LOG OF THE U S S TERROR (CM-5)
This log was provided by Kenneth Davis RM2 and it documents his time on the USS Terror from 10/2/1943 to 12/14/1943
SATURDAY OCTOBER 2, 1943
0800 – CONTINUED LOADING.
1300 – GOT UNDERWAY FOR FRISCO.
SPEED: 15 KNOTS
1800 – 2000 WATCH
0800 – 1200 WATCH
1405 – SECURED SEA DETAIL. SET CONDITION 2 WATCH 1
1515 – PASSED THE FRENCH BATTLESHIP “RICHLIEU” AND
ESCORTS.
1845 – DARKEN SHIP
1912 – G.Q.
1932 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS:
THERE ARE ONLY 3 SHIPS IN CONVOY. US & 2 DE’S
CABANA (DE-261) & DIONNE (DE-260)
WEATHER CLEAR & COOL. SEA SMOOTH. BUT, DID
THE GUYS GET SICK!! “KANEVSKY” WAS THE FIRST TO
TO GET SICK UP HERE. WE START “SUNRISE SUNSET
SERINADE” TOMORROW
SUNDAY OCTOBER 3, 1943
0510 – G Q
0645 – SECURED FROM G Q
1400 – MOVIES “BITTER SWEET”
1845 – DARKEN SHIP
1910 – G Q
1937 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS
WEATHER GETTING ROUGHER AND FELLOWS SICKER!!
NOTHING OUT OF THE REGULAR SEA ROUTINE HAPPENED
TODAY.
1600 – 1800 WATCH
0000 – 0400 WATCH
MONDAY OCTOBER 4, 1943
0610 – G Q
0647 – SECURED FROM G Q
1106 – G Q MADE A CONTACT
1115 – COURSE 177
1120 – CHANGED STD SPD TO 15 KNOTS
1124 – SET ZIG ZAG COURSE
1125 – COURSE 195
1126 – SECURED FROM G Q
1845 – WAS CHALLANGED BY ?? 280’
1855 – G Q – COURSE 177
1900 – SET ZIG ZAG COURSE 350. BASE 177
1915 – COURSE 142
1920 – 177
1925 – 142
1930 – 177
1933 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS:
1200 – 1600 WATCH
2000 – 2400 WATCH
SPEED: 12 TO 15 KNOTS
WATER MUCH SMOOTHER TODAY. BUT, IT WAS CLOUDY ALL
DAY & WAS RAINING ON & OFF ALL AFTERNOON.
AT 1106 THE CABANA DE-262 HAD A CONTACT & WE WENT
GQ. DURING WHICH, WE CHANGED OUR STANDARD SPD TO
15 KTS & SET A 35 DEGREE ZIG ZAG COURSE. AT 1845 WE
WERE CHALLANGED BY CONVOY BEARING 280 AND ANSWERED.
EVERYTHING WENT OFF OK TODAY. THE FURTHER SOUTH WE GO,
THE HOTTER IT GETS.
TUESDAY OCTOBER 5, 1943
0500 – SPOTTED 13 SHIP CONVOY 210’
0600 – SIGHTED SAN SALVADOR LIGHT
0612 – G Q BASE COURSE 198’
0630 – PATROL PLANE FROM ??
0633 – SET ZIG ZAG COURSE OF 35’
0635 – COURSE 163’
0637 – SECURED FROM G Q
0640 – BASE COURSE 198’
1000 – FIRED #3 STBD 40 MM GUN
1020 – FIRED #4 PORT 40 MM GUN
1050 – SIGHTED SCHOOL OF LARGE SHARKS
1900 – G Q BASE COURSE 154’
1915 – DE HAD SUB CONTACT
1920 – SIGHTED NE TIP OF CUBA. 54 MILES
1932 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS:
0800 – 1200 WATCH
1800 – 2000 WATCH
NOTHING HAPPENED TODAY, EXCEPT WE FIRED THE 40 MM
GUNS AT BALLOONS, BUT, MISSED AS USUAL. WE SIGHTED
THE SAN SALVADOR LIGHT THIS MORNING AND ALSO
A 13 SHIP CONVOY, ABOUT THE SAME TIME. FROM THE
POSITION AND COURSE WE WERE THIS MORNING, WE ARE
HEADING FOR GUANTANOMO BAY. CROSSED TO TROPIC Of
CANCER DURING THE NIGHT.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 6, 1943:
0610 – G Q BASE COURSE 215’
OFF ISLE OF HAITI (PORT SIDE)
0635 – SECURED FROM G Q
1130 – SLOWED DOWN , TO TAKE A MAN ABOARD FOR AN OPERATION
1155 – TOOK MAN ABOARD
1500 – SIGHTED ISLE OF “JAMAICA”
1910 – G Q COURSE 210’
1937 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS:
0400 – 0800 WATCH
1600 – 1800 WATCH
25’N 78’W
WEATHER TODAY WAS, CLEAR & SMOOTH. WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE
MORE FLYING FISH EVERYDAY. I GOT ONE OF THOSE “SEMI TROPICAL” BURNS TODAY AND IS IT EVER SORE!!
