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FRANKLIN 0'- T '-ob 0 - va 6 ,6 4' if 'ERPP- 9 ll PUBLISHERS I Au. mcnts nsssnvnn Ausm' Lov: Ernrznrmsz-:s 9 ' o s , o a I 'Clio tho iwlomorg o r z QWEEPB and ililon who land dolon thnr llhos for thur rountry luhnlz ooromg aboard tho QB 75 5 gllranhlm illllo tho gllormor Shlpmatoo Lpag 'illolhoto Ho shupmatoo loo apprznato ooo morkorl sudo bg sudo huth thom ontorod romhat onth thom fzarzd and laughod and groholod auth thom loo pragod lolth thzm ilionro shall loo alloago room tho momorg of thonr oarrlhro mag thour Souls Root un pzaro joseph TIE Qliallahan 5 5 f h thoir oaorilirz horauoz WK looro closo to thzm Abraham L Groll Slc Lt tgI Robert Ephran Abell Ir Lt avxd A Allen USNR Lt Rxchard T Angell USNR Davxd Albert I D Adluns ARTlc Rosarxo V Albanese ARM3c Vrctor E Abate Rdm2c Gerald R Ackerman SM3c Harm K Adkins S2c Luther V Adkrson S2c Ioaquxn A1a ACOM Thomasl C Akxns S2c USNR Harold Burke S2c UIIUI' Iackson P Burket RdM3ct'l'I Allen R Burkhamer S2c Eugene W Burroughs S2c Wxllard H Burton SICKAOMI George D Bush S2c George E Buza PhM2c Edward S Byczkowsln S2c IosephI Cerxone Ir Pfc USMCR Edgar E Core Pfc USMC Capt W O Chapman Roy S Albxston Slc Frederxck A Alderxsxo ART3c Iames R Allen S2c Harold Alt AMM2c Floyd R Ames Phm2c Guyn L Anderson Cox Henry Anderson Rdm3c Iohn B Anderson Slc Ronald Anderson AOM2c Robert E Andrews S2c Frankl Angell Ir WT2c Charlesl Ashurst Stmlc Keyro Atanasoff SSMB3c Wxllxam M Atkinson Slc Wxlham G Barcry Plc USMCR Francis P Burke Pfc USMCR Lt Q1gIFreder1ckA Beckman USNR Clarence F Blaxr USN f1gJ Rxchard H Brxdge USNR hgl Robert E Brooks USNR flgj Marshall D Barnett USNR MxltonI Bonar l1gII A Burgess Mayor S R Barley 2nd Lt C R Beeler Lt Vxctor Charles Buhl USNR Iack Clxnton Bacholtte W1llardI Bird Robert Boyd R L Baucum ARM3c I I Bxgos AMM2c W R Black AOM2c I I Bond Ir ARM3c D Brown AOM2c HenryE Borla ARMlc Walter Brooks Ir ARMlc Marcos R Baca S2c Iohn N Bachman AOM2c Walter Baggett Ir S2c Earl R Baker AOM2c Walter C Baldwln Rdm3c Robert L Bamburg F2c AbrahamI Barbash S2c Iames Barheld AMM2c IohnI Barreto Slc Ioseph A Barron SF2c Henry E Bartlett AMM2c Byron W Barton Slc Iohn R Basham RMZC Cllfford E Beane S2c Wllhe C Beck S2c Raymond O Beckwith S'c Brlly D Belcher S2c Lt f1gI KennethE Carlon USNR F I Crowley Ernest Cage fnj Carl Henry Castleman Hoyle V Coltrane Chelette AOMlc Robert D Chandler ARMZC Webber W Callxcott Rd.M3c Peter Campbell Flc Ioseph T Campxglxa RM2c Robert F Campora Rdm3c Iohn W Cannon SFlc Calvin B Capell S2c Patsy Capobxanco S2c PeterI Carawlanxs RdM3c Chrxstopherl Carr Slc Donald D Carr S2c Ioseph Carrara Ir Slc Lawrence C Carstens S2c Wrlllam H Cartwright S2c Morns E Caruthers F2c Clyde M Cason S2c Charles D Castelluccl S2c Darrell F Centers AOM3c Felix C Cerra Slc Ioe Chacon Slc Bllss E Chambers Slc Herbert Y Chambers WT2c Mark Champion CMM Kermxt Chzlcote S2c StanleyI Chxvas Rd1M3c Frederlck W Chrxstman S1 Cec1lV Clark S2c Walter F Clark Slc Wlllxam R Clark S2c R1chardI Clarke SK3c Cletus Clrburn S2c Earl W Clouser AM2c Thomas W Coburn S2c Robert Cochrane S2c CharlesV Codrea RdM3c IohnT Coffey AOM3c Amerrco A Colataccx Slc Carl E Coleman RdM3c Est1lV Collms Slc W1ll1am G Collms AM3c Valentzno C Columbo S2c Earl N Combs RdM3c Iames W Conant RdM3c Iames H Conlon S2c Charles C Conner AM'Vllc Thos I Cook ACETM Wllford W Cooprxder S2c Walter V Copeland AOM3 Wxlllam E Beloxt A.M3c Necll Bennett AMM2c Elwood H Berbench F2c Davld Berg Slc Marvin W Bergman F2 Phllrp A Berkowltz Cox Charles E Berrlnger Flc Walter P Bxguslak R'Vllc Mark D Bxngaman Ylc Wlllxam H Blrchall Ir Slc Clarence I Blaxr CM3r Raymond D Blalr SPTR Ray M Blanchard Ir AVl2c Warren H Blankenshm Mlc Wxllxam G Blanton Mu 3 Lester R Blosch AMNllc Arthur L Bobo S2c Morns Bochenek SK2c George M Booth S2c Odxs L Corbett ACOM Edward Correxa Slc Thomas W Cosson EVllc Roland R Courcy S2c Radford S Coward S2c Iohn L Cox Slc Walter B Cox S2 Wayne L Cox Slc Herman N Crzswell S2 Paul B Cromn SSVlL3c Grant A Crook Slc Donald L Cross AMVIZ Graham Y Crossley Lem Davts Ir Pfc USM Tame L Dlllon Pfc USVICR Paul E H Dolbxer Ploqt USVI Ens Norman E Droum USNR Fns G E Drulmer Lt Davxd R Dunlap Ir U.: IR Anthony V Bosco Slc Iohn W Bowen S2c Edward I Boyd Flc Thomas L Brasel S2c Orvllle Coolxdqe Drosdal A I Dusl AOMlc R A Dwyer Slc Stanley F Dalton SOVl2c Ernest E Damxco AMM3 Roy F De Lav S2c Robert C Bresnahan Slc Edmond E Breton S21- Floyd N Brown N'VlS3c Iohn Brown Ir CEVIKAAICTI Iohn E Brown AO'VI2c Iohn F Brown Y2ctTI Thomas L Brown BVllcfTI Earnest V Bryant S2c Wllllam M Danforth AOVIZC Rollarmd P Datzman Y3 ITN Clarence L Davxclson AM3c Arthur L Davls S2ctRdI Roy E Davxs S2c Iames R Delap PhlVl3c Everett Brvant Ir Rdm2ctTI Clarence E Buckley Slc Edwxr' C Buescher EMGCKTI Wlllard D Bulson S2c Elwood B Bumbaugh MM3c Carmme Del Sole SSMB2 Lawrence B Dendmger SSVlL3c Phllxp G Dermger AMMlc Raymond E Desmarals Slc Iohn R Deuel RdM3c 'Roll Samuel T Devme AMM2c Mxchaell D1Palma Slc Norman Dlzek Slc Ioseph B Dougherty S2c Romelza I Downen RdM3c Albert N Drake S2c George L Dube S2c Rxchard H Duff GMlc Iohn T Duncan S2c Wxlllam A Dunlap SKV2c Edmund E Dupras EM3cfTI LukeI Durante CPhoMCTI Ioseph H Durden GM3cfTI Ben1anunM Durrance CSFKAAI Bengamm B Dye PrtrMlc IohnH Eady Pfc USMCR Lt f1gI D R Evans Lt Comdr Edmands Alexander Elras Ir Ioseph Eppollto Ioseph Eberllne Slc Dan Edwards S2c Iohn Edwards Ir Slc Richard L Ellis FC3c Melvm H Endress S2c IohnR Eptmg S2c Rxchard B Erickson S2c Ioseph W Eslznger MMlc Edward Evans A.MNllc Lt Iohn H Fxnrow USNR 2nd Lt C K Faught Ir 2nd Lt Kenneth G Flegener Lt H P Flemxng Lt Comdr GeorgeW Fox USNR Belver H Fullllove L E Faxrbrother ARMlc P M Fxnn ARMlc Lloyd T Falrchxld S2c Norman E Falss AMM3c Domeruc Falcone S2c Otto L Fedewa S2c Iohn A Felmer S2c Patnck F Feneck S2c Nat Ferrell Slc Peter R Fxesel Ir RM3c Wxlllam E Frke AOM2c Paul M Frneberg AM2c Kenneth C Fischer Y2c Wlllxam W Fxsh BM2c Irvxng Flshman S2c Thomas P Flannery Slc Iames H Fleenor S2c Russell E Fleming ART3c Iohn H Fluhr S2c Billy G Forbes S2c Thomas P Ford Ir S2c Donald W Forsyth Ylc Thomas A Foster S2c Nathan I Fourrous GMlc Cecxl E Fouts S2c Edmund F Fowler Slc Rosarxo Frang1amore Slc Donald C Fnend AMM2c Robert Ellxs Froehly CRT Iames F Frost Slc Rzchard E Geldl Pfc USMC Berlyn H Goddard Sgt USMC Stanley E Godek Pfc USMCR Fredenck L Grxmm Pfc USMC Lt f1gIW1ll1am R Grlfxllan USNR Lt Iames Robert Grxswold USNR A I Green AMMlc Alfrod C Gaddy AMM2c Mlchael I Galbo Svlvester L Galles E.'Vllc Wallace Galloway Slc Charles A Garber AON13c BernardI Garland c Edgar P Garon Flc Albert C Gexger S2 Herbert Geller PhM3c Donald Gerard Slc Wxlfr1dI Gxbeau S2c Edwardl Gibson AOMIC Robert G Gxffen Slc Ray A Glll S2c ErleI Gxllenberq EMlc Clothz Grllxs AOM3c Wnllxam F Gxlmore ACMM Lorenza D Gllstrap S2c Iacob Gxndx S2c Clarence O Gleaso SZ: Alan F Goble AEM2c Anthony C Godleskx WT3c Iack T Goetz FC3c Mrtchell A Golden Slc Elxas I Goldsmlth S2c Roger A Gooch S2c Charles R Goslee S2c Paul E Gottlrck Slc Ernest O Grafton S2c Iamesl. Graham S2c Paul Grata AOM3c IamesM Graves S2c Kenneth B Gray tAOM2c Oscar G Gray S2c IosephI Greco Slc Delwyn F Greenlaw S2c Robert A Gregg SKlc Henry G Greltner WT3c Raymond Gnffxn Slc RobertI Grobanck A1MM3c DarryleA Grose R1Mlc FernandI Guxdroz S2c Phxlzp W Gwarjanskx AMM2c W1llxamI Gwxn Slc Ens Ioseph Hexnnch USNR Lt Anc1lC Hudson USNR Lt Comdr CarlB Holmstrom USN Lt f1gIH A Heyman Lt Phzlxp Emerson Hathaway USN I D Harvey ARM2c I H Hobes AOMlc I P Hogel AMM2c R N Hute ARM3c Andrew E Harlm AMlc Iames Hatt ARMSC FrankI Hack AOM3c Carl F Hagerstrom GM2c W1ll1amI Haggerty EM3c Iames E Hall Slc Iames W Hall RdM2c Mrllard P Hall S Albert L Hallman III S2c Davld F Halpxn Slc Vernon H Hames Troy W Hamxlton Cox Louxs M Haney Slc Iames L Hanlon S2c Robert H Hannah EMlc Albert W Hans AMM2c Kenneth M Hansen RdM3c Edward Harbm Slc Larry C Harding S2c AlbertA Harlow BM2c Carl M Harmon Y3c Harry L Harper EMS: Iames A Harper S2c Robert D Harns Ir S2c RobertI Harrison AOM3c Wxllxam E Harrxson BMlc ClydeM Hart S2c IohnI Hart Slc Thomas Harte EM2c Davxd M Hatton Ir S2c Doddrxd E Hayes S2c Wxllxam R Hayes S2c Orvllle E Heck WTlc Theodore P Hendrxcks S2c Evan R Henrxchs S2c Archie L Henson S2c Everett E Hereford Slc Wxllard W Herkert AMlc George N Hermance S2c Thomas C Herrod S2c Wlllxam G Hxghheld BMlc Franklxn H Hxll EM3c Robert Hxllas ARMlc Ferren R Hmds AO.Mlc Rhudy L Hlnkle AMM2c Harold W Hxtzeman AMM3c Calvrn W Hocanson S2c Anthony Hoffman S2c Samuel Hoffman ACOM Iohn Hoqroqran S2c Velvln W Holland SK2c Iohn A Hoover IamesA Horton Cox Laverne A Horton Ir S2c IackA Huddle Slc Grady Hudson Stm2c Iames E Hudson SClc Willard D Hughes F2c Iohn H Hummel F2c George S Hurd Slc Anthony G Ingelldo SK2 Cant ArnoldI Isabell USN Duane L lrwxn S2c Domenlck Ioe C R Ienkms ACRM Thomas Iackson Stmlc C L Iones AEMlc Wrllram L Iackson CHPM Ben1amxnL Iones Ir ARlM3c Harold G Iacobsen S2c Henrv Ialulka AOMlc Carl L Iames S2c Esteen Iames S2c Frederick W Ierdo S2c Audley E Iohnson S2c Iames B Iohnson Y2c . I . 1 . 1 . 1 1 I I I I I I I I I I I . 1 1 1 . 1 . 1 . 1 1 1 . 1 I . I I .I I I I I I I - I 1 . 1 1 . 1 1I I . I I I I I I I ' I I . I I I . - I . I 1 . . 1 1 . 1 I I I I I I I I l I I 1 1 I 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ' , 1 1 1 . 1 . . 1 1 .1 . . 1 I I I I I I I I I l I I I I I1 1 1 I 1 1 . 1 . . I I I I I 1 , ' I I I I . I I . 1 1 . , 1 I 1 1 - I . I I I I I I I I. ' I. I I II I I Y . I I I Lt. I . , I . , . . , . , 1.1. I . 1 . , . I . I . , Lt. I . 1 . , 1 . . . 1 r. Lt.I . . I I . , I. . 1 . I 1 1 . 1 1 . 1 . 1 . . 1 I . 1 I . 1 . I 1 I I . I ' I I I 1 C I I I I I I I V I I I I I I I I II Y I I I I I I I I 1 1 1 1 I I . 1 . I 1 .1 I I -I I I I Wrener F. Banicke1 CSK Willie R. Colbert, S2c Iames A- Fofbefgeff Slc Glenn B- Hasbefgeff S2c I I I I I I . I I Il . I I . I I I II . I I . 1 . 1 I . 1 . I 1 I I I I Y I I I I I ' I I L I I P l I I ' I I - . I I I I I I. I l I I ' . I , r 1 l 1 1 1 1 . ' ' ' ' C 1 ' 1' . . ' . . ' I ' 1 I 1 I 1 1 - 1 1 - - 1 . , l 1 1 1 11 1. 1 I 1 I I I I I L1 I I I III I ' I 1 I 1 . I I. I I I . , 5 . , 1 1 I 1 1 I 1 I . 1 I 1 .. 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 I I I 1- I I I I I I . ' 1 - ' 1 c - I 1 . , I . I II 1 A- I 4 I I I I I . I n ' I I I I , , , . . 1 1 : . 1 1. 1 . 1 .1 . . 1 Slc . 1 S2 . 1 .I . ,, ' ' . 1 s : ST . ' 1 1 1 . .1 . ' 1 1: . 1 . .. ., . 1 .. . 1 . V 1 1 , , 1 1 . 1 1. 1 I 1 1 ' , ,1. '. . . ' 1 1 1 1 . -, . , , ' I . 1 1 1 I ' ' ' . ' 1 1 '. 1 ' ' . 1 - 1 ' o : . I 1 1 I 1 1 1 . . 1 '1 1 1 , ., . 1 I 1 1 '1 -I I- 1 I I , I , 1 1 I 1 1 ' I , ' , 1 . .1 I 1 1 1: , , , , , . 1 . 1 I , , , 1 1 1 1 , ,, , ff . 1 1 1 , 1 1 - 1 I V 1 1 1 ' I I I I ' . ' , 1 1 . 1 1 ' , , 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 I , , , . 1 . 1 Iames E. Iohnson S2c George R Iohnston AOM3c Virgil E. Iohnston RdM2c Howard G Iones TM3c Bernard Ioslin Slc Thomas K Ioyner S2c Lt. tigl Ioseph Kopman USNR Peter Ioseph Kartye C. C Kasch Ylc D. H. Keniield Ylc Reuben H. Knocke ARMS: Charles E. Kai S2c Forrest E. Karr Slc Ioseph Karvatsky Halc Howard H. Keener S2c Claude Keeney Ir. GM3c Richard G. Kelley EM3c Thomas C. Kelly Slc Ioseph I. Kempowicz S2c Kenneth T. K.idd AM3c Ralph W. Kieiel Slc Philip H. Kimball S2c Walter I. Kimmich AMM3c Thomas N. Kirk RM2c Iulian S. Kling Slc Walter E. Kniss S2c Vernor H. Knutson GM3c Ioseph F. Kolek Slc Frank P. Knopka Slc Emil V. Kopec ARTlc Frank I. Kopec S2c Leonard R. Krause S2c Iames H. Krenske AxM3c Matthew I. Krynski Slc Robert P. Kubala RdM2c Glen W. Kuhn S2c Iohn S. Kuiawski AMlc Valentine F. Kust Slc Paul F. Kuta Slc Franklin G. Kyrklund Slc Ens. Roger W. L Estrange USNR Albert L. Lambert MM3c Lt. Qigj R. E. Lancaster Ens. P. C. Lacy Lt. Leonard Ens. P. O. Larson USNR Alvy Edward Lisbon A. D. Leitzke ARM2c E. I. Lowry tAOM3c G. H. Lundgren AMMZC Albert D. Loenthal ARM3c Marvin C La Forest PhoM2c Leslie G. Lainson S2c Dwight Lancaster S2c Carlton I. Lannie BM2c Peter Lasky S2c Guy I. Lazzaro AM3c Vernon L. Leach S2c Philip R. Leake Ir. S2c Anthony S. Leanza F2c Bernard I. Leavy SC2c Iames W. Lee GMlc Robert E. Lee Slc Russell H. Lehnholi S2c Raymond E. Lenon EMlc Charles E. Leslie AOMlc Chester R. Lewis S2c Evan M. Lewis Y2c Fred A. Liddell Slc Iohnnie Lindsey Slc Henry F. Linebarger Cox George I. Lingham AOM3c Dock Little AMMZc Iohn R. Little S2c George R. Loftus Slc Iohn R. Logue Cox Charles R. Long S2c Wiley H. Love Ir. S2c William F. Lovitt AOtMlc Iames L. Lowry Slc Santos D. Lucas St3c Warren P. Lucas S2c Iohn I. Luchik CSK Edward F. Lukoski .AMM3c Pic Mario I. Maggio USMCR Pic Frank I. Mikula USMCR Lt. Eric Magnusson USN Ens. Robert H Martin USNR Ens Benjamin I. Miles USNR Lt. ligl Donald A. MoPhie USNR Lt. tigl R. W. Molthop Lt tiqj R. E. Moore Ens. C. H. McAllister Iames Orlando Mazzier D. W. MacLead AOM3c l W. McNamara ARMlc W. I. Miller ARMlc Harrison A. MacKenzie AMIM3c Iohn E Mac Lane ACOM Ioseph A. Mangina Slc Iames W. Mann S2c UHUI' 'IRUII Robert C. Mansur S2c Lawrence H. Mardis PhoMlc Paul I. Marino AOMlc Earl I. Martin S2c I. Q. Martin S2c Iohn I. Martyn S2c Felix McAbee BM2c Donald E. McCauley c Iames F. McCloskey PhM3c Robert F. McCracken FC3c Eugene D. McDonald MM3c Havard McDonald Stmlc Iulian H. McDuiiie Stmlc Iulian H. McDuiiie S2c Charles S. McGarry Ir. Slc Leonard McGlone Ir. FC2c Robert E. McGonigal S2c lohn I. McGuigan AOM3c Howard P. McKenzie Slc Iohn A. McMullan S2c Roger D. McWilliams PhM3c Ellie E. Meeks GM2c Peter Mekus RdM3c Celido G. Mendoza Ir. AOMlc Alfred Merchant S2c Frank H. Miller Ir. AMM2c George I. Miller AOM2c Samuel A. Miller S2c Finas A. Millican S2c Raymond Milner GlVl'2c Alfonso Mintoni lVl7M2c Fred M. Mitchell MMlc Morton I. Mittleman MM3c Iames I. Mixon Ir. S2c Marvin R. Mizell S2c Raymond L. Moe AOMZC Ioseph W. Mohr AM3c Iohn V. Montagu AOMZC Gaz-lan C. Moody Slc Iames T. Moore S2c Ioseph R. Moran EM2c Lawrence I. Morgan AEMlc Granville Morgan Flc William E. Morgan Slc Charles O. Moseley Ir. S2c Robert G. Moslander Slc Iames P. Murphy Slc Kenneth I. Myers S2c G. L. Nold Y3c Lf- fig! Thos. G. Norek Richard Napiwocki ANIMI l. Natvsvn AOM1c Clifford V. Nelson S2c Donald E. Nelson S-lc Robert R. Nelson Slc William Norbert Henry I. L. Ness G1M2c I. Neudori S2c Neukam ACOM Harry E. Newman Ir. RM3c Charles Eugene P. Newton Cox P. Newton CMQMM Harry W. Nicholas Slc Peter H. Nicholas Slc lohn S. Ninos RdAM3c Ioe E. Norman Hale Robert W. North AOM3c Horace I. Norwood Ylc Frank E. Novak MM2c William R Nutick S2c Cla1rE. Oberholtzer Plc USMCR David W. Otiman Corp USMCR William I. Olsen AR1M2c Iohn R. O Connell S2c Norman G. Ogden S2c Wllllam I. O Hara SF3c Orville K. Oliver ACMM Frank N. Ongaro CCM Chester O. Orendorti S2c Robert N. Orr SFlc Franklyn G. Ory A4MM3c Herbert I. Ott Slc Warren H. Ousley EMM: Donald E. Overlin FZc Elwin A. Owen Flc Tony A. Ozbolt ACMIM Ens. I Paul Parent USNR Ernest Ioseph Poe R. A. Pagel ACRT Leonard Pickens ARMSC Robert G. Palmer Lewis I. Parise Boney B. Parker Ir. Fred L. Parker lohnnie F. Parsons Daniel B. Pastell Iames F. Patterson Richard D. Patterson Raymond H Paugh Francis I. Paulson Raymond F. Peck Slc Iack S. Pendelton AM3c Morris Perlman RtM3c Arthur E. Perreault F2c Phinis I. Perry Ptr3c Iohn M. Peterson S2c William M. wPewitt .AMM2c Michael Pidanic Slc Samuel Peil CMM ClaytonA Pike Slc Hubertl Piiig SSZC Iames . 'po o c Richard C. Plaggerman RdM2c Robert V. Plympton F2c William S. Polansky S2c Walter E. Pollick SZC Paul Pollock EMlc Anthony I. Pompa S2c Iames R. Powell QM3c Douglas R. Preset S2c Iulius M. Price Ir. Slc Rocco Provenzano Slc AlbertN Pugh S2c Ward E. Putnam Phm3c Conrad L. Royston Corp USMCR Ensign I. B. Rhodes C. F. Ritter ACRM Richard E. Ratzel AMM3c Harry E. Ray AOM2c Charles G. Reader Slc Iames E. Redmond tART2c Willard E. Reed Slc Willmer L. Reed Slc Iohn R. Reeves S2c Roland L. Reynolds S2c Alexander B. Robertson SK2c George H. Robinson AOM2c George W. Roe S2c Eden D. Rogers S2c Hubert L. Sims Sgt. USMC Lt. I. R. Stewart Homer DeWitt Sanford Isaiah Spencer G. E Smith PR.1c F A. Stepanek Ylc H. L. Stone AOM1c HarryI Steele ARM3c Morris O. Sacremento CK2c Iohn I. Sadler PTR2c Kenneth L. Salada Ir. S2c GeorgeA Salerno Slc p . S I . S c Gabriel L. Santiago Ir. S2c George B. Saunders AaM3c Ioseph F Saunders Slc Arthur E. Schelle S2c Andrew I. Schmidt EM2c George R. Schoder S2c Melvin H. Schreitels S2c Arthur W. Schultz S2c Howard F. Schwartz Slc William P. Schweitzer RdM3c Iames V. Scott S2c Clifford R. Setried S2c Richard L Seidler AMM3c George Seivwright Ir. AOMlc Ioseph I. Serpe S2c Iohn T. Shaw AMM3c Iames TM. Shealy EM3c Leon G. Shebloski Ir. S2c Iames I. Sheehan Cox Grady W. Sheppard ACM Christian G. Shireman S2c Iames I. Short Slc Iames N. Shreve S2c Paul E. Simard Slc Omer D. Simms Slc Donald E. Simpson S2c Robert W. Slayton Slc Harold L. Smith AR1M3c Hughlin H. Smith Ir. S2c Ralph V. Smith PhM1c Thomas G. Smith S2c Victor N. Smith Slc Francis A. Snodgrass AMMlc Iohn W. Snyder Slc Robert E. Snyder Flc Raymond H. Sokolowski S c Demetreos C. Solovicos c Samuel S. Soloway Flc Oscar W. Songer Flc Robert I. Soukup Slc Roy N. Spain S2c Peter I. Spalluto Flo Bryan I. Sparks M.M3c Iohn T. Sparks S2c Ollie O. Spears CM3c Shelby Speck SK2c Albert B. Spitzkotl Slc Chester R. Sprague Flc Ernest C. Sprowl .AOM3c Pete Stallings S2c Iames M. Steele Slc Elwyn E. Stephens S2c Dave H. Steppach Ir. PhoM3c Robert C. Stern S2c Roland G. Stillman S2c Theodore A. Straub AOMZC Iohn F. Streck Ylc Walter G. Strehlow F c Gordon Stripling Ir. S2c George C Studeny ART2c William A. Sutherby SFlc Donald W. Swanson S2c Austin B. Swearingen S2c Leo S. Swiski Slc Frank E. Syrek AOM13c Iames W. Truax GySgt. USMC S. W. Tumosa CAP Dwight T. Taylor EM3c Iay A. Taylor AOM3c Vet E. Tenney AOMZC William A. Thomas Flc Orville W. Thompson Flc Iames V. Thoorsell S2c Herbert S. Thorgersen AMIMZC Marshall Thornton S2c Leo Toomaian F2c Louis A. Toro S2c Michael A. Towey RdM2c Carl B. Trager S2c Iohnny Tremonte PRlc Frank I. Triano S2c Pasquale Trivisonno Slc Ioseph F. Trombino S2c Ralph G. Trotter Slc Edwin S. Trzepacz AMlM2c Michael I. Tschida S2c Herman Tucker SSML34: Clarence E. Tyler Flc E. V. Upton Ir. AOMlc Robert C. Utterback Slc William E. Van Vleet Pic USMCR Francis I. Vamos RTlc Ralph D. Van Etten Slc Russell E. Vasey TM3c Lebert W. Vaughn Slc Charles E. Venable SMI: Earl K. Vincent Alvin L. Voss Slc Quentin G. Weinkaui Pic USMCR Iames L. Wooten PlSgt. USMC Lt. Iohn E. Weniger USNR Lt. Rupert I. Weber Ir. USNR Lt. G. R. Watkins Ensign I. E. Watson Ensign W. P. Wheeker Ioel Allen Waller Keith Allen Webb R. E. Wakefield AR.M3c D. A. Wilkinson ART2c L. A. Wiliett PR3c Frank I. Waggener F2c Harry R. Wall Slc Philip M. Walsh Slc Henry S. Walters F'Zc Stanley R. Walton Slc Howard I. Warner S2c Ioseph S. Wead S2c Earl E. Webb S2c Murrel H. Webb Prtrlc William M. Weeks .ARM2c George F. Weidenbacher S2c George M. Welcome MM3c Iames E. Wells Slc Samuel E. West AMM3c Howard C. Wheatley Slc Vergin D. Widener Mus2c Dennis C. Wilkerson PhMlc Clyde H. Williams SF2c Iohn E. Williams Slc Leslie A. Williams A.MMlc Libert C. Williams GM3c Victor W. Wise S2c Walter I. Wise GM2c William Witkowski Slc Iohn S. Wolak Ir. AOM24: Howard D. Woodard S2c Lonnie H. Woolard S2c Carroll G. Wright SK3c W. C. Yocon Prlc Frederick C. Yagle Cox Omer Yocum Ir. S2c George A. Young Ir. RdM3c Harry Zassman Slc Iohn Zeedik Slc Andrew I. Zelinski. Slc Dale E. Zimmerman S2c , . . ' I 1 1 ' I , . . . , 1 I , 1 , , , , . , , , . , , , , , , , , l I , , , , , , . , , , , , , , , I I I , , , , , , W 1 1 ' , . , , , , , , . . . , , , , , , , , , , . , , , . . . . , , . , . . . , , , . , , , , , , . . , . . , . , , , . I 1 ' 1 1 ' ' I I 1 1 I . , , 1 1 ' ' , I ' 1 I ' ' ' h' ' 2 - ' o.1.1.1ght.AnM1c . Chnsw MC Anders' rf Lt. wade H.Winecofi1USNR 1 ' ' 1 I 1 1 C ' 1 1 ' ' u 1 I ' 1 I ' I 1 ' I I ' I I 1 ' I I 1 ' I I I I ' I I I 1 ' 1 I 1 ' 1 1 1 ' ' 1 I 1 ' ' 1 I I ' 1 1 1 ' 1 I 1 ' , I I ' ' 1 I I ' 1 , . , . ' 1 , . ' I 1 . . I . , 1 , , . , . . .sz . . . I ' I 1 1 ' 1 1 . . , . . , . . ' 1 . . . , ' 1 ' 1 ' Y 1 I .XCKNOVVLEDGMENT Tlils BOOK is as nearly as possible an authentic history of the U.S.S. Franklin. The data was assembled from official action reports, shipis records, the history of Air Group Thirteen, and from conversations with crew members. The story was prepared by Lt. Marvin K. Bowman, U. S. N., with the advice and assistance of Mr. Paul Warrick, of Atlanta, Ga. Grateful acknowledgment for material and editorial assistance is made to many officers and men who served in the U. S. S. Franklin, in particular, to Comdr. Richard L. Kibbe, U. S. N., Capt. Leslie E. Gehres, U. S. N., Capt. James M. Shoemaker, U. S. N., Capt. Joe Taylor, U. S. N., Capt. Benjamin Moore, U. S. N., Capt. F. F. Agens, U. S. N., Chief Boilermaker Robert C. Stewart, U. S. N., Lt. Comdr. Donald A. Gary, U. S. N., Ch. Mach. William E. Green, U. S. N., Comdr. T. J. Greene, U. S. N., Lt. Comdr. James Moy, KMCJ U. S. N., Chief Yeoman William Tyree, U. S. N., Aviation Chief Ordnance- man Carl Orndorff, U. S. N., Lt. Comdr. Philip X. Walsh, ChC. U. S. N. B., and Comdr. Joseph O'Callahan, ChC, U. S. N. B. Also to Lt. fjgj Jack Stilwill, Chief Musician H. K. HSaxie,, Dowell Lt. Joseph LaRocca, and Lt. Knute Vlleidman, who are now separated from the naval service. All pictures are official U. S. Navy photographs. Credit for many of them is due Chief Photog- rapher's Mate Luke J. Durante, who was killed in action 19 March, 1945. The art work, including the cover design, was prepared by Thomas Leo, Seaman First Class, U. S. N. B. Attempts to achieve accuracy of detail, especially in connection with individual's names, have been handicapped to a certain extent by meager records, separation of personnel from the service and partial destruction of photographic files and records during the action of 19 March, 1945. lt is sincerely hoped that no grave omissions have occurred. The interest and assistance of the Commanding Ollicer, Comdr. H. H. Hale, U. S. N., have made this book possible. March 19th, 1946. U. S. Navy Yard, Brooklyn, N. Y. LEET IXDMIRAI, W11.l.1AM F. llfxmsm FOREWORD W e who had the privilege of serving in, and with, the nflat-topsn of our Navy have always known them to be fighting ships. The story of the Franklin is the story of o-ne of these fighting shipsg one that dealt out destruction from The Marianas to the home islands of Japang one that veritably returned from the jaws of what seemed certain destructiong their stubborn will to wing the American tenacity and reluctance to give in no matter what the oddsg these were the pulsating character- istics of our ships and men, characteristics that will always keep our way of life, our freedoms, inviolate. Our enemies who survived this past war will never forget the ccflat-topsv of our powerful fleets. We who knew these graceful ships and knew the men who fought and lived them shall forever honor their bravery and achievements. W. F. Halsey Fleet Admiral U. S. Navy f i i E W... ,, R is 3 i I 5 Z 5 L e Q E i Q W. ,L ,'f?: ., .aff-:gin F -i The Franklin is launched THE FRANKLIN lllARSlIAI.L D. BAnNE'r'r Hungry for the oeeanls surge, for white plumes across her how: Thirsting for a draught of oil, to snort, to roll, to plowg Longing for the touch of men, someone to pull her hook- lnoking for the enemyg the rleyils are in her hook' 7 5 Grim missionary of Peace. hut she is mighty full of hghtg Sent out with tender touches, to set the worlrl ariehtg 1,1 She flU6Sll-t lwelieye in luc-lc or omens: she is on Coclis Side of this war: She mothers recl-blooclecl Americans who know what they're lighting for' Sheis ready to die tomorrow, if dying she can turn the tideg That men may live once more, where harmonious love abidesg We salute you, proud warrior of steel, with Mizpah we say aclieu: Our eyes will he on your actionsg our prayers will he for your crew. l.I.l'IIfI'llflIlf fjuninr grfnlrjj fllflrsfrflll ll. Hurllwll, U. S. N. R., of linlnliing .Squurlrnn Till-ffI'I'Il,, was killf-11 in, rzrlion ill Ur-lnfwr, l'!l'l. ulrilr' his Sflll-lllIl'I'll'If Inns rlflrlwkirzg ilu' fllflflllfil' S'f'mf1rl l'ilr'f'l in f!l1'SIIlII, Sen. Vlzilfppinr' Islfznfls. , t. ,,,.w, M- 9 vs fn Q P tv HS in 1 1 lil r 'Q .7 FJ .1 J! i n ar E tif F5 ,za 1 n a T' 3 4 s 'I nf, ue 6 ill! ,., Q1 .... , 3 ,ny .41- Q.-4 0' L., ,If .1 ...i bl 4 ,... lim ill: F5 :::t l ' ,. 4.2. S321 ,.,. L.: lr' Huy !'f l. t ,. .. L. D., .fi Q a .wi 4 Q., ,.., i L ar ,, ,ua lr' ,ni .- ,U 4 l a--l 3--1 :lit :IJ r u o u l v. .n. n.. 3 . --1 Us iii .M .., .., - Ti 32.1 I. + n W ,,. ... f... ..,, .L lv ..., . in N- uf np. ... in an ,4- nu ... in. n. 1.. ll i xv 4 4 L 9 -.- ll: ..- 4 Ii. li nt :zo lf I' lr 1: I' 'VI ga F4 ! me 5 A A BIG BEN THE FLAT TOP . . . I stood on the clock and set down my seabag. Then I pushecl my hat back on my head and just looked. There she was . . . my ship. No name, no planes, no bridge, no guns. just a great, big hull- the biggest hunk of steel fd ever seen in my life. It looked like a floating table top. On that I was going off to fight a war . . . N CHAPTER ONE BIG BBN IS BORN ON DECEMBER TTH, 19-12, the first anniversary of the stupid and infamous aggression which plunged the United States into global conflict, the keel was laid of the U. S. S. Frank- lin, an airplane carrier of the Essex Class, in a graving dock of the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Com- pany, on the shores of the Atlantic, in Virginia. Most of the lads who one of these days would man the planes that would thunder across her deck into enemy skies or who would push her planeS, load her bombs, fire her guns, were still in school or working at home-though a handful of them, even now, were with a hardpressed fleet fighting for Guadalcanal, and others were off Africa, forging the steel noose which one day would throttle the men who ruled with horsewhips. But none dreamed that a ship was born that morning which they would sail and fight through one hundred and two thousand combat miles in five major Pacific campaigns, a ship whose warbirds would send scores of Japanese ships and hundreds of Japanese planes to destruction, a ship whose bombs would sink the mighty carrier Zuiho and a dozen other warships. This was to be the carrier on whose decks they would live through the thunder of exploding bombs with enemy planes crashing all about them, where they would fight and die to save her from a holocaust of fire. Four times they would suffer with her in battles where the Jap broke through and from the last battle seven hundred and four of them would sail her thirteen thousand miles and write into history the story of the most heavily damaged warship ever to reach port under her own power. Home from the very shores of Kyushu, shattered but un- daunted, eager to return and avenge her dead. These early days after the keel was laid knew not the noise of combat action, but they were far from peaceful as workmen and engineers toiled at top speed, under the sun and by the glare of electric lights at night, hastening the giant carrierls construction. It was not a simple task of providing a hull to support the eight hundred and eighty foot flight deck . . . almost as long as three regula- tion football fields. ln ten months she must be forged by master American craftsmen into almost a sentinent being, nearly 30,000 tons of warship. Her topmast would tower 150 feet above the water, the width of her beam would be 106 feet, the massive flight deck would rise 60 feet above the sea. Four engines would be installed, with the power of 150,000 horses, to thrust her through the water at any speed up to F12 knots with ease, and for days on end. There must be huge tanks for fresh water, for salt water, for fuel oil, for high-octane gasoline, lubricating oil- great generators not only to supply enough power to light a city but also to furnish that essential force to turn the guns, swing the rudder, raise the swift ten-ton elevators which hauled the planes from hangar deck to flight deck. This power would keep radio and radar alive, run the ven- tilators, spin the fans, hoist the fifteen-ton anchors and- what was also important-cook the meals in the great modern galleys. Thirteen quadruple mounts of 4-0 mm. machine guns would bristle from her gun galleries and island structure. Forty-six high speed 20 mm. machine guns would guard her flight deck and twelve five-inch rifles would add a lethal five-mile punch to her armament. So Big Ben was born, ten months prior to her launching on October 14-th, 1943, when Captain Mildred A. Mc- Afee, Director of the WAVES, splashed the traditional magnum of champagne against the massive bow and the dock was Hooded to lift her gently from the chocks until she floated in the sea. Now speed became ever more vital as the 2,500 officers and men who would compose her crew were being as- sembled from all over the fighting world, as well as from more peaceful, but sweating, training bases. A carrier-first and last-is a mobile base for her war- planes, her fighters, dive-bombers and torpedo planes. All the seemingly endless preparations, from the moment the first rivet was pounded into the keel, focused on the day when the planes could thunder off the flight deck to take the skies over an enemy target. Captain James M. Shoe- maker, U.S.N., a naval aviator, now designated to be Franklirfs first Commanding Officer, knew well his task and Big Ben's mission. Commander D. L. Day, also a naval aviator, would be Executive Officer, her first Air Officer, Commander Joe Taylor, had won the Navy Cross in New Guinea and had won it again as the flying commander of a torpedo plane squadron in the battle of the Coral Sea. Then, too, the 600-odd petty oflicers and chief petty oflicers who were to be the backbone of her crew began to assemble at the Receiving Station, Newport News, Va. in December, 1943-scarcely a year after her keel was laid. Practically every man of the 600 was a veteran of two years of historyls toughest naval war. One chief water- tender had helped bring the cruiser New Orleans out of a flaming Pacihc battle in which her bow had been blown f y if Captain james M. Shoemaker, U. S. N on the Navigation Bridge N 3 J A1 Mr asunder by enemy torpefloes, others were familiar with the grim road to Murtnansk. Some, like Hflld Beatriz flar- rison, carrie from thc heroic f'Old liexingtongw there were Paul and Baker who had fought on the lirttcrprise. Nlany had come from the ships that stood off the beaches at Salerno, or from the Armed Cuard's crews that fluelefl with Uoeringis Junkers in Norwayis icy waters. These men had met the enemy in fierce engagements around the blazing world, and they knew him. The 50 officers first assembled were for the most part, young reserve officers, with a sprinkling of Naval Academy men and ex-chief petty officers, but veterans all. The next step for this nucleus crew was to report to New- port, R. 1., where Franlalirfs crew would be trained for a month as a unit in the then-new Precomissioning School for Large Combatant Ships. From the day of their arrival there, December 7th, 1943, Newport Training Station was disappointing to many of the men. To them the principal mentors on this station seemed to be ancient chief petty officers of the peace-time Navy, recalled from retirement for this shore duty, who apparently did not understand that this was really a war and not the Junior Miss affair that 1918 had been from the Navy's standpoint. The super- regulation CI haircuts meted out to everyone, the rigidly enforced regulations fsuch as no smoking on the streets, shore leave up at midnightj, the general atmosphere of Newport in December, 1943, left nearly every man with a bitter feeling that was not soon forgotten. They knew this was a brief respite from sea duty and battle, it could not but rankle when they suddenly found themselves again being treated as Hboots.'7 But the training was excellent. A carrier-360,000,000 worth of her-is a complex thing.. requiring a lot of learning even to find one's way around. Using models and blueprints, skilled instructors taught every man the details of his ship. He learned how to find his place of work, the amusement center, the hospital, church, library, restaurant, sleeping quarters, and all the other factors that make a ship a sailor's home. Comdr. Taylor, now far from his action in the Coral Sea, frowned and fretted as he made shipshape the Air Organization Book, heart and soul of a carriers plan for action. Comdr. H. S. Hspeedi' Cone. Supply chief. never stopped in the swift well-organized activities which were to win for his department many compliments as one of the best supply jobs in precommissioning history, setting a record which remains unequalled. for Frarzklirfs outfitting was completed in 66 days. Comdr. F. C. ,-Xgens. Engineering Department head, newly returned from the Pacific. found time from the task of readying Big Benis machines. so ably started by his assistant, Lt. Comdr. T. J. Greene. to instruct even the deck watch ollicers in the intricate machinery they would control from the Bridge. Comdr. Day oversaw the huge operation and kept order forging ahead where confusion would have been so easy as to be almost cxcusablen-even in such an cpoc-making emergency as a world war. Captain Shoemaker first met his men at Newport. His introduction of himself deserves a niche not only in the annals ot the 1'll'Ul1hll!l but in history itsi-lt. .N strongly- built, determined man: lwl:u'lv-liaired. iu axiation greens. his words were brief but packed with punch as hc ad- dressed his men on ai bitter-cold day: Gentleiucn. l have been ordered by the lthireau to be the tirst tiounnzinding Ufticet' of thi- U.S.S. l ra.11li'l1f1z, CV Xuniber Thirteen. NX e will put the l'll'lIll,lx'lI.Il in commission and bring her to the tiring line faster than any carrier in history. Six mouths from now you will have seen what your tirst lap looks like. Thirteen is rny lucky ILUIILIIGF. Good huntingli' lt was more than a promise, for it was il fact. The going was rugged at Newport but there were bright spots as well. The first day at quarters Comdr. Day intro- duced Saxie Dowell, famous orchestra leader who was to lead Frarzklzns band. The band, whose leader had composed Three Little Fishes, Playmate and other popular songs. was popular with the ship from the start. Most members were well-known musicians in their own right: Jumbo, the massive master of the tuba . . . 