Task Force 69

Task Force 69’s mission was to test new tactics, weapons, and technologies that could be used against Japanese Kamikazes, particularly during the upcoming invasion of Kyushu. The unit was based at Casco Bay, Maine. Vice Admiral Willis E. Lee was pulled from command of Battleship Squadron 2 (the new, fast Battleships), at Commodore Arligh Burke’s request, in June 1945 to take on this mission. Example findings included that the Mark 37 target director was faster and more accurate that the Mark 51 and the radar feature-Moving Target Indicator (MTI) - was not yet ready for fleet use.

I find no evidence that this effort produced a “Silver Bullet” to be used against kamikazes.

DD 808 DENNIS J. BUCKLEY

DD 875 HENRY W. TUCKER

DE 531 EDWARD H. ALLEN

DE 532 TWEEDY

LSM 446

LCS(L)3 1

LCS(L)3 5

LCS(L)3 6

AG 17 WYOMING, 16 JUL 45

CA 130 BREMERTON, 21 JUL 45

CL 82 PROVIDENCE—TO REPLACE BREMERTON O/A 23 AUG

DD 831 GOODRICH—TO REPLACE BUCKLEY O/A 20 AUG

DD 879 LEARY—TO REPLACE TUCKER O/A 25 AUG

Land based air units stationed at Brunswick, ME

XVJ-25, 3 F6F-3, 14 SB2C-4E, 7 PV-1, 1 JM-1P, 1 JRB-4, 1 R4D-6, 1 SNB-2

XVF-200, 24 F5F-5