Lexington (CV 16) - Naval Cruise Book

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lt was evident that the The gasoline explosion of a kamikaze plane, on the instant of striking the superstructure of a carrier. This picture, perhaps the most graphic record in existence, of what such an explosion is like, was taken aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid, and was run as Picture of the Month in the October, 1945, issue of ALL HANDS. ' Iapanese had taken ex- tensive precautions for the wide dispersal and careful concealment of their planes. During the fol- lowing weeks effective attacks were made only when study of photographs enabled our pilots to concentrate on good planes and to leave alone the more obviously placed duds and dummies. The technique of destroying grounded planes involved low-level flying over areas well protected with anti- aircraft fire and was an important cause of the Air Groups casualties during the operations: ten pilots and four aircrewmen listed as killed or missing in action. Another factor which had to be reckoned with throughout the operation was the weather. Low-lying clouds and fog frequently blanketed tar- get areas, particularly in the north, and forced repeated changes of plans. The second strike day of the operation was Iuly 14, with the northernmost island of Hokkaido as the target area. Bad weather prevented our planes from reaching the assigned airfields on the north coast but they found numerous industrial targets of opportunity to the south and east, particularly in the vicinity of Kushiro. Planes from the Lexington, on combat air patrol and photographic missions, covered the battleship and cruiser bombardment of the lmperial Iron Works at Kamaishi, first sur face bombardment of the war against the main lapanese islands. CURTAINS EOR THE IAP FLEET On fuly l5 Hokkaido was again the target area. On luly 15 the British Task Force 37, under com- mand of Vice-Admiral Rawlings, joined Task Eorce 38 and began operations much as if it were a fourth Task Group. After fueling, Task Group 38.l moved south and on the l7th and 18th again struck airfields north of Tokyo, also engaging on the l8th in a large-scale attack on the battleship Nagato at an attack which dam- the Yokosuka Naval Base, aged but did not sink the vessel. After this days strikes, the Task Force withdrew for several days of rest and replenishment. The attack was resumed on July 24. For the strikes on that day the force moved to the and from a position south of Kobe, some 130 miles off the island of Honshu, four strikes were northwest launched against Hamamatsu and five other fields assigned to the I-9XmQton. No lap airborne opposition was

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- Peath on Wings. A target's eye view of the same dive. The bomb is clearly visible beneath the plane: seconds later rt was released and the plane struck. just below the position from which this picture was taken. D. I. Connally. Phorn 3!c. one of four photographers on the island at the time. unconsciously snapped this shot before diving behind a protecting bulkhead. He alone survived to see it developed.

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