4'RedH James, the boy who did things with menis hearts when he bore down on his tromboneg Dean Kinkaid, arranger for Dorsey. The first selection that Saxie and his men played was one of his own composition, 4'Big Ben the Flat-top. There may have been significance in the manner in which the words and music reveal the spirit that animated the crew of the Franklin and of every other carrier in the fighting months to come. Every man had to take swimming practice, contradicting the old and false legend that sailors are the poorest swim- -mga.. , wav if y , , nn-nun o im-rs in the world, these swimming lessons saved many a life in the lempestuous days which were ahead. liirc-fighting instruction was given-e-eanother lesson which came into use on Big lien. Gun crews studied their weapons and learned how to use them by actual firing practice. lfngineers studied the maze of valves, pipes, intricate wir- ing systems-elogether with the machinery and auxiliaries -e-that were the nerves, the muscles and almost the brains of the ship. Heads of Air, Gunnery, Engineering, Communications, Damage Control, Navigation, Medical, and Supply Depart- ments-the whole works-sweated constantly over perfect- ing the million-on-one details which must be Hgured down to the proverbial gnatis eyebrow before a major warship is ready to fight, or even put to sea. KBig Ben the Flat-top, mistress of .sea and sky . . . With every ounce of strength weill help our fighting aces fly: As from her decks those motors roar and rocket out to sea, We'll give a mighty heartfelt cheer for those wings of Victory? Officers, men-even the men behind the bass drum and the clarinet-were already instilled with the knowledge that a carrieris function was to get Navy fliers in action, to get them to the spots on the ocean wastes where they could do the most damage to the enemy, and, with every ounce of energy and sacrifice, to bring them back if human effort and endurance could manage it. Srrriv llouirel l nm! the rnen on Big lien knew they hurl the best band in the Navy 4 1- 4+ C hd P-9 L4 E ... N ,Z ci 9-1 N42 NP . , E? , t-J NU to 3 i-4 iv UQ 5 U 5' cn CIO C3 u.nv f'P E e O M VN ED o cn P1 U2 . E CI r-' CL G L . H UQ Z5 rn u 3 L 1 cn - . , UQ 2 2 0 t A P-3 R N E, L , 0 . .- ' , D . CU ' U '11 E ' 13' . 11' 'u- H. . Q - N : PP 'S 64' - G F L - . I U K 2 :I r--1 . ' x . , FE' - N' O cr u 0 ll? ' in N . C - U F' 53 . ' N . D, ns U U I 1 4 X. X. -Q nf 5 H J E s... Q 0 UQ , 5 Q.. - Yi!! IZSEGA. l za V A I 19 u f P. ll ia, ur .N I 1. r 4 a 1 . At Newport the crew had been steadily increasin . Fvery day brouffht 11ew arrivals from naval traininf stations all over the nation bome veterans were among these fresh arrivals, enough to provide a healthy leaveninff of ex- perience for the two thousand, five hundred and forty- four men which the top chiefs of the Navy had set down as needed for the crew of Bi' Ben. ported to.Newport News, Virginia and boarded their ship, already the nickname, B' Ben' had come to stay. lt had simply dropped down out of thin air, no one will ever know the name of the casual genius who first used it All Essex class carriers are named either for famous ships or famous battles, so the Bunker Hill the Intrepid the Hornet. The Fl'ClfZf'fl.fL, fifth ship of her name in the Navy, was named after an eight-gun sloop of the American Revo- lution which had serxed her country bravely and with distinction. But that franklin had been named for the il- lustrious Benjamin Franklin-therefore the nickname, ready-made, both respectful and affectionate I On the morning of January 31st, towed by tugs, she entered the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia. That afternoon she was placed in commission with impressive fanfare and under the official gaze of many dignitaries. The crew was drawn up on the flight deck-the Marine Guard was at attention-Big Ben's officers faced the plat- form which had been erected for the ceremony. The pilots of Air Group Thirteen, Big Ben's own fliers, were pres- ent. Hear Admiral Felix Gygax, commandant of the Fifth Naval District, and Artemus l. Gates assistant secretary of the Nruy were notabh, amonv the several hunt re uests. ln the wan sunshine of a winter afternoon with a chill- inff brceve after the martial music of the band no man who was there will exer forffet the brawe. solemn words of the Secretary: and won many battles and have left a record of sea-w'orthi- ness and xaliance which rise up before her as a challenffe. She will meet that challenffef As Secretary Gates spoke every person on that windswept flight deck remembered that far away on distant battle- fronts, American boys were fighting and dying. This mivhty carrier would reinforce them. This crew more boy: would soon be fighting beside them. ln the end throuvh all the misery of war, America would triumph . . A wave of emotion swept the gatherinff as Captain Shoemaker arose to accept command. Mr. Secretary and Honored Guests: uWe have followed the final stages of construction of this great ship, and know from personal observation that in a material sense she is as nearly perfect as possible. Today our Fmnklin becomes a unit of our Navy, and we are charged with the large responsibility of training our- selves to have complete knowledge of all the potentialities of our ship, to the end that she will soon be ready to take her place in the line of battle. uThis is no easy task. The ship's company and the air fdlllllflfjf 31, 79-Mg Big HUIIQS crew llSSl'Il1fIff'ff for l'UIIllI1I-SSI-Ullfll ff Ff'l't'lI10lI rw ,ll 'ff' l i 25 ' af.: fs. 0111314111-Il, Slzoenzfzlrer prepares to aecept COIIIITIIIIIII, us SL'CfI?fll7'y Cafes IIIZLZIFPSSPS Big Bemis crew and guests group together Compose the most complex combat team in the worlrl. Knowing this, we in the Franklin highly resolve that the trust reposecl in us shall prove to have been well justi tied. antl that our Ship will join the Fleet ready in all 1 f M respects to strike hard, again and again, until the enemies of this great nation shall have been beaten to their knees. The watch was set and Carrier Number Thirteen, United Stairs Ship Ffllllrlillill-iilglg Ben the Flat-topn-was well on her way to the wars. IM ,f f f W fn, f 2- . f V iiii V 5 N vt X , ,X .7 f f ., f f . 'H lo . ,D 23 ' I 1 A u Y 223 SZ E. 4 5 I .... .ii A H6 'WE 91 l'fH ' FIS? ii g. fi 5 L 1 CHAPTER TWO . . . I never worked harder in my life, nor met more people. Guys who were only names on the pay list two months ago were now my buddies. On rope- yarn Sundays we would play acey-ducey on the f0cs'l or swap lies as we caulked-of in our bunks. But other times, it was drill, drill, drill . . . KW e knew every bulkhead and rivet on that big pig-iron barge like we knew the kitchen linoleum back home THE MISSION: To seek out and to destroy the enemy, where ever he may be. THE MEANS: Those swarms of dive- bombers and torpedo planes and rocket-firing fighters which will soar from her decks. THE METHOD: 'fKeep 'em flying. Comdr. D. L. Day, Executive Ojicer until Sept. 24th, 1944 97 HIP Fon NEARLY THREE WEEKS Big Ben lay majestically beneath the huge cranes at Pier Two in the Norfolk Navy Yard while her innermost being seethed and churned. In the mind of her Captain there was a master plan, under Comdr. Day and the firm, devoted Department Heads, it came into be- ing. From lists of names on the Watch, Quarter, and Sta- tion Bills, the divisions were born--each division with its Lieutenant, with his ujgsi' and ensigns, his petty officers, each division with its Port and Starboard Watch. Men came to know their own important assignments, the faces and names of their shipmates. Each came to know his battle station and his place in fire drill, abandon-ship drill, collision drill, torpedo defense, flight quarters. He had to become familiar with the meaning of bugle calls, the boat- swain's pipe, and to accustom himself to the orders that flew through the ship over the metallic vocal chords of the Msquawkboxesf' The men not only began to know their own duties, but also to realize the importance of their own divisions and, in turn, to understand how the function of each division must mesh to perfection with that of every other division if Big Ben was to become the fighting ship which every man wanted her to be. A ' Into the master plan would fit the Engineering Depart- ment, under Comdr. F. C. Agens, ex-Bunker-Hill f'Chiefi', with its MM or machinery division that lived with, tended, and loved the mighty engines, with its GLA division to groom and pamper the many auxiliaries necessary that those engines might rung its MB division, keepers of the four giant firerooms with their boilers, the HE division to tend the river of electricity from its throbbing source in the huge main generators down to the last rivulet entering some re- mote light. All so that Big Ben might come up to 23 knots and into the wind, and the captain could give the word Commence Launchingw, and those Helldivers and Avengers could roar down her deck and into the sky. Or so that she might steam swiftly through the stormiest waters with her sister carriers to blast an enemy base and then fault- but-k into tlu' ocean mists from which slu' had conic. ln that last. desperate moment. when ilu- ltfs are barking and tlu' Qllis coimncncc to open in at wild staccato. amd tlu' captain shouts his connnands. then ttu- lfngineering Depart- ment would he able to live up to its boast and its creed: Wie answ er all bells. The uw' being men like Pop Tur- ner. w atertender first class. who looked too old for combat duty. but actually was 50 years young. and would have nothing but the toughest for himself. He went forward, that fateful March ltlth and won the Bronze Star. Men like lfsslinger. Mintoni, Hunnnel, Brown, Darjany, and hosts of others gave their life'S blood that a thing of steel should answer all bells. H-One Division and R-Two Division of the Damage Con- trol Department. under Comdr. W. R. LeFavour, who had only recently been a submarine commander. soon acquired the air of haughty efficiency which was to characterize them. Custodians of the holds and voids, ever-vigilant watchers of the status boards in Central Damage Control, welders of steel. hewers of wood. experts of improvise and uCan Dow. these boys were busy with a purposeful zeal from one end of the road to Kyushu to the other. In each of the eight Damage Control and Repair parties that stood by the length and depth of the ship when battle threatened, the key men -masters of fog nozzle. of f'Foamite',, of shoring timber. of the last hatch and water-tight door-these were boys from Damage Control. Their deeds would become legend- ary. Chief Shipfitter Durrance would die beside his burn- ing rods as he strove to cut his way through a bulkhead to free Doctor Fox and the eighteen boys trapped in the sick- bay with him. The Navigation Department, under the beloved Com- mander g:Benny', Moore, with its expert quartermasters. and its departmental auxiliary, the shipis band, was worthy of its name from the first day. While the quartermasters had their jobs to perform on the bridge, the band had their battle stations down in the powder handling rooms or on the stretcher details. ln the evenings on the hangar deck before movies the band played their hearts out, with every man-jack who could muster within hearing distance as their cheering audience. Among their most enthusiastic followers. in later days, were the crews of destroyers fueling along- side, who never tired of a flight deck serenade. Their fa- vorite request was HSidewalks of New Yorkf, The Marines came aboard as a detachment under Captain Herbert Elliotg they kept their own compartments as shin- ingly clean as their rifle racks, they manned their own group of 40 mm. mounts and stood their sentry and orderly watches with military precision. The spirit of this outht from the first day aboard was typified by the grim sort of courage that forced Private Steve Novak back into the smoking wreckage of a compartment from which he had just escaped, to lead his shipmates to safety. Or Private W. I.. Kliemozwitz, with that handful of volunteers on Big liens last 10 mm. quad. blazing away desperately at a div- ing Jap bomber with such effect that the bomb missed the ship when another hit would have sent her to the bottom. Those were liig liens .x'l2iTlItfTF the 7th Division of thc Gunnery Department. Comdr. F. K. Agens, Chief Engineer uniil May 4th, 194-1, came from the Bunker Hill to found the Black Gang it 'Diff Corndr. W. R. LeFa1'our, Damage Control Officer until Feb. Qncl, I945. :fn ex-sulmzarine skipper. Conulr. lff'lIjIl-Illifllf llloore. lvfll'I.gILfUf In Scpl. 24111. lf?-H: EA7I?Cll-lllltf? Ujicer until Dec. 20111, 1944 Big' Berfs Marine Detaclzirnelzt Aft, down on the third deck in the shipls hospital, Com- mander F. K. Smith's Medical Department had little trouble with the battle of organization-the Hospital Corps of the Navy is a self-integrated outfit and only the ucream of the crop is assigned to ships. No one, at any time, heard much from this department, but somehow it was always there when the need was mighty. Lt. Comdr. L. H. Birthisel, Jr., the fiery Texan whose gleaming high leather boots had spurned the snows of New- port as he spurned any soil or subject alien to the Nlione Star State, was uGun Boss. The Fighting First Division the Terrible Third, all the Gunnery Divisions from One to Eight, came into being branded with the fire-breathing im- print of a master gunner and rustler-chaser. It was a job .. f Lt. Conulr. L. H. Birtlziisel, Gunnery Ojicer zmfil December .1944 well done. The ,lap pilots who flamed into the Pacific can bear witness to the fact. The Communication department, under Lt. Comdr. D. I. Mather, was composed of the radiomen, K-Oneg the signal- men, K-twog the yeoman, mailman and printers, K-three. The radiomen - with sparks on their sleeves - were to flash out contact reports and receive the orders that helped to doom the last proud fleet of the Imperial Japanese Xavyg the signalmen-wearing the crossed flags - would send many a battle signal whipping from the halliards in the gusty winds of the Pacific, and they would be the most alert gang in the Fleet if Chief Harry Reese had his way. Yeomen, man- ning vital talker circuits in battle, would spend their waking moments with every report and request Big Ben could de- Conulr. I . K, Snzfflz, tlltfl. 1 t'1'gl1f Sllf'gt'UlI anal Senior illefil-cal Offzccr unitil June, ,I 9-15 .-1 Heffcafs plane captain, wary of Ilia prop, struids by with u wheel chock vise. Mailman Raymond T. Lorentz, with his hve helpers, would be the most important men aboard ship as letters be- gan to come and go. The printeris work was never quite finished and the debt due Chief Raymond D. Blair for his unselfish devotion to the shipfs paper will never be re- paid- Chief Blair was killed in action. Linder Comdr. Cone, the Supply Department had many activities. There were more than three thousand tons of groceries to fill Big Hens larders to be ordered and stored aboardf there w as government insurance to sell, payrolls must be met--and were. The pencil-pushing storekeepers checked and accounted for every last item and penny. The Commissary Section brought aboard the flour, sugar and other stores from freight cars on the dock. The Disbursing Section called 850,000 an average paydayg hit a bumper refgord of ST50,000 when liig lien pulled into lireincrton, handling scvffn and a half million dollars in the lirst lt! inontb- of 4f'IYlflf'. The Aviation storckccpcrs ran their own departrnent slorc, .Xll of those scrrtions coniposcd the S-Unc lJi'. l4l'Jf'I. .T-'lit-.o llivision Mai- inadc np of -tcwarrlis Itlillfcf lW- lialm-rs. and liilittfllf rncn. llir-sr sound tiki- huindrnin tasks. but f-H' il. inan had :i liattlr- -tation pu:--iiig jiowflrfr, kccp- ing i.-.atrli -an ttni grins. on icpaii jmrtic-. A task is not humble or menial when a man is at his battle station for many hours through the night, then passes food or clean clothing to his shipmates all day-and still grins. To every plane on a carrier comes a lad to be its constant guardian and protector. This man is not an olhcer. but is called a captain --a plane captain. And while he does not have stripes of gold on his sleeves or golden wings on his chest, he loves his plane just as surely, he sacrifices himself just as uncomplainingly. as only a real Captain could. He boasts of her deeds, he sorrows in her hurtsg he is the last to touch her before she roars down the deck, the gladdest to greet her when she lands aboard. His only duty is his plane. No tear in her sleek fabric. no rip in her tires or broken cable to her radio must ever mar her performance. Lack of gas, lack of bullets, or faulty lubrication must never make her the prey of crafty Zeke or Jap AA, or the victim of a crash landing at sea. in his leisure hours he polishes her gleaming sking he sleeps beneath her folded wings, or on the cushions of her cockpit. ln the anxious hours. while gunners stand tense and the combat air patrol is busy just over the edge of the sea. many of the quiet little knot of men uFWf'illllIg it ontii by 'Lfioinbat information ficntcru arc plzinc captains. illltfzstoryolitlit'!5vil'l.lcjvul'tIl1clll is the story of the plancis 5. f.. . it. gr. li - 1 1 fff tt.. if -??f if 5 Fit 23 ITT I .ll . in -f 1 .vf vi Pig ...j LIL! ll I 7' 1. 1 U' ps. .na nn. i-.1 r 1 A l H ,. , . L-' ,.f ... ,.. uv ,. t t I I Y .- U. ...4 ...- .... ..- R..- v- 1 N.. put guy 9... ,.. .v 4. .... :--i ,. .. ..., 4.-i in ,.. 9 6 G I I ,. 4 1 ... ,ni ...I H., ,,. p-Qi 1 'I re .. in ,. ll! L.. ,., . E.. it., 22 ilk u. xv- QI, V. IIE we ,sh an i WM fatal to planc and frcw lhe eight man teams of plane pushcrs braved thc rnenafe of whirhnff props in the half h ht of dawn to pull thc chof ks and lower the winffs, they shullled and rcshulfled planes from dawn to dusk that the Strikes might leave on time A few minute delay and re turning gasless aircraft mwht be forred to crash in the sea lihe catapult crews forward under It VI f Woodburn, if V . , f f , 1 - . V 8 0 f , f ' -1 . -fefk J ' J A' - 2 ., i:-:,f - . - . . . . V I -- -- ., g , . , O. 1524 . . . - - f ' ' . 1-pt - - f ' a V ',gr,g,z 94 ' ' , F7 ' ,. , Q . ,V ki lvl., ' . ' l V - x . , ' ' Y - ' . . . f U , , C , , . . . V ' ' V , if ,v , h r I ' . - W 1 - X . Q V ,V t , , , . . . J. f In . , .: V X V l . r . . r Comclr. foe Taylor, Air Officer until Dec. 1944, Executive Ojicer Dec. 344 to June, 1945, watches the plan-es come in, from Flight Deck Control captain. The Air Department is to its ninety planes what the plane captain is to his one. With Comdr. Joe Taylor at the head of its fifty ofiicers and twelve hundred men, the Air Department was the reason why Big Ben was in exist- ence, the reason behind all the other frantic activities which were readying her for combat. All the intricate construc- tion, all of the master plan, led up to that moment when the command comes: uPilots, man your planes! It was then, and only then, that an aircraft carrier became a fight- ing force, an element in actual warfare. The Air Department had its divisions, and what divisions! V-One, flight deck: arresting gear and barrier men must be quick of hand and true of eye. Misjudgment can be General storelteepers in their 'glVo cash-you carryn store on the Fourth Deck. STANDING: F. Melvin, C. Delellog Cene Levine, C. L. llelcDwHie. SECOND ROW: Robert Strielferg Charles Russell, Leo Smolinskig Leroy Vanet. TOP: Billy Slfibliflgi lwafllljf Solomon, David Laslrinslcy must be able to fire a dozen hghters into the air in a few minutes to meet the threat of approaching bombers. V-Two, on the hangar deck, was composed of mechanics and metalsmiths of superb skill, men to whom replacing a damaged wing was a minor operation. V-Three, the operations section, had yeomen and admin- istrators who plowed through the paper work and passed on the Air Ofhcer's commands. V-Four, the division for combat information, was most complex of all. Charged with responsibility for all radars and radios on ship and planes, it also supervised every sur- face lookout, the aerological department, the photographers and the recognition officers. Its fighter director team of a hundred radarmen and their officers under Lt. Comdr. Bob Bruning would be Big Benas first line of defense. Some day, when enemy planes would flicker on the radar screens, fighters of the combat air patrol would roar off to intercept, guided by Hvectorsw radioed from Combat Information Cen- ter-HCICH-where Lt. ,lim Griswold and his tense teams crouched over their plotting tables. V-Five, the service division, had its life-breath given it by Chief Otis Lee Corbett, a son of the old South, who died in action off Kyushu. It dispensed the ibombs, the machine gun bullets, the high-octane gasoline and torpedoes, because an aircraft carrier, as well as being a floating and movable airfield, must also be a service station of wide variety. And . . . V-Six, the squadrons: combat air crewmen for all planes, lads with the silver wings that testified they were aerial gunnersg others with the golden wings of pilots. Most l t The hfIlllfll'lI'I1.,0Sl,i supply oflieer in tlze Nzzzwx' Comdr, H, S, C0710 fSCl, USN, re-0111-fitterl tlze lzalfleslzip .Yez'aa'r1 alter Pearl Harbor, set a record 011, Big- Hpnq mmf 1,79 ,hp phil, on-ly lo outfit SOIlI,CllII'llg' bigger--Ilzf' szzper-carrier .llI.llIl'llgX'. n - ,,. .. . .....,... ,K ... . .. . . .... E 31 5 2 E X D E 0 Z B Q 1 i 5 : 7 - .- ' w....i...,.-L. -. ..-.--' XJNLL.-, M-,,-.. 1. . V 1 'A-fmaf-.v,..1Y-.1--4,-..M-H M Lf, ,,.,...,.7L-,..,-,-,Uv irsl llllfl'-U11 lfffllrlwry 2701.7 l9fLfl. Pilot, 1,'mn.1lr. 7'u,ylnrg l'lml0grnpf11'r. lfllivf L. J. lIurr1.rNe'. kfllvrz' in lI'l'fl'UlI. AIIIIFCII lfltlz, IUJS 1, I A V 1,41-f- A lgllf deck rs a dangerous place The next day Arr Group Thrrteen began to land aboard from therr trarnrnv base at Oceana Naval Arr Statron For two weeks Brff Ben prowled through the narrow con fines of Chesapeake Bay whrle the prlots souffht to qualrfy rn both day landrnos and nrffht landrnvs The flrvht deck crew the plane pushers the entrre Arr Department gath ered experrence skrll and that subtle qualrty for wlrrclr war experrence corned the awkward but expressrve word know how Flrffht quarters naturally ceased to be a novelty but the men nexer trred of watchrnff the planes come sweeprnv rn nor of the acrobatrcs of the Flrffht Deck Officers srffnalrn ahose the roar of motors The bu y teams of men rn brrffht hued jerseys and hel mets red for hre fighters, green for ordnance people yel low for flrffht deck crews were engaged rn dangerous work The slrpstream behrnd a 500 knot fighter warmrnff up for a take off equals a tornado rn concentrated strength and can blow an unwarw arlor over the srde rn the twrnklrnff of 'rn exe The propeller blades are a fonstant deadly threat to the men who work about the planes The 9P?Tl'l1I1U safety of the ffallfry besrde the flr ht defk dr appears qurrker than a man ran thrnk whfn a llxeton plans mrs es a wrre and rounrr rn that drreftron at morf than lrfty mrlfs an hour en thfrf the hfrlarfl of hrs An axrom on a rarrrrr r r wr smokf when y u an rr an rrrplanf l'lre words Smokrng lamp r ml a ow the thrrrl fer bframf a a mrlrar clrant remrndrno all hands that planes were bernv ffassed or haxrnff therr fuel remox ed untrl therr next flrvht On March 15th B10 Ben took a breather, came rnto the Xlaxal Operatrno Base at Norfolk and rested her trred new beams and bulwark besrde Prer Sesen ,lust a breather because she came here to take on her full complement of supplres and to lrll her tanks wrth lrrgh octane and fuel orl for the slrakedowrr crurse Prlots of the squadrons came aboard to lrwe and among the slrrp s Junror Oflrcers was a mrghty w arlrng and a donnrng of sackcloth and ashes as they left the rooms rn which they had been quartered to take therr rrffhtful places rn the larve Junror Ofhcer Burrkrooms Aft rn the crew s quarters, many a w oeful seanran moved hrs belongrngs to some less desrrable berth that the Arr Group men mrght have therr places Loud were the crres but Lt D G Brllrngton the Bertlrrng Ofhcer was unrmpressed and soon B111 Ben had taken Arr Group Tlrrrteen to her bosom It was here rn Norfolk on a Saturday afternoon that Xeornan T'rrst Class .loe Norwood marrred hrs best grrl Nadrne of Mramr ltlorrda Lt Comdr lxelly Arr Oper atrons Olhcer was best man Streck Hand Prsher lxar Pederson Johnson Brown all hrs fellow yeomerr were there to wrsh hrm well and assrst rn the celebratron Lrttle Joe Norwood Hood yeoman and nrosl of those buddres are s uprn now rn the l lue lat c But Br Ben has not or gotten f ' l fl L. V ' ' ' D f 7 C L, x. I f D C L f C Ls. I C C , - ' 's ' 1 r , J - ' - . ' ' 2: 0 4 v C A N Y . . . l 7 Q . U , Y , I c O C t t Y as o c ' D Y V 'S 4 s V - s f 'Sr ' 1 l 9 ' - S C ' ' V , t , , ' t : l 1 ' - . , ' ' 7 . ' V 7 . . s , , . ' C t, . , t t . t C t l D . ., .i S t c . H . . . U . V . . . -- tn '- M c ra - ' D C ' .1 C - r T - ' t ' j t - .JH - ., , - t ' ' ' tt. C , , - J . . f t, . . . , T , r, -, , .1 ' - D lr K-K ' n L D J' , .I s. D I . , x n Y . V . . . -. . , , 4 V ' 'U 1 ' 'Q ,' Q ' V. .' . . . D. V' ' f PT ' , ' 1 rw ' ' ' ' ' ' H f ' f - 5 ' ' 5 - ' 5 his f' ' , .' , . , ' f -H ' , ' - ' lh, T15 s, f. 1 f s , ,U ff . .t 5 1- ' '7 ' .. V , ' ' 7. .' . ' rev g f 'o r-' sez' z ' 5. , f ., .l - g 1 T nh. g r 3 f - ,, . . , - as ,, Q r f lp lf , l , ck 2: 1 f - 5 . CHAPTER THREE . . . We liacl some great times, loo. Scollancl Beach . . . Porl of Spain . . . there were some real guys in that olcl clifvision . . . H SHAKEDQW WITH A FAREWI-:LL BLAST of her whistle to Cape Henryis fading shoreline Big Ben and her escorting destroyers, the Wainwright and the Rhind, stood south on March 20th. 1944, bound for Trinidad, in the British West Indies-and the shakedown cruise. As the weather warmed, Big Ben and her crew stretched themselves. Divisions came to morning quarters in whites. less blouses. Men took on a tan. The Bosin, Mr. Spiewak. became more conscious of unsightly blemishes on Big Ben's skin and the boatswainis mates, with their divisions, set about remedying winter's stain. The din of chipping ham- mers, wire brushers and scrapers echoed endlessly about the decks. The Gulf of Paria is a large, landlocked arm of the South Atlantic between the island of Trinidad and the main land of South America. It has two entrances, the northern called the MSerpent's Mouth, the southern named HDragon7s Mouth. It was into the channel of the Serpentis Mouth that the little group of warships steamed on March 24th, shad- owed by the mighty bulk of Big Ben. They anchored off the U. S. Naval Air Station. For nearly a month in the calm waters of this warm sea Franklin and her destroyers ca- reened through practice missions during the day, anchor- ing at night behind the safety of the port's submarine nets. Shakedown cruise . . . It gives the captain of a new ship the opportunity to weave the men and the departments into one fighting unit, before taking her into battle. There was gunnery practice. At five miles, with five- inchers, at two miles with 40 mm. guns, at one mile with forty-six high-speed 20 mm. machine guns+every conceiv- able target situation was practiced for use in the combat that men knew was on the way when these quiet waters and planned maneuvers were left in Big Ben's wake. And the Air Department filled the air. Here it was that the men of Big Ben fastened their devotion on the planes which were their pride and joy. They strained their eyes and their hearts watching the fighters in the preparatory burst-and the bomb-toting Helldivers and the torpedo- lugging Avengers as they flashed down in screaming dives from every corner of the tropical sky. The attacks were simulated, but in deadly earnest, on the destroyer-towed targets. There were mock battles, using Big Ben's Hellcat Hghters, under Lt. Comdr. W. M. '6Wild Bill Coleman, to intercept Lr. Comdr. B. L. Kibbe's Helldivers and Lr. Comdr. Carry Frenchis Avengers. Desperate battles, radar and Grummans defending the Franklin, would thunder to a conclusion, far out at sea. When the last 'cenemyi' had been 'fsplashedf' Big Ben's defenses would relax and the attackers would come whipping in for the kill. Torpedo planes. skimming low over the blue water, would flick from side to side at a terrifying 300 knots to avoid imaginary AA and then roar over the Franklin's decks. Dive-bombers plunging from the skytop, grew by the split-second from insignificant specks into hurtling monsters that would fill a gunsight to the Xa l'larm-puislzers jolzl an .'ll't'Ilgt'f-S ll'l-IIEIS. as the flight ilf-t-A' officer signals the pilot . - W--Y .