Operation Desecrate One

Operation Desecrate One was a United States Navy operation on March 30–31, 1944, during World War II. It involved attacks by aircraft carriers USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), USS Hornet (CV-12), USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Lexington (CV-16), USS Monterey (CV-26), USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24), USS Cowpens (CVL-25), USS Cabot (CVL-28), USS Princeton (CVL-23), and USS Langley (CVL-27)  against Empire of Japan bases on and around Palau. 36 Japanese ships were sunk or damaged in the attacks. TBMs and TBF Avengers from those carriers bombed extensive minefields in and around the channels and approaches to the Palau in the first tactical use of mines laid by carrier aircraft. Desecrate One was part of the preparations for Operations Reckless and Persecution, the Allied invasion of western New Guinea.