2. Departed Pearl, in company with USS PORTLAND on trip to San Francisco and return, 1 October to 14 October for purpose of carrying officer and enlisted passengers. Accommodated seventy-five (75) officers and one-thousand (1000) enlisted men in addition to three-fourths (3/4) of normal complement.

3. Operated out of Pearl, training in shore bombardments and AA gunnery, 14 October to 8 November. Also had limited yard availability.

4. Operated with Central Pacific Force, 8 November to 9 December in Gilbert Island Area. As a unit of Task Group 50.3, participated in capture of Tarawa. Later, during the period, covered the occupation of Abemmama? with CruDivFive and accompanying DDs and DEs.

5. Remained in the Central Pacific Area from 9 December 1943 to 21 January 1944, based at Funafuti, with Task Group 57.8 (Rear Admiral Small) to deny the enemy any surface activity in the Gilbert-Klice? Islands Area.

6. Operated with Central Pacific Force, 21 January to 24 February, as a unit of Task Force 50.15 (Rear Admiral Small) and functioned as the neutralization group against Japanese held Wotje and Taron? Islands.

7. Retained identity as unit of Task Force 50.15 (Rear Admiral Small) and remained in Central Pacific Area, basing at Majuro and Kwajalein until present time. Operated with Central Pacific Force, acting as Support Group, in strike on Palau.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

8. During the period of the above summary, the USS SALT LAKE CITY:-

(a) Assisted in driving off enemy snoopers at dusk, early in the Gilbert operation, causing a large force of enemy planes which showed on radar screen, to fail in their efforts to locate the Task Force.

(b) Assisted in repelling a determined torpedo plane attack against the same force, on another occasion, contributing materially to the destruction of four (4) enemy planes before they arrived at release point to drop torpedoes.

(c) Sustained a lone scout-torpedo plane attack just before dawn and avoided torpedo by narrow margin when Captain L. W. Busbey, Jr. turned the ship and "combed the track".

(d) Was stand-by fighter director ship and assumed control, when primary ship failed, during approach and bombardment of Tarawa. Made radar contact with two separate planes, early in the approach, and successfully vectored fighters to the enemy both of which were destroyed. In each case the planes were "Bettys".

(e) Was under fire of 8", and lesser caliber batteries until they were silenced during bombardment of Tarawa.

(f) Bombarded Wotje nine (9) times and Taroa twice. Fire was returned only on first Wotje bombardment.

(g) During first bombardment of Wotje was only heavy ship present and as fighter director of assigned CAP vectored fighters to one (1) "Kate" attempting to escape from island. It was destroyed.

(h) During another bombardment of Wotje, sent own spotting plane to Taroa Lagoon where a fighter pilot, who had crashed, was rescued. Picked up own plane by radar on take-off from lagoon and homed it directly to the ship. Plane was hooked-in during high winds and rough seas. Rescued pilot was given medical attention and recovered. Own "Kingfisher" pilot recommended for Distinguished Flying Cross and Radioman, in rear seat, for Air Medal.