Also known as the Typhoon of 1944 and "Halsey's Typhoon" after the fleet commander. I think the "Halsey's Typhoon" might very well be somewhat derisive.
Yesterday, I wrote about George Trask not being aboard the USS Spence on that fateful December 17, 1944, when the typhoon struck. Typhoon is another name for hurricane.
Task Force 38, sometimes called the greatest fleet ever to sail, consisted of 7 fleet carriers, 6 light carriers, 8 battleships, 15 cruisers, and about 50 destroyers (not counting support vessels) was 300 miles east of Luzon in the Philippine Sea. Three destroyers were sunk, 790 lives lost, 146 planes destroyed or washed overboard, and damage to one light cruiser, 2 light carriers, and 2 escort carriers.
Fire on board the carrier USS Monterey caused when a plane struck a bulkhead was finally brought under control after tremendous effort. Ninety-three men's lives were saved as a result of it.
More to Come. --Cooter
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