Status - John Skinner - USS O'Brien:
On May 13th, O'Brien was based at Pago Pago, and would remain there for several weeks doing local escort duty.
The Samoan Islands had been a popular stopover for ships, and a coaling station, since the 1830s. Control of the islands were divided in 1899, with the US receiving the easternmost and smaller islands, including Tutuila, where Pago Pago is located. By this time in 1942, the island was being made a key part of the chain of islands connecting the US with Australia; a new airfield was under construction, and troops were arriving to garrison the island.
Samoa is located south of the equator at about 14 degrees south, so as O'Brien approached, there would have been the same equator crossing ceremony as described in the January 3rd entry. This time, John Skinner was a shellback for the ceremonies, rather than a pollywog as last time.
No doubt the crew would have rather been in the fight in the Coral Sea as opposed to doing escort duty, but Pago Pago could be pleasant for temporary duty. Samoa is warm, humid and rainy but slightly cooler in late spring and summer. There are easterly trade winds year round.
Link: Climate of Samoa (note this is for the country of Samoa which is 100 miles west of Pago Pago).
U. S. Navy Task Forces:
- Task Force 11 (Lexington) was disbanded due to the sinking of Lexington.
- Task Force 17 (Yorktown) was ordered to Pearl Harbor for repairs.
- Task Force
16 (Enterprise and Hornet), were still moving toward the South Pacific to counteract any further Japanese advances in the South Pacific area.
More Information:
- Official Navy Chronology, pp. 195-197.
- The First South Pacific Campaign, John B. Lundstrom, pp. 116-125.
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