q. Was there any discussion on the bridge, or I would say in the pilot house,
concerning the fall of shot from this firing during the firing.
A. There was.
26. Q. Relate to the board what discussion took place.
A. The discussion merely concerned the evenness and accuracy of the firing.
27. Q. With whom did you discuss the accuracy and eveness [sic] of the firing?
A. With the first class signalman, Price.
28. Q. What did Price say?
A. Word for word, I don't know. We both agreed the first two shots struck the target and
the third went slightly over the top.
29. Q. Could you see the shell in flight?
A. No, sir.
30. Q. Did you see the third shot hit the water or land?
A. Only the same evident of apparent flying debris when it struck land.
31. Q. Was the land that the third shot struck directly behind the rock that was struck
by the first two shots?
A. I cannot remember. I was not sure what the third shot struck - the target or the land
directly beyond the target.
32. Q. There was land directly beyond the rock that was hit by the first two shots?
A. There was.
33. Q. Did the third shot land on the main part of the South Coronados Island?
A. No.
34. Q. I show you exhibit "F". Can you refer to this chart and identify the
land that you saw the third shot hit? Identify the rock that you saw the first two shots
hit.
A. You want where the first two shots were observed?
This was identified by the witness as Point "E" on Exhibit "F".
35. Q. Can you further identify the fall of the shot as to location: whether it was to
the right of that group of rock, to the left or to the center of the group?
A. I would judge it would be the center of the group.
36. Q. Referring to the same chart, can you identify the land upon which the third shot
fell? On the bearing of the land with respect to the first target?
A. On this chart, no.
37. Q. During the firing could you see North Coronados Island or did you see North
Coronados Island?
A. I didn't notice.
38. Q. Who passed the word on the PC 815 that there would be general quarters or that
firing of the gun would be at the end of the general quarters drill or words to that
effect?
A. I heard that from the Commanding Officer, Mr. Hubbard.
39. Q. To whom was the word passed?
A. It was a direct statement to Ensign Weymouth and myself, I mean, I think, it was words
to that effect.
40. Q. Did you hear that word passed through the ship?
A. No, sir.
41. Q. Were any other officers or members of PC 815 present when that statement was
made?
A. None to my knowledge.
42. Q. Where were you when the statement was made?
A. On the flying bridge.
43. Q. Did you hear firing of small arms after the PC 815 had anchored on the 28th of
June?
A. No.
44. Q. How many days were you aboard the PC 815?
A. Three days.
45. Q. Which days?
A. Sunday, the 27th; Monday, the 28th; and Tuesday, the 29th; of June, 1943.
46. Q. During the three day period during which you were aboard the PC 815 was there
any small arms practice held?
A. There was.
47. Q. Can you give the day on which that was held?
A. No, sir.
48. Q. Do you remember whether it was forenoon or afternoon?
A. The previous records will show not knowing the day or the date of the day.
49. Q. Do you remember where the small arms practice occurred?
A. I didn't know the general locality.
50. Q. What were you doing when this practice occurred?
A. I was observing the small arms fire.
51. Q. Tell the board what you do remember about the small arms fire?
A. Merely that small arms were brought out with ammunition and practice was held upon the
target which was an empty 5 gallon tin.
52. Q. Was the ship underway or at anchor?
A. The ships [sic] was underway and from my observation it was in a clear area.
53. Q. What would be our estimate of the nearest land at the time of the small arms
fire?
A. Between four and five miles.
54. Q. Referring to the firing of the 3" gun on the afternoon of the 28th of June.
Did you participate in or were you present when any discussion concerning this firing took
place between officers or enlisted men of PC 815 other than the conversation yo u have
already related with the signalman?
A. I have previously stated there was some discussion concerning the firing at chow.
55. Q. Can you give the names of any person who participated in the discussion?
A. No.
56. Q. Were there any members of the 3"/50 caliber gun crew who participated?
A. Yes.
57. Q. Can you identify them by their assignment on the gun crew?
A. No.
58. Q. Tell the board what was stated.
A. There was discussion concerning the accuracy of the firing. One side maintained as I
maintained that two shells struck the target and the third went over. The other side
maintained all three struck the target, but that the third shell glanced off and hit the
further bit of land.
59. Q. Would it be possible for you to identify any of the persons who participated in
this discussion?
A. No, sir.
60. Q. What time did you leave the PC 815 on the 29th of June, 1943?
A. Approximately 1745.
61. Q. Have you discussed this subject with any of the officers or members of the crew
of the PC 815 since that time?
A. No.
62. Q. Where was the commanding officer of the PC 815, if you know, at the time the
3" gun was fired.
A. I don't know.
63. Q. Where was the gunnery officer, Mr. Walker, at the time the gun was fired?
A. I don't know.
64. Q. Do you know where Mr. Navarro was at the time of firing?
A. No, sir.
65. Q. Did you observe any officer of the PC 815 on the forecastle in the vicinity of
the 3" gun at the time of firing?