WE GET INTO PANAMA SOMETIME FRIDAY MORNING AND THEN UP THE
COAST TO “FRISCO”!! I’LL THEN BE ABLE TO GET HOM,E ON AN OVER-
NIGHT LIBERTY!!!. THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE BOAT FROM THE
DE-260 “CABANA” GOT A BAD CUTOVER HIS RIGHT EYE AS THEY
LOWERED THE SLING TO PICK UP THE MAN FROM THE “DIONNE”
THURSDAY OCTOBER 7, 1943:
0200 – SIGHTED HOSPITAL SHIP OFF THE STBD SIDE. 21 MILES.
BELONGING TO ??
0611 – G Q COURSE 210’
0633 – SECURED FROM G Q
0945 – “CALIFORNIA WEATHER” RAIN & SUNSHINE
1030 – FIRED NUMBERS 7 – 8 –9- & 10 20 MM & NUMBERS 1 & 2 40 MM
GUNS
1915 – G Q COURSE 110’
1933 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS:
NOTHING HAPPENED TODAY EXCEPT WE FIRED OUR 20MM & 40 MM GUNS
FRIDAY OCTOBER 8, 1943:
0630 – G Q COLON IN SIGHT
0935 – DROPPED HOOK & TOOK ON PILOT OFF COLON
1013 – UNDERWAY FOR FIRST SET OF LOCKS, 3 ATLANTIC LOCKS
1113 – ENTERED FIRST LOCK
1138 – ENTERED SECOND LOCK
1440 – PASSED EVER RUNNING SHOWER AT SIDE OF MALARIA STATION
1445 – GAYONCUT. PLAQUE ON STBD IN MEMORY OF LOST LIVES BUILDING CANAL
1515 – ENTERED PACIFIC LOCK “RADICIOD”
1629 – SECOND LOCK “MIRAFLURA”
1648 – LEFT PACIFIC LOCKS
1651 – SET CLOCKS BACK TO 1551
1625 – (CWT) TIED UP TO PIER 18 BALBOA STBD SIDE TO
1630 – GANGWAY LAYED. 735 BAGS OF MAIL UNLOADED
1830 – LIBERTY!! (PORT) EXPIRE 2300
REMARKS:
WE WENT THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL TODAY FOR MY FIRST TIME!!!
SATURDAY OCTOBER 9, 1943:
0900 – LIBERTY: STBD
1300 – LIBERTY UP: STBD
1330 – LIBERTY : PORT
1730 – LIBERTY UP: PORT
1800 – LIBERTY: STBD
2300 – LIBERTY UP: STBD
REMARKS::
NOTHING HAPPENED EXCEPT FOR LIBERTY. AND WHAT LIBERTY!!!!
THE FELLOWS CAME BACK SO .FOULED UP THAT COULD NOT STAND THEIR WATCHES!!!
OUR LIBERTY WAS SPLIT UP TODAY. I WAS IN THE STBD SECTION & I HAD LIBERTY IN THE MORNING & AT NIGHT. THIS MORNING 4 OF US WENT TOGETHER FROM MY DIVISION. “FERGUSON” SM3C, “PARKER” QM3C, “ZANDE” RADAR STRIKER & ME.
THEY WERE DRINKING “TOM COLLINS” & I WAS DRINKING “RUM & COKES”. DID WE HAVE FUN!!!!!
WE WENT TO “SL0PPY JOES” , “THE CHICAGO BAR” & MANY OTHERS.
