Back to the South Atlantic

1. Back to the South Atlantic Recife, Brazil

2. We left Adrian’s story when he had gone aboard the USS Melville in Iceland. Just a few days after arriving in Iceland the ship set sail back to United States. The Meville arrived at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on December 11, 1943. Adrian was probably able to spend most of the Christmas holidays with Wanda and her family since the shipyard was only about 2 miles from where Wanda was living. The USS Melville was ordered to join the Fourth Fleet which was in charge of the American interests in the South Atlantic Ocean. USS Melville AD-2 Destroyer tender

3. Adrian’s log entries for this time period are very accurate. The first column is the port, next is the departure date, followed by the arrival date and new port location. When Adrian left Brooklyn on January 7, 1943, he would not return to the United States until October 6, 1943, and it would be December 15, 1943 before he returned to Brooklyn.

4. Beginning in early 1942, each ship in the Navy kept a daily diary during the war, appropriately named the War Diary. They have been scanned and are available through a military site called Fold3. They will be used here to indirectly follow Adrian’s time aboard the Melville. Below are the Melville entries for January 1 – 7, 1943. The convoy Commodore was aboard the USS Melville, and the convoy was in route from Brooklyn to Trinidad, British West Indies with a final destination of Recife, Brazil. The naval code for the base in Recife was Base Fox. Naturally, military time is used on these documents; therefore, 1720 would be 5:20 pm.

5. In route to Trinidad, the escorts for the convoy made contact with enemy submarines. It is noted in the War Diary that they dropped depth charges. The record gives latitude and longitude which have been plotted on the right. The outcome is not noted. When looking at the ship’s location, one is reminded of just how close the enemy submarines were to the United States.

6. The Melville anchored at Trinidad at 7:16 pm on January 20, 1943. In the 1855 entry states that the ship “passed through nets.” This refers to the anti-torpedo nets placed at the entrance of harbors and around ships in an attempt to keep the boats tied at anchor safe from enemy torpedoes. The photo to the right is of the USS Argonne anchored at Pearl Harbor, added here for a view of anti-torpedo nets.

7. During World War II, Chaguaramas, Trinidad (point A to the right) was home to the United States Navy. When the war was over, the Navy evidently left a lot of stuff behind. The cast off steel drums are part of the great story of the birth of today’s steel pan music. Beginning right after the war, the 55-gallon oil drum became the preferred material to make steel pans. While there, the Melville took on stores and waited for the formation of a convoy going south toward Brazil.

8. Left: Naval Supply Depot, Trinidad Below: Administration Building, Trinidad Naval Base showing Carenage Bay and, beyond the Five Islands, the Gulf of Paria. Mountains in the background (upper right) are in Venezuela. On January 23, 1943, the Melville left Trinidad in route to Recife, Brazil.

9. On January 23, 1943, Adrian took the required tests for an advancement in his rank. He is now in his fifth year of service and by the standards of the day would be considered a seasoned sailor at the age of 24. The average age of a sailor during World War II was 22 years old.

10. South to Recife Once again, the convoy made contact with submarines and depth charges were dropped. Because the latitude and longitude are given, it is once again possible to plot the location. Multiple course changes were made to avoid the enemy.

11. Brazil in World War II On December 7, 1941, the war expanded to the Americas. Most of the Latin American countries except Argentina and Chile broke relations with the Axis countries or declared war. Because of its immense size (and coastline), Brazil was the most important. Brazil allowed the United States to build bases along the northeastern coast in exchange for military and economic support. Recife was especially important. These bases and installations along with British Ascension Island (A on the map below) helped make it difficult for German U-boats to operate in the South Atlantic Ocean and for Germans to access to the resources of western Africa and South America. Recife became the Fourth Fleet Naval Headquarters. The fleet was responsible for maritime operations with a radius of operation from the Panama Canal to the southern tip of South America.

12. What is a U-boat? During World War II, U-boat warfare was the major component of the Battle of the Atlantic, which lasted the duration of the war. U-boat is the English version of the German word U-Boot, a shortening of Unterseeboot, which means "undersea boat.” Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare role to prevent supplies from reaching a destination, or enforcing a naval blockade of a port to halt enemy shipping. South America and Africa had tremendous resources needed for military support such as oil, rubber, and ores. It was imperative that the Allied countries keep the shipping lanes open and the resources out of the Axis countries’ hands. Below is a photograph of a German U-boat.