A. I observed none.
66. Q. Where was the executive officer at the time the 3" was fired?
A. In the pilot house or on the port wing of the pilot house.
67. Q. What was he doing during the period of firing?
A. Observing.
68. Q. Observing what?
A. Firing
69. Q. What in particular was he observing, the firing of the gun or the fall of shot?
A. I don't know.
70. Q. Did he appear to pay any attention to the firing?
A. Yes, sit.
71. Q. Did you hear any word passed to the gun crew as to what the target was to be, or
when they were to commence fire?
A. I heard words spoken, whether they were orders or not I don't know, but they were to
the effect that the target would be "that rock".
72. Q. By whom and to whom?
A. I don't know that at all.
73. Q. Were those words spoken by somebody in the pilot house or did you hear them, for
example, over a voice tube?
A. It was spoken either by someone in the pilot house or on the wing.
74. Q. What apparent speed was the ship making during the firing of the 3"/50
caliber on June 28?
A. As I remember, there was very little way on.
75. Q. Was spray coming over the forecastle?
A. No, not at the time of firing.
76. Q. Did you hear any comment from either the officers or the crew of the PC 815 as
to the advisability of firing on the target selected?
A. No, sir.
77. Q. Did you confer with Mr. Weymouth on any subject during the period at which the
crew of the PC 815 was at general quarters on this date?
A. I didn't even see Mr. Weymouth during the general quarters period under discussion.
78. Q. Did you advise the captain of the PC 815 that it was customary for ships
operating with the Sound School to anchor overnight off the Coronados Islands?
A. I didn't say it was customary.
79. Q. What did you say?
A. I stated to the captain that we had anchored on the north of the South Coronados Island
all during the previous week at night.
80. Q. Who do you mean by us?
A. The ship under my instructions for sound training and myself.
81. Q. What ship?
A. SC 735.
82. Q. Was this statement by you to the commanding officer in response to a question
from him or the volunteering of information by you?
A. It was the latter, I volunteered the information when the question was put to me by the
captain. The question put was, "What was the general procedure of ships at night
while waiting for the next day's operations?"
83. Q. Did you discuss the question of anchoring with any of the other officers of PC
815?
A. Nothing more than what I had stated to the captain.
84. Q. Have you been aboard any vessels or present when any vessel other than the PC
815 and SC 735 have anchored in this same vicinity off the South Coronados Island?
A. Sunday, June 20, 1943, the SC's 728, 729 and 735 anchored together in this vicinity. I
may be corrected upon those numbers.
85. Q. Any others that you recollect?
A. No.
Referring to Exhibit "F" take the pencil and mark the spot relative to the South Coronados and to the North Coronados Islands that you consider the firing to have been conducted from. This will be know as Point "F". The witness made a mark on Exhibit "F " at Point "F".
86. Q. What course was the ship on at that time?
A. This will be Point "G" of Exhibit "F". The Line "FG"
indicates this course.
The witness made a mark at Point "G" of Exhibit "F" and indicated the line "FG" on exhibit "F".
The witness made the following statement.
87. I previously estimated the distance or the range to be 5,000 yards. From the chart, I make a light change in this range. I believe it to be shorter. I would say within 4,000 yards. Judging from this range, the target would be the larger of this s mall groups of rocks and the land beyond would be the middle Coronados. If I have mistaken my range and it is shorter, the target could well have been one of the larger rocks with the larger one in the rear as the other island in the discussion.
Cross examined by the counsel for the interested party:
88. Q. You stated that you did not discuss the matter of the firing with any of the
officers or members of the crew of the PC 815 subsequent to the firing.
A. That was my answer.
89. Q. Who have you discussed the question of the firing with since the incident?
A. No one -- other than those stated previously aboard ship and until this morning, July
3, Saturday, when a discussion arose again.
90. Q. Who did you discuss it with the morning of July 3?
A. Lieutenant Morris.
Neither the board, the recorder, nor counsel for the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was privileged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully broug ht out by the previous questioning.
The witness made the following statement: "There's one. You had me point out on the chart the approximate position of the firing and I did so to the best of my knowledge. I trust my eyesight a great deal and my sense of relative bearing. If it becomes necessary I can point very surely and with confidence the exact targets used and the approximate position from firing. Without a doubt there will be evidence upon the target to verify the statements that said a rock was used for a target.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
Ensign Lewis J. Navarro was recalled by the board and warned that the oath previously taken was still binding.
Examined by the board:
1. Q. Mr. Navarro, at the firing that was conducted by the PC 815 on the 28th of June
at about 1600 with the 3" 50 cal., describe the target that was used as a point of
aim.
A. The target was an aerial bombardment target triangular in shape. Larger at base than at
highest part.