- ,. 1-un 1--1 '--- ----- ffvgr 11:-fr -- !F5'wl-75- .'.'. Y' ...Mm ...... 0 .,:i-ii 1 .,.1,,7-li. iv.-A-I-M .4 A v 1 -- zf.::r:1f'. F-7-if '.1.-zz -:':::::a.:::...l!'--Q .fflff 1 ' Q - ' ,: ' l S 1 'Z A Helldiver, a split second before it crashed rims. pulling out of their daring dives, it seemed, just be- fore they crashed on the deck. There was shore leave and every man had his day. The men had swimming from the white beaches of Scotland Bay and they could play at baseball, volleyball, football. There were cocoanut trees, too, for the men who cared to climb. But cocoanut trees have rough bark, as Yogi,' McMullen, piccolo-loving seaman, discovered when a frond snapped at the top of a tall one and he landed on every wrinkle going down. -.. .-..., .. . , , .- ,,v.,,. ......, ,-.,,,W, .,,-,,V,,... ,dir Group 7',liI'll'f'f1,7.S ffnrrtrrtumlwre- fffomdr. ff. ff. 66 ' ' 99 Sunshine llozwrlrur The restricted zones of Port of Spain led many a curious lad to venture forth in search of some justification for the Navy's taboos. Radiomen Frank Wickers and Johnny Bas- ham were among those who found themselves struggling in the web of jungle violence. When rescue came they were whisked away by Shore Patrol in the Navy's own Black Maria. Some, like Ron Noyes, were typical American tourists and brought home the full quota of carved horn ash trays and pillow souvenirs. Others, like ulinxw Dizek, missed the spirit of things. 'gJinx brought back a heavy fever, which later developed into measles. The first few days of the shakedown, however, were dis- appointing. Plane after plane would take off, roar down the flight deck, then tumble into the water or spin away to one side and crash in the sea near the ship. Mechanics sweated into the night, civilian experts ate and slept with the problem-when they slept at all. No one had been in- jured yet, the water was warm and a crash-boat from the destroyers was always on hand. Yet it gave every man on Big Ben a bitter sinking feeling to see those huge, beautiful machines go thundering up the deck, so seemingly full of power, then veer and crash into the ocean. They were not loaded, what would happen when they had to carry a ton of bombs? After several days, when the fourteenth plane, and the third in a row, had staggered off the end of the flight deck to circle wildly then crash and sink in a welter of foam, the Air Officer roared on the speakers: HFlight quarters cancelled! Conferences were held. Capt. Shoemaker, Comdr. Day, the Air Group Commander, C. C. '4Sunshine,' Howerton, the civilian technicians and mechanics struggled with the prob- 79 lem. There was no one simple explanation. The planes were older models with three-bladed props instead of the i a s if 4 L lv .lj Jans- Tj if. :Ir gr it if fa ii EL a 5 LE 5? it ga it 1. ij. R 1 if 1,- 'af if 1-5 5 ri si L A. if W it lei wi A 15- 1-9- ffiii 77-339- I. 'Rin-'EVWFQE W l iv Ji, ff a'i Miraculously uninjurecl, izfs pilot and gunner escaped . . . the plane sank in 45 seconds newer four-bladed ones. They carried more equipment than design had provided for. The carburetors required re- adjustment to meet tropical flying conditions. Pilot tech- nique was a factor, experienced pilots lost fewer planes. But what was the answer? There were serious talks in the ready rooms that evening: 'fBoys,', said Comdr Howerton, Hfor the last three days we have been putting on the aquatic act lets give them an aerial show' Now this is the way And 1nto the night mechanics toiled feverishly Next morning at flight quarters, a thousand eyes were on the Hrst Helldrver that rolled up to the take off spot Mechs grimy but confident, watched with tired eyes as the big plane went storming up the deck Before it reached the forward elevator the wheels were in the air and she soared up so powerfully the mechanics could have wept for Joy The gunner in the rear seat, anxious a moment before clasped his hands over his head 1n triumph as the Helldrver climbed away Big Ben never lost another plane on a deck take off Sunshine Howerton had been named by sailors Al ways a kind word or understanding smile as he passed the little guy sweating over his bench or straining under his thought he was soft There was the time in Trinidad when he alone of all the fliers had some difficulty in finding his way back to the Franklzn When he finally returned aboard he delivered himself wrathfully of the remark If you can t find the ship boys, just head for the biggest rain cloud you can see Big Ben will be rrffht in the middle of it Throughout the lonff months of combat flyrnff rn the oft times rainy Pacific the pilots of Air Group Thirteen counted this as reliable advice Only one fatal accident occurred during the cruise Dur ing the afternoon of March 31st, Charles Van Camp, 18- year-old ordnanceman, was fatally wounded when the 50- caliber machine guns of the Hellcat he was de-arming acci- dently discharged. He was buried at sea, the first of many who gave their lives at their posts on Big Ben. On the more placid side, it was at Trinidad that the first issues of Hfiadio Press Newsfl six pages a day ungarbled from the static by Radiornan George Jarrett made its ap pearance Edited by Dick Hand and Joe Halle, mlmeo graphed by Chuck Greshko the 600 copies were distributed in the early hours of the morning watch B1 Bens own newspaper, bringing news from home and the world It was prized by the men, the captain had a prix ate copy with his morning coffee And the Franklin Forum, Big Ben s monthly paper, ar rlved through the efforts of Chaplain C A Chamberlain and Chief Printer Blair There are no copies left rn the official files but they are treasured all over the world today rn many scrapbooks It was here, too, as much needed light relief, that the Franklin Frolics were born Nick Kenny s songs Honey boy who was none other than the fabulous Lt Red Har r1s, in blackface Honeyboy Harris was with B10 Ben a reminded men that they too would ruther be home Mrstah Shoemaker Tom Kelly s golden rorce and the old Irish ballads he used to srno they still ring down the hanoar deck rn the er enrnffs So shakedown ended Taps came, clear and sweet, to seaman ind to captain The officer of the deck looked up at the Southern Lross The quartermastcr sounded ewht bells wud ill well B1 Ben hulked huge frnd grim against the dark shrouded horrron D -- 7 M , , , 7, . . . . I . .D . . . I N 7 , . D . , D - g , , . . . , Q C D T . ' L a I ' ' 7 9 . 44 . ,, , . cc 4 - 9 77 7 - 9 . ca '- - . . I 77 V ca I 99 0 7 ' - tg - ,g . . . . , ' - cc 77 - Y ,- - ' o load of bombs, They swore by him, though no one ever long time, but fair weather or stormy, his skeptical thoughts . . . . ' 4 1 Q , - 0 9 9 C 9 i N - . . . . 77 cc 77 9 Y - .- D . e M l N ' ' cf- r r: T :Q . . g . 4, . I . . 5 9 9 ' ' s . Y , . l 0 u 1 u u ,Q I V f . n . D , r , c .. , . c , . D D ' e . s ' 9 C 9' , 33. 3 ' ' , ' ' ' fg It a 's '-. ' ' ' . 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Ht' thou Ll5FllI'l'fl lllfl fV'l'f'XY tllut Ilif- tiliit-li luis' oi' cxvi' uillf -ui'vt'l+ into tliv pugvs ul' liistory. glI'PilllASl ul' all tht- c'11u11t1'y's xx 9111111115 mas lim tfllllll sis s11f'l1 'liliv iivxt iiioriiiiig tliv Xiltill :XC'L1tltxIIly.S lifltlfll of Yisiturs Us Hwflfl UI' llw VNV ll lil? UNI' Qiisiwwtvtl Iiig llvii. NlillSllillIllt'll. L1KlIIlllALilF. C'lJllt1'I'txSSIIlCIl. 'lwlic IHIUSF was not lm' lung. 'lilac next Jay lsfllllkfl-Il t'1lt1x LiZUt'5. xwrc slmuii cwly 1ln'lu1l't1iicl1t of llll? lutvst imijm' riiou-cl into llilllllllltll Rfbilfli 111111111-tl at lliv ,Ntllllillx Natal mirsliip to join llltx miglitivst Navy in lliv xxorlrl. Svmitor liaise. aml lnftll 111 Iwi' sailors sruttviwl 1111 lllflll' first rvzil liyy li1f,1, ll 1111 fl i'1l1'1-H11111l 11-111ly. ,x11111y,s I-llfil lf11' lflillll 111 l1111111'f1 lhixirl I. Walsh. ul Nlassuvlllisctts ztrlrlwssf-cl tin- 1'1'vu mall' Chief Boatswains Mate Bog Gregg Qcenzerj with two of his assistant policemen . . . Gregg used to walk 15 miles a day on Big Ben, in his Chief Master at Arms post liberty in more than a month. Not even wartime censorship can defeat the intuition of a Navy wife or sweetheart, there were many happy reunions on shore that evening which might mystify Naval Intelligence. Monday, April 19th, Big Ben moved to the huge drydock at Portsmouth. Urgent voyage repairs must bemade, acres of bottom must be scraped clean of barnacles, even on so young a ship. Final supplies were taken aboard-for the next destination was no doubt the Pacific Ocean and Admiral W. F. uBull,' Halsey's Third Fleet. Every man would have four days' leave before sailing, those not on leave must work double time. For three days and nights the duty sections labored heroically to clean and paint the bottom. After two days, barter with the sup- ply department extra rations were promised for the men on the third night. There was many a sardonic jest when this extra ration turned out to be a solitary candy bar per man. But in high spirits, though weary, the herculean task was finished in record time and the drydock flooded By May 4th all yard work was done but those words are woefully inadequate to describe what went on aboard and ashore before the last leave party returned and the last freight car on the dock had been relieved of its burden Aboard for just one example the catapult had been re moved from the hangar deck to the flight deck, a colossal task in itself, ashore, one lad was stretching his four day leave into thirty because he had met a young lady school teacher and had been in constant attendance in the First Grade of a Norfolk public school A sense of finality hung over these last days The spring weather made even the drab streets of Portsmouth attractive In the warm evening air the lads went ashore in gay little groups, to lose themselves in heedless crowds The war was real grim, and near, men thou ht of the distant Pacific and wondered when, if ever they would see another State side The warrant officers honored Captain Shoemaker at a party which was to bid farewell to the States and to Norfolk, which has been described by an Army Wag as the perfect Port of Embarkation-no matter what the destina- tion, it is a pleasure to go, if Norfolk can be left behind. New faces were aboard Big Ben before she departed. Tall Lt. Walter Kreamer became Communications Officer, reliev- ing Lt. Comdr. Mather. Ens. Stanley S. Graham, possessor and uninhibited user of a foghorn voice which earned him the name of uSteamship, leaped the rail in these final moments. Much to the sincere regret of all hands of the Engineering Department, as well as a host of others, Comdr. Agens turned his Chief Engineerls post over to his aide, Lt. Comdr. Greene, bid everyone a perfunctory good-bye, and disappeared over the side before anyone could see the tears in his eyes. Chief Boatswain's Mate HAnthony Wayne was called to shore duty and Chief Bob Gregg became head Master-at-Arms. Gregg, jovial but eflicient, was known in a week as 'fthe only friendly Master-at-Arms in the United States Navy, a man with only one vice-Copenhagen Snuff. Big Ben, fueled to capacity, stood out through the channel on the morning of May 5th, to be joined by three new destroyers, the Twiggs, Leary, and Cushing. A year later, locked in mortal combat with suicidal ,lap planes off Oki- nawa, the Twiggs would go down in glory, guns blazing. Off Cape Henry, Franklin and her escorts turned into the wind. Air Group Thirteen landed aboard, to take up per- manent residence, or as permanent as such hazardous resi- dence can be in time of war. With all watches set, air pa- trols in the sky, Task Group 12.1 steamed southward through the mists, toward Panama. May 11th, 100 miles from the approaches to the Panama Canal, the Thirteenth Air Group, in all its roaring, low- fiying splendor, hurled itself in mock assault on the great Waterway to test the Army's defensive strength, and as a spectacular announcement that Big Ben was on her way to the war. Half the crew went on shore leave in Cristobal, then by evening of the next day she had squeezed through the westernmost lock and was berthed in Balboa. One day here, with liberty in Panama City. was one It fomdr Thomas 1 frffm USN l'7l.,IIltfV'1ll., 0 r llnv 1944 fo july 1945 flfllllg flflllfllf' 0 Cer to lllm 1946 1 1 1' D 11 . 'K . h ' ' 1 . - . . . . D. , , 7 D . ' n 7 . . 1 Spring. , V N77 w -I , I . 1. ,. . - -. .1 ', tt, if -K0 MCP, F I 1 n 1 V lv. , 1 V .,1. . F1 t. I I . 1 1.. , 4. fl r h, ... . kiwi a f0llflillt' patrol can hare a lively emlirig. This Hell- dzirer is hvrzded for frouble. .4 zving is srm1sl1ea'. us he Crash- ws into after gun ruolznf. Pfffff and grand foray into souvenir-land, with unhelievalile nylons. Chanel Number Five from l rz1m:e, alligator skin hugs. Sui-s wrist watches. all manner of impressive gifts for that girl ltdfli home-Wand all the other loot ai sailor loves. Thr- little task group stood north on Hay lfith. with the- Pommand in liig lien. Daily llighr operations. daily pound- ing away at target lvalloons. daily drills hy every depart- ment and dixision -filllfl an ominous lar-k of dt-tails mu-h day in Ulladif, I'r1--- Xexxsu alvout thf- avtual operations in the lj2:If'iiIf'. xxlwiwl 'liask l'iUl'f'f' l ifty-1-iglit was poised some- ulierf-. rffaflx lor lfattlf: rlihr-rw had he-f-n no major operation -imp Xlarfh. 'HW Xlarshalls xwre 5I'f'lllif'1 hloofly 'liaraua .ind linix-.vtok uf-rv history. Xliifwxflllllfif- mr-in vontiinirtl the lf rflflntlws- mopping-up in Nut Georgia. New Guinea. tht- rolornon-A gUTfl4 Altf'l ' there- was li -till-poxwrlul .liiIH1lll'Hf' NAU.. Vkhf-o would il fomr- out 'ind light' tould nr- Us-t tlwrv- lu !Ytf 'l thf- thru-I? Vlihf- men of lily ll:-ri talks-rl mon' 1 ... A l,.l..... . M IH'Hu,4 . . .,.... v-..: V, 4 x . . I l, 1 .-e3gvqj :'i',.i:. ,.. ., -L x -Q Q .. . I .. I .lust Ull!'1lily out oli Sun I,l1':1!lI,HIl May ltith, :willy rooms xterm- ulvrtml. 'llha' fkriny Air l oi'f-v, vlmrgt-fl with proterting San Dim-gois xulnt-ralilt' warplants, haul lm-n informed that a giant i't'llt'Illy-i 1-urriel' with l'Sf'Ul'lllItlx warships, was slipping nortlmtml to throw a suicidal hlow at the-se previous in- stullations. Mitt-In-ll hoinhers, Flying Forts, long range recwonnais- sam-e liilierators. were searching through the fog oll' the lfalifornia coast for ai carrier with the numlier Tliirteen in huge ligures on her flight deck. They were still SCf2iI'Cll- ing the next day. with Big Ben only 100 miles off San Fernando Island. Clouds. rain squalls. favored the raid- ersg llig lien lurked in the middle of the lilaekest squall. Then a lucky Mitchell. speeding through the overcast, had a Contact on his radar screen. Like a pencil line, his course ., -..gJ Q gunner are shaken hu! not badly hurt. Fin' a'1'dl1,t start, this time. Hu! hoses are ready as fhglzt deck crews szmrrn ahoul plane. L ef-if ,I+ ' 'e ' f Y li 1 : : :' I -53 4 -I' vs- C 1 : 1 - 5- -1 tr 7 1: , 'l 'r 1 , I I .v.-wu-,..- -.ff-v l 'f, '--F Xl, ,, I f , 77,7 , as a V .,,, r it , as s W if l ' -,f ,gif g. ,fs 1 ,ij ,dy ' JL'-j,. '.' ic ' U, ' ,JV . ,' ' , ,f , ,, ,V , we f i f f s ss3'..,m-sf'-M- 73 7 , W2 V ' 'G I 5 f ' .. sm qw, at ,.. X- Q v, - Q 4. td -: I .sm ,, 0, ,s , L-tw ', , Q ,' ,,,,V,! 4,g ,Him ,NV A A V , , 'f Q.. . s .W aft -ff , - -4' eff , f ' - 't MM JD fi . ..ns V2 , 10 2 ..,.,v- 'N' X M . ' K ' F .-aln1t4r,,..,....,, inf'--' 4. 1- l Every big flal-top in the Navy made their last stop here at Ford Islanid, in Pearl Harbor, before steaming westward into battle veered for the little group of warships. There was tense action in CIC as Hellcats were ordered catapulted from the deck, and another pencil line moved across the plotting boards, to intercept the search plane. But it was too late. Radio on the Mitchell had warned the waiting airfields on the mainland. The Hellcats cut the Mitchell down 50 miles from Big Ben, but now an ominous warning of many swiftly approaching planes came from Into the wind came Task Group I2 1 Destroyers closed 1n a tight circle that their powerful AA batteries might better defend the carrier Dozens of Hellcat fighters were racing off to battle the Army bombers Dozens of carrier bombeis roared into the sky and arrowed for the prime targets in the San Diego area Soon came the swirl of mock battle as Grummans tore into Flying Forts But some of the Mitchells and Forts slipped through the fighter screen, twisting and turning to dodge imaginary AA then levelling off for their bomb runs Every gun in the task group had them covered 1t had seemed very real uiet returned however, and Big Ben finally rested at the San Diego Naval Air Station Air Group Thirteen had already landed ashore, mechanics, ordnancemen, plane cap tains, and others hurried to the planes to take up their un ending tasks Two days were consumed in urgent repairs after the I0 000m1le run from Norfolk Fuel and supplies were rc plenished half the crew were given shore leave, with pref erence going to men whose homes were on the West Coast Three days were needed for operations at sea in which Rear Admiral Sherman Commander of Fleet Aircraft, would pronounce upon the readiness of Big Ben and Air Group Thirteen for battle After all tests Admiral Sherman was satisfied, back in San Diego things begun to hum 'warn Two thousand passengers, lnevltahle complement of a car ner anywhere except in action brought themselves and their baggage aboard Tons of supplies were loaded Days were busy but there was shore leave 1n the evenings Franlclirfs crew saw also another side of war prepara- tions. Each morning, long chains of landing craft, LCT, LCI's, LClVI,s, and others, loaded to the gunwales with troops, would pass down the channel for drills on the coast. Late in the day they would return, a tired, sweating bunch of soldiers-the men Big Ben would later cover and assist with fighters, dive bombers and torpedo planes. Shore leave expired at midnight May 3lst At dawn next day, with the Twrggs Leary Cushmg, and cruiser Denver Big Ben edged into the channel and stood westward with her passengers, 500 tons of urgent cargo her 90 airplane and a crew of nearly 3 000 men She was headed for a fast voyage to Pearl Harbor, at 23 knots, without air patrol She entered the winding channel to Ford Island on June 5th Here, at Pearl Harbor th11ty months after their demol 1t1on, men saw the wrecks of what had once been the battle ships Arzaona and Oklahoma They saw also the speedy repairs which had been made to the base since December 7th 1941 they saw the formidable defenses which had been constructed Army planes wheeled ceaselesslv oxerhead there were bristling rows of anti aircraft batteries and radar stations which felt their way through the skies with magic rays from their weird antennas This was a Pearl Harbor for men to remember, just as that other Pearl Harbor is one that the world will not forget On December ith, 19-lil this had been the lNaxy s front line post in the Pacific Now Pearl Harbor was a staffing base, 3 000 miles from the nearest ,lap in arms bw Ben and America had traveled a long w ay but the hardest Journew still lay ahead Here the passenoexs debaiked to go their xartou ways aftei a four day trip which would haxe taken muah longer by even the fastest transport then plowinc the Pauht lhe planes of All Croup Thirteen had been llown to Puuneme hut the next moinme the Franklin ind her destroy er escort put to sea to ICIIG'-ll the lheis in night ldlldllll the most delicate open mon wluch carrier personnel must mas t Ilwo tiny iows of heht on her fhght detk usxhle only from astcrn were there to guide in the planes coordination CIC. , , - , . . . . I Y 7 '. . . ., 9 'S - , . 7 A . , - . b , ?. . Q . c. F - I , . . 0 , - 1 . . . . , . -F A T . . ., a ' 1 2 . .. .. I , 1 ' P Q 1 s - - . n Y . ' f- , r . T. v vs . , N, - 1' ' I r 3 ix: :- I ' ' - - - 1. ' 3 sf a- ,C f a ' D ' V ,. ,J' . . . . . , , 7 D - . V A l , V S Y. avg, ' - . . , ' - F r I - -s H L ' ' ' . - . - rs P ' Q ' j' I N X , D . , I ' I I ' ' . ' r ' ,, ,i ' . . ' l - l C l ' . ' - . ' , . , D . - D , , , . ,, , ,g . . l I L - I S , . , . As I, , Y, A L ' L :Ps . I ' ' u 0 I ., , .. , , . 1 , 4 , , Q K 5. ' ' Y ' - s . . - c . . Cl. ' 'S ' , Y ' ' ' D ' 1 ' ., ' Y . .- .x , ' ' V - s .. t , , , , 3: , Uluigi 1 t 1 J The if-us of Pop ll rigiztis S-Tzro I7l.l'iSI-Ull' were serious about the war and in dead-earnest about their religion. that would make a micrometer look like a steam shovel was necessary to success - perfect harmony in the movements of pilot. plane. lighter director. and the big ship herself. Even the episode of Willy could not slow down these final preparations. It was on this cruise that 'CRed Harris discovered among his plane-pushers a huge colored boy, sweating as only a colored boy cang doing as much work as any man on the ship and obviously enjoying it more than twice as much. It was an odd sight, but uRed,' passed it oli' with a shrug. thinking that one of the steward mates had come up for fresh air and exercise, curious as the latter seemed. Willy became known all over the ship. Below the third deck he labored tremendously with the engineersg on the hangar deck he fell in with working parties and joined willingly into any toil. Willy was taken for granted as a part-some partvof the crew, for no man arises to ques- tion another man who is working hard and seeming to love it. Une day. however: 'dlistuh Wright, Ah'd lak to get paid hve dollars, suhfi This to Lt. Pop Wright, harrassed mess manager, who saw in Willy just another of the l50 Negro boys of his 5-Two Division. Pop signed the request, as did Lt. Qorndr. l'aul Speer. aide to the executive oflicer, merely as a matter of adding to Pops endorsement. and hardly looking up lrom ln- desk. l'ayrnastf'r less iilliritton. how ex er. had to be a trille more tHl'inif:al :ilfout tht--1: matters. llc sent to the execis ollice lu' W lllii' tray 8f ounts. 'lille exec-s ollir-rf flifl not have them and a rninor sfpiall -f'Y'VIlf'll tlireatening. Then someone 1 . . . 'tiff ight to ,J-Lp ll illj. about Iliff situation. 'illilrffrffifl you Vflliflf from. larry? L lwflf- lsldfii lllll H lirriliglil jylpljf fmriyrl- Qjllll jigjy 3-fjf'lllll'llF: llllllll ytlllf Nu .i-rf lfy'jl1-jfjg for rnv pay aff-onnts, sul' dey was lost ff l 7iX llfilf' .i2 1.H llwi, it all fijfflf' wit. in 21 -ll'lltt11rif'Xf'lll5 which will not Fighters of VF-13 at Puunerne dirfielrl. Maui. during Big Berfs operations at Pearl Harbor stand dialect. Willy had not been paid in two monthsg his clothes had gone the way of the Lucky BagHNavy Lost and Found Department. So had his bedding. He had been denied liberty-so he had just come aboard Big Ben in his dungarees. to get away from Ford Island and its restrictions, and out into the broader Pacific where he might see what a lap looked like. He simply wanted five dollars for a few little things such as cigarettes and soap. He was willing to Nwuk like Hellf, But it was no soap for Wiillyg the Naval llegulations. which he did not understand. decreed that he must go hack to lford lsland. lle was standing on the dock. sad and df-jerfted. when Big lien. on ,lune l-ltth, stood out to sea. and to battle. ...raw 05.1471 kb f A 91 f? K, L, f Q 14 N, F I - 1 1 Y '1ffi Q , QM XC? 'l fl 1 FGX HQ Willyy' wanted to go to war on Big Ben . . I M The Toughest Sailor, alittle Berzf? te Us the SP fSh0re Patrolj where to 'ahead inf' X i 12 Il K I' 'I' Ifl It I I Y IC I mm 11 tm, fu' !l1'zHll1 'fl'UIlI Illf' fur Il lun limw nun' ww ffl!!!-1 lt'Ul'lAt .5 fy .. ... ffflx' 1 gmlffvl to . . . lfzwlwgx II frffrz lIIlllll'!l l'Ifllll'l'U1l.t on Nllllzlwr flllw fllnllnl tsrm f,'1.w fwffwf' fmt! l'1'w fluff 1111'l1f' . . . H 1 1 f 1 ,V 'yr 1 Y If IR lr L1 IO xx rxprm 1 mimr .wt cxcltvnrvnt multl lat- ll-lt as Itig Ilvn Xlurine Corps uml Arrny slippml into Pearl Harlmr fm lrpptwl out nl, l't'41rl IILIIIIWUI' on jum' I5tl1. SUIIIl'XXlIl'I't'. ITIIIICIIIIII. Silvlrtly IIIUY It-lt. over tlle Sva HIICI into tlrf- trsgzmls wt milt-5 to tht- xwstutml tlu- miglrty lfilllm mul ft-tting sun, c'i1'clcrcl Ivy Sfltli1fIl'OIlFUlI lean. grey clestroyers. txllllt tflwlf NWN' ?i1llH'I'1'tl for tmwtltt-r Irislurit- assault :XIllt'I'IfAJ.t wus on tlw road lvackl xxqfjtllfl the next Strike Irv tw the lfmp1rc'- tlvllvrrst- lirws. IItIlItIl'ClIt4 ul' Il'LlIISllUl'IF. ,Q1g',g1Itl5lIIlySItIl'I0tlS. IIIlIJl'i'QIIC1llItAn Truli? The Pllilippines? vmmwl with lnrrxlvm-tl. Sl1IIlttII'IIl'tI slim-k trumps nl' Ill-f rIIltt'IIlLlIIll21IliIUlilllllllil? Surncxslrme a still powerful Im- , f I ful, HU ,WJ fl lj jf' l1tl,,,,,,,f ,!,-,Milly lull' my flip Hl'lI'.N'u 'fIl'l' ruff: yum. 'ri 491 .Nz 53? .5 4- , 'lit iii: Q... 1,4 'iii '1 1 . 392 -F: -. ,,, il fi, sl ,Q Q 4: 5' I: r. rr rf i ,. 1. - 5 bt if ., FW' f-2 'I . '1 .. V i perial Navy rode the high seasg it numbered battleships, carriers, cruisers, dozens of destroyers and submarines in its fleets. Millions of fanatical yellow troops garrisoned an un- defeated Empire. The air force that had sent the Prince of Wales, the Repulse, the Arizona, the Oklahoma, the Lexington, the Yorktown, and scores of other warships to the bottom, still patrolled the skies above .lapan and its island fortresses. Hawaii dropped quickly into the sea. Astern a thousand yards, the new cruiser Denver glided along in Big Ben's wake. Old friends, the Twiggs and Leary, with two other destroyers, tossed and plunged ahead. Shortly after clear- ing the harbor Comdr. Day spoke to the F ranklin's officers and the fliers of Air Group Thirteen: Gentlemen, on June 15th, fthat's todayl , the Amphibious Forces will land the Second Marine Division and the 27th Army Division on the Japanese island of Saipan, in the Mariannas group. The landings will be supported by the Seventh United States Fleet, Vice Admiral Kinkaid, com- posed of the battleships Tennessee, West Virginia, New M ex- ico . . f' the list sounded like a roll call of all the fighting ships of the Navy. '4The Fifth Fleet, Vice Admiral Spruance, consisting of carriers and battleships, in Task Force Fifty-eight, will operate between Saipan and the Philippines, the direction from which the laps are expected to counter-attack. The Fast Carrier Task Forcefof which the Franklin will be a unit-will cover the landings and destroy the Imperial Jap- anese Fleet if the opportunity presents itself. One group of fast carriers will neutralize by bombing the Bonin Is- lands, of Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima, from which the Japs might send air strength into the Mariannas. 4 'fAt last reports, an enemy concentration of six battleships five carriers twelve cruisers, and thirty destroyers was as- sembling in the Philippines and has been sighted by our submarines moving into the Philippine Sea Make no mis- take We think the Japs are going to come out and fight this time. We are going to be ready for them. The Franklin with her escorts, will remain in reserve in the Eniwetok area as reinforcements until called upon This is it To the crew of officers and men, to helmsman and lookout pilot and engineer, this was it, the first certain indication of where Big Ben might expect her entry into battle Of course, the pattern might change, as so often 1t did change but here was something more definite than mere scuttlebutt. On June 17th the Franklin crossed the International Date Line, longitude 180 degrees east The calendar moved back one day, there were two Sundays in a row Now the combat air patrol took to the sky, six Hellcat fighters to protect the little task group from a surprise attack Big Ben entered the circular lagoon of Eniwetok on June posts, and had been in Japanese hands only three months before Torn hulks of .lapanese ships, ripped to tatters by American steel and American courage, lay in the anchorage mute but eloquent tribute to the American boys from all sections of the nation, who had splashed ashore to cut down the fanatical Imperial Marines to the last man There were also rusted helmets of American type, rows of lonely white crosses. Meanwhile, meager and delayed reports of the action on Saipan came in. Marines were hanging on, an Army divi- sion was ashore, Jap planes were coming in from Guam to attack the transports as they lay along the beachhead. Then word came that the Japanese Navy was steaming toward the scene. It was the job of Task Force Fifty-eight to see that it never got there. Four hundred miles from Saipan, the Japanese launched a cloud of dive-bombers and torpedo planes which--the J aps believed-would seal the issue. How Admiral Mitseh- er's fighters took care of this Oriental dream is a part of history, but Big Ben never got into this First Battle of the Philippine Sea, since the Japanese Navy did one of its famous vanishing acts after Mitscheris men had blasted down its air cover. Big Ben, like a substitute at a football game, was still sitting on the sidelines when orders came on June 29th to break the inaction. The Franklin was to join Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison's Task Group 58.2, bound for Iwo Jima to maintain the enemy airfields and installa- tions in the Bonin Islands inoperative. She was to be in company with the carrier Wasp, the light carriers Monterey and Cabot, all escorted by the cruisers Boston, Canberra, and S-an Juan, with nine destroyers in the screen. The Bonins, only 600 miles south of Tokyo, were heavily patrolled and guarded. Their airfields were stepping-stones for the squadrons which might be flung into the desperate battle that still raged on Saipan. By July Ist the task group was steaming through waters constantly patrolled by Jap Search planes-usnoopersfi as they are called in Navy language. The American combat air patrols were doubled in strength and the radarmen never took their eyes from the screens that might disclose the ap- proach of a fbogey Since surprise is the essence of a carrier-borne attack, enemy search planes must he spotted and shot down before they could locate the task group and flash a warning to home bases It ts as that afternoon when Big Ben s first casualty in combat zones saddened all hands. Lt Clarence F Kelly Blair lanky hard-flying leader ofa division of the Thirteenth Air Group, suddenly side-slipped and plunged into the sea as he attempted to land after a patrol Neither plane nor pilot were seen again The task group was only 4100 miles from Iwo Jima on July 3rd when a long range Japa iese search plane sneaked in low over the formatlon dropped two bombs, which nar- rowly missed a destroyer, and fled The plane was identi- fied as an Emily a name well known to men who fought the Japs Types of enemy aircraft were designated by girlr or boys names-thus the Betty, Jack Jill Zeke Frances and dozens of others In the afternoon Admiral Davison decided the Japs might be aware of his approaching force and decided to do some across th remalmnff 300 miles to surprise the enemy on the ground and shoot up his planes The fivhters returned at sunset, reporting that they had knocked down a dozen .laps as they were taking off and had damaged many others on the ground Through that night the group sped on toward the morn ' 1 za Hl S , ' A 97 1 ' ' Q . . r 1 r x ' . tr 4 L6 - . gg 9, . 