World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseIndiana was commissioned in Apr 1942, during WW2, with Captain A. A. Merrill in command. Upon the completion of shakedown in Casco Bay, Maine, United States, she sailed through the Panama Canal to help screen for carriers Enterprise and Saratoga in the Pacific Ocean on 28 Nov 1942. Between 21 Oct and 11 Nov 1943, she received a brief rest at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, United States. In mid-Nov 1943, she arrived at the Gilbert Islands to screen for aircraft carriers during the invasion, then in late Jan 1944 fired her guns at Kwajalein, Marshall Islands to prepare for the landing scheduled for 1 Feb.

ww2dbaseIn the pre-dawn darkness of 1 Feb 1944, Indiana turned to leave the cruising formation of Task Group 58.1 near Kwajalein, under orders to fuel four destroyers. At 0420, she sent out a radio message noting she was turning towards the left and slowing to 15 knots, but Captain J. G. Steele decided to turn to the right instead without sending out a follow-up radio message. About 7 minutes after her turning to the right, her crewmen noted the proximity of battleship Washington. Washington engaged her engines at "back, emergency full" and pulled her rudder hard left, but could not prevent the collision that took place about a minute later, with Washington's bow scraping down the after portion of Indiana's starboard side. Indiana's starboard side hull was ripped open, and her after 16-inch gun turret rangefinder was damaged, along with several anti-aircraft machine guns, starboard catapult, and a seaplane. 60-some feet of Washington's forward hull was damaged, causing her deck to flap down into the water. 6 men were killed aboard Washington, and 4 aboard Indiana. Steele was relieved of command by Admiral Chester Nimitz for this incident, and never again served at sea. Meanwhile, Washington's Officer of the Deck was commended for "prompt and seamanlike action which almost averted the collision and definitely minimized the consequences." Indiana was temporarily repaired at Majuro, Marshall Islands and then sailed for Pearl Harbor Navy Yard for permanent repairs.

ww2dbaseIndiana returned to the Pacific War in Apr 1944. Her first mission upon her return was to screen for Task Force 58 as its aircraft attacked Japanese positions at Truk Atoll on 29 and 30 Apr. On 1 May, she bombarded Ponape, Caroline Islands. In Jun, she sailed to the Mariana Islands and bombarded Saipan on 13 and 14 Jun and defended against Japanese aircraft attacks on 15 Jun. On 19 Jun 1944, she screened for American ships during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, shooting down several Japanese aircraft while sustaining two near-misses by torpedoes. She remained at sea in the Mariana Islands area for 64 consecutive days to support the land campaign.

ww2dbaseIn Aug 1944, Indiana joined Task Group 38.3 in the bombardment of the Palau Islands. Between 12 and 30 Sep, she screened aircraft carriers as the aircraft attacked Leyte, Philippine Islands. Between 23 Oct and Dec 1944, she underwent a major overhaul at Bremerton Navy Yard, Washington, United States. Upon completion, she sailed for Pearl Harbor for training.

ww2dbaseOn 10 Jan 1945, Indiana departed from Pearl Harbor for Iwo Jima. On 24 Jan, she bombarded Iwo Jima. On 10 Feb, she returned to Iwo Jima with Task Force 58 for the invasion. Between 17 and 28 Feb, she screened for aircraft carriers as their aircraft attacked Tokyo, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Between 5 and 14 Mar, she anchored at Ulithi for replenishment. On 14 Mar, she departed Ulithi for the Okinawa invasion, and remained at sea until Jun 1945 in support for carrier operations against Okinawa and the Japanese home islands. On 13 Jun, she sailed to San Pedro, Philippine Islands. Between 1 Jul and 15 Aug, she sailed off Honshu, Japan and bombarded coastal targets. On 14 Jul 1945, she bombarded ironworks at Kamaishi, Iwate, in northern Honshu.

ww2dbaseAfter the Japanese surrender, Indiana sailed into Tokyo Bay for occupation duties on 5 Sep 1945. On 14 Sep, she sailed for San Francisco, California, United States, arriving on 29 Sep. She was placed in reserve at Bremerton Navy Yard, and was decommissioned exactly one year later. She was sold for scrap on 1 Jun 1962.

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22.  David Stubblebine says:
2 Aug 2017 12:28:26 PM

Scott (above):
If your great-grandfather was Robert Irving Loose, then -Yes- he does appear at several places in the Indiana’s Muster Rolls during 1945 and 1946. Apparently he was an Electricians Mate. A fairly complete collection of Navy Muster Rolls can be found at Fold3.com, which is where I found these, but this is a subscription site. For even more information about your great-grandfather’s Navy service, request a copy of his service record. See: http://ww2db.com/faq/#3.

24.  David Stubblebine says:
15 Sep 2017 11:29:54 AM

Madeline Wilcox (above):
According to the Navy Muster Rolls, Nelson A Wilcox, service number 311 96 84, came aboard the USS Indiana as an Apprentice Seaman at Newport News VA at the time of Indiana’s commissioning, 30 Apr 1942, two months after he enlisted. He remained with the Indiana until he missed the ship when it sailed from Norfolk VA 9 Nov 1942. Later, he shows up on the Muster Rolls of several attack transport ships through the end of the war that include being part of the Okinawa invasion. The last entry I can find has him transferring to the Receiving Station at San Diego 20 Jul 1945.

26.  David Stubblebine says:
18 Oct 2017 04:50:48 PM

Miranda Muniz (above):
Indiana Muster Rolls list a Seaman 2nd-class Arthur C. Cooke, Jr., service number 619 34 59 and enlistment date 5 Feb 1944, reported aboard 9 May 1944 and was still listed as part of the crew in mid-1945. To learn more, the best source is his service record. See http://ww2db.com/faq/#3.

30.  David Stubblebine says:
30 May 2018 09:24:25 PM

Ron Ferguson (above):
USS Indiana Muster Rolls say Marion C Ferguson, service number 876 99 80, enlisted 10 Feb 1944 at Denver, Colorado and reported aboard Indiana 9 May 1944 at Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands. He appears consistently in Indiana’s Muster Rolls at least until 1 Apr 1946.

The absolute best source of information on your father’s service is his service record. To learn more about how to request a copy, see https://ww2db.com/faq/#3.