2. Q. How do you know that that was the target?
A. That was the target I gave the gun crew to pick up.
3. Q. Who told you to pick up and use the target as described?
A. My commanding officer.
4. Q. Did you see any shots hit land or rocks that had been fired by the PC 815.
A. No, sir.
5. Q. Describe your actions during the conduct of this firing.
A. On given the word to pick up the target, I sent down to the gun an opening range of
4,000 and a scale of 498. Gave them the word to fire when on target. I observed only the
first shot. I saw no splash or no hit and I began to direct the simulated fi re of the 20
millimeter.
v
A. After having given the order to the No. 2 -- the order to pick up aloud, bearing 280,
position angle about 50, and to fire when on target. I went over to No. 1 on the other
side and corrected the men at their stations on obvious errors - such as the d rum
operator touched the fellow in charge of the firing, and that's about all the definite
information I can give.
7. Q. Did you put your fingers in your ears?
A. Yes, Commander, I did because I expected the firing to come at the time. I had not
cotton in my ears.
8. Q. Did you discuss the accuracy of the firing with any person after the firing on
this date?
A. No, Mr. President.
9. Q. Have you heard any discussion other than in this board concerning the firing on
that date?
A. No.
10. Q. Not even with the commanding officer?
A. By discussion I am not exactly sure what you mean.
11. Q. How many rounds were fired from the 3"/50 caliber gun?
A. Four, sir.
12. Q. How do you know?
A. I could hear the reports from the gun itself.
13. Q. How did you pass the word to the gun captain to pick up the target and fire on
the target?
A. By talker. Telephone talker.
14. Q. What was the telephone talker?
A. The yeoman on board, Samm Kleinman.
15. Q. What is his actual rate?
A. Yeoman.
16. Q. Where was this yeoman talker stationed?
A. Just aft of the signal bridge.
17. Q. Port, starboard, or amidship?
A. He was on the starboard hook.
18. Q. Mr. Navarro, where were you standing at the time the first shot was fired?
A. I was standing on the opposite side from the yeoman on the port side. The same relative
position that he was on the starboard side.
19. Q. How many targets did you see in the water?
A. Only one, sir.
20. Q. How many aircraft bombing targets did yo see?
A. Only one.
Examined by the recorder:
21. Q. Where were you when general quarters were sounded?
A. I was on the wardroom couch.
22. Q. Where did you go then?
...
23. Q. Who did you see in the pilot house at that time?
A. I am not able to name the individuals because I went through in such a hurry.
24. Q. Where did you go after you left the pilot house?
A. Up the ladder to my station on the bridge. That's the flying bridge.
25. Q. Did you see soundman McGuire?
A. I did not see him in either place. The wardroom couch, the pilot house, or on the way
to the pilot house that I recall.
Neither the recorder, the interested party or his counsel, nor the board desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was priviledged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brou ght out b the previous questioning. The witness said that he had nothing further to state.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
Ensign Charles Elwood Weymouth, was recalled by the board and warned that the oath previously taken was still binding.
Examined by the board:
1. Q. During the firing of the 3"/50 caliber gun on 28 June of the PC 815 you
stated that you were at the bridge desk near the sound stack.
A. Yes, sir.
2. Q. Did you see McGuire, soundman second class, in the pilot house at any time?
A. Yes, sir.
3. Q. Where was he standing?
A. Facing my right near the recorder, sir.
4. Q. Did you hear McGuire make any comments concerning the firing?
A. No, sir.
5. Q. Did you see McGuire converse with the helmsman during the firing or shortly
thereafter?
A. Yes, sir, we were all talking.
6. Q. Relate the substance of that conversation.
A. Just before the firing the helmsman had sort of cracked a joke about if the gun went
off he could be replaced, but the port in front of him could not be. That was just gist of
the conversation.
7. Q. Was there any discussion or conversation concerning the firing?
A. No, sir, not that I heard.
8. Q. Did you hear a target designated?
A. No, sir.
9. Q. Did the captain inform you that the firing would be conducted on that afternoon?
A. ...
10. Q. Did you know that firing was to be conducted that afternoon?
A. Well, I gathered as much when I saw them making preparations.
11. Q. Did you see any of the shots fall.
A. No, sir.
12. Q. How many shots were fired?
A. I am not sure. Do you want me to estimate? I don't know.
13. Q. How far were you from land when the firing was conducted?
A. I don't know.
14. Q. Were you sitting or standing while in the pilot house?
A. Standing, sir.
15. Q. Did you have cotton in your ears?
A. Yes, sir.
16. Q. What speed was the ship making when the firing was conducted?
A. I don't know.
17. Q. Was the sun shining?
A. Yes, sir.
18. Q. What was the visibility?
A. Fair.
19. Q. Did you see the target at which the ship was firing?
A. No, sir.
20. Q. Did you look for the target?
A. No, sir, that's the reason I didn't see it.
21. Q. Did you know whether they were firing at a rock, or an island, or a wooden
floating target?
A. No, sir, I don't know.
22. Q. Was the ship heading into the sun at the time of firing?
A. I don't remember.
23. Q. Do you recall being on the flying bridge with the captain of the PC 815 and
McGuire, soundman second class, on the afternoon of June 28?
