Even as the ships in port at Pearl Harbor were attacked, history was being recorded in the deck logs of those very vessels. Every four hours, the assigned officer placed entries into the log, keeping a running record and leaving us with an eyewitness account of what was happening on that fateful morning.
According to the deck logs, the morning of December 7 started with deliveries of milk, ice cream, and ice, but at 7:55 am the deck log of the USS Conyngham reports: “Japanese planes commenced bombing Pearl Harbor Area. Held general quarters, manned all guns, commenced breaking out powder. Commenced emergency repairs on main engines to get underway. Captain on the bridge.”
The logs go on to record the attack, the positions and responses of the ships, and the attempts to pull survivors from the waters. The logs as also show the confusion caused by the attack
Currently these deck logs are only available in paper format. The deck logs are found under NAID 594258 in the National Archives Catalog (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/594258). You can read more in our article in Prologue magazine.
Transcription of the Log Entry for the USS Dale:
04–08 Moored as before. 0758 Waves of torpedo planes, level bombers, and dive bombers marked with Japanese insignia attacked Pearl Harbor; Sounded General quarters set condition affirm lit off boilers #1 and #2 and #4. Breaking out ammunition.
[signature] F.M. Radel Ensign, U.S. Navy
08–12 Moored as before. 0810 opened fire on planes with machine guns followed by main battery. 0815 One enemy plane believed shot down by machine gun fire from USS DALE. 0825 Boilers #1, #2, and #4 cut in on main line. 0836 Underway on various courses and at various speeds proceeding out of Pearl Harbor. Ensign F.M. Radel, U.S.N. Commanding Officer, following named officers and men absent:- Lt.Comdr. A.L. Rorschach, U.S.N. Lt. R.L. Moore, Jr., U.S.N. Ensign K.G. Robinson, U.S.N. Ensign D.J. Vellis U.S.N., Ensign L.C. Huntley, U.S.N.R. Ensign M.D. Callahan U.S.N.R. EDWARDS, G.L. CMM U.S.N. WARREN, R.H. F.C.lc U.S.N. COULSON, S.E.M. 2c, U.S.N. SMITH, J.V. Sea lc. U.S.N.FALCONER, D.D. Ylc., U.S.S.N. NEHRING, R.A. F.C. 3c, U.S.N. GAWBILL, M. M.M.lc, U.S.N. ENGLISH, J.F. M.M.lc, U.S.N. JENNINGS, A.V. F.2c, U.S.N. 0844 Stopped while USS MONAGHAN dropped two depth charges on what was thought to be an enemy submarine near USS CURTIS. 0848 Changed speed to 25 knots proceeding out of channel. 0907 Passed Pearl Harbor entrance buoy #1 passed from Inland to International waters. 0909Established off shore patrol in sector #1 on various courses and at various speeds maneuvering to avoid strafing and bombing attacks. 0911 Shot down enemy dive bomber with .50 Caliber machine gun fire. 0959 Investigated small boat carrying small white flag with several Oriental passengers. 1114 Joined up with USS WORDEN (CDS-1) on course 340°T, 328°psc, speed 11 knots. 1149 Formed column, order of ships in column WORDEN, ALWYN, DALE, AND FARRAGUT: on course 271°T, 260°psc, speed 25 knots.
[signature] F.M. Radel Ensign, U.S. Navy