Streamlined Bait

  During October, 1944 the Cowpens and Cabot, CVL-28, were assigned to provide air cover for "Cripple Division One".  Cripple Division One consisted of the cruisers USS Canberra, CA-70, and the USS Houston, CL-81, which had been torpedoed off the island of Formosa.  Along with the Cowpens and Cabot were the cruisers Wichita, CA-45, and Mobile, CL-63, and five destroyers screening the damaged ships making four knots under tow.

  Admiral Halsey had a plan to use this convoy as "bait" to draw out the Japanese forces.  Two large groups of approximately 60 - 70 enemy aircraft were spotted on radar about 70 miles away coming in from Formosa headed for the "bait".   All available F-6F fighters of VT-22 aboard Cowpens and VT-29 aboard Cabot were launched.   The Cowpens planes attacked the enemy planes to the south while the Cabots planes took the other group.

  Halsey's plan worked as it was drawn up, with a majority of the attacking enemy aircraft destroyed and the damaged cruisers safely escorted to the Carolines. The Cowpens rejoined the task group on October 20, 1944.

  Click this link to see a copy of the "Fall Guy" certificate awarded to Lt. C. E. White for this action.