A. Yes, sir.
24. Q. At about what time was that?
A. That was just previous to the firing at the time general quarters was sounded. Let's
say 1615.
25. Q. Was there any statement made by the commanding officer at that time to you or to
soundman McGuire to the effect that he was going to hold general quarters or that he was
going to fire the 3" gun?
A. No, sir.
26. Q. Did the captain have any discussion with soundman McGuire which you observed or
overheard or participated in?
A. No, sir.
Examined by the recorder:
27. Q. ... small arms off the Coronados Islands?
A. No, sir.
Cross-examined by counsel for the interested part:
28. Q. Was the ship dead in the water at the time of firing?
A. Underway.
29. Q. Judging from the vibration, would you say that the ship was moving at a
one-third or two-thirds speed or standard speed.
A. I cannot remember, sir.
30. Q. Well, was she nearly dead in the water?
A. I don't remember.
31. Q. Was there any spray coming over the pilothouse?
A. I didn't see any.
32. Q. Did you notice any water on the deckhouse and forecastle at anytime?
A. No, sir.
33. Q. What was McGuire doing when the first two shots were fired?
A. He was just standing there as far as I know.
34. Q. Did he appear to be observing the firing?
A. No.
35. Q. Was he standing in the center of the pilothouse with you?
A. No, sir. He was over at one side with the recorder. I don't even remember that he moved
during the time that we were going there.
36. Q. Was he looking out to sea?
A. I can't say exactly where he was looking all the time. As I remember, he was facing me,
but I can't say that I ever saw him looking out to sea.
37. Q. Prior to the firing had you seen the aircraft bombing targets that had been
referred to?
A. We had seen them that day.
Re-Examined by the board:
38. Q. Were you on the bridge the entire time during which the 3" gun was fired?
A. Yes, sir.
39. Q. How long a period of time would you say that it took for the firing?
A. I can't say.
40. Q. What were the circumstances of our obtaining and placing the cotton in your
ears.
A. I saw preparations being made and past experience told me that during that time they
usually had firing so I was prepared.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the counsel for the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was privileged to make any further statement concerning anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully bro ught out by the previous questioning.
The witness said that he had nothing further to state.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
George T. Price, Signalman first class was recalled by the board and warned that the oath previously taken was still binding.
Examined by the board:
1. Q. During the afternoon of firing of the 3" gun on 28th of June, who was in the
pilot house?
A. Dexter, QM3c, Welsh, Som2c, Beers, Som3c, myself, Mr. Asmann.
2. Q. Do you know a man by the name of McGuire, soundman second class?
A. Yes, sir.
3. Q. Was he in the pilot house during the firing?
A. At the time I hit the bridge I noticed him, sir.
4. Q. Was he in the pilot house during the firing of the 3" gun?
A. I couldn't say, whether he was or not, sir. I didn't turn around and look at the bridge
throughout the firing, I kept my eye on the compass.
5. Q. Do you know Ensign Weymouth?
A. Yes, sir.
6. Q. Was he in the pilot house during the firing?
A. I don't know, sir.
7. Q. You have stated that you saw the target that was being fired at. Describe the
target?
A. It is a pyramid pattern I guess you would call it.
8. Q. Pyramid what?
A. Pattern. A wooden structure.
9. Q. Did you see any shots hit land that had been fired by this vessel?
A. No, sir.
10. Q. Did you see any shots fall in the vicinity of the target?
A. No, sir.
11. Q. How many shots were fired by the PC 815?
A. Four.
12. Q. Did you discuss with McGuire the results or conduct of the firing?
A. No, sir.
13. Q. Did you discuss with anybody the subject of the firing?
A. No, sir.
14. Q. You did not ever discuss the fall of shot with McGuire?
A. No, sir.
15. Q. Did you know what target had been designated?
A. No, sir, I didn't. There were two of them and I don't know which one they used as a
target.
16. Q. Did you wear cotton in your ears at general quarters?
A. No, sir.
17. Q. What was Mr. Asmann doing during the general quarters period.
A. He was on the sound recorder, I mean the chemical recorder, with Welch. He move around
the bridge between times, but that's where he spent most of his time.
18. Q. What was the speed of the ship when the firing was conducted?
A. I don't remember, sir.
19. Q. Did you have good steering control or poor steering control?
A. Well, it was difficult to keep it right on course. I used enough rudder, but as far as
steering was concerned, I had good steering.
20. Q. What was Mr. Weymouth doing during general quarters?
A. I don't know, sir.
21. Q. Where was he standing in the pilot house?
A. When I came on the bridge he and this McGuire were both standing in about the same
position on the bridge. I didn't pay much attention of [sic] their actions after that
during the firing.