AT NIGHT, WE WENT TO THE RIALTO CLUB”. A VERY MODERN NIGHT
CLUB & SAW A VERY GOOD FLOOR SHOW. WE ALL GOT BACK ON TIME!!
“ERROR” THE SHIP’S MASCOT, WAS RESTRICTED TODAY BY THE CUSTOMS OFFICER.
MANY OF OUR GUYS WERE HOISTED ABOARD IN CARGO NETS.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 10, 1943:
1245 – LEFT PIER 18 BALBOA
1353 – G Q 190’
1413 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS:
AS WE WERE LEAVING, A DIVISION OF PT BOATS WERE MAKING
PRACTICE ATTACKS ON US. THEY CAME RUSHING ON US & THEY LATER
LAYED A SMOKE SCREEN ACROSS OUR BOW.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED ALL DAY. WE DIDN’T HAVE
G Q AT NIGHT AS THE SKIPPER SAID THE ONE AT NOON WAS ENOUGH.
BUT, TOMORROW WE START OUR REGULAR ROUTINE.
WE HAVE THE SAME 2 DE’S AS WE HAD THE FIRST TIME.
MONDAY OCTOBER 11, 1943:
0553 – G Q COURSE 285’
0606 – SECURED FROM G Q
1748 – G Q COURSE 297’
1815 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS:
SPEED 16
8’ N 84.5’’ W
TUESDAY OCTOBER 12, 1943
0610 – G Q COURSE 297’
0629 – SECURED FROM G Q
1900 – SET CLOCKS BACK ONE HOIUR TO 1800
1808 – G Q COURSE 297’
1821 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS:
SPEED: 16 KNOTS
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 13, 1943
0540 – G Q COURSE 297’
0608 – SECURED FROM G Q
1215 – SIGHTED SCHOOL OF PORPOSE
1912 – G Q COURSE 297’
1930 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS:
SPEED: 16 KNOTS
THURSDAY OCTOBER 14, 1943:
0612 – G Q COURSE 297’
0620 – SECURED FROM G Q
1853 – G Q COURSE 297
1905 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS:
SPEED: 16 KNOTS
FRIDAY OCTOBER 15, 1943:
0620 – G Q COURSE 297’
0636 – SECURED FROM G Q
1905 – SET CLOCKS BACK 1 HOUR TO 1805 (PWT)
1814 – G Q COURSE 315
1828 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS:
SPEED: 17
TODAY, WE FINALLY ENTERED CALIFORNIA TIME! WE ARE 3
HOURS BEHIND NORFOLK’S TIME AND IN GCT WE ARE IN +7 ZONE.
WHICH MEANS WE ADD 7 HOURS TO THE SHIP’S TIME TO MAKE IT
RADIO TIME (GCT)
AT NOON, WE CHANGED OUR BASE COURSE TO 315’
SATURDAY OCTOBER 16, 1943:
0553 – G Q COURSE 315’
0608 – SECURED FROM G Q
1858 – G Q COURSE 320’
1914 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS:
DURING THE NIGHT, ONE OF THE DE’S HAD RUDDER TROUBLE AND
THEY WERE GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH US.
TODAY, AT NOON, STARTED OUR SECOND WEEK UNDERWAY. WE
SHOULD GET INTO “FRISCO” EITHER MONDAY AFTERNOON OR TUESDAY
MORNING. THEN, I’LL BE ONLY 97 MILES FROM HOME! I’VE MADE A
ROUND TRIP AROUND THE STATES NOW! I’M BACK TO WHERE I WAS
SWORN INTO THE NAVY BACK ON FEB 10, 1942.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PAID YESTERDAY. BUT, LTJG WOOD, OUR
PAY MASTER, SAID NO AS HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD SOME
MONEY TO GO ASHORE ON. BUT, THAT WONT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO
ME. I OWE ALL MY PAY OUT NOW!!!
SUNDAY OCTOBER 17, 1943:
0615 – G Q COURSE 320’
0633 – SECURED FROM G Q
1100 – ANNOUNCED ABOUT STOLEN GUNS & KNIVES
1837 – G Q COURSE 320
1854 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS:
TODAY, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT SEVERAL BOXES OF CARGO
WERE BROKEN INTO AND A CARBINE, PISTOLS , SHEATH KNIVES,
BOLLOS AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS WERE TAKEN SINCE WE LEFT
PANAMA AND NO LIBERTY WOULD BE GRANTED IN SAN FRANCISCO.