5 u n 3 7 7 , . l 7 , ' as . li X: , . ' . - 5 ' ' . U 1 - 1 X , . . . 9 7 is D ' . ' I , ' - cc - 997 C l 5 - ' . ' ' . ,O f si 2 ' ' r g g K i ' ' .2 1 . s ' . . . . . i : ' 21st. It was a dreary spot, but one of Amer1ca's farthest out- thing about it. Twenty Hellcats from the Wasp were flung - Q . . . .N ' . . b 'D t ' '-' . . D ' . . 52 , . Ksapx Big lien and the light carrier Monterey make a 180 degree twrn to rejoin formation ing position. Attacks were to begin at dawn and Captain Shoemaker had promised the crew a Fourth of July cele- bration with fireworks aplenty at the expense of the little men who did not believe in independence. Bib Ben, named for one of America's greatest leaders, was to see her first action against an enemy of her country on Independence Day! The captainis promise was fulfilled. All day strikes roared from the flight decks of the four carriers in this con- centrated attack on Iwo Jima, Chichi Hima, and Ha Ha Jima. The enemy seemed stricken with paralysis. Hellcats shot down Zeros over their own airfields. Helldivers loosed tons of bombs on gun positions, airfields, hangars and bar- racks. Avengers roared in low over the coastline, dealing death to shipping with their torpedoes. Big Ben lost three good men on that flaming Fourth: Lt. fjgj Milton Bonar, from Akron, Ohio, was shot down by Jap flak. His gunner, Albert D. Lowenthal, from Pulaski street in Baltimore. perished with him when the dive-bomber l'ilol.s of Air Group Tliirlrfrfrt relax in tim figlilvris ready room . . . lorrwrroui will be ll busy day . . crashed into the sea. Later in the morning, a damaged Hellcat, missing the wire with its tailhook, crashed the bar- riers and careened into the island structure. The pilot, Lt. ljgj Davy Jones was seriously injured. Eighteen-year-old, blond Jimmy Mulligan, electriciangs mate and movie oper- ator, was struck by the plane and instantly killed. Throughout the day the force steamed within sight of the islands. It withdrew that night and set a course for Guam, arriving off the northeast coast of that Jap-held island on the morning of July 6th. Guam was one of the four major Japanese bases in the Mariannas. Saipan, the main base, writhed helplessly as its garrison slowly died at the hands of American soldiers and Marines. Rota, Tinian and Guam remained. They must be pounded to impotency from the air, their swarms of planes destroyed, their garrisons prevented from aiding doomed Saipan. On c4William Dayf' July 21st, Guam itself would be invaded. Then, for the first time since December Lt. Willy Cove cuts his birllzrlay cake T' , X 1 ' li ,T i T . W . 95 gs . . .Q Si 1 Xi . Lg fl.. Bombers from Big lien gave the laps on Guam lots of headacfres 10th. 1941. free. fighting American troops would walk again on the soil of that islandg would redeem the flag that had been trampled there in the dust. The afternoon of arrival, sixteen Hellcats from Big Ben, each armed with six rockets and six 50-caliber machine guns, went in for the preliminary kill over Cuam's Orote penin- sula. Here were barracks for thousands of Jap troops, sup- ply dumps. ammunition stores, gun emplacements, an air- field. Flak was moderate at first, but increased heavily as the attack progressed. Again and again the Hellcats thun- dered over the Jap positions, pouring destruction on the en- emy, starting dozens of fires, silencing guns, blasting build- ings. It was during this assault that Lt. Willy Cove, leading his division. pulled out of formation with his engine streaming ominous smoke. He glided his Hellcat into a water crash landing, two miles off-shore, near Point Ritidan, almost directly under the muzzles of Jap batteries. Dark was fast approaching. Ens. Roger lflfstrange, his wingman, care- fully noted the position of the crash. Back on Big Ben that night, Navigator Benny Moore and Lt. Walter Levering, intelligence Officer, worked far into the night computing the exact drift the downed ofliceris raft would take. Half an hour before dawn, four hghters, led by uSunshine Howerton. flew to the computed position with two scaplanes from the cruiser Boston. hoping for the best. Within flfilfififl minutes Cove was located almost exactly where Benny Moore had scientifically prophesied, twelve miles we-t of where he had crashed. flonscientious, friendly, faithful, Will Dove lived to strike many another telling blow at the enemy. On July 13th, photographers discovered a concealed am- munition dump on Oroteg the following day thirty-hve of Franklz'n7s planes blew it to kingdom-come, smothering the surrounding gun positions with their own fire. Troop con- centrations near Agana, Rota Island's airheld, and radio stations-all of these felt the punishing blows of Big Benis flying arm. Until July 17th Franklinfs fliers continued to attack the defenses of Guam, the boatyard at Piti Town, the airfield at Orote, bridges on vital roadways near Taloforo and Togcha Bays. On one of these embattled days, before dawn, a group of Japanese planes rose from one of Cuamis torn airfields to seek out the task group. Badar spotted them. Big Benis fighter directors, collaborating with a combat air patrol from the carrier San Jacinto, made a perfect interception thirty miles away. Four Uscar fighters and six twin-engined Betty bombers of the Japs were splashed in flames. Long after, intelligence ofhcers learned that those last Japanese planes to leave Guam were carrying high Japanese officers, trying to flee the doomed island stronghold. All was not triumphant shouting. On July 16th, during the pre-dawn warm-up of planes for the dayis first strike, in treacherous half-light, Jim Smiley, seaman first class and a plane captain, was struck by a whirling propeller-one of the countless hazards always threatening the men on a car- rier's flight deck. His shipmates buried him at sea. Death was breathing on the necks of Big Ben's men and fliers. All was not tragedy either. Routine 'cgeneral quarters sounded one morning an hour before sunrise, and every man began to grope his way to his battle station. Doctor James Moy was hurrying to his post on the llight. deck when sud- denly, he decided it would he an excellent idea to pt.'or-evil hy a new and untried route. lile wished to liilllllllilflltf hint-N self with the ship. Croping forward on the llight deck, hr- pressed on through the darkness-pressed on until he drop- ped headlong into the black Pacihc, sixty feet helow. flom- ing to the surface, after endless seconds, he began looting the whistle which every man on Big Ben had heen issued for just such an emergency. c'Man overboard, port sidefi blared the loudspeakers. Eyes strained to pick out the strug- gling victim in the water and darkness but only a faint despairing wail of the whistle marked the spot as Big Ben sped on at twenty knots. Doctor Fuelling, Moys fellow medico at the battle station, remarked, Ctthese darn seamen. Always walking in their sleep. Fortunately Dr. Moy could swim strongly. Bemoaning the trick of fate that caught him with his life jacket still stowed at his battle station, he huttoned his collar and in- flated his shirt to stay afloat. An hour later. a destroyer picked him up and he was hack on Big Ben in time for breakfast-adorned already with a nickname he was never 'paw-. to lose: uWr'ong-wriy' Moy. Yet. the elifmfgf ,t rf fp-,fapff had lit-:gn rtarrow, 'lhiteo month: lain luis:-. U f.f.z:.i. gm. 'natn hrsl, fgl1.ts.s, ol' l.arltonr.l:ilf:, l'a., lifrtl our to ft iffilldf t'lI'f'LlIlll5lLlllf.Tlfri. hut. would not ltr: lofiatr-fl. Almost frvely plant: on liig lien flex: at least I. '.-. fi ifi. :Joris on July 19th -el77 sorties for UU planes. lpxf.-ry plane that would lly took the air against that hat.tf:rffd island of linain. They rained lIlCCflf.ll2iI'lff5 on the last standing l.niilf.li:ig-5 the? strafcd everything that moved on the roads. 'lim eneml, opened up with the concealed hatteries he had sawed lor an emergency. For this, the lap seemed to decide, an emergency, if ever one was to occur. These batteries took their toll. Damaged planes limped home after ewfrjs strike, Ens. Nick Smith, engine dead and aileron shot at .i,r ay. crashed ahead of a screening dcstroyerg Lt. fjgyt Hayrnon-il lj. Cool-.. with a huge hole in his right wing and his stabilizer in fili- lions, made a miraculous landing on deck wliich could hate meant death to any pilot. July Qlst was Yiiilliam Dayhthe day of Guanrs invasion. At 3:30 that morning a hundred transports and LETS stood oft the heaches hy Orote. A thousand landing craft. jammed f-40 'w',i Lt. Comdr. fumes illoy comes fmmc to Rig limi. after It SIl'I-III hvforp 1,,.m,Q.fm,- -no-up -nn--saga ,M M in v-38 S. illiam llayy' The my u,.5n,n f1l'lIl ll, ns it lmflzvrl In liig lirfrfs pilots on july 21.91 . . . Troops and tanks are ashore. Q V w , V 1 i ! I 1 w ,C 1 iq Q 1 ! s ll B 11, Y H in 1 Q! S E 2 pf: M 2 ! 1 Z E E Qi V? ii H if g 3 ilk :b Q i 1 with American youth, headed in waves toward the shore. Three hundred dive-bombers and torpedo planes were ex- ploding destruction on Japanese lines, a thousand yards from the beaches. As the first landing barges grounded and the troops began to pour ashore, the Japs opened up. But a special strike squadron from every carrier in the force had been waiting for just this. Now those Hellcats and Hell- divers stormed down on enemy trenches, on mortars, on mobile artillery and on tanks, enshrouding them with lead and explosives. By I0 a. m. the first wave of troops was a mile inland and the tanks were coming ashore. Throughout the day the captain kept Franklin's men in- formed of the invasionis progress. Army officers, who had expressed themselves as uneasy, a few hours before, were now filling the radio with such fervent remarks as uYour support of landing well timed and effectivel' . . . Heavy air strikes during the last four days and especially today have left nothing to be desiredfi There were few spoken words among the men of Big Ben about what had gone on, f'lVlechl' looked at plane captain, engineer looked at gunner, and grinned. But here the feeling was born that Big Ben D was earning her place as a fighting unit to be classed with the best. The day after the invasion of Guam, Big Ben distributed her last bombs in two final strikes by Air Group Thirteen and set her course for Saipan, where Japanese and Marines were still locked in a struggle to the death. At sunset, Franklin anchored in the open roadstead off Saipan, dis- dainful of the nearby enemy, to go through the ordeal of loading bombs and rockets from a supply ship in a tossing sea. Throughout the night artillery flashed on Tinian, six miles away, and flares lit the mountains of Saipan. By 6:30 a. m. more than a hundred tons of bombs and rockets were aboard. Three minutes after the last bomb touched the deck, Big Ben weighed anchor and was bound south with the task group to meet the tanker fleet and refuel at sea. Task Group 58.2 was now joined by the two other task groups which had assisted in the leveling of Guam. As Task Force 58, without any decimal points, the merged groups became a fleet which could sink any navy in the world. Westward and south it steamed, for the islands of the Palau Group. The words in the air for weeks had been: HNext the Philippines, but the key islands in the Palau chain must be conquered as bases before that invasion could be attempted. This cruise, the mission of Task Force Fifty- eight was primarily reconnaissance, secondarily the de struction of enemy aircraft, shipping and installations Big Ben had been assigned a full share of all objectives all over the islands of Babelthaup Koror, Arakabesan and Malakal Three enemy planes were knocked down, the air strip at Babelthaup was demolished, a small oiler, a luggel, and a cargo ship were sunk Ens J J Jimmy Langford, Jr , in his Hellcat, made a photographic run over Babelthaup which won him the Distinguished Flying Cross Five times, on a straight course, at one thousand feet and through in tense flak, he roared across that island to accomplish his mission During the next two days nearly two hundred and fifty combat and photographic sorties were fiown from Big Ben. Two bombers were lost in combat but their crews were saved. Two fighters were lost, and fins. Hebert ff. Martin, of Rutherford, N. J., died in one of them as he crashed into the sea while landing. The other pilot was saved. The mission accomplished, the task force swung eastward on July 28th, then north on a course to Saipan. Captain Shoemaker had a message of appreciation for the crew. ln the FRANKLIN FORUM, he reminded his men that he had told them in Newport they would be in the Pacific war with Big Ben in six months. He was proud that Big Ben was here, proven ready for battle, carrying out the same assignments as veteran carriers, and equally well. Proud too, he was, of Big Benis offensive weapon, its super-long range battery, Air Group Thirteen. But, to quote him ver- batim, ffwithout a smart, efficient ship, the air group would be impotent--unable to show its high quality, and without a highly competent air group the most experienced carrier would be ineffective. That is why I have repeatedly stated that none of us in the Franklin has a non-essential job, be- cause the bombs and the bullets that the airplanes carry wonit hit the Japs with scheduled regularity unless all hands carry out our duties with courage and determination. As your commanding officer, I want you to know you have all lived up to my greatest expectations and that, come what may, I have complete confidence in you . . fa The Franklin already had another assigned mission when Task Group 58.2 arrived off Saipan and dropped anchor in Garapan Roadstead August Ist to take aboard bombs, rockets and fuel. She would join Rear Admiral J. J. ffJocko7' Clark's Task Group 58.1-and proceed to Iwo Jima to destroy enemy aircraft and shipping in the vicinity of the Bonin Islands, which must be kept ineffective if the invasion of the Mari- annas was to proceed successfully. ig? T il Q Y I is A if 1 Cl ,..J, N, N M X, QS if -:Lk kk 5 ' ,f fi? . ll' I '? ' C17 ll 1- .ig Q y I R ji k Q -1-rx 667 V, ar . R1,-g a ' 'Y -tgfia -if-x,.,1 X4-bf'--lax gf 4 . 'Ak T 5 ' ' - - . , . , - Fvgw-Qi T -Y , W, ' - - . .fs - ix is On .Iuly 25th, Franklinfs flying fighters were swarming ...--' cl 7 U l . - ' , Q L ' 4 cc ' aa ' 1, L .D I . I - b i - n. ff' , ,-19 ,-. , M T111's f1flIIII1CQ'1'I1 1111110111 Cllllll' 11111'k lfiffllllt C111'1'1z1' flilllll q1z1gz1s1 5111. 11 1r1i111111' 111 1111' jiI1lt'fliC'I11l 11411rk1111'11 111111 11111.11 11 111111 10 11113 .-11111'ri1'1111 1111-1' 111111 '111'Il' 11 . . . 1.1. tjgt 111517111 1111611111171 Yveatlier at the anfhorage was foul, liut forty saelts ol' mail from home did manage to come ahoard. Now. after weeks of waiting. lid Pyktel, 520, would lind out whether or not he was father of twinsg and Durranee. CSF: llasiuli. ble: Messick. 5211: l.ange. Afihlhlg lfllis, MHZ: Nleade. CHHQ lelarvey, ljliieg Russell. SKQCQ llose. l'iNlI31': l'ay f,lerli lfowler and l.t, D. Smith all awaited mail eall for a favoralyle report on the lioys they were expecting. Meade and Xlessiek alone drew girls, lint their relief was just as apparent, their smiles were just as high. wide and lianrlsoine. and their flffllYffI'y of Cigars just as graeeful and Pflfllfl-l. as the otln-r fjllfffl-PXIlilllflllllil' papas. Yo'-w fame the mission. after the weatlier had cleared and loading '.-.af fllltflfllfflfffl. liig lilr-n joined her eomrades: the '1rfl fHUfl?f'1. llajl-hilt: the tight f'Lll'I'l0l' I','1111111.' the erusiers hl'1fl1f1 171. l1111,1'1f'. li1'1o.i'1' and f,'111r1111111. ln the St'I't'CIl steamed '1't l'i fl'i'lI 1'1f'lir1 valiant XNUI'lillfll f'f ol the fleet. deserving more than i1o11f1l11l1l1- fnenlion. 'lille llflllftl filfflttpfl- Cfifnfft- 11111111. l11:f,1111, lf'11r11, 1.111111-1111, 111111, 1f11r11.vi lf1'IYll, lfr1111f11r11 ,11,1llfr111111hll1i1l 11.1-1l1111g1f11nis stations on lllf' '1l1l l' ll'l'lf - 'lille iioree sped for the lionins. and for the second time within a month. enemy search planes failed to detect a pow- erliul Carrier lioree approaehing the islands. .-Xt 91311 the morning of August lth. a powerful lighter sweep again sur- prised the laps. prowled aliout on reconnaissance. strafed shipping and airlields. played havoe in general. mostly without ellieetive opposition. .-X Japanese Convoy of five large Cargo vessels. eight to ten laarges and luggers. with an eseort of four or hve destroyers. was discovered steaming northward for the mainland of Japan, near the island of Utoto Jima. There were also seven or eight large Cargo ships in the harlwor of lfutami Ko. at Chielii Jima. A light eruiser was underway. leaving the harlnor. 'llliirty-live of Big l3en's planes took immediate lliglit and tore into the eruiser and the ships in the liarhor. Ens. Jack Kehoe registered a damaging hit on the eruiseris bridge, despite the vesselis frantic defensive maneuvers. Other ves- sels were left liurning. lslurriedly twenty more planes. half of them dive-liomliers. tlnintlered liroin llig lienis lliglit der-lc in swift pursuit of the 1'1 f'Y!9? 't'Pf'tw5'?Q 4'Hv ' E l 2 5 l L X. it ti if ,. ,. l 1? E t E Q. 3. r i 3 i I lr il il it F ri Zi? . H, .l 'E L E l l . I l E Q S f 5 9. E Qs ,t .F lt 11 i j. 1 E ? ft jt ii it August 5th, 1944 . . . It cost American lives to destroy these japanese ships in Cltichi Jima Harbor convoy, but only one bomb hit was registered on this flight. At 4' p. m. a third strike of forty planes went out, deter- mined to draw blood. This attack was well-planned and perfectly coordinated. The fighters strafed three destroyers, two of which blew up and sank. The third stopped dead in the water, on fire. The dive-bombers left two cargo ships burning. Nine torpedo planes attacked and registered nine hits out of nine torpedoes dropped. Four big cargo ships sank beneath the waves. Flying conditions were bad, making further flights too hazardous. During the night cruisers and destroyers of F ranklirfs screen raced ahead and finished off the convoy. Of 18 to 20 Japanese ships, only one old-type destroyer may have escaped. Though it had been a bad day for the enemy, there were several sadly empty seats at Big Ben's mess tables that night. Ens. Roger W. L'Estrange, the laughing boy whose brother was a major of Marines fighting on Guam, crashed in the ocean after his Hellcat had been struck by flak from the Jap- anese destroyers. Lt. Ancil C. Hudson, who had left his wife and year-old daughter in Kentucky, failed to return from the last strike. The right wing of his Hellcat was blown off by flak and the plane dove into the sea. Six strikes were scheduled against Chichi Jima for August 5th, a day that brought dismal flying weather. At dawn, twenty-five Hellcats, Helldivers and Avengers took off from the rain-drenched flight deck. They left three cargo ships sinking in the harbor and strafed another, ten miles to the west. A special search group that day, flying toward Japan, 500 miles north, located new targets. Comdr. Dick Kibbe, in his Helldiver, escorted by Ens. R. F. 'clVIoose Bridge, in his Grumman, met and bracketed a Betty', bomber, 240 miles from Tokyo, and shot it down. Returning, this pair also sank three landing craft, bearing troops from Japan to Iwo Jima. The radio station on Muko Island was knocked out by another team. But two of Big Ben's planes did not return. Lt. Comdr. C. B. I-lolstrom, from Washington state, a graduate of An- napolis and the executive officer of his squadron, together with his gunner, Walter J. Brooks, Jr., from flilst street, in New York, were plunged in their Helldiver into Chichi Jima Harbor by AA Hre. Lt. fjgj H. F. McCue7s torpedo plane, with aircrewmen llevey and llohinette aboard, crash-landed in the sea after being hit by flak. The words Hmissing in actionn were written alongside the names of these shipmates, although covering fighters reported that a rescue submarine had headed in their direction. Nearly two months later Lt. McCue was returned aboard. But Walter D. Hevey, a Yankee from the hills of North Attlehoro, Mass., and his comrade, Ralph T. liobinette, a lad with the Southern drawl of North Carolina, died in action that day. Heavy weather made further flights impracticable so the task group set its course southward for Eniwetok. Three small Japanese vessels blundered into the force through the fog. Two destroyers of the screen took them under fire and they sank at once, hardly a mile from Big Ben. No prison- ers were obtained. In the afternoon an HEmily was chased in the direction of the formation by the combat air patrol. As the Jap came out of the clouds Big Ben's gunners, and every gun in the fleet, opened up. Due to poor visibility some gun crews were firing at one of the friendly fighters. In the confusion the Jap fled into the clouds and the Hellcat crashed in the sea. Happily the pilot was soon rescued, uninjured, and a few minutes later the Emily was shot down by an alerted plane of the air patrol. Early in the morning of August 8th, the task group arrived in Eniwetok lagoon, after more than a month of combat operations. Big Ben, along with the other carriers, cruisers and destroyers of the group, received this climactic dispatch from Admiral Clark: - 'cWe are at the end of a long and arduous cruise. In the campaign of the Mariannas many damaging blows have been struck at the enemy. It is with great pride that I can tabu- late the record of the Task Group 58.1 as having contributed its full share. To all hands: Well Doneln ff. rf'1 M 4: ' R F If f-ass-aefra r... Wg' l' - ea 4237 3 HAPT I . . frlllllll 1111s I1 p11s11-1111r 1 guess-fxfept there s Il lot 0 Marines who laps p11 nty 1111111 Tokyo hose has had as sunk our times we ve even had a 11111 Done rom our allzes, the Arms' You 'llft 111111 llllllfllfl' st11e trip to make back to Iwo then an excurston p111n11e11 or Palau, th1 n ll stop-over at Yap and then 1 rn due or a 11111'r1 llf on the equator , BIG RI THE CARQLI E EYIWETOK.S ANCHORAGE was a sight every good American should have seen. A thousand men of war were anchored in its wide blue basin. Half a dozen heavy carriers, as many more light carrier: divisions of battleships and cruis- er: transport: destroyers, and ships of the train contributed to this nautical beeliiveg a constant interweaving stream of boats plied the water on ship s business. Xow, at last, there was time to overhaul Big Benis hard- worked equipment It was a busy time for engineers radio technicians, gunners, electricians, mechanics fire control- men. The planes of Air Group Thirteen had been landed on the island and were being serviced there by their own mechanics Badly damaged and missing aircraft were re- placed from the pool of new and refitted planes The sup- ply department was restocking from the Service Forces supply barges. The few repairs which could not be made C E R S X 11111 be st11y1'11g' there. 117e're ll fig11t111g ship nowg our planes have made the 3 I s - - f 5 ' N , N If . ' 1 ' Y ll I . , . f 1 f f B E ' D Y ' ' 7 7 r: SH i . s, N, , 9 . 9 M, he . 1 1 -1- -r V e 1 - ,'f. 'f v H 7x'0 'v jf' fiiazw 1 s i s W 1' at pr rf' is ' - -1 . , ,fi fi-4 32? -. - . gn' . R . Q Y v , Vt' ' ' 'v ' 1 - . X Y X '- '-' .- 'f' Q I . Q V1 . ' ' . f ' Q i s Q rr ,vm or 2, f A l K . if A g g , A X 1 A ' . V' 1 A ff!-foci!-fs ,.. .Numa ' iss I- but li- If I Q my sl t tw' -s .k,, Ga, K 1 1 x, 1 to up V 'lx E - x x X 4 We V ', , , ' ' ,1 ' Flvt t1,e 11? 1:11, at 1x'u111't ls111111'1, E1lI.1lil'10hT. Ill, the background is a wrecked VL 'If Btg Ben and nthar shzps nj 111 If on lf I fl . . . - . - y ' , , , . oon -lllijllfllfsf llflllllflllllfllilt shtp. Am,er1c11n 1,l,llfS,IIf7S are f1lI,C,l0f'!'d In the lag ,1 X .F ,X 1 Pvmf 5 Prom' bo .Q Q P' . Ln? O g31D11T1J1L Comnwmlvr Hvnry H. Hale, Nazfignfor 27 August '44-21 Dvcvnzbvr 744, Air Ojiwr 21 Dvcrfmber 514-30 func '45, C07IZIl1III1dI.I1g Ojiczfr I July 745-8 fume 316. om ag 00' of 'W 511 v VC' I1 L U1 0 W3 YN 1 s- , ..!l.nV.,,, Q 1 igrf' 7 'M . ' 1 ' ' 0 .. :Niki If snk A 123' if I, , '1 QT lf'xyi 1 ' UM -4 wk W A N Q 4 .pr ..-ul ,,L ---V .YV g ,H H, ,,..,...-. -'--'. .4 .,,, , . ... 4 gn fn. u ', . . . ..,.,., , ' ..1Z1.2... . . U. ..I.fZIv-n-vgggygggggugi, ' .1 PW A ,l' ' lfzrwv murv mm uf fwfr tn gm' 1.1. 4-ig? Rnfwrl F. Hrrmks. Tin' pfunw 1'ff'z'11Inr pf! Illfldl' 11 gum! 1'oHf'y-111111 Four! ,ff fi 7I1'1 1.9, wlzfwvw .,' f NA,, U47 Ufwf. 0l'r'r f.f'.Yf4' Q ww . . . Lt. Brooks ll'KlS low! 111 ff, 1 ,,,,f ,,,,', f - f,ff, l!!ff'flrll Illllfl! flffli ff fffllilffllfxhil, lIlI.SLl'flIlIll . . . lllll I -l'.l'l1'l.N fflllll ll'Ull lfrf' lHIlI'Ill'3 by the shipis own crew were made by repair ships, those lloating machine shops which were anchored only a few thousand yards from Big Ben. There was shore leave each afternoon when several hun- dred men from each ship were loaded on landing craft and deposited on the white coral sand of Runit Island-with their beer supply, four cans to a man. Four cans of beer under a palm tree, a smooth white beach, these were re- minders of things to be enjoyed when the war was over. And when the war would be over was a favorite topic of conversation during this rest at Eniwetok. Baseball, medi- cinesball tossing, volleyball, even football, within obvious limitations, took place on the flight deck. A first-rate basket- ball tournament was held on the bangar deck, with all di- visions cnterinff a team. It was won h ' the V-live lilrflriarifzfe- 73 Y rnen, who trounced thc 5-'liwo Division in the finale, lfrartlclift became task group flagship on August lZth, 191114, when Rear Admiral Davison hoisted his two-starred llag aboard. All hands came to admire and respect this strong, sincere gentleman, who had little to say at most times, but was always on the Flag Bridge in the thick of action when the going was rough. Comdr. Henry H. Hale. U. S. N., reported aboard from the San falcirtto, where he had been Air Olhcer, to take the post of Navigator on Big Ben when Comdr. Day received his promotion to Captain and Benny Moore moved up to the Executive Ofiiceris spot. The days slipped by, until August 21st, as the Franklin was preparing to shove off the following dawn, Arthur A44 ,-....-...--A -..f.-..., I f'frC 3 ' Rear Admiral Ralph E. Davison, U. S. N., on 1f'rfm,l,-l1',1'5 flagbrlhigt, 1X1.1N1K'1F1xyN. NJ 1 1111- 111.1111 111'1,1Ill 1-1111111 11111111-11 11111111111 111'111f 111111 .sllll ,l111'I411f11A 11111 lllI11l'IXNil5' 111' 11111111 '17-11 '1'1 111111, ' 111' Vx 11-'I 1 '111'1' 11 'l1 J lllilf' 11ll1111ll'l1 11111,11111:l.1 x1'111l1'11111'I111'1l11ir.11lXffl11fIA11111111 N111 MMU 1111111 ii 11111: i Mimiiwiili 111,111 X 1 U- 'H 14'1'11' 11lf1'11ll.1. Y111I1' 1'i11'111a11' H1'I'l'l'lI 111-111 1111- 111-111011-11 1111111111 11. 11121, 11 11.11'11'. 11.11 1l111X11, .1 1011-111111111 XVX1 11,11-,-,ll l,',,',jf,,1- 111.1',,11. 1lHg1',,,i,1. H,,1l,1l y'1,11m,,h 11,lH,,', 111111111 M1111 Nm M1111 111111111111 111111111 '1 H'l-1-11-111111. s1'll. lifllilfl. l11'!l.1'.1. 1f1'1'f111f.11111 111111 5'11'1111,11111. 11111. 11:11 1111 11 N 111111 Ni, 11 13-'11 f i1.1111 .111.1 1l!N 11111 111NN1i11 1l1lIl il 1ill' 1111111 li1111- i11 11Il'l'1' 1111111l114 I11:1I liig 111-11 111111 111-1 1-11111141111-r 1.111115 111 11-1 111-'11 'H' 111.111 111111115111 11111 1111111 111111-iw. I11111 1111i11 il 111111 1111 11ll' ,1il11 111 1111 1-11151111 1211111111-11 11111111 xt ii'-1111551111i11.1ii1'11,ii11i iusltlidl1'I11:Iil'V 4:l',':x1 xilm11:11I1'l 11111111 1Xil1l'l'S, SIIITIY l11is li1111- 111- 111111111 111' 111-11111. 111 1 - L ' ' , '1'q1f4- 1 - . 'V N ww MAN! 11111 Willy! In MW ng lmmhmm ' U 11111 1111 bc11l1,'11111111' 151 l11c 11'11r111111111s 11llHll1t'll,'f1-Ill 1111 l111 ' 4 ' - ' lF1LlIll1 1'1f11111111ls. 1111111:tecle11. Pillars of SIl1l'11iC llglllll msc 111 1113 1111 x1 '11 '1 ' '11 W '1'11'N 'WN 1 ilu' 11'2W '- 101' W 1111? sky 11l'OIll 1113111112 11111 s11il1l'1i11Q- 1lLlIl'!Iill'S L11111 11ur1'a1:1gs. .2119 gm . 1X1X 111-1111-11 1211111' 11.1111 1111 il 1114111 111' 1111111115 111111 1111110 111111'c a 111110 111' 1-111151115 and C1f?S1l'UyC'l'5 1111111211 111 a1111 1.1: viixw U11 X11ili.N1 21111. QIN 1'41s11U1-111111f1I1,1,1111z11'fM1- 1111111111011 1111: 11111111111 111111 Coast 1111111 1116 very 1111-ks 111111 1 31 11.111111 ' 11 11111 1 '1.' fq,'1'11. 111111 11111'1'i1-rs f,'1zl1'rpr1'.11', 111111 1110 air. Again 1110 fast Carrier laSk force 5111111911 away ' '- I ' '1' 1' 1' ff I 1 '11 111 H111 1l11 1111111111111 I111111111' f,1111111111111l1'1 111 1117 C l' 111 Jllflvlu' IJ' 11 .-'11-11 klIHSl1llll'-i ll11111'1f1111 Il IIS 1111111111111 11l111'r 111111 Juni? Big Bemis Bombers IZCIFI' pinpoinlezl their 0bj0Ct'I.l'US on lim .llifflfl after two days of furious assault. unchecked and unharrnetl. This time Big Ben carriecl with her two unwilling stran- gersg Japanese naval prisoners of war who had heen pickefl up hy a destroyer from a hlastecl ship. Fearful ancl hesitant. they were brought ahoarrl in a hreeehes huoy, much as Ur. Moy had returnecl to the ship. As flhiel' Gregg lefl them clown the flight tleek through the groups ol eurious hluo- jaokets the laps glanced once at the many Nipponvst- llags painted on the islanrl structure. then passufl along uith lilfHVf'fl heatls. 'llheir first' question to rllom Young. ratlarmau. who interpreted their language. nas: 'Wlwn uill uv las clone away uith. please?'i lfnemy planes huzzetl through tht- night as tht- task group steamed south. 'llxso lfmilys. vlosing from tht- uorthuartl. llying T5 miles apart. were tlt-tt-t-tvtt hy the ratlar. XX ithonr hesitation. tuo night lighters nero vatapultml from lily lit-uis tlevlt. l.t. 'llouy Nlartin. xeterau ,lap kitltit. aurl lt. tint Warren Xloll. lla-is out to uuwt the ,lapauese Santi- mau. ln l.tt,. l,t. .lohn XX ttiegier slatioiuwl loux autl XX 111- rvu in tht- path ol- one on-rushing lap. XYarrvu matlv the 7.1.31 4. I-f4 '.3,, - , . .. ... A '.'Z.. 