22. Q. What time did you have supper on the evening of the 28th?
A. I couldn't tell you the exact time, Commander, our supper is usually at 1720.
23. Q. Was McGuire in the mess room while you were having supper?
A. I don't know, sir, whether he was or not.
24. Q. How far were you from land when the firing was conducted?
A. Seven or eight miles it seemed to me.
25. Q. Was there a check-sight observer on the gun?
A. That I don't know, sir.
26. Q. Did you ever at any time discuss the results of the firing under discussion with
soundman McGuire?
A. No, sir.
27. Q. Not having seen the fall of shot did you ask anyone on board how many hits they
got?
A. No, sir, it seemed unimportant to me at the time. I wasn't interested.
28. Q. Was the firing considered good?
A. No one had said anything to me about it, sir, whether or not it was good.
Cross examined by the counsel for the interested party:
30. Q. During the firing were the bridge doors open or closed?
A. Open, sir.
31. Q. During the firing, was McGuire standing by your left hand?
A. No, sir.
32. Q. ...
A. No, sir.
33. Q. Was he someplace behind you?
A. He could ... have been
Re-examined by the board:
34. Q. Relate to the board any conversation that you had with anyone in the pilot house
during the general quarters.
A. I distinctly remember cautioning the man on the annunciator to answer all the orders he
got for these bells promptly and be sure and center the pointers on the dial. He made a
remark that Beers was looking for some cotton and I told him that he did no t need it
where he was.
35. Q. Were you concerned about the shock of gun fire?
A. No, sir. This I remember, once the gun was trained forward they were coming around and
I remarked if they fired and ever ejected a shell from that position it would probably hit
me in the face.
36. Q. What else would it have done?
A. Probably come through the porthole.
37. Q. Did you make any statement concerning the probability of replacing either the
port or yourself?
A. Yes, sir. I said, "they could replace me anytime due to the fact that they got a
lot of man power, but it took a lot of work to get a damaged port fixed".
38. Q. Continue on with whatever conversation you took part in or statements you made.
A. That's about all that I can remember, sir.
39. Q. Did you enter into discussion with anyone concerning the location of the fall of
shot?
A. No, sir.
40. Q. While you were on the bridge?
A. No, sir.
41. Q. Were you in agreement with McGuire as to the location of the fall of shot?
A. I didn't even say anything about it, sir, to McGuire.
42. Q. Did McGuire say anything to you about the location of the fall of shot?
A. No, sir.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the counsel for the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was priviledged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brought out by the previous questioning.
The witness said that he had nothing further to state.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
The board then, at 4:53 p.m., took a recess until 8:37 p.m., at which time it reassembled.
Present: All the members, the recorder, the interested party and his counsel.
No witnesses not otherwise connected with the investigation were present.
George Arthur Moran, Qm3c, was recalled by the board and informed that the oath previously taken was still binding.
Examined by the board.
1. Q. Upon conclusion of the firing of the 3" 50 cal. gun on 28 June what
statements did you make regarding the effectiveness and accuracy of the fire?
A. I don't recall that I even made any statement.
2. Q. Did you make any statement concerning the firing at all.
A. Not that I recall, only I told my crew they done a good job as far as loading and
everything else was concerned.
3. Q. After your gun was manned and ready for general quarters describe the events or
drills taking place up to the time of fire.
A. Well, I was giving my first loader, second loader, and third loader instructions on how
to pass the ammunition -- make it snappy as possible.
4. Q. You were instructing your crew to handle ammunition?
A. I was instructing the rest of my crew in general routine gun firing that my gun captain
or gun pointer never did instruct them in.
5. Q. What orders did you receive as to the target designated?
A. All I know was to train out on the port side, other orders [sic] to train on the
target. I didn't see any target myself.
6. Q. You are the gun captain?
A. Yes, sir.
7. Q. Was there a check sight observer on the gun?
A. No, sir, we don't have any.
8. Q. Was there a safety officer on the gun?
A. No, sir.
9. Q. Did you hear anybody during the firing question or speak of the fall of shot?
A. No, sir, I didn't that I recall.
10. Q. Were any spots made during the firing?
A. No, sir.
11. Q. What was the range set on the gun?
A. I don't know what the range was set on the gun, sir.
12. Q. Who else in the gun crew might shed some light on what the target was?
A. The pointer or trainer, sir.
13. Q. Was there anybody else?
A. The sight setter was all I know of.
14. Q. Was there anybody on the forecastle watching the shooting?
A. No, sir.
15. Q. How did the word reach the gun crew to train to port?
A. Comes through the phones.
16. Q. What speed was the ship making when you fired?
A. I don't know, sir.
17. Q. High speed or low speed?
A. I couldn't say very well what it was making.
18. Q. Were you making 25 knots?
A. No, sir.
19. Q. Were you making 10 knots?
A. I couldn't say on the average what the knots were. I wasn't paying any attention.
20. Q. Were you making zero knots?
A. Not that I recall.
21. Q. If you did not see the shots land, did you have enough curiosity about the
success of the maneuver to inquire where the shots landed?
A. Not that I recollect of it, sir. I wasn't interested in the time. I was interested in
cleaning the gun, getting the gun crew up there to clean the gun.