MONDAY OCTOBER 18, 1943:
NO ENTRY RECORDED
TUESDAY OCTOBER 19, 1943:
0615 – G Q HEADING INTO FRISCO! ! !
0710 – SECURED FROM G Q
0908 – DROPPED HOOK IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY!!
REMARKS:
AT LAST!! I’M BACK IN FRISCO & COULD GET HOME ON AN OVERNIGHT
LIBERTY. BUT, THERE IS NO LIBERTY AS WE ARE PULLING OUT AGAIN
TOMORROW ABOUT 1600 FOR PEARL HARBOR!! THE “SCUTTLEBUT” IS
THAT WE ARE DUE BACK IN “FRISCO” IN 3 WEEKS. I HOPE SO! ALL
STOLEN CARGO WAS TURNED IN EXCEPT, 1 KNIFE, A .45 & THE CARBINE.
GOT MAIL TODAY. THERE WERE 25 BAGS BROUGHT ABOARD & I ONLY
GOT 1 LETTER & 7 NEWSPAPERS! BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME! MAIL CLOSES
AT 10:00 TOMORROW.
THERE WAS NO G Q TONIGHT OR EVEN DARKEN SHIP. I WAS UNLUCKY
ENOUGH TO HAVE THE WATCH WHEN WE PULLED IN & TOMORROW, I
HAVE THE 1600 – 1800 WATCH & WE ARE SUPPOSED TO PULL OUT AT 1600.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 20, 1943:
1630 – UNDERWAY FOR PEARL HARBOR WITH 80 PASSENGERS
1710 – PASSED UNDER BAY BRIDGE
1729 – PASSED THRU THE GATE
1740 – PASSED UNDER GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE
1745 – PASSED POINT DIABLE ABEAM TO STBD ½ MILE
1750 – PASSED POINT BONETA 1 MILE
SIGHTED I MILE ROCK
REMARKS:
TODAY, WE LEFT “FRISCO ” FOR PEARL HARBOR.
WE DIDN’T GET LIBERTY SOO, I DIDN’T GET HOME AS I HAD PLANNED.
WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GET BACK IN ABOUT 3 WEEKS. SO, STILL HAVE A
CHANCE TO GET HOME! SO CLOSE & YET SO FAR.
THURSDAY OCTOBER 21, 1943:
0615 – G Q COURSE 250
0645 – SECURED FROM G Q
1833 – G Q COURSE 245
1845 – SECURED FROM G Q
REMARKS:
SPEED: 18 KNOTS
NOTHING HAPPENED TODAY ALL DAY, A FLOCK OF ABOUT 25 ALBATROSS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWINGUS ABOUT 50 YARDS OFF THE STERN
OCTOBER 22 – 24
NO ENTRIES
MONDAY OCTOBER 25, 1943:
ENTERED PEARL HARBOR
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 1943:
UNDERWAY FOR “FUNA FUTI” IN THE “ELLIS ISLANDS”
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13, 1943:
JAPS RAIDED “FUNA FUTI”
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17, 1943:
JAPS RAIDED “FUNA FUTI” AGAIN
WE RETURNED FIRE! NO HITS!!
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 27, 1943:
LEFT “FUNA FUTI” FOR PEARL HARBOR
SATURDAY DECEMBER 4, 1943:
0830 – ENTERED PEARL HARBOR TO AWAIT TRANSFER BACK TO “FRISCO”
1300 – LEFT SHIP FOR RECEIVING STATION
1900 – MOVED FROM RECEIVING STATION TO “CAMP AEIA”
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8, 1943:
0930 – WENT ABOARD USS POCOMOKE
1100 – LEFT PIER FOR THE STATES
1600 – LEFT THE BAY
TUESDAY DECEMBER 14, 1943:
1200 – ENTERED SAN FRANCISCO BAY!!!
1700 – LEFT USS POCOMOKE ON A NAVY TUG BOAT
2000 – LEFT TREASURE ISLAND ON A SHORT “48” & TOOK GENE TAYLOR WITH ME.
END OF LOG:
log kept by Kenneth E Davis RM2
original plank owner.