'ff..... .,......- un-nnqibuv if H 4,4 ' ' ' - - '.::'. ' ':':::::::.:::...:.............,.. - 'z,ur,s,:,i:,x3:, A - - . 1,. ......n....,.n AM Q, , - M., 3 rw Il'fINlI.f lIIlll'fI If-jf to do on Yup nfl:-r ffm' 7'f11'rlm'11ffl fflzzfwflf-rf . . . liig lifwfs lumzfls rhrplorlc on l'L'll'll'1l uk ,N 4 few minutes before :CHU lzour, following a coordirzatecl bombing Strike, Peleliu loolfecl like this ., , -sg A few minutes after UHU lzourg ulreafly flnzcricnrz. luruling craft blaze on flu' lwaclzi. as one of Big Berfs Hellmfs swoops Fl0ll'fl to give an assist 51-sz pass but lost contact in the darkness as the Nip became suspicious and took an evasive twist that landed him smack in Tony's orbit. A master night fighter on his trail, the Jap did everything in the book to escape, but to no avail. lie- lentlessly. on the radar screens, the two dots closed together. Somewhere. out in the black night, high over the sullen Pacific. a Hellcat fighter was grimly closing the yards to a careening, twisting Emily. with ten scared Japs aboard. Contact came the words, low but ominous, on the radio. Moments dragged by. until: g'Splash one Emilyf, came Tony's voice. barely audible above the static. Elation surged through the dozen of radarmen and plot- ting oflieers. John Wineger grinned with pride for his night chickfi Tony. Men on the radars rubbed their strained. sleepy eyes and sucked hard on their cigarettes. They had joined in the kill, just as surely as had Tony. Guess we ought to paint four meatballs on this old piece of gear. eh boys? Vergil C. f'Hiram,' Johnson, radarman second class, kidded Johnny Ninos and Albert Hallman, two of the lads who had been passing in the bearings, fast and true. Even Bob Froehly, quiet, eflicient senior radio technician. wore a smile of triumph. ' The other Jap had passed to the southward, but he soon reappeared on the screen. The night fighters swept out, unseen and deadly. Again ten Japanese airmen took the final plunge as their Emily fell two miles down to the sea. The task group turned southwest on September 3rd, after refueling at sea, for the next mission: to assault and neu- tralize the important Japanese bases of Yap, Ulithi and Palau, then to make a scouting thrust at the island of Ngulu. The three-day attack on Yap, in the Caroline Group, be- gan September 6th, when eighteen rocket-blasting Hellcats flared down on the startled Japanese. The next day, begin- ning with a sixteen-plane fighter sweep, three whole deck- loads of planes, ninety in all, even the combat air patrol, roared in to tear the island's defenses to shreds. On the Sth only sixteen planes were needed to take care of unfin- ished business and to bring back photographs of every cor- ner and cove. Big Ben lost only one plane during this operation. Ens. Slingerland was shot down as he made a low strafing run along the beach but he made a good water landing. After spending the night in his rubber boat he was spotted the next morning seventeen miles south of the island by Lt. Comdr. Coleman on a special search. He was rescued by a destroyer. The advance word was that the U. S. Marines would in- vade Peleliu Island in the Carolines - of which Palau Group was a part- on September 15. Big Ben and the rest of Task Group 38.4 were to provide air support for this operation and give cover for the troops after they had land- ed. To be ready for this mission the group turned south from Yap and headed for the Palau Islands on September 9th. Starting the attack with a fighter sweep of twelve Hellcats at dawn the next day, Big Ben was to launch five flight deck- loads, 150 planes, every day for a week, through the 16th, the day after Peleliuis invasion. A total of 256 tons of bombs were dropped to aid in destruction of Japanese de- fenses or in direct support of the infantry. The first fighter sweep ran into intense and accurate flak. The Japanese were not using tracer fire, making the AA dif- ficult to dodge. Ens. Norman Drouin and Ens. Paul Rene Parent, both Frenchmen from the hills of New Hampshire, went down on Peleliu in flames and were not seen to bail out. They were reported missing in action. After this bad start, no more planes were lost in the cam- paign by enemy action, for the strafing, rocket-firing and bombing dwindled the enemy anti-aircraft fire to a few des- ultory machine gun bursts and rifle shots from the crushed Jap troops. On the llth, however, there was enough enemy flak to strike the wing of Ens. Kehoe's Helldiver with such effect that it appeared the plane would crash. Kehoe ordered his gunner, Abner f'Red', Harris, to bail out over a rescue submarine. He then decided that be might be able to save his plane. He brought her back to Big Ben, and though his land- ing gear collapsed when the plane touched the deck, no damage was done the ship and every intact part of the air- craft was salvaged. Good flying! Abner Harris returned aboard Big Ben seven weeks later, none the worse for his experience. ' On the night of September 12th, Franklinis most costly operational accident occurred. A twilight patrol of four night fighters had been ordered to patrol Pelelieu Island against the chance the Japs might salvage one of their smash- ed aircraft and attempt to fly some of their senior officers from the scene of impending invasion. The weather was rainy and visibility poor. At patrolis end, three planes landed safe- ly but the fourth came in too far over the flight deck and crashed among the thirty planes parked ahead of the last barrier. No one was injured, fire did not break out, but five planes were demolished and eight others so badly damaged it took several days to repair them. Just before invasion day, the cruisers and battleships moved in close to the shore and blew the beach defenses to rubble. On the morning of the 15th, waves of assault troops began to move ing although the first waves encountered little difficulty, the Japs soon began to emerge from their caves and foxholes. From the hilly terrain north of the landing strip, artillery, mortars and mobile guns went into action. Wrecked American landing barges were strewn along the beaches. The opposition stiffened so seriously that the in- vasion of Angaur, scheduled for the next day, was post- poned, and Big Ben launched five more deckloads of planes to support the infantrymen on Peleliu. With supplies low, Fr-anklin and her task group refueled at sea on the 17th, before throwing one last support strike to the slogging Marines on the morning of the 18th. Then, with death-flinging bombs and rockets exhausted, Big Ben and her sister ships turned the invasion support over to a fresh task group and stood southeast toward Manus, in the Admiralty Islands-down below the equator. Franklin was approaching the realm of Neptunus Bex, and preparations for the traditional ceremonies which greet a sailor when he crosses the equator for the first time occupied all the spare time of the f'Old Shellbacksf' Unfortunately, there is little record to be found of this crossing, save in the pictorial files of Big Ben. On September 21st, 194-4, Frawklin arrived at Manus-with another star on her campaign ribbon. 13513 'Qikiflhkl ,Q , if Lf. Q:HOf185f John Tunsey 15116615 before 1110 Royal Barber Conwlr. Kibbe presides orcr rims in bOVlZbv?f:5' rpacfy mom gran Some brand-neu' usfzeflbaclff Chief Petty Oficersg FRONT ROW: Heibef. Neumang Lotridge: BU7'l.'l2flTfJ Hardy: Durrance: Gilmweg BACK ROW: lffomaclf: Coiag Brozcrzg CjP'fYP: ,Uz1N1'1zs: fllalzen T110 Rfayal Courl: Royal Hrzbv. Lf. C'r1,ssm1,: Davy fam-s. I Il'UI'l'l.1'!l l70HvYll'Ug'u is firzfzlly lwmzzglzt to lun' fu S :vl1'- 11113. Lzenvrzq f11lf12llISfOI7ll'S. Lt. RMI Q Harris: Royal CDIIIWII, Inzvlr Hizvr umf his 77Il'7'f'-YIIIPII Ll. NPZLVIIICIVILJ Royal Bal:-y, folzn. Uwlzirlfzkvrg lflzivf of I'nlif-n, Lt. Comdr. Caldwell 1' CHAPTER SEVEN . . . tlze-sire gootl. alright. but not good erzoughg we took everything they could throw at us, then threu' it right larch. 1 heard Pee Ceo Minhten say the Coral Sea scrap seemed like a one-ring CI-I't'llS to him now. We had some. more prisoners aboardg crew of a bomber we shot clown. Une of them junzpeal orer the sale. but swznzmzng was nzighty poor that clay. I clonit know, but when I look at this gang I nz with I u'oulcln't trade them for all the ubanzaii' boys in the world. Iicl 3 hate to be on the other side . . . 3 l THE PHILIPPI S SEXDLER BAY. named after the German raider of World War I. is on the large island of Manus. in the Admiralties, and is one of the best harbors in the world. Big Ben, with the warships of Task Group 38.4. anchored there four days. Every moment was used to advantage, taking aboard fuel. food. and a cargo of explosive consigned to the Japanese. This was September, 1944, and Manus was being develop- ed into a springboard for the battle-hardened divisions of MacArthuris Sixth Army, a base for amphibious assault. A floating drydock and repair shop that could make emer- gency repairs to the largest warship were ready for service. The base hospital would accommodate ten thousand wound- 1llIN1,'n,r.S RUN ,hw mllwl it D . , ,llunus llarbor, with six big lfssrnr class flaftops f1l1ClI0fvd there .411 Avenger takes a wave-0 sa erlg the fueling rlepot f-onlfl llll fi, ll'i ll' oil lfml.-. mofelem Ijiflflj wt-rg flank'-rl hy wuwzlmott-,f:s, on tllf' lPltlLflf'i- fzflgff. A lingo rer:rez,tI,lo1l park wire, fxtaiting lor lla: l'llf'!l ol rlaf' llerft, and the lifzffr ration x-.fra lirnitf:f,l only ily tllf- liar liozxr- allowod to ooneume it. Saxif: ljowellla lianfel, at home under the eucalyptus trees and alien eky, made rriarlg' nf' lrseml, as liig ljenis men minglerl with ladf from other flop: 'o map yarns ol' luattle, meet old slllpmatffe, talk ol' home. There were odd reunionseelot. ljgy .loe lleimloll, one-time Bronx cop, of lfighting Tliirteen, met two lliele from other Squadrons and in exchanging rerninisoeneef learnf'fl that ol the twenty-live fledgling pilots who came tllrougli PF4!t5d fOl3 together three years hefore, they were the only ones aliae. The others had smashed up in operational aefglfleiire, or fallen to llak over enemy targets. At Marius, Comdr. Day received a long-due promotion to the rank of Captain and was detached to command a new ee- eort carrier. Comdr. Benjamin Moore, who had heen Xavi- gator since the commissioning, lileeame Executive Ofhoer. Comdr. Day had worked hard to make Big Ben a line ight- ing machineg Comdr. Benny Moore was a litting relief. The L.S.E.-ULittle Short lfxecf' as he came to lie affectionately known, was admired and regarded as a personal friend hy r Here too, llierv Il'fl.S' time for II' few quiet lIl1OIIlt'lIfS in the Ifhrtrrv -,.-,--.-vxnvv tv-W--W f Y - 1 1-11111 111.111 1111 11111 ship. t111111l1. ll.1l1' 111111 l11-1'411111- tht- IIQIXI Elttlwl. S1-ptt-111l11'1 Qtlh, ltlll, lit'ill X1l11111:1l llzlxisoiiis lash .-1111111 1111t1f111.-11.1111tliif-411111111111-111.l1- set llNt'1HllM'l11llll' F . 5 9 - imillixwst tttttl lht' llillittl ggroiip. lilithi and tht- lti-1 ti111'11li111- islands had l41ll1'11, 1l111113gl1 llllllllllfill ,laps still hung 1111 :il l1l,1.11lx livlvlittii. lihv stage M114 st-1 lor Ll mighty S1'l'Ill' ill the l'11t1ili1' tlllltllil. l'l1ro11gl1 111111111-. like the xoit-11 ol. lltlllltt. l111t'lt11ye1'll11'l1l11111ly xvars itttfll tl.11'l1 liilliliilt. il ltnell Sttt1llllt'll lor tht' l1'Cl1t'lllQ'l't1llS, 1'11111l .l.1lH1111's1': l shrill l'0ltll'It . . :X xision ol' l11':11'1l0tl. 11112111 11111111 111011. stanthiig tlltttllilttl. 1s1't'11tl1e1l 111 the lust grey siiioltc ol' tft111'egitlo1'is guns. spurretl 1111 the LtY1'llglil'S. lf-.1111 1111111 011 iii: lien 11115 proutl to he there for his part i11 the l.il1e1'11ti1111 ot the llhilippines. 'lin 111.1lw seviire the l1e11cl1l1e111ls that would he estahlishetl 1111 l.c11e the third lileet must drive into the strongest hases of the liinpiree einto the jaws of the lieaviest trap the ,laps ctnxld close. Froin llki11awa. on the door-sill of Japan, to poiteitiil lioriiiosa. south through l.11zo11, huiidreds ol' air i-ases 1111151 he crushed i11to helplessness. The Imperial Navy 1111151 he Slltdilttttl if it tried to iiiterfere. - . J V lor a meek 111 the 5to1'111-swept seas east of lalau. lug P 'S . H.-.N 1 ,. ,.. ..,.... . --1 li1'Il.Ntf,lUllIl 111111111-1l il l1'Illlt'lX'lIIlS with1I1111w11111l11f1-sm-111111s 11l'Il11'llll1i1'1l l l1-1-t. l.1111g 1':111g1'1'11t-111y Sl'Ell'l'lI plaiws lltew out lu 11-1-11111111it1'1'. 'llhv 1-11111l1z1t air patrol lu-pt tht- skies wrist-- lt-ssly,1g11111'111g, 1111-11111111-1t1111slIy111g XH'2lllll'l'. Une patrol of ll11'1-1- liglilers II1111 into ll lufavy stplallg two liglilers 1-1111111 lltl'lPlIt!ll. lloptflvssly tht: HL'Zll'f'll plaiies Hf'HlII'l,'tl the area, l111l 1111 trait-1' ol' l,l. Warle ll. Vi'i11e1'oll'. ll l5Ollllll'y hwy liI'1Hlt North lI:11'11li11a1, 1111s ever lltjllltll. . . B .-- . l.l111s111g il haiitht llirongh tht- nnirky night, lit. llc-1111y Miles, ol' Mediiia, N. Y., and his Japanest- quarry siidtlenly tlisappeared lrom the radar sereens while ljll miles to the S0llll1XYCSl, over the stormy, blacked-0111 ocean. Though John Wineger called tirelessly through the static and search planes croinhed the area at dawn, no word was ever heard of night lighter Benny Miles nor of the Jap. Alter a week of this depressing wait orders came to moxe 11o1'tl111'ard. fjll the tail of a typhoon raging toward Formosa and Ukinawa, Admiral Wvilliam Halsey was preparing to take the seven Essex class carriers. the ten light carriers, seven last hattleships, twenty-live Cruisers and a hundred destroyers ol' his Third Fleet into the teeth of Japan's mili- tary might and strike the i1111er bases of the Empire. Nine thoiisand miles from the 'l'hi1'd Fleetis homeland. ill wateis 1 1 f l3q',f1 ,IVV . Y-2. - -.5 -1 rf: -- -els. 1 1111111114 f-1111111111 pfmln from mn' nf liig HVIIHN I'lIllllf'S . . . nkliflflvlltll 5 ' ' 1 ff,',n,,f...-11.-yi . Y... .... 1.1-1.1 that lapped the eneniyis shores, would he decided an issue which armchair strategists had declared could have lint one outcome. lfleet-hased aircraft would meet sliore-hast-rl air- craft, on even terms. This would he no hit-and-run mission. Carriers would slug it out for days with dozens of hases on shore. pitting their hundreds of planes against thousands thr- enemy had at his instant connnand. The stakes would he the lives of a half-million soldiers and the fate of an empire. Admiral Halsey reckoned on the typhoon which would sweep across the enemy coasts a day hefore Task lforee Thirty-eightfs warplanes. He knew it would disrupt com- munications, ground enemy search planes, make detection of the fleet difficult. On October 9th, 194-L, the Third Fleet steamed in three formidable groups 100 miles south of Okinawais teeming harbor and airfields, 200 miles east of Formosa. The autumn rains and mist of the Central Pacific shrouded the ominous black and slate grey warships. Half a dozen Jap search planes had fallen to the guardian Hellcats without a glimpse of the fleet. ln the afternoon 200 rocket-firing Hellcats climlied from a dozen flight decks and plunged like a bullet at the heart of the Japanese defense Y the airfields and hangars. What the ,lapanesfz fktllfftl their rarlai liailwl again X ln-'wilflerf-rl fern- V'f'I't' shot flU II own their uv,-uit fllIlll'ifl- . , ,. v, ,. , w , , , , , . , . A . then hell 1-xplorlrrfl in front ol yellow laces dz the x:rif':ifgfn, lighters thunr.lcnzf.i in. llangars were demolished. llozens oi planes were ahlaze on as many air-strips. lfe'.ennf-ms c.-.ffm strafed. ljarrargks llamed. Vfilien the lighter sweep lanrlt-rl at sunset the disrupted, smoking defense of the E-land nm.-t have heen a headache to the frantic ,lapanese commander. lxfip radios erackled and whirled. Air stations on the home island of Kyushu, 2550 miles north. looked hastily to their defenses. Squadrons of replacement planes warmed up on fields at Kobe, Nagoya, Nagasaki. Tokyo. Xervoiis, slant eyed pilots trooped to their ready rooms. Up to this time, in their march across the Pacific, the flat- tops had mostly fought the naval aircraft of the Japanese. Now the Imperial Army Air Force, with its swarms of Betty and Judy homhers, its speedy Zeke and Tojo fighters. 'was the main foe. Heretofore the carriers had assaulted smaller is- land hases, with a few airhelds that could be swiftly crushed. Now the air liases of the Empire were in position to rein- force each other-only the hases close at hand could he ef- fectively neutralized. Big search planes, Kates and lfmilys. squadrons of Betty fi.iUllSfIlf lillSl-IIHIIIIIIIIIS nhlrzzf' uf Ulnfnlli-,, torpedo bombers, spent the night looking for the Third Fleet. The Japanese radio, Tokyo Bose speaking, made dire predictions of the doom that was about to befall the rash American adniirals and their reckless fleet. Night fighters took to the rain-swept sky above the blacked-out warships. Crystal ball gazers, like Lts. Adi, Poat, Dave Dunlap, Bob Abell, George Cheney, with their hundreds of radarmen, joined with those others of the fleet's big ClC's, and took over the guard. With all guns manned, the fleet waited through the night like a sprawling monster, ready to flare into action with the dawn. At sunrise hundreds of carrier planes were in the air. Men on the decks of Big Ben, men standing by their guns, men on every warship in the Third Fleet, watched the squadrons thunder off to the west and disappear. The harbors of Nansei Shota were full of Jap ships, try- ing desperately to get up steam and escape. Flak guns were furious in their defense. But nothing could stop the thunder- ing low-level attacks of the deadly eagles that had risen from the ashes of Pearl Harbor. Terrific explosions shook the island as ammunition dumps blew up. Walls of flame and smoke marked where fuel depots had stood. Blazing, sinking cargo ships and tankers dotted the harbor. But warbirds were falling, too. Lt. tjgj Joe Heinrich would never tramp his New York beat again. His Hellcat badly holed, he crash- landed at sea and was never located by his searching com- rades. Lt. tjgl T. C. Norek, from the midwestern plains, and his gunner, Harry Steele, a Connecticut Yankee, died in their dive-bomber when it roared down through the flak to crash in flames. By nightfall a thousand bombers, fighters, and torpedo planes from the carriers had pulverized Okinawa and its installations. Many days would pass before dangerous en- emy planes could fly from that quarter. That night, October 10th, the Japanese were out in force, dozens of bombers crossing and re-crossing the task groups. As they passed within range of the warships' guns, hundreds of naval rifles and heavy machine guns would erupt in sheets of flame. Some Jap planes dropped torpedoes, all of which went wide of their mark. Others circled out of gun range, reporting the fleetis position, with Grumman fighters roaring through the darkness in pursuit. Task Group 38.4. with Big Ben in the lead, fueled at sea October 11th, then launched a blistering fighter sweep at Aparri seaplane base, on Luzon. All the Japanese planes found there were destroyed, along with their hangars. During that night there were few alarms, the Jap scouts seemingly having lost contact. By dawn the task groups were rejoined and the massed air squadrons left a trail of flame and de- struction the length and breadth of Formosa, untouched by war before this day. Now the first signs of organized opposi- lion appeared. A hundred Japanese aircraft, flying north- ward from Luzon to replace Formosa's decimated squadrons, were intercepted 70 miles away by twenty Hellcats of the patrol, guided from Big Ben by fighter director officer Bob Bruning. The Nips hardly put up a hgllt as the Hellcals ripped into them. For 25 miles the pursuit continued, the .laps dropping one by one as the Hght progressed, until thc Hellcats had to turn back from over Formosa itself, as their gas became low. During the day squadrons of Japanese torpedo bombers came speeding out to attack. The cruiser Canberra was tor- pedoed and lay dead in the water. Few of the Japs returned to tell of this limited success, but on the Nip radio came fantastic claims of dozens of American warships being sent to the bottom. Fifteen carriers, exulted Tokyo Rose, a dozen battleships, had been sunk. 20,000 American sailors were struggling, drowning, in the cold waters off Formosa. The men of Big Ben grinned sardonically as they listened to these weird lies. All through that day, while the yellow war-lords made their boastful claims, carrier warplanes were heaping fire and destruction on the major bases that dotted Formosa. But Lt. ll. J. Weber's Helldiver did not come home to Big Ben that evening. Weber, a Loyola boy, from Chicago and his gunner, James L. Hall, of Augusta, Maine, were killed in action. And Ens. R. F. 4'Bobby Jones, 24-year-old redhead from Climax, Ca., with his gunners, Stanley P. Rajza, Wilkesboro, Pa., and Grier P. Osborne, of Peach Bottom, Pa., who had put their Avengeris torpedo squarely in the middle of a big Jap tanker, died when their plane exploded in mid-air. A heavy flak gun had made a direct hit. And the cruiser Houston, struck by a torpedo from a Betty, lay helpless in the water. After a heroic struggle by her crew she was taken in tow, and, with the Canberra, was proceeding slowly southward at two knots, with the small but mighty carrier Cabot standing guard. The Houston, built at Newport News and completed only a week before the Franklin, had many a friend on Big Ben. October 13th, another day of continued heavy blows at the Jap defenses, dawned rainy and foggy, as miserable as the preceding days. But hunting was still good ashore. W'ith the airfields and harbors in ruins, the bombers were directing their attentions to power plants, fuel depots, supply dumps. Thousands of tons of supplies, vital to the enemy war effort, darkened Formosa with a pall of smoke, faggots on the fu- neral pyre of an infamous nation. These were the signal fires to the hundreds of massed transports and LST,s which were sailing from Manus, destination: the Philippines. But two more of Big Benis gallant fighters swirled down that day, Lt. fjgj Richard H. 4'Moose Bridge, the tall boy with the three Air Medals, died in his Grumman fighter over For- mosa, and Lt. fjgj Joseph Kopman, handsome dark-haired fighter pilot, of Detroit, Michigan, did not return to Big Ben. There was little of the usual Ukiddingn in the fighter ready room that evening. Throughout Friday, October 13th, enemy planes attempt- ed to slip through the combat air patrol. Several were shot down, others driven away. In the evening, an hour before sunset, they commenced to gather in small groups, hiding in the heavy banks of clouds, scattered low over the water. Through the drizzling rain patrol fighters searched for the enemy but he was hard to find, even with radar's aid. Two groups of enemy planes, one in the clouds to the northeast and one in the clouds to the south, were about ten miles from the Franklirfs group. At 5:00 p. m. the bugles called all hands to battle stations, but at 5:22 Admiral Davi- son secured all battle stations except the gunners when it appeared likely that the Japs would remain in the vicinity for hours. At sunset, five minutes later, Big Ben was landing the last of eight Helleats which had been launclicd during ti previous alert when suddenly out of the twilight to the north, four Betties, medium land-plane bombers, appeared over the screening destroyers. Combat information center, busy track- ing another group, had not warned of these. uHere they comelv went the word through the gun sta- tions and about the decks. HHere they come . . .U A thunderous roar went up from the scores of flashing guns on Big Ben. But on the bridge. where quartermaster first class Mathias stood by the helm. the men who guided the Franklin moved with swift calculation, countering the moves of the attackers. The navigator, Comdr. Hale, stood on the port wing of the bridge, coolly scanning the skies to give warning of Japanese approaches from that side. Cap- tain Shoemaker, with no thought of personal safety. moved quickly between the exposed bridge and the helm, calling out orders that would save the carrier. They came in on the port side, hardly fifty feet above the water, at top speed. Every ship in the formation had them under fire. The first plane was broad on the port beam when Captain Shoemaker ordered HLeft, full ruddern and Big Ben swung in toward the attack. Again and again the Betty was hit, llarnes poured from his fuselage as he clo.-ed the l mn!.- lin, hut he launched his torpedo and roared in, trying to - 1' cr- va - ,' 1 7 f crash the ship. lhe fish missed. ing ben s stern by feet, thanks to the quick change of course. The plane struck. on deck, just abaft the island structure, slid across the heavy planking and burst into llames as it rolled off the starboard side of the ship and fell into the water. flaming gasoline deluged the lflrarzlclinfs side and from the San Jacinto, astern, it looked as though the ,lap had exploded aboard. By only a split hair had the Frarrflclirt missed a disastrous fire and many casualties. The second Betty also came in fast on the port quarter, with every gun on the Franklin and San lac-into that could be brought to bear holding it under a murderous Hre. Lt, A. J. HWThispering Death Pope, of Fighting Thirteen-a boy from Atlanta, Ga.--had been circling to land, gas almost gone. Witliout hesitation he pulled up quickly, dove down through the bursting shells on the bomber and opened up with his six fifty-caliber machine guns. The lap went blaz- ing into the water. Big Ben shared that one with Lt. Pope. The third torpedo plane came in well ahead of the Frank- lin and was shot down as it passed through the task group ,nc 'ff if Ml i A4 . Ju. . , , ..s..,L.....41 After Prayers br 5hiP'7W595 511113 b0dy of Hflrold C. StaI1.cil,.-l.ll.lllf', L'1'Ucf1 in flffl-OII October Idflz, is 1-nnzr1i1'ffm' fu ffyg' deep .Lan :qw w..,. V... -...,Y,.. .....,..1...,....-...............,. ........, , QY.V ..,E- .,.. ...,., , ,, .--. - ' ' X f, are October 15611, 1944: As FfLI7l1CllfIl,S batteries fllLLl1.CI07'Pd at frzprzmfsn fliue-bamlzers. C11-plain Shoemaker pcrsomzllfy spun H10 1011001 fzard left-a m,0m cnt lnlcr U bomb mfplofled alongsifln wlziclz, 0flI4?f'Il'Z'SP zvoulfl 11.11110 slruck ffm islam! Sqzmrrly. ahead of the Enterprise and the Bellean Wood, but the fourth bomber bored in through the flak on Big Benis port quarter. He dropped his torpedo, hedge-hopped Frianklin's bow, and went down in flames between the Franklin and the Enterprise. The torpedo was coming at the Franklin, Hhot, straight, and true. Again teamwork saved Big Ben from dis- aster. With seamanship bred by years of training, Captain Shoemaker ordered '4Right, full rudder and personally rang up Back full on the starboard engines. Far below, in the domain of the Black Gang, the men who 'canswer all bellsw lived up to their names. Big Ben slowed her forward motion and pulled away to the right, away from the on-rushing tor- pedo which passed within a few feet of the bow and con- tinued on harmlessly through the task group. ln the mad five minutes of action Harold L. Stancil, vet- eran aviation machinistis mate, was struck by the plunging Betty and instantly killed. Men on the bridge and gun sta- tions had been struck by some of the hail of flak from guns of the task force, others had been wounded by Japanese ma- chine gun fire. Ten men were hurt badly enough to be taken out of action. M.. ,JA ,- .- . '....,Ms..i. Yet in the midst of danger and tragedy, Big Hens men re- membered it was one year ago to the day, that she was launched. No man had forgotten Captain Slioerriakefs words 'Thirteen is my lucky numherf' though it had not been luck. An alert captain, an efhcient bridge crew, hard- shooting gunners, a faithful Black Gang, had brought Big Ben through her first hand-to-hand encounter with the enemy. There was occasion, too, for a smile. During the first mo- ments of the Jap attack, Lt. Dan Wlinters, landing signal ofhcer, coaching Lt. Pope in to land, glanced up just in time to see the ,lap plane coming in for an entirely different kind of landing. Lt. Winters did what men faced by flaming dragons have done before. He ran. Across the deck he raced, the Japanese bomber in hot pursuit. As he dove for an imaginary foxhole in the flight deck, the low-dipping wing of the Rising Sun plane engaged him in a kiss of death, rip- ping the entire seat from his pants. The exposed anatomy was too much for the Nip. Big Ben's hero muttered a strangled HSplash one as the Betty crashed into the sea. 