22. Q. Did you hear at any time thereafter discussion concerning the accuracy of the
firing?
A. No, sir, I didn't hear any.
23. Q. Has the firing not been mentioned within the ship within your hearing?
A. Not that I recall, sir.
24. Q. Not that you recall?
A. No, sir.
25. Q. Have you talked to anybody about the firing?
A. No, sir. I am sure not.
26. Q. Have you heard anybody else speak of the firing?
A. No, sir, I haven't.
27. Q. Does the ship regularly conduct exercises and practices without criticising the
errors or mistakes that are made?
A. I don't. I never heard of any.
28. Q. Have you ever given instruction, have you ever corrected any of your gun's crew
concerning their error?
A. Usually I try to pick out immediately mistakes that men make right around the gun.
First loader, or the signalmen, second loader, and third loader.
29. Q. How many times have you participated in the firing of the 3" 50 on the PC
815?
A. Several times, sir.
30. Q. Approximately how many?
A. About two or three.
v 31. Q. During these occasions, did you ever observe the fall of shot?
A. No, sir. I have never. I am sure too busy.
...
with members of the crew?
A. Not that I recall.
The board informed the witness that he was privileged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brought out by the previous questioning.
The witness stated that he had nothing further to say.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
Lieutenant (jg) Asmann was recalled by the board and warned that the oath previously taken was still binding.
Examined by the board.
1. Q. During general quarters on the afternoon of 28 June what persons were in the
pilot house?
A. I recall Price; Mr. Weymouth; and Welch, soundman; and the soundman, I am not sure what
his name was -- Beers; and I am almost positive that I saw the red head boy, McGuire,
behind the stack; and myself. That's all I recall.
2. Q. How many men are in the crew of PC 815?
A. It varies from week to week. Close to 60, 61, 62.
3. Q. How many are you allowed?
A. The complement, I believe, is 59 or 60, sir. I am not sure.
4. Q. Relate to the board any discussions that you have entered into with the officers
and crew of the ship, outside of this board, concerning the conduct of firing of the
3" 50 cal. on the 28th of June.
A. I don't recall any particular comments I could relate as having said, sir.
5. Q. Tell us in general what discussions have taken place between you and any officers
and crew.
A. There are no discussions that I recall that I could relate.
6. Q. You have never mentioned the conduct of the firing of 28 June to anybody on the
ship?
A. I might have.
7. Q. I dare say you might have. I said, did you?
A. I probably did, I don't recall, sir.
8. Q. You probably did, but you don't recall.
A. I don't remember any particular conversation.
9. Q. Did you hear comments to the effect that shooting was good?
A. No, sir, I didn't.
10. Q. Did you hear that it was bad?
A. No, sir.
11. Q. Did you hear that it was fair?
A. I don't recall.
12. Q. Did you take any steps to determine what was the accuracy of the battery on that
occasion?
A. No, sir. I was tired. I had been working all day in sound operations and was just on
the bridge before the general quarters were going on.
13. Q. What time did you get up on the morning of 28 June?
A. About 0700, I believe, or quarter of seven.
14. Q. And what time did this practice occur?
A. Somewhere after 1600. 1630 or somewhere near there.
15. Q. What was the target designated?
A. The target I heard the captain designate was aircraft target.
16. Q. You heard the captain's voice designate it?
A. I either heard the captain's voice or heard the talker repeat it.
17. Q. You stated that you heard the captain designate the target?
A. It was either hearing it from him or hearing from the talker - one of the two, sir.
18. Q. Did you see the target?
A. Yes, I saw the target and saw the gun point at the target, sir. In the direction the
target was in out that way.
19. Q. How many shots did you see hit the water or land?
A. I didn't see any targets hit the water or land, sir. I wasn't particularly looking at
the target at the time. I was talking to Murray in the pilot house and watching the
recorder and watching the men in the pilot house. Wasn't particularly watching what was
going on about the time. I was talking to Mr. Weymouth.
20. Q. Why did you think we would be interested in what you were talking about?
A. I haven't any particular reason for knowing that you would ask that type of question
because you have asked so many other types of questions.
21. Q. Was there headway on the ship when the firing was conducted?
A. Was the ship you mean underway?
22. Q. Headway!
A. There was quite a bit of spray and water carrying over the bow coming back over the
pilot house. We were heading more or less into the weather. It was wet, or I will say, on
the wings of the bridge the spray was coming back.
23. Q. Did you ever go out on the wing of the bridge during the conduct of the firing?
A. I might have. Yes, sir.
24. Q. For what purpose?
A. I might add looking at the gun crew. It isn't very nice standing in the pilot house or
near where guns are firing. You get a terrible concussion from the fire of the gun.
25. Q. Was it uncomfortable on the wing of the bridge at the time of firing?
A. I wasn't on the wing of the bridge. It has been uncomfortable, yes.
26. Q. Did you notice McGuire, the visiting sound instructor, go out on the wing of the
bridge?
