Biography of Win. Mattson
Fire Controlman, USS Cabot CVL-28, Plankholder, US Navy
I was a Firecontrolman, 5th Division, on the USS Cabot, CVL-28, during WWII. I was a plankowner and commissioned and decommissioned her. The history of the Cabot's service during the war, and therefore mine, is below. Below also is a photograph of 5th Division Shipmates, George Heinz (FC3c, deceased), myself (FC3c), Warren Renz (deceased), and a fellow whose name I forget.
5th Division Shipmates, George Heinz, Win. Mattson, Warren Renz, (fourth name not given)
----- Win. Mattson
No Email Given
THE USS CABOT ( CVL-28)
WHY the CVL's ?
At the start of WWII , the United States Navy had seven ( 7) fleet fast carriers, ( CV's) while the Japanese had more than twice this number. This was a huge concern to President Roosevelt and the Navy. The new Essex class carriers were in the building stage but were many months from completion. The F6F "HELLCAT" appeared in battle vs the F4F "WILDCAT", with the new Essex class and the smaller Independence ( CVL) class carriers. This was a giant step.
President Roosevelt's wishes were passed by Admiral Stark, ( CNO) , to BuShips to convert one of the light cruisers to an aircraft carrier. This was on January 10, 1942. The last three, of nine, CVL were ordered on January 11, 1942. This conversion was a fantastic engineering feat. The first battle for the Independence ( CVL-22) was on September 1, 1943 and was accompanied by two sister ships the Princeton ( CVL-23) & Belleau Wood ( CVL-24). The last of the nine CVL's was in battle by May 1944.
Time of construction was something to behold. The last CVL was delivered within one month of the original date set for delivery of the first cruiser. The Cabot was completed 27 1/4 months ahead of the date set for when it would have become a cruiser. Five of the nine were ahead of schedule, by two years plus.
The following Fast Fleet Carriers were sunk in 1942: Lexington CV-2, Yorktown CV-5, Wasp CV-7 and the Hornet CV-8. New Essex carriers were renamed for the above carriers and became CV-9, 10, 18, and 12 in that order.
In the battle of Phillippine Sea, better known as the "Marianas Turkey Shoot", June 8, 1944, the first carrier forces were made up of seven ( 7) large carriers (CV's) and eight ( 8) light ( CVL's).. Previous US carrier forces had not been near this large. A total of 884 aircraft were available. The navy pilots shot down more than 3000 enemy planes in this one day. This was the largest number to be shot down, in WWII in one day's battle, anywhere. The Cabot planes were credited with 28, without not losing any. They were also credited with several bomb hits on enemy ships. Saipan, Tinian and Guam were captured during this battle period.
The radar on the CV's were credited as being better than all other ships. This was proven, time and time again, when the CVL's radar screen was the first to indicate enemy aircraft approaching.
During the "Streamlined Bait" situation, the cruisers USS Canberra ( CA-70) & the USS Houston ( CA- 81) were under tow, having been hit by enemy torpedoes. Speed of towing approximately four knots. The USS Cabot and the Cowpens, with their three destroyers, were to protect them and their screening ships. Each CVL was operating independently of the other, but informing each other as to what is going on.
Two divisions of Cabot F6F's ( 8 planes) attacking 70 to 75 enemy aircraft, comprised of fighters, dive and torpedo bombers. They were attempting to destroy two USS cruisers and the Cabot. The eight F6F's shot down 27 enemy aircraft in fifteen ( 15) minutes, while loosing one F6F. This pilot made a water landing and was rescued and returned to the Cabot. With the mop up completed, a total of 33 enemy aircraft were destroyed. Two new Aces were made in these short 15 minutes. Two other pilots shot down four ( 4) each, in 15 minutes. This happened on October 16, 1944. Air Group 29 had been abroad for only eleven days.
One TBM pilot was credited with shooting down another enemy aircraft. Pilot stated, "He got in my way" The TBM has two ( 2) forward firing 50 caliber machine guns, while the F^F has six (6).
Cabot aircraft were one of the finest to engage the Japanese Battleship Fleet in the "Battle of Leyte Gulf" 24-26 Oct 1944. They were credited with torpedo and bomb hits on battleships and cruisers. One of the largest Battleships of the world, the Musashi, was sunk. During this battle, General MacArthur returned to the Philippines.
The Cabot came under heavy attack by many enemy aircraft, November 25, 1944. All four carriers, in our Trask Group, had received hits with some crashing into the flight decks. At this time, we did not know about "Kamikaze Attacks" They were Japanese pilots who were crashing their planes on our ships, mostly the carriers. The Cabot was hit twice in two minutes. Thirty-five (35) of our shipmates were killed and seventeen (17) were seriously injured. These were transferred to a Navy Hospital ship. Many others were wounded, but were able to carry on their duties.
Many other highlights come to mind. The big typhoon of December 1944, three destroyers capsizing and were lost; South China Sea excursion January 1945; First Navy air raids on Japanese homeland, Tokyo area February 1945; Ernie Pyle's visit February 9 to 23 1945; Iwo Jima invasion February 1945; Easter Sunday - Invasion day of Okinawa April 1, 1945; The sinking of the battleship Yamato and several other ships April 7, 1945; Announcement of the death of President Roosevelt on April 12, 1945 followed only six days later, Ernie Pyle was killed on the island of Ie Shima, just off Okinawa.
On August 14, 1945 all of the Torpedo Squadron ( VT-32) personal & aircraft were off loaded at Eniwetok and received twelve (12) more F6F Hellcats and twenty (20) more fighter pilots to become an all fighter carrier. The Cabot could have been the first & only US Navy WWII all fighter fast carrier in the Pacific.
Twenty-six ( 26) Naval Aviators were recognized as "Aces". Having done so when flying off the USS Cabot ( CVL- 28)
The nine (9) CVL's are credited with the following; destroying 2,569 Japanese aircraft, with 1,295 knocked out of the air and a very large number of warships and others. They were awarded eighty-one (81) Battle Stars with three ( 3) receiving the "Presidential Unit Citation": ( Cabot, Belleau Wood & San Jacinto ) and one the "Navy Unit Citation" ( Cowpens). The Princeton( CVL-23) was lost in the Battle Leyte Gulf, October 1944. The Bataan ( CVL -29) received seven ( 7) Battle Stars in the Korean Conflict. The Cabot was also recommissioned and reactivated during the Korean War.
All in all, quite the impressive history.
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