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V t i l Se. 1 fu 1 .,. y. -- - fs-Us K ' ' Guns blasting, Big Ben fglnts back . . . October 15171, . . . turning to exact a debt of blood from ,lapanas degenerate soldiery. As the airfields and stations came under the deadly bar- rage, bomber pilots looked gleefully at crowded Manila har- bor, one of the world,s largest-jammed with huddled ,lap- anese shipping. Those ships were doomed. As soon as the airlields and air cover had been shattered the bombers would rain havoc on the crowded harbor with its great piers and warehouses, filled with the loot of an empire. October 15th found Big Ben still hurling knockout punches at the airfield targets. The crew had been at battle stations for hours and enemy planes had been on the screens since dawn. Two had already been shot down by the patrol- and from one of the early strikes Lt. tjgj Frederick A. Beckman, Jr., who was HBeeky to all hands, did not return with his Hellcat and was marked 'missing in action. About ten in the morning, with thirty bombers over Nich- ols Field and thirty more poised to take off, a group of 611' emy planes was discovered closing from the westward, half a dozen patrol hghters on their tail. Three laps broke through. Two Oscar Hghters and one Judy bomber. each with two bombs, flashed into view. They were deadly midges. twenty thousand feet in the air. as they nosed over in their dive. The screen and Big lien opened tire simultaneously with every gun. One of the ,laps dropped his bombs harrnlessly and fled. but the others bored down at the 1 r4znk1in. The first one was n wide miss. Captain Shoemaker swung the big ship heavily to port and the second bomb went off on the starboard side, close aboard, throwing a column of water over the ship and shaking the decks. The third bomb missed the port side twenty feet and before its concussion had subsided the fourth hit the corner of the deck-edge elevator. hurling hot steel and shrapnel in all directions. One Oscar was shot down by Big Ben's battery as he pulled out of his dive while the other went into a dogfight with the patrol. Shrapnel from the hit tore through the gallery deck, the island structure. and the mast. Signalman James Rogers, at his station on the flag bridge, was killed. Lt. tjgj Harmon R. Hudson. of the bomber squadron, and seaman William Taylor were inoitally wounded. Five other men were seri- ously hurt and later died, twenty-seven were injured. Under the direction of Comdr. Smith, Medical Department Head, the casualties were given first aid and the more seri- ously wounded were rushed to the sick bay. Aided by Drs. Fuelling and Fox and by Titus, Vober, Torneby, Mitchell, Mason, of the Medical Staff, all performed prodigiously that day. At least two men would have died had the surgeon's efforts been too little or too late. George Smith, radarman third class, at his battle station, a hundred feet from the hit, had been struck with a piece of shrapnel that tore through the half-inch steel bulkhead before completely piercing his side. Dr. Fox, without hesitation, working through the rag- ged hole in the man's side, removed several feet of riddled intestines, joined the ends which the damaged section had bridged, cleaned and stitched the wound. Within two weeks George Smith was back on watch, proud of his Purple Heart. Lt. Hoy, a torpedo plane pilot, struck in the temple and in the spine with shrapnel, lay dying on his cot in the quiet room that night. Three large blood clots were forming on his brain, beneath the shattered bone. Dr. Fox, who de- claimed knowledge of uanything from the neck up, watched the agonized man for five hours when he could take time from the dozens of wounded in the nearby sick bay. Then, when it seemed as though Lt. Hoy had breathed his last, Dr. Fox reached a decision. lnto the ship's operating room the pilot was wheeled by anxious pharmacist's mates. Instead of anesthesia an oxygen mask was used to keep the wounded man alive. For two hours the doctor labored, cutting through the damaged bone, removing the deadly clots which he had known must be there, then replacing the trepanned section. Lt. Hoy was alive two weeks later and transferred to a hos- pital ship, with a fighting chance for recovery. Fortunately the bomb hit had not knocked the flight deck out of commission. The deck edge elevator could be re- paired by Comdr. LeFavour,s shipfitters and Lt. Comdr. Greene's engineers. The bomb-laden strikes would continue to pour off toward the doomed Japs on Luzon. During the afternoon two more attacks were thrown at Task Group 38.4. From the northwest 50 Japanese planes appeared on the radars. A few minutes later a large group came into radar range from the southwest. Lt. Comdr. Brun- ing scrambled section after section of Hellcats, and the San Jacinto air patrol was already moving full speed to intercept the enemy groups. Within ten minutes 30 fighters were clos- ing in on the southern group and 20 fighters on the northern formation. In a precise interception at 50 miles the southern Japs were brought to battle. Not a Nip escaped.. Reports from the airmen came through: Splash two Zekesf' Splash an Oscar, MSplasl1 a Betty. The northern group was intercepted at 60 miles while it attempted to execute an encircling maneuver. It fled in panic, Hellcats of the Thirteenth charging in victoriously to knock down a dozen of the Japanese before the formation escaped when American gas ran low. On Big Ben all hands breathed a sigh of relief and grati- tude to the boys of Fighting Thirteen. In CIC Lt. David Al- len, Evaluation Officer, was busy until late that night tabu- lating reports from the other air groups for a final tally of the dayis work. 84 Japanese planes had spun into the water, shattered by American steel. Big Ben's guns had accounted for one and her fighters had shot down 29. The Enterprise air group had knocked down 27, with the remainder going to the smaller airgroups on the San Jacinto and Belleau Wood. Heavy strikes were again launched at the Manila Bay area on October 16th, concentrating on shipping. The Japanese defenders strove desperately to protect the ships which were the life-blood of their Empire. Oscar and Zeke fighters trail- ed returning strikes, hoping to pick off cripples, or circled above the oncoming formations of carrier planes, striving to draw off fighter escorts so that other Zekes could pick off unprotected dive-bombers and torpedo planes. Sometimes this worked and then the gunners in the Avengers and Hell- divers had opportunity to show their mettle. A number of them were credited with shooting down Jap fighters. Yet at day's end the hulks of half-sunken ships dotted the shallow water of Manila Harbor and clouds of smoke poured from the stricken installations. That night 30 of the Enterprise planes striking Manila lost their way in the dusk. They were heard on the radio and finally located, but when they had been directed to the task group it was dark and many had barely enough gas to land aboard. It was urgent to get them down, every carrier in the force advised the Big E that they were ready to commence landing operations. As the tired warbirds came down to the dim-lit flight decks pathetic messages could be heard on the radio: 'This is Beaver Two. Am making water landing. Outf, Gas enough for one more circle. Can you give me a flag, please?7' One Helldiver, blinded in the darkness, fiew full into the side of the Belleair Wood and exploded. Half a dozen others crashed in the sea and the indefatigable de- stroyers commenced searching for survivors. Big Ben took eight planes aboard, the pilots and air- crewmen stumbled out, exhausted. It had been trying for all hands while those big black planes were bumping down on the flight deck in the dark. The Big E was grateful: We thank you for your prompt response to emergency Wednes- day night. Your close cooperation much appreciated? On the next day occurred another incident that might have had tragic consequences. Lt. J. B. Johnny', Johnson, of Fighting Thirteenth, was wounded over the target and the landing gear of his Hellcat so badly damaged that it could not be lowered. He came back with his strike, barely enough gas to make the ship, and requested permission to make a crash landing on deck. Admiral Davison, knowing that might .4 lap rnerchantrnan at Manila takes one on its fantail disable the flight deck and prevent the scheduled strikes from leaving, ordered a water landing ahead of a screening destroyer. The answer came back: ullight arm wounded. Hatch fouled. Will not be able to open cockpit cover. Comdr. Taylor spoke quickly to the Admiral. 'cltis sui- cide, sir, for that boy to land out there. l'll take the respon- sibility for the flight deckfi Even as Admiral Davison assented, the cool voice on the radio spoke: cclfnough gas for this circle only. Can you give me a green llag?7' Franklinls engines churned full speed. and a forty knot gale swept the deck as the captain held her into the wind. The green flag went up. Every man on the ship watched with bated breath for they knew the danger of that landing to ship and plane. Fire-fighting crews, lirst aid men, damage control boys stood by. The men on the barriers were tense at their posts. Down glided the Hellcat in a beautiful approach. The tail- hook caught a wire and the plane slid along on its belly to rest gently against the first barrier. Lt. Johnson, with two lap planes to his credit, emerged shaken but ready to Hy again the next day. But that was the day, another of heavy air action over Manila, that Lt. Eric Magnussen, of Vir- ginia, Minnesota, probably the oldest combat pilot in the Navy, was missing in action. 'cMaggie, after shooting two Zekes down that day, headed his damaged Hellcat for Big Ben but was never seen again. Now, while the llattops pounded the Japanese bases in the l'hilippines, and the tempo increased to the fury of pre- invasion assault, the mighty fleet ol' transports. battle-ships, escort carriers, all the Seventh lfleet, drew near lmytf-. The historic moment arrived, on Uctober 2l st, l9llfl, as the troops of the Sixth Army poured ashore and the colors of Arnerica arose once more over the island where freedom had been crushed for three long years. A promise had been redeemed. Task Group 38.111 withdrew to refuel on October 22n:l. leaving the Luzon post to another force. This message from President Roosevelt to Admiral Halsey was received: NTlze country has followed with pricle the rnagnihcenl sweep of your fleet into enemy waters, in aclclilion to the gallant fighting of your fliers. We appreciate the ea- clurance anal super searnanslzip of your forces . . . To the officers anrl rnen of all services uflzo have carried the fglzt to the enemy-Well Done. Between October 9th and October 20th the task group had flown 1677 sorties over enemy targets, shot down l82 enemy aircraft, destroyed 197 on the ground, probably destroyed 87. It had lost twenty-three aircraft in combatg seventeen pilots and eleven aircrewmen were missing in action. lt had sunk 37 Japanese vessels larger than one thousand tons and badly damaged 38 others. Of these totals Big Ben's Air Group Thirteen had taken its full share. ,. r'-agp ' 'f i Q T ' .4-s S- jk lj ZX-X .A-:!Jx.x, A' x Rr N if Y ' ,S Nw my hw, xx I 'N CHAPTER EIGHT . . . 1'll l1Ul,'6'l'f0I'Qf'1 1011111 1110 rfrzptain told us the other everziirzgg and I guess 1 zvorft let my 2'l'lIlIlll'llll!l1'f'II. 01'0'Pl, eitlier . . . Anil 1 cloriil l1Li1z1f man ' o us . . as 1 will ever forget 111111 ,111p named Una, the little yellow pilot that laid his Zeke on our jliglzt declf. But 111111 c1ia'n't stop Big Ben . . . 7, BATTLE FOR LEYTE GULF Amiinxi. D.xv1soN's 1-'LXGSHIIL Franlrlin, and the ships of Task Group 38.4 withdrew to the westward on October 22nd to replenish supplies since bombs were low and the supply of torpedoes nearly exhausted. Task Groups 38.2 and 38.3 were now in the seas off Luzon and Leyte, supporting the doughboys of the Sixth Army. Task Group 38.1, with the brand-new carrier Ticonderoga. was on a course from Ulithi to the Philippines. Admiral Halsey knew that the next move was up to the Japanese Navy. The airfields for a thousand miles north of Leyte were out of commission for weeks and the important Philippines' bases were under daily attack from carrier bombers. The vital shipping lanes over which reinforcements must come to Yamashita's soldiers were under constant at- tack. Within a few weeks new airfields hacked from the Leyte jungles would bc havens for the land-based Fifth and Thir- teenth Army Air Forces. If the Philippines-and the Fm- pire-were to be saved it was up to the big, black battle- wagons and Hat-tops of the Imperial Navy to smash the American Fleet. Their aim must be to isolate the 200,000 in- vading Yankee soldiers so the defending Nipponese Army could cut them to pieces. The Japanese plan of battle was simple in conception and held the threat of disaster to the American forces It w as the old pmcer movement From the northern tip of Luzon to the southern end of Nlindanao there are a thousand miles of island dotted ocean the Philippine Archipelago There are two passavfs by which a fle t mtv it cross the island chain Suia aio Straits be x ecn Levte Gulf and the South China Sea the Strait of oa'1 Be nardnto b s c '1 Luzon an' .iamar 100 rules norti o cvte Gull e 1, s of Am mica tra s l now .x ne alan r s 1 fruisci .1 If rcenn s xfrs u c oi , I H tr ins io s e la 'intl irmatrn urizlo and 'llususlu t lt old r matt esn is with '1 do7cn stroyf r d tr n ffllllf rs x our f rlu I ir Ju in SCI r1irr ino Strat d rut s y Jdflf'9f llrf lt J ldll 19111 I Ullr fdrrll TS Flu rut ers and tx flf'-lfljyff would procerd southward rom afan and lay 1 hundrefl fTlllfS to thf west of l eytc support lf 1 the itlier two llf-ft bv drawinff off iny Amerif in farm r assaults. Probably the Japanese admiral expected some as- sistance from land-based aircraft in the Philippines. It was a desperate gamble of a Navy for an Empire. Weighed against it in the scales of war were the Third and Seventh United States Fleets. During the night of October 23rd the fateful word flashed to Big 13en's radio room from submarines in the China Sea that the Japanese Navy was on the move and that strong units of the enemy fleet were approaching the Philippines. Task Group 38.4 wheeled and steamed westward, flank speed. At dawn ten search-attack groups, six Hellcats and six bomb- ers to a team, were thrown west. Four of the assault teams came from Big Ben. Over a radius of 325 miles they ranged, covering the island areas and waterways of southern Samar, northern Leyte, Cebu, Negros, and Panay. No major forma- tion of the enemy fleet were sighted, but near Pucio Point. Panay. two destroyers and a cruiser were located. Lt. Dick Harding and Lt. uFatsi' Miller joined their attack groups and thundered down to hit the laps with rockets, bombs, and machine gun fire. The cruiser heeled over and sank. The destroyers were blazing and listing heavily when the attack ended. l.ater in the day main units of the Japanese Second Fleet welt si htecl TTIOXIIIU throuoh Tablas Straits 150 miles from fl lap 111 slroyrr 1111 I9 slzalcrn ln Il closf ont rom one 0 13144, 11111 9 91117111 uflneh plants October 24111 - ., 1 . . 4 - F f 5- g K '77 - ' 1 ' C . , f xi. g 2. ' Y . 0 . , . . l . W N . , Q . gi - C. ., , K, ' ' . ' t 1 ' ' s , , fl . r . etr c, CF , t 1' ,. l f L 4' ' P. where til li 'n:lr.v-': 1 .fr ,'1i -nupoiis anil supply s lips s l' y. T' , J I ese Ifi .11 Fleet, two llC1l1lGfS'l1lJ.'. half a doggcii 5 :jfs '1 l st 1 7' g fif!.'iTOJ'? .i, wo l l force its way tfzr igli the fiuraeaio Strait.: and fall upon the z aj rl: Th , ' pa esf Second lflcrrt, two sur :S -l ' tl fsl 'pr:. the l' , r ', f.'ri' .e l ' l,.il'1.'. ' 1 .P dei 'e s an f : '.L: .1 '. Il l 2 l 1 gib l -2 .' n ller- ' l' .' Qs, an 1 . l,eyte'.1 feuppl' line to Ulitlii. The 181 ' .. f Tl ' l lflcet, wr l' .lf.1 ls, f t' 't iglil fi 'sc ,.' s' fs. ' :ff .' . '. f e- 1' ' ' 'f , fl- 2 if U I , .7', 7.1. .- if i .2 if 1 lf, 1, ,fel rw 2 ,117 , I 'L..' 'I f'.... 1 1 San Bernardino. There were at least live battleships, nine cruisers, and a dozen destroyers. Immediately, at l.:30 p.m. a heavy deckload-twelve bombers, ten torpedo planes and ten Hellcats-warmed with rockets and bombs, sped off to at- tack. ltlrom l-11.000 feet the Franklin. planes sighted the en- emy. moving in two groups about eight miles apart. south 'of Sibuyan Island. The northeast group, in compact forma- tion, was steaming westward at top speed. The southern group of ten or twelve warships, was milling in circles as though under air attack. Comdr. Richard Kibbe, who had recently become Air Group Thirteen's commander, directed the attack at the bat- tleships of the northern group. In the face of a heavy flak barrage thrown up by the enemy, who was firing even his sixteen-inch guns, Big Benis warplanes thundered down. The battleship Musashi, hit by two heavy bombs, staggered out of line, smoking. After many hits later during that day, the Musashi sank. The battleship Yamato, also hit, twisted and turned to dodge the armor piercing missiles. Two cruisers were hard hit and one was left dead in the water. A light cruiser, struck by a single torpedo, dropped by Lt. ljgy I-1, Q. Ransom, exploded violently and sank in seconds. That was one of the luckiest hits of the war. Lt. Ransom, under a hail of fire, was dodging in on a lap battlewagon when he dropped his fish. A light cruiser, whipping along at 30 knots, ran in between and took it squarely. A magazine mugt have exploded because it sank almost instantly. Of the 32 attacking planes, two were shot down and four teen damaged. lfns. Robert Freligh and his gunner, Sam Plonsky, were later reported safe in the hands of friendly Filipinos, after the crash of their shell-torn bomber. Lt. Cjgj Marshall D. Barnett, lad from dusty Texas, and a poet of stature, was lost in action with his gunner. Leonard Pick ens, of New Concord, Ohio. Their Helldiver went doun near the Japanese fleet. Vllhile this attack was in progress reports arrived of 3 powerful enemy carrier force, the Japanese Third Fleet, moving southward from 200 miles east of Cape Escarpado, on the north tip of Luzon. Franlslinfs group was passing Leyte Gulf, standing north to join Task Groups 38.2 and . ma A, . 15554. of J . , lap super-battleship Yamofo, firing all glLIlS, twists wilrlly to escape. i I l l 'liylji both ol which ucic now nntlci hcatx y an atttaick lroni . . , . . . . , , I the ,lripiincsc llnrtt liter-t s planes in lllls in-tion thi- light l t'ill'I'lt't' Jl7lii'1tt'f4'-'I was lost. l Xdniiral ltatsex had det-idctl tpiickly. llc was hurrying the 5 task groups ot' his ilihird lflect norlliwttrd to engage this new I . . . 1 llircrit, lcaxing the sewn old luittlcsliips with their escorting l t'i'nist-is and destroyers. along with Xdniirul lxinkaidis baby 2 gldytops, to protect the shipping in lmyte hull. So in the exeuing ot' ilctolwr 21th, Fl'llIlli'1IiIl and her coni- rades were speeding northward. past the escort t'a1'1'ier'sc1'1iis- ing So miles olli the cntrgnicc to l.ey'te Gull.. for tt l'l'llLlL'ZYUllS with the other groups. During the night two more new battle- ships joined her screenh enow boasting the super-battle- wagons South Ilttlfofu. qllulrolrnz. and llHtISllll1gf0I1. y 'lihat night the search planes kept contact with the Jap carrier task force until 3:30 L1.Il1. An hour before dawn the E bugles called battle stationsg the laps were somewhere to the north. about l00 miles away. Hall' an hour later a sixteen- plane combat air patrol was launched: at 6:30 twelve bomb- ers and eight torpedo planes took the sky to lly northward. Thr-5 lunl orders to circle at a distance of 50 rniles from llig llcn while awaiting word from the seurcli planes which were now combing the oct-ati. Mc-anwliilc, at second dr-r-kloatl ol laonilmt-rs and fighters was arnicd. :Xt 7:30 the Japanese lflt-vt was siglin-tt. 130 miles cast ol l l'11l1lrl1'l1'.s circling lionilicrs. 'llliere were lonr carriers, thc Zuilfulfu, lflzilusc, Zuilm, and Cfziyodu. Two hattleships with tlight decks, the llyugu. and lsv, steamed with them, sur- rounded by a dozen cruisers and destroyers. The orders were llashed out for attack. Hellcats from another air group hur- ried to the scene to cover Big Ben's airmen as they hurtled in. Seventeen enemy hghters were in the air over their car- riers and they fought desperately to save them. An Avenger piloted by Ens. Thomas P. Brooks, Ir., of Concord, Mass., with aircrewman Harold J. Shane, of York, Pa., and Francis J. Ploger, of Grand Rapids. Mich., spun down to the sea in a fatal water landing. But the bombers bored in. A few min- utes before 8:0O, Comdr. Kibbe's voice on the radio said: We are going down on a big carrier. Looks like itls trying to turn into the wind to launch. The voices on the radio -x .sl . .. . ..r.-ff i I I i i l 1 l l l 'i i i 'i 2 i I l if lo' !ll!lfllII'Sl' Ylffrfl l lw'l. llllilll'f lll'Ill'l' nir ullurk. fltfUll'S up fluff . . . The f'llfI'I'l' r In Ilia' left is lmrrf liil ' I . , , f Imlf-fl uf ilu: lmmlurl-. xxfml, mln rlaffz lfwbf :r.1:,mf- , . , , ,. slrurn, l,l. ln'ouf'l1, l.l. Hwy! mul nail ,ll flfmwf urfwr 'nw lmr'nlwl'1viluls lmrl wr'-um-rl fllI'4'f'l llll- UH ilu- lllg f'Q!'!l4'f, ll, u law IIllIllllf'!- ll hurl Hf'V!l'lI'fl irnrlf--Lruf-Iiiflfa 'lllwzp .1lnu,- lou wuclclcnly, lllli Zujfzlu sunk. Over the radio rgamg I'fj1JUINlr lrorn ilu: -fmlll. 'llw wif!! 3,4 llesllips and cleslroyeri. ol' the Sffwfmll l !+-vt. aiflf-cl Eg. lfl lroals, had nearly Llllllllllldlfffl the lupunefe liret llefft.. gf Luo lwultlesllips, some rgruisf51's and destfoyerf that lzafl wer .l yplyf. , Tin' fzzlpurzwsz' currivr Cfzilusw, jus! brffore slw zu2nf drum . . . 'sk-f' M FV M ' A ' ww .'?r1'?' - ' . 4 Big liwfs linrlzfwrs lzfflpvfl .sinlf fwfr I Tflf? U'?L1l'USOxll'flS .Szlnk by planes from Big Bun llllll Ullwr air gruzlps from ffzf' task fwfwl' . . . 77111: picfzzm' EMIS fuffwz ful 1 mu from Lr1fr'rprl.w', Sllllfll-Y lwforc sflf' mls .wfrzzrlf Oll SfllI',7fI!II'fl xllfv. riff- IW 1111111114-r fm-P,-tif, A , , ly,-,1 I,,,,,,, , Ugg, nm, ?,,' nla.wrlwl in flwwk nuff mwfffwr lift nfl, ll'l'lll fifll Zum- ff, Hg,- gzuffwl. 'lwlIl'll prlrlf: lf-mln-fl in f'2 Vll l.f-Img? :li 2: .fl fwfr. Yllf rguliu ,-aliclg 'lfllu-r-la ull um- My lluilluff flm? Y 4.14: ffff l,Q1lvr,lmfrkmnI,ln- l1ip,Lmrwlr. liilflw. In mmf: :lf l.l- rflfmyvm Ln l'Yl'lllllLlilI5.S rfrl-xx, lulfl lnfm l,l. Slilmwr, li. 5-, wif' Hal' engaged xsllilc trying lo llflffjfj the 5ll1Adff'?,ilU Slruilf fl1,1TlI'l'f v. ,., V .. Q-,.. . llw Hlglll. lun ,lilI'.lllt'Sl' XXllINllll'N NlllXlXl'll llll5 ilK'llUIl. lllll 111.-1111111111-w Sl'1'UIltl l l1'1'l, llml Imfl lu-1-11 lwllllnlmwl lvl :lir- lxfillql llltllll lllg llvn :xml ullwl' llul-lulw llu' In-1-1-1-1li11g1 ill.ll'l'- mmm. vannv mm llnougln lln' Flrguls ul' Sill! llv1'11:111li1m minuw il lullllvfllip mul -1-x1-ml l'lllllSl'l'S mul uns mm nlraxsing xsilllin gun Villlyl' nl' ilu- ligllllx' pmlv1'lm'1l l'Sl'Ul'l carri01's. l'lw lullry llul-lops1 xxilll only 1ll'FlI'Hyl'l'S in lllc screen. lou plaucs 11luu1r1l. mul lms on lmrnlns. xwn- in il ,iegpelulp position. lxlw lwuu Suns ol' lln' lvullle-slxilns voulll Qiulx Q1 llUKlJll small l'Lll'l'll'l'S in as lllillly IlllIlllll'S. 'xllllllllll Halsey llispatclwd Tusk Group flil.l. ullivln was rwurirug the Pllilippilws. in tlwir uiml. XYOI'l'l was soon 1'1'c's-iwml lllul an attack had been lLlllllCllt'1lL1QlLllllSl llllx Jap lPLllll0XXL1g1UllS XNlllf'll would hit the Xips ul ulwout 1:00 p.m. ln ilu- IlN'LllIllIIll'. llw Mar mms 1111 ,lap J1'str11,wr. 11'l11l1' 11 hgh! l'flllSt'f s11'1'r1'1'x Y r'r111xI1'c111ly. 1111 guns Hazzirzg . . . I 1'vfI1'1'r1 llll'IlUf!'S l11I1fr I.11' a'as1rmer 11115 sunk IN' 01111 of 1'wftlIl'lfII.ll-S IJUIIIIJS. 111'l1'1'1'r1'1l I ' by LI. I-fgl Harding, of lJ0lIl1ll.l1:Q' 7'l11Art1'1'r1 P U .. nr-r-un-.--.-fn'-1 ...... M..- .A Q Yl,,fM'll,1w1f111!s, .sfml :funn 111411 lflf' frlll lfllfl ' l llwwl 11'1'r1' 1111! fullllllll Il'llt'll f4'.Nl'll1' plalllws l'l'fl!',l4'1l llll' Sf 'VIII' u.,.n4-nn 'ny'-1-...i....:-as . ..... ...,...,.,-v destroyers and the few planes of the escort carriers were putting up one of the most heroic battles of the war. Three of those destroyers and two destroyer escorts went to their deaths in the unequal struggle, but they did not die in vain. Months later, after the surrender of Japan, Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita, commander of the Japanese Second Fleet, confessed that, incredible as it may seem, his enemy fleet of two dozen major warships was turned back at 11:00 a.m. by damage suffered from the torpedoes of seven Ameri- ican destroyers escorting the baby flat-tops and bombs from the escort carrier's planes-as well as the fear of further attacks. Assault groups from other flat-tops of the Third Fleet were now over the stricken Japanese carrier group 300 miles north of Leyte Gulf, and 75 miles from Big Ben. By the end of an hour every carrier in the force was hard hit, burning, or on .'.f'?1'x 1' ' .-a'l +T: . f fi.,-Q, . .J f..,y,sa. , -, 357311 is ' 2 rzfirtir' 1 ' f Q . ,, Comdr. W. M. :'W'ild Billn Coleman, hard-flying skipper of Figfzting Thirteen, the bottom. Cruisers were flaming, the two old battleships and one cruiser were steaming frantically northward. The destroyers milled around aimlessly, some trying to pick up Japanese sailors, now floating in the sea by hundreds, The seven fast battlewagons of the Third Fleet, detached from the carriers, were straining ahead at thirty knots, eager to bring the Japs to a battle which could have but one con- clusion. At 10:00 a.m. came radar warning of a large flight of en- emy aircraft approaching, 100 miles to the south. These, it was learned later, were the Jap carrier planes that sent the Princeton to the bottom off Luzon the day before. They had landed on Luzon and were flying out to rejoin their carriers. 30 Hellcats roared south to meet them, but the Jap planes were evidently in radio contact with their fleet. Before the Hellcats sighted them, they reversed course and turned south out of range, apparently informed of the disaster to their floating bases. At noon, 150 more bombers and fighters took off from Big Benls flight deck to add to the destruction. But now the calls for aid from the south were urgent. Admiral flalsey turned the heavy new battleships, then only 40 miles from their quarry, with the carriers and destroyers of Task firoup 38.2 to aid the embattled baby flat-tops of the Sf5Vfiflfll filfifff. At 1:30 Franlclirtfs fourth strike cleared the deck. The Jap- anese ships were in a panic-stricken condition. Undarnaged vessels steamed desperately at high speed, on independent courses, in any direction to get out of range of the bombers. Damaged ships, listing heavily, circled wildly, all guns fir- ing, with no effort at mutual support. Here and there two or three destroyers, or a destroyer and a burning cruiser. steam- ed in formation using their guns to best advantage. It was a wild, desperate, confused battle. And it cost the dive-bomb ing squadron from Big Ben heavily, for Lt. John H. Finrow, a University of Washington boy, who had flown 31 missions, went down in his Helldiver with his gunner, Henry E. Borja, the lad his shipmates called HHank. Lt. fjgj D. A. Mcphie, recommended for the Navy Cross and two Air Medals, died that day with his gunner, B. D. Chandler, a boy from old Alabama. It would have been ffMac'sH last mission, had he returned. Yet there was one thing certain about that battle. Squad- ron after squadron of America's finest air groups kept fill- ing the sky above the fleeing Japanese. As soon as the air group of one carrier had delivered its attack, the planes of another would come flashing down to attack. Through the afternoon the battle continued. Even Comdr. Coleman, of Fighting Thirteen, could only shake his head in the ward- room that night and say, HI wouldnft have believed it if 1 hadn't been there. 1 don't know half what happened and 1 was there all day. Theyill never get all of this one in their history booksf' As evening drew near, two cruisers and a destroyer-one cruiser limping-were all that remained of the force. The two battleships, one damaged, with no destroyer escort, were 100 miles north, fleeing at their best speeds. They would run the gauntlet of a dozen American submarines posted in their path. That night a submarine reported five torpedo hits on one and when last seen it was dead in the water. Admiral Davison asked for any carrier with a dozen fighter planes and a clear flight deck to volunteer for a rocket-armed sweep to get one of the cruisers. Big Ben's flight deck was crowded with the last returning strike. but the Enterprise volunteered. Half an hour later the proud voice of the strike leader from the Big E could be heard over the radio: Hello, Badger. This is Dodger Four. Break out the beer. Wife just sank a cruiser. Badger was Admiral Davison's radio call. The Admiral answered personally: This is the Badger. himself. Great going. Well have the band waiting for von, Now, as the sun dipped into the sea on the Japmiesim lin- perial Navyis last day on the Pacific. cruisers from the Third Fleet drew near to hnish the cripples. The Air Coordinator. still flying over the scene. directed them to the targets. His voice could be heard on the radio. though the cruisers were not audible. The airman's voice was clear and cold. Can't see 'em. eh? Do you see me? f'Well, watch these black bursts now . . l 1 E l i l l 1 l 4 l t l . l A t t See 'einif . . . That's the w ny to the cruisers. boys . . lie was flying down over the Jups. drawing their lire. and the bursts of flak in the evening sky directed the Anrerican warships to their targets. .