A. No, sir, I didn't.
27. Q. Did you notice him on the port side of the pilot house?
A. No, sir. The only place I did notice him, I might add, if you want it on the record,
was behind the stack operator in the step off place.
28. Q. What remark did McGuire make concerning the fire?
A. I heard him make no remarks, sir.
29. Q. What remarks did Price make concerning the fire?
A. If any remarks were made, I can't remember any exact words of particular subject they
were talking about.
30. Q. Have you ever been to sound school, Mr. Asmann?
A. The only sound school I have been was SOTC, Miami.
31. Q. Did they teach you to run the chemical recorder?
A. We had a total of four or five minutes, I believe, on it for each student.
32. Q. Did you receive any training in the use of the recorder while here?
A. The school?
33. Q. Operating with the sound school?
A. I tried to learn as much as I could during the day.
34. Q. It was contemplated that your main general quarters station would be the
chemical recorder?
A. It had been prior to that.
35. Q. As executive officer did you not understand that you had an interest in the
efficiency of the ship's main battery?
A. I appreciate the fact that as executive officer I had interest in every part of the
ship.
36. Q. Where were you standing at the time you heard the order passed to the gun to
train on said target?
A. I can't remember whether I was in the pilot house or on the wings of the bridge, but it
was one of those two places.
37. Q. Where was the captain at that time?
A. When it was used?
38. Q. When the order was passed.
A. He must have been on the flying bridge, not below.
39. Q. Did you give the order, did you receive the order commence fire while in the
pilot house?
A. I don't recall receiving any orders to commence firing.
40. Q. Were you informed that the order to commence fire had been given?
A. Not that I recall, sir.
41. Q. As officer of the deck would it be of any interest to you to receive information
that the ship had been ordered to commence fire?
A. It certainly should be. I suppose it should be in real battle.
42. Q. How do you explain the statement that you made that you did not observe the
target at which the gun was firing nor did you observe any of the fall of shot from the
gun?
A. For this reason. As I mentioned earlier, we had school instruction all day and there
were other officers aboard who were taking care of firing, their immediate responsibility,
were at their stations apparently. Apparently they must have been, therefo re, I had no
direct responsibility in observing and being about everything going on about gun firing.
43. Q. On the first day of this investigation while you were testifying, you made a remark which I believe was off the record to the effect that one reason you were in the pilot house during the firing was because it was cold and wet outside and that you wanted to be warm and dry. Am I ...
...
feeling, it's a perfectly human feeling.
44. Q. Was that one of the reasons why you were in the pilot house?
A. I wouldn't say that was one of the reasons particularly. The main reason was that that
was my battle station to be in the pilot house.
Cross examined by the counsel for the interested party:
45. Q. Mr. Asmann, is it not a fact that at the end of firing that the ship was headed
into seas that were heavy and wind was blowing a large amount of spray over the
forecastle?
A. Some to the gun crew and bridge. The pilot house and wings of the bridge. Every thing
sort of broke and sprayed over us.
46. Q. Do you know whether or not any maneuver was made to ease the ship out of the sea
and relieve the wind and spray conditions?
A. No, sir, I think the captain likes to see the crew get wet.
47. Q. When did you last see the target described as the aircraft bombing target in
relation to the firing?
A. I last saw it surely, before the first shot was fired. I looked to see what the target
was.
48. Q. And by that, you could see it before the firing, what elapsed time do you mean?
A. A minute or a minute or two or three I thought.
49. Q. Did you see the target after general quarters?
A. Yes, sir. Yes, sir, after general quarters was sounded.
50. Q. And did you see it after the firing?
A. Yes, sir. At the time we slowed down the speed and spray stopped coming over it.
51. Q. And when you last saw it, was it forward the port beam or abaft the port beam?
A. When I last saw it - when I first saw it it was forward - it was on the port side
forward.
52. Q. And where was it when you last saw it?
A. It was forward, but I wouldn't swear whether it was starboard or port side.
53. Q. Had it reached a position abeam?
A. Well, it might have been abaft the beam when I saw it. Having stopped the operation and
turning.
54. Q. Well, had there been a turn?
A. There was a turn shortly after the firing had finished. We had turned back toward the
islands after the firing.
55. Q. Did the ship keep a straight course during the entire firing?
A. As I recall it did. Yes, sir.
56. Q. Did you observe the course. The compass course she had?
A. No, sir, I just know I could tell approximately what direction we were going. The
captain was conning the ship.
57. Q. During the time you were on a straight course, to the best of your recollection,
the target passed from a point off the port bow to a position abaft the beam?
A. ...
58. Q. Did you hear anyone make a remark to the effect that the shot had hit land or
rocks?
A. I don't recall.
59. Q. Did anything occur while you were on the bridge during this period to indicate
to you that the shot had fallen near the target - the floating target?
A. Not on the bridge, sir.
60. Q. By that, do you mean something happened elsewhere to so indicate to you?
A. It might have. I don't recall specifically any direct statement or statements to that
effect.
