Franklin (CV 13) - Naval Cruise Book

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by noonli' Lt. Jackson Taylor, mess manager, and Pay Clerk Sheppard of the supply department, assisted by Severson, Dugan, and the few others aboard, had located provisions. There was hot coffee and a swallow or two of a strange stew, the men were heartened for the day ahead. Everyone sat in the wardroom, now clear of smoke, still in life jackets and helmets, faces and hands grimy. There was little water on the ship, the only drinkable water was obtained from a small soda fountain set up in the wardroom which was con- nected to an unruptured fresh water line. W'hile fire fighters still searched out smoking compart- ments and engineers labored over an ingenious device to operate the forward engines from the after firerooms, other groups jettisoned debris from the flight and hangar decks and commenced burying the shattered bodies of the dead. Colors on all ships in the formation were half-masted, and though there could be little formality in the sad duty, re- spectful dignity and sorrow were plain in the actions of every man. Now the Admiral considered the Franklin worthy of two new battlecruisers and additional destroyers: The Alaska, Guam, Ballard, and Kidd, had joined the screen. It was a group with fire power aplenty that moved slowly southward. Of the 105 officers and 386 men that mustered that morn- ing, the heroes of that day were the engineers. With the two after engines in use the ship could make a doubtful fifteen knots. If some method could be found to operate the for- ward engines, speed could be increased to an easy twenty- three knots. Steering Control had been obtained by 9:00 a.m. when Electrician Philipps, with Elsey and Gudbrantzen made slight repairs and started the steering motors again. So, with enemy planes searching the vicinity and amid frequent alerts, the grimy engineers toiled on. Lt. Comdr. Greene had thought of a scheme: the hot steam at 600 pounds pressure from the after firerooms could be led for- ward through the auxiliary steam lines to the Number Two turbo-generator. This generator was connected to work from either the main or auxiliary steam lines. By routing the auxiliary steam into the main steam lines and blocking off the pipes that led to the forward boilers, the life-giving steam would flow into the forward engines. None of the engineers could think of any reason why this plan would not work, though, as far as was known, nothing like it had been at- tempted before on Essex class carrier engines. Laboriously the valves were closed and the connections made. It worked! By 10:00 a.m. the speed was up to fourteen knots, and a tow was no longer needed. By noon the towing lines had been cast off, and Big Ben was making 15 knots under her own power with four boilers on the two after engines and the two forward engines turning over slowly. It began to look as though the giant carrier would escape . . . At 2:30 enemy planes again closed the group. Gunners waited doggedly by the last undamaged mounts. The battle- cruisers drew in close, the destroyers narrowed their circle. One more hit would undoubtedly send the Franklin to thc bottom. The patrol shot down most of the Japaneses planes, one only a few miles away, but through their screen came one Judy bomber. For some reason his run was unopposed by flak, until he got in close on his run. Franklin's gunners, manning the last few twenties and the forty quad, opened up with a fast and accurate fire. The guts of those men, hanging on to their guns to the last, the only ones shooting at that diving bomber, probably saved the ship. The sur- prised .lap swerved to escape this sudden stream of lead just as he dropped his bomb. It missed narrowly, exploding little more than a hundred feet from the port quarter. Be- low, the engineering officers, feeling the concussion shake the ship, decided to throw caution to the winds and really pour on the power. Cutting in more steam to the newly con- nected system, the forward engines commenced furnishing power perfectly and in a few minutes Big Ben was making seventeen knots. The doubtful superheaters were lit off, promising even more speed. Again and again, until dark, the angry ,laps threw bomb- er after bomber out, but each time the twelve Hellcats from Admiral Davisonis task group, 30 miles away, raced off and intercepted them. When the red sun dropped into the Pa- cific, over the islands of the Empire, Big Ben was 170 miles away and steaming at better than 20 knots. Messages were received during the evening from warships and commanders. Captain Fitz, of the great cruiser Santa Fe, spoke for the men of his ship when he said: f'Congratula- tions on heroic work and outstanding efficiency of yourself and men in getting ship underway and saving her. It is an example we will never forget. From the stout-hearted com- mander of the man of war this was a high tribute, indeed. Comdr. Highet, of the untiring destroyer Hickoxz Our sympathy and congratulations on your superb courage. Admiral Low, commander of the little group, told the cap- tain: 'fMy compliments on your fine performance and bring- ing your ship through. Later there was a message from Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, Commander of Task Force Fifty-Eight: 'fYou and your historic crew cannot be too highly applauded for your historic and successful battle to save your gallant ship, in spite of the difficulty, the enormity of which is appreciated. Deep regrets for your losses, which we feel as our ownf, Captain Gehres answered, for Big Ben: 'fMy ship's com- pany and I thank you for your message and for the protec- tion received in our worst hoursf' By dawn, March 21st, Franklin was 300 miles away, though enemy planes still searched the area. The group joined Task Force Fifty-Eight, which had withdrawn to fuel. That evening she contacted Admiral Davisonis Task Group 58.2, which was retiring to Ulithi, with the carrier Wasp, also hard hit. With the destroyers Miller, Marshall, and H uni in her screen, Big Ben steamed south as an independent unit, in sight contact with Admiral Davison's new command. There was a message from the doughty Admiral, himself: I am on a stranger's doorstep but 1 claim you again with pride. Battered though you may be, you are still my child. Great Work! Davison. Rear Admiral Gardner, commander of Carrier Division Seven sent a message to the captain: f'Congratulations on booting home the long shot. To you and your great gang we touch our scorched forelocks. Gardner. Just at sundown a surface search radar was placed in complete operation, after the difficult task of salvaging a heavy antenna from the broken foremast, that rested peri- lously atop the tripod. That night, with communications and

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