-X brave man was llocket 77. Before the moon rose the last Japanese warship of tht group was on the muddy bottom of the llacilic. smashed by cruiser gunfire. As the task group steamed south. Jap de- struction complete to the north. the captain spoke solemnly and proudly to liig liens tense crew: You will never forget today. Today. October 25th, 19-1-l. we have defeated the Japanese Navy in one of the decisive sea battles of history . . Then he turned the speak-xr over to the fliers who had climbed from Franlrlinis deck. Vlfhen the men off watch that night rolled into their hunks they were as proud as Captain Shoemaker 4 they had put those planes in the air and kept 'em there . . . October 26111 was spent in contacting the tanker group and refueling. Nleantime complete reports were pouring in of the far-Hung Battle for Leyte Gulf. The Japanese Second Fleet, attacking Vice Admiral Kinkaidis escort carriers, withdrew at the last moment. after sinking the Gambier Bay, two de- stroyers. and three destroyer escorts. The Japanese admiral had reached his decision at 11 a.m. and steamed north to San Bernardino. passing through the strait at midnight, ev- ery ship in his squadron damaged by destroyer torpedoes or air attack. As the fast battleships of the United States Third Fleet passed the straits at 1:00 a.m. only one crippled Japanese cruiser lagged behind. It disintegrated so swiftly under thc sixteen-inch guns of the super-battleships that not until some of the stunned survivors were pulled out of the water was it known to be a cruiser and not a destroyer. To pursue the group of enemy warships into the heavily mined straits would be imprudent, so Admiral Halsey contented himself with launching heavy air assaults over the escape route through the islands. The Japanese force beaten in the Suragaio Straits had truly been annihilated. Only one crippled battleship made its way back into the Sibuyan Sea and it was sunk by air attack before Admiral Kinkaid could Htake a picture of the darn thingf: As a fighting force the Imperial Japanese Navy had ceased to exist. MacArthur,s heachheads were secure and no power on the face of the earth could stop Americafs re- conquest of the Philippines. Franklin and Task Group 38.4. steamed back to the Leyte area the next day, furnishing combat air patrol for the trans- ports in the Gulf. and launching search sweeps for Japanese warships still trying to escape. Sixteen Hellcats. each armed with a 500-pound bomb, located a cruiser of the Aoba class with two destroyers, south of the island of Mindoro. Four direct bomb hits and fourteen rockets were slammed into the cruiser. lt was left blazing, leaking steam, and listing heav- ily to port. The two destroyers were damaged. Half an hour later another hghter sweep, launched by the lfrttcrprise, ar- rived to hnish them off. The two destroyers were still there, one already abandoned by its crew. The cruiser was never seen again, almost certainly sent to the bottom by llig lierfs strike. The airmen from the llig AFI made strafing runs over the destroyers. leaving them both sinking. A Lt. f. B. Johnson, Corning through hatch on the Flight deck of the Franklin . . . fohnnfy's experiences were so numerous and unusual that Quentin Reynolds wrote him up in a Colliefs article During the 28th and 29th of October heavy calls were placed on the Fleet's fighter squadrons by MacArthur7s em- battled forces. Combat air patrol was flown over Leyte, and searches were conducted off the island of Samar for carrier pilots shot down in the previous actions. The Hellcats shot down eight Oscars and one Zeke which were trying to attack the transports in Leyte Gulf. Vlleather was rainy and the new- ly constructed airfields at Dulag and Tacloban on Leyte were in poor condition. Crack-ups were frequent on the muddy fields, and often grounded pilots were under bombing attack as the Japs continued to slip in groups of bombers to strike the invasion forces. On the evening of the 28th, six of Franklin's patrolling Hellcats attacked twelve Jap fighter planes at dusk. When the Oscars had been driven away, Big l3en's airmen were forced .rfs , , , Q j ,, ' V1 Flight rlcclt crews arming a dcclcloaa' . . . Note rockets being loaflcfl on llcllcats . . . Air Group I3 was one Of first to use this weapon against japanese to land as best they could on the airfield at Dulag while it was under attack. Later all made their way back to the ship. except Lt. tjgl Robert F. Brooks. One wheel of his Hellcat had been shot awayg he hailed out over Leyte Gull' near land. but was not found. It took twelve of them to get Bobby. . . . The same day, a sad one for Big Ben. Lt. Raymond B. Cookis Helldiver failed to return. Bay Cook, of Palmyra, N. Y., and his gunner, William B. Butler, of Cincinnati, Ohio. were marked missing. Also night fighter Wfarren Wolf, of White Plains, N. Y.. on being catapulted into the darkness to intercept a Jap bomber, spun directly into the sea. Wlarren. a handsome, cheerful boy, who grinned at danger, was car- ried under the water by his plane, of Lt. XVineger's three night chicks only one was left now-Tony Martin. A message from General MacArthur to the fleet on Oc- tober 29th said that the Army now ls established its air forces on Leyte and would assume all responsibility for bombing island targets. Navy planes would attack island targets only when permission had been obtained from the Army. However, during the following morning, there were numerous reports of enemy aircraft and the combat air patrol had been busy. None had closed within 30 miles of the task group, but the double watch was set on the guns. At 2:00 p.m. the radio room reported a fleet tanker force 50 miles away under air attack, Franklin at once launched twelve Hellcats to go to its aid. Hardly had they left the deck when a small group of lap planes, which thc- rfornhat patrol had been chasing for the last half-hour, appeared near the formation. They had originally been detected 75 miles to the northwest, high in the air, the combat air patrol, guided out to intercept, tailed to spot the rlf-r-f-pliu-ly camouflaged Japanese planes. All the way in to the ship the fighters had flown within a mile or two of the enemy. but unable to register a HTallyho. Now, at ten miles, they were visible to the task group, three or four thousand feet in the air. The destroyer Bagley, fueling alongside, cast off at 2:17 p.m. The cruisers and destroyers of the screen closed in tight around the carriers, Frrmklin, Enterprise, liellffau ll oofl. and San. facinto. The course was changed ninety degrees to the left, putting the attack on the sterns of the Hattops. Now. at six miles, every hve-inch in the formation opened up and the black bursts of exploding shells began to spot the sky around the Japs. Une minute later, two miles away. the six enemy planes nosed over in their dives. Two hundred forty mm. muzzles took up the battle and pepper-like dots covered the western sky. Finally the twenty's opened as the laps whipped close. A Judy bomber, in flames, dove at Big Ben and missed. crashing in the water amidships, starboard. His bombs and plane exploded on impact with the water and the big flat- top shook with the concussion. Now a Zeke came slanting I if Sl1.Il'I-lflv' plrnze lfzul IIIISSPII 11115 jus! expfmlerl in flu' ll'llfl'f by Big lien .... Aflzoflzer. in flurmzv, llmf 14-il! 1101 1n1.s.s, lrulllex flown nf ilu' fllgllf deck. will: Ffflllkll-II s gIllIIH'l'S .vfrzggirig ur lzifn r-wry incl: nf' ilu' zrvrv. tlotsn in gi suicidal plunge. at oxcr tln-uc lnnnlrcd tnilcs an hour. Itig licnis gnnncrs hung gritnly to thcir mounts. liring to tht- last. l'iltnning. thc pilot ttcatl at his controls, tracers ripping liolcs in tht- plane. nothing sccnicd ahh- to stop it. lloxsn into f'1u11lt'lli1t..w lligltt rlcck it tloxc. ltl'Sllll'tlll'1tlill'l'l'llti ot thc island. X tctitln- explosion shook tht- slnp and shc lurchcd in agonizcd protcst. 'X mighty cloud ol' sniokc and tire shot up from tht- thirty-loot crater in the tlight deck. tlames licking swiftly :tl tht- ncarhy planes on the hangar and ttight decks. llunncrs at their stations were hlinded hy the liumcs, scorclicd hx tht- tlanics: lno dozen nicn had al- lllxlllly tliftl. -K thii-tl plane, another Judy. swept low over llig lien. dropping his ltNltt-pound homh. hut this one missed-emissed the island hy llcct and exploded in the sea. The Jap. still un- der heaxy tire from ltig lienis torn ard hatteries. swerved his plane to the left and crashed on the lliglit deck of the Helleuu ll ood. To o more suicide planes dived at the Sun fucinlo, hut hoth missed. The linal Jap aimed at the l'.'11terprl'sc hut was hlasted hy liig lienis gunners and the ships ol' the screen, exploding in mid-air. Thus ended the tirst Kamikaze suicide attack on major tnited States xsarships. tln the Frt1111.'11'11 gunners stood doggedly hy their mounts. choking in the thick gray smoke. awaiting the next attack. tfllif nas out ol' commission, hut the crexs stood hy. while lit. n 4 ' A O s 1 s YI G ' f Q v 5 0 U 1 s f - UO U an Vic lluhl and his technicians fought through darkened con- lusion to get the vital radars searching again. Electricians lahorctl ovcr their control hoards. trying to clear them of faults. Under the cool dircction of tlomdr. licnjaniin Moore and llonidr. l.c l avour. the lilatnagc liontrol Department. assisted hy hundreds of willing hands. sprang into action. lloscs appeared magically on the llight and hangar decks. Sprinkler curtains erected walls of water on the hangar deck, isolating the hurning area. Foam extinguishers and fog noz- zles in the hands ol' the lire-fighters. heat hack the llames. Flight deck crews jettisoned dozens of planes. hefore fire could reach their hundreds of gallons of gasoline. Fire mar- shals Caldwell and Graham. with the olhcers and men of the repair parties, ignoring all dangers, had the fire under con- trol after forty-five minutes of desperate fighting. Twenty minutes after the explosion. while courageous parties of men were groping through the smoke and water that had gained access to the lower decks. searching for trapped comrades. trying to clear the passages down to the engineering spaces of water, another awful explosion wrenched the decks. Gasoline from wrecked planes on the flight and hangar decks. leaking through a damaged homb elevator. had reached the third and fourth decks. Vaporizing. it had exploded. The second explosion warped and twisted steel hulkheads, hurled men helter-skelter, killing many hy concussion alone. So perished Joseph Esslinger. machinist's . ,,..,.-t Q..- ' n 1 A 4 I Q S K ..,.,, .M-.mfr-c , .t ,,.-V4-, .- l'lfu-I liurslt flnl Iliff sky. us II lftinl .suiriflrf plrznw. nrrr Ffllllklill. drops his lmrnh if ln1'.w.w'fl lint' fl'f'f H ' lirfnrr' lu- rlirws info ilu' HI'llf'IIll lli'noal's tlrrk mate lirst class, of Baltimore, held., who went back into the llooded machine shop to help his friends. lllusician Drew Widener died in that blast, as did Robert N. Orr. shiplitler lirst class, who had earned Captain Shoemakeris tirst coin- mendation award while on the shakedown cruise, for putting out a dangerous lire. Bob Orr died because he was too brave to live. He rushed forward fearlessly into the spreading llames with an inadequate hose. Chief Macliinists Mate Hid- dle. pressing into the smoke and water on the third deck. was caught in this second blast and badly burned. as were many of his fellows in the Engineer Repair Party. under Lt. Fitz- gerald. Others, like Lt. Thomas Mclntyre. soft-spoken dentist of Minneapolis. with his pharmacist's mates and stretcher bearers, had died at their battle stations, directly in the path of the Kamikaze. Scores were painfully burned: many dangerously wounded. Big Ben listed to starboard under the weight of the water being thrown on the fires from scores of high pressure hoses. llarnagr- liontrol lientral Station fought, a losing battle to keep ln-1' on an 4-vf-n kr-1-l. Sll'tflf7llt'InH loaded with rnen burned agonizingly, but uni-ornplaining. were gently rrarr'ir-fl through the dint, murky passageways to the battle dre-sing -tations in the island and the warrlrooni w here Corndr. Srnithl Nledi. cal Department labored. Overhead. slim lc'-fltiis from Gcheral NIacArthuris airfield, sent out to cover the task group, provided against lurther attacks. The Hcllcuuf llf ood and Franlflirt were still fighting fires whose columns of smoke could be seen from the nearby land. The Sun., fucinlo and Enfcrprise stood by with combat air patrolsg the battleship Soullzr Dakota and cruisers New Orleans and Blilflgtli, with the destroyers of the screen, lay in close with their hundreds of guns slanted upwards. With CIC again in commission, reports were coming of other enemy planes closing the task group but they failed to reach their objectives, being turned back or shot down by patrol planes. When dark came, hundreds of men had distinguished a k W4 ,,hC.Z,7, f, ,JQQWWJ l .- QQ ax., Cmmpr 5-iu t '7r5 'WIFI' f'j'1S lY- Ffflfllfllift flflfl l3f'Uf.'f1I1 lliiood in flunws. llIl'fII-flillgi lillffflfl' rzfffzt-lm lllt'ltlS0lXtt5 by their work in eontpiering the dannaging tires. lfitity-tiour men were dead. three more would not lixe through the night: sixty wounded tiltt-tt the dressing stations. The ttight deek had ai thirty-loot holeg the alter elexntor was warped by the force ol' the explosion, Large areas ol' the seeond and third decks were eoxered with water two or more feel deep. trapping l.t. lfomdr. Greene and his hun- dreds ol' engineers for more than lixe hours. The third and fourth decks aniidships were twisted and broken: steel plates were buckled and torn: stout doors and bulkheads were crumpled. Ylxlll' entire ship, spotlessly clean that morning. was covered with a thick tilm of black soot. Xlen worked all night pumping water out of flooded spaces. salvaging equip- ment. making liig lien habitable again. After many hours of etliort, with the ship on an ex en keel again. the task group joined the tanker lleet on Uctober 31st and refueled. The next day. with 13 Hellcats, 15 Helldivers and 41- Aven- gers aboard and still operational, Frunlflirz and the Belleau lliiood. escorted by destroyers. retired to Utithi for repairs that would tit them for further operations. Admiral Davison transferred his llag to the Ifnlerprise. When Big Ben steamed slowly into the choppy waters of Litithi Harbor. where hundreds of warships lay at anchor, to drop her hook a few hundred yards from the hospital ship Solace, the crew of a Fighting comrade. the USS Wasp, manned the rail and gave three cheers, the highest com- pliment that one man-o'-war can pay another. The carrier Nassau sent the following despatch: Deein it an honor to be anchored in the same harbor 1' I w,g4c3 X, V 1 t 4 Fighting flames on flight deck with Franlzlin. Congratulations on cone swell job., All our best wishes for the future? From Admiral Nimitz to the US. Pacific Fleet: 'alt can be announced with assurance that the Japanese Navy has been beaten, routed, and broken by the Third and Seventh Fleetsf' Men lifted off their sooty helmets, washed their grimy, blackened facesg spoke sadly but proudly of comrades who had died at their battle stations. 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'- BIG BEC S DEND' CHRI TMAI' AT HO IE 9111 Ifstlx LKLXSS cTxHRlEliS. bearing the Iiruut of the sea war, of crack repair Crews to survey the wreckage. and repair the were tiespetxiteiy needed in the Tllird I7Ieet. It' repairs to the I damage. riigiu ueek could be made Ivy time I1uII repair ship. JIISUII, Big Captain Lesile E. Genres reported aboard November 2nfI. Hen eouItI operate for sexeral months Iwefore returning to IQ!-1. In the temporary rank of Commodore Ile had directed Iveari Hari'-Fr or the Linited States. As soon as the Itig auxil- all naval air units in the Aleutian Campaign. during txso zarx' -gouiti et up Nteam site CLIIIIP aiongsitie. Ivringing dozens years' serviee in the North Paciuc- theater. as commander of Xl' ' . ,fr-1 s f e Q' 1 in as ff Li I 'U P1 151 in 5 .71 ful 4-33 .li 4. I an Y to i I7 j,',, ,,,.f,,',,A,, fi,,,1111f.11,1' x11f1'1'1f1' flllllll' fffrlmlrvf II filler' 1'1'1Il1'l' ill lflr' fllituflf ll L ' ' - - ' - A ' ' ' ' 7QY 'W V , ,,,,. Y..,, ,4 ,,,..., , ,. -, . , , . , Un Novcrnber 7th, on the battle-scarred liangljar deck. in the gray light from Ulilhiis cloudy sky, that filtered down through the bomb crater. Captain Shoemaker sadly relin- quished command of Big lien, with a word ol' farewell to the men who had served with him, Captain Cehres, a tall. hand- some. powerfully-built man, of erect military bearing. ae- cepted his grave responsibility with modesty and determina- tion. The crew stood in ranks while the new commanding otiicer made his Hrst inspection. Other battle-tired warships of Task Group 38.-lt anchored in Ulithi during the next days. Battles for control of the Philippines sky still raged and two task groups were Hghting alongside MacArthur's newly-arrived air forces to stem the menace of Japanese Kamikaze planes-suicide dives were now an accepted method of attack. During the brief period after October 29th when the Army had assumed all respon- sibility for air control, 30,000 Japanese troops had landed on Leyte to reinforce Yamashita's men. The Navy was brought back into the fight. Crews from the repair ship, after assessing the shattered decks, decided that it would require all available steel stock and more than a month to put Big Ben temporarily back in the fighting line. Ulithi's limited facilities must be kept available for quick repair of ships which would return to ar,-l,i4ni in weeks. lfrrrllfrtflill rniist eo barli to l'f-'ati llariiur. Adiniral llalsfy. v-ith rillim-r'-. of his stall., xiaitefl lil: lien before she sailed. lien eagerly throng'-fl the dr-:f'lf1 to glimp-ff this legendary warrior. in his crumpled khaki uniforrri. shirt open at the throat. with the four .silver stars of a full Ad. miral on his r-ap. fjonulr. Moore showed the A-Xliffilfdl f,,t,,,, the torn decks for an hour. and talked of the -hip. Vt her, Admiral Halsey departed he had the highest praise for the conduct of Frczfilrfift and her men. in battle and after. Hip autographed photograph inscribed: Milo Frrmkfrri and hey splendid crewf? became a shipis treasure. The night before liiig lien sailed for Pearl, sad new ,-,e s came from the fleet. The carrier Lexington, flagship. had been hit by a Kamikaze. which crashed on the bridge. kill- ing scores, The carrier, lntrepifl, hghting off attack, was struck by another suicide plane that flamed into a row of machine guns and killed twenty-Hve of the men behind them Neither of the giant carriers were damaged seriously enougli to come out of the line but crew replacements were urgently needed. Frrzrilrlirt would not be in combat for some time so Comdr. Moore must reluctantly pick three officers and l03 men to reinforce them. It was a hard choice. lfns. Vi-ynn and lit. tjgl Mathieson, communicators, and Lt. 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'lilw 411' 121111111 Illtxll 111110 1l11H11il1-ly going 11111111-. lim lllll 1111gl11 lm 1'c11L111'111l at l'11111'l 111' SI111 Illlglll gn iw A1 XX 1'NI 1 11.111 N111 1' Yg1l'1l. lxlw 1111- 115 Il1e Q111' f1'111111l1'1111s. 1-11111l1al l1111si1111 1'11li111'1-fl. 1 X 'I II'l1l'ff1' 1111 1 1 1 11 1111 F11 111C.HT joecplz lu fffl 1211 'lllllllllllf 11 If! llarcfz 1111111 lfozms 501 fwlmrlvs Edu Y31-: Roland D111 lllflll l 36 1111 d 111 111111011 I9 llfarclz 1-11li1'1-111-1lt1 111 1 1101 1111110 11 1 11111 -Xlmtte 1 ll1a 1 isl11f1l 11111911 1 11111 rflv 5lil11ill, 11 1113- 111111 1 11111t1J11J111q 11111 'MIN l19a1l 1I1eta111 1 'R-...... 7, ,, ,W ,,,,,,,, ,j 1, ,, .1,,1f' 1,111,111 1M1111'111f ll IA!fl.IIlll ff1ll.11'1' Il.XIf.S lflvg ll ll ' 1 -. N , , I , WX, Jjfl STANDINCZEIZS. Barney Talbott, Lt. E. V. Osborne, Ens. C. Higgins, Erzs. Bill Dorie, Erts. f. M. Robbins, Lt. foe Maguire, Ens. Tom Lawton, Lt. lijgl Dick Huxford. SECOND ROW: Ens. Bob Hungerford, Enfs. fim Carpenter: EUS- J. Kehoe, Ears. John McKinney, Lt. fjgl foe Stilwill, Lt. Jim Pope, Lt. Cdr. W. ccllulcen Slater. FIRST RGW: Lt. Real Harris, Lt. Knute Weidman, Utllauclf? Lt. fjgj Bill Parsons 'cMable,v cCSaxy Dowell young men whose most frequent appearances for months had HUHCIG 10677 himself, with his Clroll advertisement of a been on the flight deck or over enemy targets, assisted by too-well-known brand of tinned meat. his humorous chat- funloving Saxie Dowell, brought clown the house-a terg the Gray-Bass Trio -Lts. Bill Dorie, MOzzie Osborne. hangar deekful of cheering sailors. and Joe Maguire - sang an old favorite with new words: 'gl The llvllffflllli Ufflvers Experts ut every department, tlzese rnerz lzacl a lot to do witlz. getting tlzose flags przirllvfl on Big Berzfs zlvlaml sfrllrture '.Ql'.,4,i.q-. - A2- wanted wings. nntil l got the dogg:-ined llnng1s. Mjllllllttiu Watson. the only nmsieian in the world who played ai bull fiddle under his ching lt. laiwton as ai Jap prisoner. cap- tured in a lieer liarrel at the Nlog Nlog tlllieers' tflnlig lvnnte Weidnian and lle:n-on llnsons. chorus girls extraordinary: and finally. llonevliov l' red llarris. with dozens ol others in the 'liiglitronian lilee lllnlfi, filled the evening with laughter. Soultinllt- to the music of tlld Nlan Hiver.-' lloneyhov sang nt' Old Alan Taylor. ai left-handed tribute to tfomdr. Joe Taylor. the Xir tlllieer. who laughed as heartily as any of the appreciative plane-pushers. f'mr1Xr1'1'ri arrived at llearl llarbor. Novernber Zlst, 19,1-1. The navy yard. after a quick inspection. decided Bremerton Navy Yard was better equipped to make repairs. Details were radioed ahead and even as liig Hen steamed westward by Diamond Head the next day. machine shops of the Puget Sound Navy Yard were preparing for their task. Memorial services were held Sunday. November 26th, on the hangar deck. for the men of the Air Group and of the ship who had given their lives during the Cruise. The rites were simple and impressive. Hymns were reverently sung. led by Chaplins Chamberlin and Harkins. A prayer was of' fered for the comrades who had fallen in battle and were not coming home. The roll of their names was sadly calledg three volleys were tired over the Pacific in their honor. Aft- er a silent prayer. the final hymn was sung. At Orchard Point. near Bremerton. after brief ceremonies, the Air Group and passengers left the ship. Fighting Air . . . f.n rf 1 :ruins .f...f.aL5- ' v z Group 'llhirteen and the men ol' the Frunlrlin had been eom- rtides for nearly a year. tlomdr. Uielc Kihlie. speaking forthe Air Group. reealled the days together and said Thank you and good lnelt. l'll'llllh'll.II.!N Captain Gehres. for the people of ltig llen. praised the gronpis brilliant combat record and wished the men who had been such splendid shipmates many happy landings. Since their lirsl combat operation of July sith, in the whirlwind tempo of the Paeihe War, Air Group Thirteen had made an enviable record. They had destroyed or dam- aged at least 338 enemy planes. against a loss of 53 of their own. They had sunk Ott merchant vessels for a total of l55.- tttltl tonsg damaged another 66 for 153,00tl tons more. They had sunk l5 Japanese warships for a total of 57.950 tons and damaged 19 others totaling 254-.500 tons. The group had lost 36 pilots, 30670 of the original complementg it had lost 27 aircrewmen, 2770 of the original complement. it had flown 3,971 combat sorties against the enemy. Customs inspection was briefg there had been little for- eign trade on this cruise, except in bombs and bullets. The last airman was off the ship by dark and all hands looked forward sleeplessly to the morrow. Early in the morning tugs were moving the Franklin to the navy' yard. It was hard to warp the huge ship into the drydock. with the wind and tide whipping her out of posi- tion and it was late in the afternoon when she rested on the blocks of Drydock 5. L55 f ffjflkfjll ill llr-yrlmk Iwi ff, lirr'mf'rfnrz Nam' Yurrl, for repairs. The USS Bunker Hill Kon the riglifyl reeefiies repairs also Chief Milliken Gibbons and Chief Newman were heacl-bartenders at Ihre CPO7s party in Bremerton FRONT now, Lum' 'fu mfim : fohn Slrffeh lhilled in action 19 ,Uorcff ng Lt. fjga Ceorge Leilchg LL. Corndr. Paul Speerg fohn Forrnichellag Donald Price fzconndeil I9 Marehqg mrgfi How: farnes Kficlfg ,Charles Eder, jr.,' Unil- liarn Tyree f!ZL'ULlfLd6li I9 ,i' 1 larch 1 g Kich- ard lfflllflg lfoiioncl Dafzmian l.lil'iiPfi in acrlion I9 Mczrchijg joseph Lrzjerfy fllfounrieci 19 SIIIIIYJI I Chief Otis Lee Corhefl QVIVI-fi! gIc1ss3 tells anwofher mil one z...4.,. . ' , . il F V ..f ..,,n4 , 1 .Nunn ff ,gf 'ff i K ' 'mv'-' I mug- 'wv 4' 1' - ..,........ lf- U25 Rfk. ll47ff'1I fI'f'lIl'l!I'l'lIIl1ll. l'l.Sl-18 Ihr Uvfzrnzrllls purly Lt. Cornclr. C:I'f'1'1If' ll,P3lf'1'l and Clziwf HOflfSZl'lll.lI.S ,Univ Cwnfry HRIGHTJ sfmu' ffm slz1'p's Cllllllillllj' Smmf rffuf -j1'fl0rlzzlggilzgv S'f1l'lf.S wrmlp. 4'lfuflf'rf1r1lI-' f1lUl'I'l'Sl1II. -Iii MW f 111111 .mnzw nf his .vzlisfafd f 'f1'f'l1fs ul llw CPU p1lI'f'Y -'YP ' ' 'f 1-X 1 -ww: -Chief Photographer Luke Dutrante poses for one of himself Shore leave was granted at once. Men marched in forma- tion to the gate, dispersing swiftly to dash for the nearest telephone, telegraph office or place of refreshment. The next day, half the crew-fifteen hundred men-left the ship for twenty full days of relaxation, every man had the oppor- tunity to visit his home. Puget Sound Navy Yard has one of the finest reputations for efficiency of any naval shore establishment. The men were moved off the ship to live in barracks and thousands of workmen were busy aboard, night and day. With half the crew on leave there was much for the remainder to do: fire- watches - standing by for hours to see that a welder's spark did not cause a conflagration, working parties-tons of stores to be removed or carried aboard, security watches - long hours of patroling deserted decks. But the barracks were a pleasure for the men, regulations were enforced by ship's officers and petty officers, considerate of the men they knew so well. Food was served in the cafeteria, which fed 9,000 men daily and it was a liberal menu, with the green food, fresh vegetables, and milk, that men on sea service crave so much. Two entire mess halls were set aside for Franklin men, and the cooks who prepared the food often remarked to inspecting officers from the ship that it was a pleasure to serve those. boys from Big Ben - a more orderly, cheerful, well-mannered outfit had never been billeted there. No pushing, no shoving, no complaining, the happiest, scrappiest crew of them all. There was a farewell party for Comdr. Benny Moore, the Executive Officer. Every man aboard was sad to see him leave. Lt. Comdr. Paul Speer, his pleasant and efficient aide, was also detached, to be relieved by Lt. P. E. Hathaway. Comdr. Joe Taylor became the Executive Officer and Comdr. H. H. Hale the Air Officer. Christmas and New Yearis Day, 194-5, were the only days during Big Benls stay that the chipping hammers, riveters l J Dr. George W. Fox fCENTERJ seems to have accidentally exchartlgea' jackets with Chief Sigrualman Harry Reese fLEFT P and machines of the repair forces were stilled and as the middle of January approached repairs were almost finished. When the last leave party returned two gala farewell parties for the crewmen and their friends were given by the ship at Craven Center. As usual, the lads of the band shone, and between the music, refreshments, and pretty girls, the dances were memorable affairs. The chief petty officers and warrant officers had farewell parties of their own - pictures tell the story better than words. On January 27th, Captain Gehres thanked the navyyard for a superb overhaul. He was speaking for every man on the ship when he said ffOur fighting efficiency has been in- creased by your skill, in turn our every effort will be dedi- cated to the complete destruction of the remaining strong- holds of the enemy. The captain had used every moment to prepare for the battles ahead, with Comdr. Taylor and the department heads he had been vigilant to see that every detail of repair was thorough. Every man and officer that could be spared had two day's fire-fighting training at Man- chester, Washington, radar operators and oflicers refreshed at CIC schools, gunners were kept in trim, engineers over- hauled their machinery. On January 28th, when Big Ben steamed slowly away from the navyyard to anchor at Sin- clair lnlet for final tests and calibrations she was as ready to fight as her captain could make her. There were a few liberties left-times for last good byes- during the next days. Farewells were bid to wives, boarding trains for the other side of the continent, girl friends in Seattle and Bremerton were treated to farewell dinners. As the last shipis boat returned through the foggy Sound on January 30th, Big Ben had said Hadieuf' The sea was rough as Franklin plowed southward for Alameda, California, on January 3lst. She was on a speed run, and the new men aboard were recalling promises of their shipmates: Hthe old girl rides like a feather bed. Even p 5 I 3 1 . ,....Q. , -,,,,,, Y V 1 A qka U 1 Xxx UP: Dun flzrsvvffz. Ll. P. ff. flflfllfllfll-Y. ffmffz l:1'llwl in action. l9J1arcfzj and Cflilif-1 fCljl7LllIZ Cl7j0j'dl.Ill10f 1 ff' HJIKU fluff Urnflnrj rm znwss r-Unk ffwlzlrvx' Illlfl lvfmn llSSI.Sf fffl l'rnf'f1c'1'1'0 4-Eff V S H. , v Y ' I ua. 'ill' r , I ,,l, mm ff. l',f,ff,,mf, fljq, flxl-11,5 l'wllyg f'llf1f'l,r111w Hxhl.-lj: l llf.KUIlS.f Y'-y rwg lfrrzfflg l'fIb!'fll't l'lII ICUIUSUII f1x'l,Hg llouyurfl l'uulg Urmlnrfg UHflx7IZ1llll,'Hj Unlmown. at 30.000-tori carrier can pitch and roll when she is traveling Z7 at 30 knots through heavy seas. Big Ben was off the Golden Cate at daybreak, February 2nd. Oakland suburbanites, rid- ing trains across the bridge to their work in San Francisco, were given the spectacle of a big llat-top, crew in ranks on deck, proudly steaming under the Oakland bridge. Before noon she was moored by the Naval Air Station in Alamada. Air Group Five, under Comdr. F.. B. Parker, Jr., U. S. N., was welcomed aboard. Some months before it had returned home after a long combat tour and was again on its way to the wars. Instead of Hellcats the pilots of Fighting Five, un- der Lt. Comdr. MacGregor Kilpatrick. llew swift Corsairs. Though the Corsair is somewhat faster than the Hellcat. and its gull wings give it beauty, it is a sore subject among fight- er pilots as to which is the better plane. Torpedo Five, com- manded by Lt. Comdr. Allan C. Edwards. llew Avengers: Bombing Five. under Lt. Comdr. John C. Sheridan. manned Helldivers. Nearly half of Air Group Five's pilots were of the U. S. Marine Corps, the first marine aviators aboard a large carrier for many years. liy the mysterious grapevine among .Navy wives, many were in San Francisco, seorning the scarcity of hotel roorns, for a last goodbye. livery ollicer and man that could he spared was granted shore leave February Oth. 'lhere wa- something fateful about that last eveningg many who lost friends or loved ones on Big lien have spoken ol' an over- powering feeling that these goodbyes were final. Some of the letters written home by men on the ship revealed the same premonition. The next day, February 7th, l92l5, Ffflflfillill and her escorts stood west for Pearl Harbor. ln the Chief Petty Ulliceris quarters. on the third deck. just abaft the sicklray, a traditional ceremony was perform- ed while Big Ben plowed west. Doctor Fox. long an honorary member of the Chief's Mess, and Lt. Philip Hathaway, him- self an ex-chief, with yeorrian Don Forsythe. a press corre- spondent. helped initiate a dozen brand-new chief petty olli- cers. The ceremony ended only when the new chiefs were ready to return to the ranks. Beyond this, it was an unevent- ful crossing, and Franklin arrived in Pearl Harbor on Feli- ruary 12th, 1945. The Men Who Kept Figfrling Squrmlrorz. l ll'lf in. llrr- .ilir r'RoN'r How. i-'noir burr 'ro rnor-rr: B. T. Flanagarr, l'2c. C. Upforr. .Allllllr-g l.. fl. llrllrrrr. l'R.3r-. rf. HQ ,lofmu ,1r7l11.,- C- C- Cffwlvfffz fllOllHC', R- W. lli'r15lcr'et0z'c:, f1fllrltl2C: llw. f.. llllrfrorr. .'l.rll,lllllr'. f. fl. lx'r1orr'lr's. nl.lI.ll2t-5 R. U. Rzrvfrfw. Afllrllflcg SECOND RUW, FROM I.Iilf'T T0 RIGHT: UII'rlCHOll7ll- --R. llw. llogzle. nllfrlllrvg I, Ligfrf. .-lR.lIlr'. lllIA'llUll'l?e --lr'rzlrrro1r'r1: M. Kilpatrick tC.O.l C. C. Kniglrl, lilcg Unlrvnorun.-fUrzlrrzozvrrxlln. J. jolrrrson, ,1,11,1ljt-5 rj. 19. 14,114-3, 4-111.1114-3 'rmrqp Row, rfnorvr r.r1:r-'T TU rrrcnr: j. M. rllcCoZlunr, .f1CNrll, L. C. rllillrfr. Cl'!my1Ig P. I'. lilrry. .A1l,'r2g1l, N. 7'rr-prrefrt-o, A4rfR'I'5 j, ll Y .111-. Coy, .4CrlI, C. 'l'. llrrrrriliorrg I . tflrrisfmrzsorz, .llfffrll i we iioininandt-it had sent his last inessage to the liome- fit n, Mere wal ing Ilirongli tlie stratospliere over tlie lvattered title- nt tlie .lapanewe li-nne islands. tlnee again news reports tl II A I' 'I' E R 'I' E N . . uv multi lmzw' lvfl her there, I glless . . . Hy all the rules they use in .'. J1is gfinn' xlw .vlmzzld tw slffvpirzg now on the liotiorn off the mast Of japan. I lim ,wine pf-pple Joni! f1l'lI'f'I'l' in all the rules . . . Uur lfllllflllllf flifllldf . . . M f 1 W N V 1 r 1 9 A L IHIf HIP IHAI WOULD I BE ini- xiriot S t2XI'll.li tor lim ,lima was sulusidinge e tlie Jap- of tlie mighty task groups of tlie lfiflli lfleet were lacking during one of tlie lirief periods of inactivity that portended dz I expel-l to die lieref' Superllorts. in massive forma- awful Consequences for tlie once-arrogant yellow men. Ilig llen daily expected orders to up anclior and Steam westward, Ilank Speed, to join tlie fleet. Wlitli tlie Philippines r .1f,,w,4f, !,l ',lil1' ly fnllfrfw. ILS Nl. fdlllllllllllllll-llfl Uyivvr. USS l ranklin, .7Vnw'r11Iwr 7111, 194-1, In fum' .3'Utli. 1945 1 'i'-X 'T' MQ. . 4- l KSA .