61. Q. Then there was no indication to you by word, act, or conduct of any person
whomsoever as to the fall of shot. Is that correct?
A. I couldn't swear that its correct. I may have heard comment. I don't recall specific
comment.
62. Q. Would you have reacted to information that rocks on the island had been struck
by shot?
A. I probably would have.
Neither the board, the recorder nor the counsel for the interested party desired further to examine this witness.
The board informed the witness that he was priviledged to make any further statement covering anything relating to the subject matter of the investigation which he thought should be a matter of record in connection therewith, which had not been fully brou ght out by the previous questioning.
The witness stated that he had nothing further to say.
The witness was duly warned and withdrew.
A witness called by the recorder entered, was duly sworn, and informed of the subject matter of the investigation.
Examined by the recorder:
1. Q. State to the board your name.
A. Lonnie Warren Welch, Jr.
2. Q. Your rate?
A. Soundman second class.
3. Q. Your present station?
A. U.S.S. PC 815, sir.
4. Q. Were you on board the PC 815 on 28 June, 1943?
A. Yes, sir.
5. Q. What was your battle station on that day?
A. Chemical recorder, sir.
6. Q. Is it correct to say that you were stationed in the pilot house during the firing
of the 3"/50 gun?
A. Yes, sir.
7. Q. Do you know soundman McGuire?
A. I think, sir, that was the soundman who came aboard for the operation.
8. Q. Did you see him in the pilot house of the PC 815 on 28 June ...
...
9. Q. Did you see him immediately before or immediately after the firing of the
3"/50 in the pilot house?
A. I saw him before the firing, sir.
10. Q. Did you see him go out of the pilot house before the firing of the 3"/50?
A. No, sir.
11. Q. Where was he standing in the pilot house before the firing of the 3"/50?
A. When I went on general quarters, he was standing behind the soundman, sir.
12. Q. Behind what?
A. The soundman, sir.
13. Q. In what position?
A. In the pilot house on the starboard side near the after bulkhead.
14. Q. Did you see Lieutenant Asmann in the pilot house at that time?
A. Yes, sir.
15. Q. Where was he standing in relation to soundman McGuire?
A. I don't know, sir, I didn't notice.
16. Q. Did you see Ensign Weymouth in the pilot house at that time?
A. I didn't notice him, sir.
17. Q. Is it your testimony that at no time during the firing of the 3"/50 did you
see Ensign Weymouth in the pilot house?
A. I don't remember seeing him, sir.
18. Q. How long was it before the firing of the 3"/50 that you saw soundman
McGuire in the pilot house?
A. I couldn't say exactly. A few minutes is all I remember.
19. Q. From where McGuire was standing, would it have been possible for him to see the
fall of shot from the 3"/50?
A. I don't think so, sir.
20. Q. What do you base that opinion upon?
A. Standing behind the soundman, you are standing on the ladder below the wings of the
bridge, sir. That's below.
21. Q. Did anything obstruct McGuire's view of the 3"/50 gun?
A. I don't think so, sir. I didn't see him, sir.
Examined by the board:
22. Q. Did soundman McGuire continue to stand behind the soundman during the firing of
the gun?
A. I don't know, sir. I was reading the chemical recorder, sir. I didn't notice him.
23. Q. You don't know whether he was there or whether he was not. That's your answer?
A. Yes, sir.
...
A. There were none at the approximate time, sir.
25. Q. You stated you were reading the chemical recorder. Did you have a contact?
A. No, sir.
26. Q. Then you were not reading the chemical recorder?
A. Well, sir, we were trying to pick up a contact.
27. Q. You state that you had no contact, is that correct?
A. No definite contact, sir.
28. Q. Did you see the 3"/50 caliber gun firing?
A. No, sir.
29. Q. Did you see the fall of shot from the gun?
A. No, sir.
30. Q. Were you looking in the direction in which the gun was pointed?
A. Yes, sir.
31. Q. Did you hear any conversation in the pilot house concerning the accuracy of
firing or the location of the fall of shot from the gun?
A. No, sir.
32. Q. How many shots were fired on this occasion?
A. Four rounds, sir.
33. Q. How long did it take to fire the four rounds?
A. I couldn't say, sir, I didn't pay any attention.
34. Q. Did it take all afternoon?
A. No, sir.
35. Q. Then you must have some opinion as to how long it took.
A. I don't think it took over ten to fifteen minutes.
36. Q. To fire four shots?
A. Yes, sir.
37. Q. Then you are of the opinion that the time between the first shot and the last
shot was not over ten or fifteen minutes?
A. I don't think so, sir?
38. Q. What was the target at which the gun was firing?
A. I don't know, sir.
39. Q. Could you see land in the direction in which the gun was firing?
A. I didn't pay any attention to it, sir. I didn't notice any, sir.
40. Q. What speed was the ship making?
A. I don't remember that, sir.
41. Q. Which side of the ship did the gun fire?
A. I don't know, sir.
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