13. Crossing the Line

14. This and following images are pages from Adrian’s book from when he crossed the equator for a second time. His first crossing was on the USS Helena shakedown cruise three years before (January 13, 1940). This book belongs to Regina Cross. The entire book will be scanned later and put on the blog.

15. Except from Wikipedia Line-Crossing Ceremony: “As late as World War II, the line-crossing ceremony was still rather rough and involved activities such as the "Devil's Tongue", which was an electrified piece of metal poked into the sides of those deemed pollywogs. Beatings were often still common, usually with wet fire hoses, and several World War II Navy deck logs speak of sailors visiting sick bay after crossing the line. Efforts to curtail the line-crossing ceremony did not begin until the 1980s, when several reports of blatant hazing began to circulate regarding the line-crossing ceremony, and at least one death was attributed to abuse while crossing the line.” Adrian must have been quite thankful to be a crossing as a Shellback this time!

16. The Melville had 85 sailors that were Shellbacks and about 775 Polliwogs. As a member of the Royal Cops, Adrian’s job would have been keeping order and “arresting” polliwogs not complying to the orders given by the Royal Party that included such dignitaries as King Neptunus Rex, Queen Amphitrite, Davy Jones, Peg Leg Pete, and a Court Jester. At the back of the book were 84 photographs from the event. Adrian does not appear in any of the photos, nor did he label any of the them.

17. Copy of his certificate from the back of the book.

18. Each time a sailor crossed the line, they were given a card (credit card size) to be kept with them. If a sailor was aboard a ship crossing the line and could not produce a card showing he was a Shellback, he had to cross as a Pollywog. Adrian did not keep the one from his Helena crossing, only the one above.

19. The above record shows Adrian’s change in rank from FC2c to FC1c as of February 1, 1943. This report was completed on February 28, 1943 at Recife, Brazil showing all changes in personnel during the previous month.

20. Melville war diary for February 2, 1943 in route to Recife. Note latitude and longitude location plotted on map. Notice all the instances of “changed course” which lead to a zig-zag maneuver. Anytime the Navy suspected or had evident of enemy U-boats nearby, the Navy required zig-zag maneuvers. Below is an excerpt from “War Instructions of the United States Navy.” Chapter 7, Section I: Antisubmarine Measures

21. After zig zagging down the coast of Brazil, the USS Melville finally docked in Recife during the morning of February 5, 1943. Thus began several months of the Melville’s crew doing what they were trained to do – repairs and upgrading equipment on any ship that needed their services. No records of specific shore leaves have been found, so other than work, work, work, Adrian probably spent a good bit of time thinking of Wanda and writing letters.

22. When in port, destroyer tenders like the Melville were designed to make minor repairs on ships, especially destroyers (hence the name). Other types of tenders included sea plane tenders and submarine tenders; though during World War II, repair work was carried out on any type of ship that needed it. When in harbor, multiple ships were often tied to a tender as seen below. Due to high security during the war, no pictures exist of the Melville in port tending ships during the time Adrian was on board. This photo of the Melville was taken in 1932. Notice there are six destroyers receiving repairs. When reading the Melville war diary during the months stationed in Recife, she had a constant stream of various types of ships tied alongside for repairs.

23. Of course Adrian is the sailor in the middle of the front row. Though the insignias on the sleeves of the men in back cannot be seen, they too are probably fire controlmen. No names were written on the back. The note written on the front is in Adrian’s handwriting.

24. On June 29, 1943, the USS Barnegat, a seaplane tender, left Natal, Brazil for Recife in order to tie up alongside the USS Melville for repairs. When you read their war diary, they were traveling alone, had an engine about to give out, had the ship darkened, and everyone at general quarters (battle ready). They probably all breathed a sigh of relief when they docked next to the Melville about 7:30 in the morning. The ship would remained tied to the Melville for five days of overhauling and repair including the armament which Adrian would have worked on.

25. USS Barnegat – sea plane tender After having repairs made, the Barnegat returned up the coast of Brazil to the Naval base at Natal. There must have been some additional work needed on the guns because when the ship left Recife on July 3, 1943, two men from the Melville, Adrian and a gunner’s mate named Mello, were temporarily put on board. Remember, Adrian was not just a fire controlman but one trained in maintenance of those systems.

26. While on course to Natal and back to Recife, Adrian and Mello worked on the armament and probably expended quite a bit of ammunition fine tuning the fire control system. The ship zigzagged up the coast under Condition III watch where one-third of the ship’s armament was manned and ready in case of a surprise attack. These records relating to the USS Barnegat are the only ones found relating specifically to Adrian during his time in Brazil.

27. After all the candid photographs Adrian had from his time in Hawaii, it seems strange that his and Wanda’s albums and loose pictures have very few from his 8 months in Brazil. This photograph shows an excellent view of Adrian’s patch and insignia on his sleeve. It indicates Fire Controlman 1st class, the new rank he achieved on the way to Recife.

28. Though this is a really good picture, on closer inspection, Adrian has noticeable circles under his eyes and does not appear to feel too well. Maybe he had been sick or more likely, concerned about friends back on the Helena.

29. During his time in Brazil, like other sailors, he would have been following the news about the war. Though he was “relatively” safe in Brazil, his former shipmates on the Helena were not so lucky. He was probably quite anxious about the ship’s movements in the Pacific. The ship was sunk July 6, 1943. January 4, 1943. Bombarded Munda. Repelled dive bombing attack by Jap planes January 23, 1943. Bombarded enemy installations in Kula Gulf area. Repelled enemy torpedo plane attack. May 13, 1943. Bombarded Kolombangara, Enogai Inlet, Bairoko Harbor. Repelled air attack. July 5, 1943. Convoyed troops to Rice Anchorage. Bombarded enemy installations in Kula Gulf and covered landing operations. July 6-7. 1943. Participated in Battle of Kula Gulf and was sunk by enemy torpedoes after destroying or helping to destroy 4 enemy ships. At Kula Gulf USS St. Louis USS Helena Adrian’s friends, George Yellak and Charlie McClelland, both firecontrolmen, were on board when the ship sank. Both made it. No record of George’s experiences can be found but Charlie McClelland has written a short summary of his experiences, and they are posted on the USS Helena website and follow. Helena in battle

30. The Final Fight At Kula Gulf by Charles McClelland On July 6, 1943, almost eighteen months after Pearl Harbor, we were fighting the "Tokyo Express" in Kula Gulf. My battle station was in the after fire control station where I was the "range keeper operator." After the first torpedo hit, I grabbed my lifejacket hanging on the bulkhead, and was lacing it up when the second one hit. In the excitement I failed to take off the head-phones and laced the jacket over the chest plate of the phone. The third hit knocked me down, and after I picked myself off the deck I managed to get the telephone disentangled. No one had to tell me we were going down. We just knew it. By the time I got to the main deck everyone was going over the side, so I went with them.  There were malted milk balls and canned meat on the raft, but the water in the casks was unfit to drink. I don't think it had ever been changed. As I recall, there were 30 of us on the raft, and we were in the water three days. We were all tired, and each morning there would be empty spaces where somebody was the night before, but I don't know who they were. The natives from Velle Lavella, a Japanese held island rescued us, and after getting us ashore they smuggled us up the mountain at night. As I remember there were 61 of us, plus the Japanese pilot the natives had captured. After being rescued from Vella Lavella I returned to the United States. Like many of my shipmates I had contacted malaria during the week on Vella Lavella. I was assigned to the USS Houston, and after a shakedown cruise to South America I returned home and married Agnes. (We celebrated, our 50th wedding anniversary in 1994.)  After a month on the Houston I was transferred to the battleship Missouri, but due to a recurrence of malaria I was detached and assigned shore duty.

31. A little detective work has revealed that the park where this and probably the next picture was made is called Parque Treze de Maio located across the street from the Faculdade de Direito do Recife (Law school) shown below. The park area is close to where the Navy ships would have been located. Notice the window constuction on the image below. It is too bad Adrian was in the shade.

32. This is the second of the two candid pictures from Brazil. Though of poor quality, it could not be left out! When enlarged, it is obvious that Adrian is holding something up, but it is too far away to see. Use your own imagination!

33. In September of 1943, the Melville received orders to return to the Navy base at Norfolk, Virginia. They departed September 23 at 2:31 pm in the company of one ship, the destroyer USS Winslow.

34. USS Winslow Though the Melville records do not mention that all lights were extinguished at night to prevent visual detection by the enemy, the Winslow entries do.

35. On Thursday, October 7, 1943, the USS Melville dropped anchor at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia. During these months while Adrian was in Brazil, Wanda was working for Clarostat Manufacturing Company. For more information about her life during this period, please read the article “Werbicki Family Supports the War Efforts.” Wanda – taken sometime in 1943 or 1944