-iff., l l 1 .4 Corsair takes a 'fwnve-off, as others circle to land firmly in control of American armies, with every major island port in American hands, with the surviving Japanese surrounded in the barren mountain ranges, with Two Jima, only six hundred miles from Tokyo, hloodily collapsing in death, the next move would he close to the main islands of Japan. By the familiar pattern of amphibious warfare it would find the fast carrier forces neutralizing the air bases of Japan proper, followed by a terrific fleet bombardment of the next doomed stronghold. Then the Marine and Army di- visions would pour ashore, under an umbrella of sea-borne airpower. Every flattop in the fleet would be needed! The expected orders did not come immediately. There would be three weeks of operation in the Hawaiian area to further qualify the fliers of Air Group Five in carrier land- ings, as well as the pilots of another group, Air Group 87., Those weeks passed swiftly. The airmen trained hard, much as the pilots of Air Group Thirteen had trained here nearly a 'ear before' da landings niffht landings, simulated at- y 7 Y D 7 D Q, tacks, formation Hying. During the days Franklin practiced vigorously with her guns, with damage control problems, first aid drills, physical exercises to put the men in peak condition. Every man now knew the seriousness of combat and the importance of striv- ing for high battle efheiency. Comdr. Taylor and Captain Gehres frequently addressed the crew at quarters, instilling the determination to make Big Ben the best and toughest ship in the fleet. As the refresher training ended, the painstaking care with which the Navy and its oflicers strive to be forehanded and provide for every possible contingency was impressed upon everyone. The productivity of Ameriea's assembly lines was making itself felt on the fighting front: accessories that men once counted as luxuries were conmionplace. livery man had a sheath knife, life jacket with pin-on lamp. gas mask, steel .. ---Jn, ,, ..., ..... -V.-...uf-s A ...,,...,,,. : o -Q.-,..f-.infill f ' ' ....,,,. . ...-- U ..-1 . ,.. ..... L S.. life' lifll-N men luke I1 'f'I1fU1l,'1'I1 fool: at Pearl Harbor Plfllffl. plastic whistle. waterproof tlashlight. protec- fi e f 'tilting and cream to prevent flash hurns from ex plo 'f lir-I aifl lmxfs and lockers were located at dozens of 'ri ' ,f' places. l.iif- rafts and lliiF5I1l'l4, fully equipped with il kit-. Z'-f'Tf1 plfrntifnl. livery fflYlf'I'IQl'TIlf'y that human fgoulfl lor'-rfe as proviflr-fl for in the f-lahoratc sys tl fldflldffe fnntrol. ill'f'-iljflliltlg' and rr-pair. f.omrlr. ll. f'. fnppli. fllllf'f'l'. and Himrlr. VX. lt. l,el'ax'our. f' f,fn.trul ijill'f'il', lioth of, wlmm hall workt-rl wonrlt-rs l':vfr1l'lQ.n. xwcrf: flfftaffltffel at thi- time and l,t. tion iflr. llK'tg1'f1'.illf ir1'fdHl11 supply f'l1ir'li while l,t. tiomflr. li. pf- tn-ul: ww: llarnagrg f,fmtrol. lhg liens mission T' Q' -wwf-tl and flu' '-trfamerl wvstwaitl on Xlldl lr id, ,.,l, fr. , 1 'aft' Ilrf f'f l1'-IWYT .1 v f- v , Mali' lint: ljenf nn-'-ion was itlrQlgIlt5d and slit: 2' :nun 'f--I Nlurfli ful. l'1l3. Shu was rtfurly. X f ,r:,p,.',l,,:lg l.1-r were the usual elf:-troyer escorts a the mighty new battle cruiser, Guam. A stream of westbound warships moved with her, separated by distances of 50 to ltltl miles. The push was onl The task group arrived in Ulithi Lagoon March 13th. Here the stay was short. Full of transports, foreshadowing invasion, the wide anchorage made men marvel at the prodi- gality and power of their country. These hundreds of war- ships, undreamed of when war shattered the Pacific peaceg these tens of thousands of soldiers then unmustered, were here at a newly conquered base. trained to perfection and ready to strike a foe who had lgieen preparing twenty years for this war. Ready to strike him on his doorstep, for this would lie the long awaited Okinawa operation. lffllllkllill. departed Ulitlii, the flagship of Task Group 58.2, with lt:-ar Admiral ltalph Davisorfs two-starred ilag at her truck. Also alroartl, as passengers, were Rear ,Mhniral Began -A--main . ... U. . n-V1-nn I ! V PZ - ABOVE: Chief Petty Ojfcers, March 12, l94-'al . . . BELOW: Warslzips of Llzerlfzffllzf and Se rentlz Fleets, massed uf Ulitfzz' Harbor for a blow against the fapanesc Empire - ' -Q-JU fa. Z 12 X .. wfff'f 'Jif-fir ' . ff I 'lfii-ff ' ' fs, -' ' -f . ' f ,V A, .p-.Q , , 35' ' . ,,g. , ,S1'Q,',4'i'-1. ', , . A .nb ,M ,- ,.,. , - 2 .u.r.,.,A L, - 1A A,f1.43:-.-.....x 'ggi ' 1.q.....i.--v--.-.. -..WY Y , , ,, , - t ,,. , , . .,....w.... b Q ' i .. .......:L .......-. . ..m5!?2i3-uns u un. hint- . U 1- ..... ,,,..A..:-..n:::-A: . ::::::::::l.:n . . I M Fur... ,...----f-v- ..f. ,.,, Y , ,,,,...Nnur...navy-un!-sniI1n',n.W. , H .,,,,.!.'.44.Jwl,n:V.g - --------H '1::71ZZ...1T27I3ZiZl33!3. 'L mm nm ' I'-3.1-.lf 45 V V , ,,,. 1 , f K I ABOVE: Ofd Cfury flies orvr av 00171505 uir 911 I Ffffl ' ' I' 1 ro 0 1 lflllf' 'I'l'F-S Corsuirs, bcinff rvadivd O11 HIV liwfs deck . . - .D T . 2' . O . BELOW: .4 forty mm. quad gun crvzc, ready 011 llzvzr SfllflUIZS, nflrfr tfzrozvzzzg cz few TOUIZIZS ln Iarget praclwe 4 X Q I 1 5 Q 3 1 R Y 2 E . and his staff, and Captain Arnold Isbel, who was to corn- mand the carrier Yorktown. Admiral Bogan would relieve the veteran Admiral Davison sometime after the next operation. As the harbor dropped from sight behind the warships, the captain announced: NWe are sailing northward, a part of Task Force Fifty-Eight, bound to strike the home islands of the Japanese Empire for the first timelw Four powerful task groups rendezvoused at sunset March 15th, to become Task Force Fifty-Eight, of the dreaded Fifth Fleet, with Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher in command. The mission of the task force was to neutralize the air bases and shatter the supply ports of Kyushu and Honshu, main Jap- anese islands. Any remnants of the Japanese Navy were to be destroyed. On April 1st the United States Sixth Army and a Marine force would invade the beaches of Okinawa, with the Fifth Fleet covering them from the air. If the men of the Navy did their job, the men of the Army would be able to accomplish theirs. The most powerful armada of warships in history was an awe-inspiring sight as it steamed northward. Sea-air power incarnate, it was a force worthy of the proud battle colors streaming from every ship, a living symbol of the most pow- erful nation on earth. For 50 miles across the ocean stretched the task force, each group with four big carriers in the cen- ter, a screen of fast battleships and cruisers, circled by a score of destroyers. Each task group a combination of air and surface fire-power, born in war's crucible of far-flung Pacific distances, streamlined and modern as a jet plane. Overhead dozens of Hellcats and Corsairs circled, the com- bat patrol. For 100 miles in every direction the Helldivers scouted the ocean. Submarines posted over the sea would flash reports of any enemy motion beyond the aerial screen, hundreds of radars unceasingly scanned sea and sky, alert for the first enemy shadow. This was 'fthe Fleet that came to stayf' On March 17th, as the force neared Japan's coast in full battle order, exploding numerous drifting enemy mines as it proceeded, Nipponese search planes were encountered for the first time. The combat air patrol protected the force by day and 'fsnoopersn were hunted at night by Grummans from the carrier Independence - a night fighter flat-top. In dark- ness the fleet closed to 100 miles of the Empire and nearly an hour before dawn on the 18th the first twenty of Big Benfs warplanes were roaring down the flight deck, to join groups from all the other carriers. The targets were aircraft, air- fields, and hangars at Kagoshima and Izumi on Kyushu Is- land. Throughout the day strikes thundered into the north- east. Eighteen enemy planes were shot down in the air by fighters of Air Group Five alone and many more were de- stroyed on the ground. Hangars were destroyed, buildings and some small boats set ablaze. Four Corsairs were lost, three to enemy flak, one operationally. The pilot of one was rescued by the Hlife guarda' submarine, just offshore. The Japanese reacted violently. A dozen enemy planes were shot down almost within sight of Task Group 58.2. One plane plunged down vertically at the carrier Intrepid, miss- ing its target by feet. Pilots who witnessed the dive said the Jap must have started from 30,000 feet-five miles up. It was a day of continuous alarms, with men tense at battle station for many hours. The combat air patrol scoured the skies, chasing enemy planesefa search made difhcult by the cloudy, overcast weather, which favored the Jap, who was throwing in his planes singly. Often a plane pursued for miles would be discovered to be friendly. Big Ben, as flag- ship for the group, had aboard the Fighter Officer of Ad. miral Davison's Staff, Lt. Comdr. Francis L. Winston, a vet- eran of three years in the Pacific Theater. He was to be re- lieved by Lt. Howard Fleming, of Admiral Boganis staff. In CIC, throughout the day, there was tense action as Winston, Fleming, and Jim Griswold, the shipls fighter director, team- ed with the radarmen and plotting officers to direct dozens of interceptions. All of the alarms and dangers did not come from the air -during the afternoon a floating mine was passed at a dis- tance of about five hundred feet. It was exploded by gun- fire from Big Ben. At sunset, the Franklin-'s last plane landed aboard, but the task group next in line was under attack and Big Benls men were at battle stations until nearly midnight. The respite was short. Just before 1:00 a.m. 'fTorpedo Defensen on the bugle called all gun crews to their posts again. A Jap flew over the formation dropping flares, to be taken under fire by gunners of the battleship North Carolina. The Marine gun crew of Big Ben's battery hurled a few rounds after him as he fled. Shortly after 3:00 a.m. the piercing notes of General Quar- ters on the bugle brought all hands to battle stations. Two groups of enemy planes were on the screens, night fighters on their trail. Half an hour before dawn Franklin swung into the wind and launched 30 Corsairs armed with special heavy rockets- ccTiny Timsi' -to attack Japanese naval units-at Kure. Finally, at-dawn, with the radar screens clear some of the crew were secured from their battle stations at 6:10, a slightly modified condition of security being set by opening one hatch in the armored hangar deck so that men might have access to the mess halls for breakfast. Guns, however, were fully manned, men going below to eat in small groups and returning to their stations when finished. The distribu- tion of hot meals to battle stations on an operating carrier is a practical impossibility, although it had been possible to distribute sandwiches the night before. For twenty-four hours there had been almost continuous alerts, rearming and main- tenance crews had worked steadily all night long. Despite every effort to feed the crew, most of the men of the Air and Gunnery Departments had eaten only one hot meal since the 17th. Alerts sometimes lasted for days and lack of hot food was a serious handicap to efficiency, it was customary, when no enemy planes were known to be in striking distance, to secure from battle stations in this manner at mealtimes. On the hangar deck, lines of men were waiting for break- fast as Lt. Fred Stalcup's crews worked feverishly gassing and arming the next strike, scheduled for 7:00 a.m. The Air Operations Officer, Lt. 4'Dick,, Angell. was busy checking the lists of pilots and planes designated for the sweep. At 6:41-5 Big Ben turned northeast into the wind and came up to 24- knots to launch the first heavy strike of the day: at 6:55 the launch commenced. The Hancock, a thousand yards away, was also launching .,fv.,,..- 1 N,- z hi-i lllsl lieavv stiike Xsteiu was the light earrici lffllrnrll. iilnxnl was thi- Nw: fi.wi11Ji'. Xt .itll iwune a radio niessage trout this lliuii-or-kg l nenu plane closing on you from .tl.i.til , . taptatn tQi-tires ipiivlxlv asked lillf on the iulerphone il' thu ti.i.l -'K1 ntavl with the enemy plane. 'llhe answer was in-e.itivi'. lihev had l-een seareliing for at Jap just reported tw.-lip nules awav. near tuiothcr task group. in addition to their ri-pillar si-arvii. lt was later lvelieved that the enemy plane ahead had liven mistakenly identilied as friendly on .ill radars in the liorniationg the I!lIl!l'Ul'A' had spotted it vis- xiallv .tr il llglslleil iltlo at elolltl. 'lihe iaptain alerted all lookouts and gun control stations, iantioning them lo heed particularly the sector ahead where ii l-tank of clouds lloated two thousand feet in the air and a thousand yards away from the ship. The watch on the hridge doul-led its vigilance. tioindr. Hale. the :Xir Ollicer. had just received a report tironi l.t. Stalcup on the hangar deck: Everything is ready to ga here. and Lt. Fred Harris. the Flight Deck Ullieer. was winding up the seventh plane of the launch as the lap- anese. a twin-engined Judy. hurtled from the clouds on a low, level. lionihing run. The attack developed so suddenly o A - that even the ali-rterl vvat1'lii-rsou thi- lrridpxe flirt not see the plane as it Iltlshi-d in. though the liorward twin live-inch mounts and a liorty quail on the island took it under fire lielatedly, lfonidr. Jnrika, the navigator, saw two lionihs spin down. as the ,lap hardly lilly feet ahove the deek-ee pulled up and elinllved away. Ili- was shot down a few moments later hy lioindr. l'arker. leader of Air Group Five. The lirsl hornh that struck, a Sllll-pound armor-piercer, exploded on the hangar deck at frame 75 and hlasted a great hole in the fl-inch arrnor plate. setting fire to the ,flassed and armed planes. The second lvomh struck aft, crashing: through two decks and exploding on the third. near the chief petty olliceris quarters, The Helldiver just taking off was hlown over on its haekg its pilot climhed out and made his way to the side. A column of black smoke poured from the forward eleva- tor well, and as Captain Gehres regained his feet from the explosions a huge Sheet of flame was erupting from the for- ward starboard edge of the hangar deck. Thinking the fire was forward, he quickly slowed speed to sixteen knots and turned to Starboard. This placed the wind on the port side, keeping the fire away from the heavily armed planes aft. Pilots, aircrewmen. plane captains. were scrambling wild- ' ,N 'wvidif ' .1 ,, 'pdfv-at '- .Sirly miilrns from Japan , o A' ' Cf.. .UH--an ABOVE: Flaming rivers of gasoline pour over the hangar deck, trapping men aft . . . BELOW: Firefighters duck, as an other big explosion goes up . . . The flying airplane engine narrowly missed the captain when it fell .1 sinner- -' lx for the side as their 'lanes caught hre. llro tellers. still l . l spinning. and exploding anuuunitton, made theirs a deadly iournex. lfroni the bridge there was no indication as yet that there had been a hit aft. ln llx control.t'ou1dr.llalerepealled . , A . , vw. iv. again and again: ,lettison the planes with the liny inns first ,... H 'lihose were the last words that eaine oier the speakers. Now a mighty column ol' smoke rose from the stern ol' the ship and the captain saw there had been a hit aft. Swiftly he turned the ship with full left rudder into the wind and again came up to standard speed. bringing the wind broad on the starboard bow. to keep the tire from the undamaged part of the ship. lly this maneuver. during the next two hours. it was possible for the survivors to organize fire-fighting parties and work aft from bases in the unharmed focsll to bring the fires under control. l.iltle more than a minute passed before the sheets of fire spread over the tive bombers. fourteen torpedo planes and twelve fighters. all heavily armed. on the flight and hangar decks. Then a terrific series of explosions commenced, the violence of which can only he imagined. The inferno was increased by the detonations of ready ammunition lockers on the topside. filled with rockets, with shells for five-inch. forty mm., twenty mm., and fifty-cal. machine guns. Men died by the scores on the flight and hangar decks, or were trapped in CIC and the crowded gallery deck work- shops. The entire gallery deck, sandwiched between flight and hangar decks. was a death trap. Ofhces and berthing compartments on the second and third decks were torn hy an vw up-nu n unnnnur-ul ...il-.sr-.vnu explosions and swept by line that spread from the hangar deck, ther thirty tons of high explosive were on the planes alone and countless other tons were in the lockers and ready magazines. Smoke began to pour into the engine rooms below and men donned gas masks or rescue breathing equipment. Num- ber Two l'llI'L'l'OOlll., its uptakes blasted by explosions, went out of commission, the fires under its boilers snuflned out by the first blasts. All communications on the ship were lost except for one line between the bridge and steering control aft, thence to main engine control. As long as quartermaster Davis, and his crew-William Hamil and 'lSmoky', Cud- brantzen, manned the steering control room the captain could give orders to the engines. Comdr. Hale was dispatched from his station in fly con- trol to take charge of fire-fighting on the hangar and flight decks. flomdr Taylor was still groping through smoke across shattered decks, trying to make his way to the bridge. The gallant destroyer Miller came recklessly alongside from the screen, bringing her puny fire hoses to bear on the great conflagration that raged on the hangar deck aft, where 440,- 000 gallons of aviation gasoline were contributing to the fires. On the focsll Fire Marshal Stanley Graham yelled to the men who were making their way clear from the smoky, hlazing, compartments: uBoys, we got pressure on the lines. we got hoses, letls get in there and save herl' In a few min- utes a dozen hoses were working aft on the flight and hangar decks, into the flames. Men with hre axes chopped holes in the flight dork planking to let water into blazing gallery Santa Fe moves in., fre hoses ready, as flames move closer to men trapped on hangar deck deck compartments. into the spreading lire moved the men, continuous explosions of every type of ammunition in the catalogue reverbrating around them. Seven big 500-pound bombs and two smaller ones were rolling about on the flight deck, so hot they were painful to the touch. l.t. Comdr. Stone, with helpers like Chief Bull Urndorll. Bill Fowler, Robert Boyd and Jacobs, rolled them over the side. Comdr. Hale stopped one young seaman. who was playing a hose on a big bomb. Just in time-the stream of water was spinning the arming vane and explosion was im- minent. Pilots from Air Group Five fought alongside shipls officers, seamen, and colored mess attendants. At 7:25, hardly twenty minutes after disaster had struck, Admiral Davison conferred with Captain Gehres on the bridge. The Admiral advised the Captain to pass the word to prepare to abandon ship. Flames a hundred feet high were shooting up past the islandg the roar of exploding shells was deafening. A col- umn of smoke rose a mile above the clouds, Perhaps up there the spirits of the brave Lexington, that died in the Coral Sea, and the Yorktown, that perished at Midway. were waiting for the captainis words, bidding him speak. Captain Cehres, a determined commander, told Admiral Davison that if he would provide air and surface support Franklin would be saved. The Miller was signaled to come forward from her position on the starboard quarter. An Admiral's responsibility comes first to his task groupg he must transfer his flag and get on with the war. For an hour the Millar lay under the huge, listing island, her hose- play- ing on the hangar deck fires as the Adrniralis staff was transferred. Urder was coming out of confusiong men forward on the llight and hangar decks had halted the flames. As they fought aft on the hangar deck they by-passed white-hot fires where magesium bombs glowed on the armor plate in thc- ashes of the planes that had borne them. Men below on the second and third decks. or trapped on the hangar deck aft, were making their way to safer zones. Dozens had been blown over the sideg others, hopelessly trapped, were forced to leap over, many without life jackets. For hours little groups struggled to the fantail, where they fought the fires with ev- ery means at their command, leaping into the water only when their position became unbearable. In the shipis hospital ward, beside the smashed chief's quarters, were Dr. Fox and eighteen men, eleven of them patients. The doctor and his seven pharmacists mates fought a brave little battle to save their shipmates and themselves. The ward was intensely hot, from the raging fires aboveg thick smoke was pouring over the port quarter where the sickbay was located. Air was foul, the door tightly closed to keep out the suffocating smoke and the flames. Two small holes in the ship's side, overboard discharge connections leading through the side of the ship, were opened. Hospital Corpsman John Epting and his comrades placed wet towels across the faces of the patientsg the oxygen tent was used until the flasks were empty. Chief Shipfitter Durrance. a . ,,...,., a '41, fflf' flflcl' fire I'IH'lI fIl'l-ll lllllllllf gum' .klllllftl l c' floxm II big' job C.Q...fhn.- i-n patient. struggled through wreckage to a nearby repair lot-ken, donned a resent' lneatlier, and with an enieruent-' . l entting onttit was preparing to lwnrn an escape hole in the starlwoa rd side ot' the ship when a blast more terrilie than the others took his lille. lliliree days liner. when search parties made their way down and pumped the water from the blackened. llooded prissageways. the ninte evidence of the gallant. futile tight met their sad ewes. llr. George lfox. and his t'tll'llSl11Cll. calm in death. lay beside the men they had served. Nlen with rescue breathers: Dr. Smith, Lt. Bill J. Xlvhite, hleetrieian llhilipps. Klaehinists Mates Gugliemo. Lapore, lleallister. lliellman. Greitner and others. were stumbling through the heavy smoke on the third deck, hauling un- conscious men from the engineering spaces. They worked for hours and routed at least thirty men safely forward, through a hatch near the deck-edge elevator which had been cleared by Machinist lfde. Lt. Donald A. Gary, who had been violently shaken by the first explosions, seized a rescue breather and started forward from his Repair Party battle station toward the source of the smoke. He found, after mak- ing his way through two shattered compartments, that a solid wall of fire sealed off his path. Smoke growing worse by the minute. he made his way back to the mess hall amidships on the third deck. passing hundreds of rockets and bombs al- ready assembled for use that day and needing only a single explosion to set them all off in a monumental blast. At- tracted by his light dozens of men commenced to gather in , , . hh has ui ...f fill!.fiT.lI..,.!1-m.SH..!i5'v5 337' . ...., .....unn.q... the mess hall. As the compartment hllcd, the doors were dogged down to keep out smoke and opened as others ar- rived. l ive minutes later there was not room to sit down. when the doors were closed for the last time nearly 300 men were trapped in that small compartment. Unexploded bombs, with the hre sweeping nearer, were forwardg aft, a wall of lire blocked olf all escape. As mighty explosions shook the ship men realized their mortal peril and panic shook them. Dr. Fuelling, who was working over a seriously wounded man. calmly addressed them. He told them to rest quietly and conserve the limited supply of air and to prayg he led them in prayer. In the dim light of battle lanterns which would not pene- trate the heavy gray smoke, trapped by hre in a compart- ment beside hundreds of live bombs. men prayed-many for the first time in their lives ve while others read aloud from prayer books. Buried in a compartment near the keel of the ship was the Central Damage Control Station. After the explosions be- gan, the lights flashed red-showing all main magazines to be on fire, erroneously, due to damaged wiring. All commu- nications were out except with the forward repair party, as Lt. Billington, who was on the scene a few moments after the hit, soon discovered. Veteran Chief Electrician Hoffner stood by the boards, clearing damaged circuits by switching them open, while the damage control man fought to contact the repair parties. Wlhen the ship began to list badly and smoke poured in, with all communications out, Central Dam- tv. v , , - ,F -,, . 3 Q .Wy If , , - ' .m mf 4 . f ' t . : ! ,: a 1' .JA-,tw-V 1 f risks. , V 1. , , , V ' .i, ., - ', ,M - !',s.iJf 1 'i ' - , . f . fifvi - - ' n n t l I 4,4 wif . ' A, t m H'4Iff.,1',wf is . ,. -Q7 . ,, ,. .,,.. .. ., ,. ing, . . A. V I f f - .K -- J..--Mfg .,, -, lst ' 'tfivsv 5 The fllzlffl guns on.: Hn: prirlius uwrk into jlrunesg nivn 1111114110 line to Sanitrz Fe age Control was abandoned. llollincr located an escape trunk which led up to the third deck and helped the men through it, to join the fire-lighting parties forward. lfilCt.'ll'li'l2.llliH male Zeller went up through the hatches. carefully closing each of them behind himwan invaluable service. because it ki-pt tire from the main magazines. located below. Groups of men like Shiplitter lfirst tllass llurd fought fire amidships until their rescue breathers were exhausted. then made their way to the side of the hangar deck and dropped into the water. Hurd had been in the after mess hall when the bombs hit. He broke out a fire hose and wet three hun- dred rockets. rendering them harmless. Then, with rescue breather. he collected and led at least sixty men back to the fantail. Wihen he went back to look for others he found himself trapped by new explosions aft, forcing him to locate an- other escape route. This time he was forced to the hangar deck. where he leaped over the side. For hve hours he floated in the cold water on a raft with Chief Tony Hungaro, sea- man Dennis Kolek, and shipfitter Kirkman, before being picked up by the carrier Hornet of another task group. Many a man like Burd did his valiant deed before he was overwhelmed in the elemental forces of the catastrophe. or was lion-eil ouri' tin' A-iflf-. 'lhii ninnbr-1 ol lil-rote will timer bi- known. With a group on Ihr' liantail, fir-ntry. cliiel boatsmairiis mate. ki-pt all hands lighting lirff until a sf-rif-s of xiolfrnt fr-X. plosionsof'Cl1l'l'er,l.'llliev put Iilf1jafAl4+-i.-- on the wonnrtfgrl ann lowered thein in the water before dropping in tlierri.-f-l'.'es. SCHUIEUI lied Skelton. a gunner, and his buddy were standing side by side. An explosion blew his buddy to liiis and catapulted Skelton into the water. Homer f.ecil. stand- ing in his unlaced shoes, was blown completely out of them and into the sea. Lt. Fitzgerald. assistant engineering oflicer. and dozens of men in separate groups, made their way tr, the safety of the fantail, only to be forced off. Qhief petty ollicers Austin, Sheppard, Gregg, Battickeg seaman liusso. private Kane, barber Antanasoff . . . their number will never be known. Yeoman Brown and Cavello leaped into the wa- ter together. Cavello, who could not swim. had no life jacket. His comrade, Brown, gave him his. Brown was not rescued. And Gunnery sergeant Truax, who, with a handful of Kla- rines, had manned the guns on the fantail to the last, handed his life jacket to a young seaman who could not swim. The sergeant was missing in action. Now. at I-l:f'lU. amid destruction and confusion. Xumber rv-.N :inlet Xx fl -9 f1'PllHfy' ll'0lLIll'fl.'f1 mfuz. is lowered fo destroyer 1'lliCfiTO.1T from fflllfftllif . . . ffzwrvi' TIIHII on this sfufrou rms jorwfl off ship by flnnrws nm! f'.l'llIUSI.UIIS U111'l'111't1'.1l11h1'!1l ont -1l 1-11111111-sioll. lttiltlllif only ilu' Iwo ,lllltt llllliltltllllx and the .1ll1'1 Vllgfklllt' ltbtllll op1'r11lix1'. l.t. X1!1. l ns. llltlxtl, lns lI.1xl11,NI.1.In1ns1 l,llNltQll.Qlll1llllt'll lllguk Cane 111111 vonld not lmna on 1nn1'h l11n3:1-r, Sllltjlet' was EHUNSLIIQ i11lole1'11l1l1- :ind only il llillltllilll ol' 1'1's1'111' l1l't'lllllt'l'N neu' 11x.1il.1l1le. llaylvr and lfnsign, ol the lllll4'l' 1 . . . 111111111 time lttlllg lu ltlttl Kx5klQlllKl l'1111l1's l111' llllt 1111111 I11-Inu, l ns. l11ek1'1'l1:11l l11'1'n sent lo ilu-1l1n-.l 111---k l11Lls1'1'l'lt1lll the extent ot daiiiage to the llflllllxtli l.l. Xrlx 1-ollapst-tl and inu- Vltlltlali- tnate set-oiul vlass Noll look Vlltllitlt' of the forward plant. kitlltldlll Celnes. inhvrnietl ol' the tlt'SllL'l't1lt' plight ol' the men ltelow, Ul'tl0l'lttl the lhroltles set at eight knots and the engine rooin ailvainlolied. when they 1-011111 no longer he Itttittlttttl. hut the tirerooins never received the order. lihe smoke tortured. agonized crews 1-limlned the ladders and so1nel1ow fought their way forward. The last word on the tirerooin speaker was: Will someone with a breather repott to forward engine room. Trapped . . Lt. li. li. White and Lt. liostain made their way forward and rescued Xott and the three remaining engineers in the Ii01'Xx3l'tl enginerooni. Baker. maehinist's mate second class, set the after engine room controls at eight knots. lint water tenders Barry and Reese. in charge of the after . 1 . . , , 1 l11'1'1'o11111s, elnl not lm-alum Ihosv hrs-ea Inul I11 ln' lf5Iltlt'tl at all 1'-vsls. .lllI1'Y bl2ly1'll nnlil ilu- end., their ship listing heavily, all t'1llllIIllllIlf'.llllbllt- out and s11u1kel1lo1'ki11g vision, keeping their t'l't'XtS at their posts 11nlil 9:30, wlivn the hoilers lost lt-1-1l water sn1'tion and lllt'l't' was no further need to remain. llllIl'lI. and only then. 1li1l they fight their way upward. lharry and his nu-n. Hllltlllyn Codle-ski. fllill' l'l21l'lUPl'. .limmy tlollnni. M'Slltll'lyM Wilson, and 'l'inyM llials, came out on the hangar deck and were foreecl to leap over the side. lleese and his crew, Don lllellae, 'Vl'e11dy Doll, HHl1f'lCu l,llIt'lillt'I', and Jim Harris, made their way forward. Cunner Stoops made a painstaking effort to flood the main magazines. Hundreds of tons of explosives, in the bowels of the ship, must he covered with water. He Carefully turned the valves but-though this was not learned until long after - the water mains were ruptured and the ammunition remained dry. When the flliller cleared the side with Admiral Davison and his staff at ahout t1:3tl, the Santa Fee was signalled to come alongside. Captain Harold C. Fitz, a brave commander, asked only one question l'Are your magazines flooded? Back Came the answer from Captain Cehres: Ml have or- dered them llooded and helieve they arefi 51111111 Fe Came . , - U f-'ff 1 V . , s ' ' 1 1 -1 1 -' ' 1 P111 1111111 1111 ilu' l1'f f1l11'1'1s'f 1. ,,,.1,,., ,',,1,.,,1, U l1,,!l11!11111. flfflllffllll 11111111g11111,v,111l1111111.sl1r.s111111111 111l1f11111 lo I1 111111 nf f s 1 no 1.1 gan' Wonndea' are evacuated to Santa Fe alongside and held a course hfty feet away, all hoses pour- ing water on Frankl1'n's flaming decks. A trolley was swiftly rigged and Comdr. Hale, with Major Elliot of the Marines, Father O'Callahan, men of the hospital corps, and volun- teers, commenced the difficult task of moving the wounded to the cruiser. Lower and lower Franklin listed into the water. Father 0lCallahan, a man of dauntless courage and supreme faith, gave extreme unction to the dying on the flaming Hight deck, calmly unheeding the explosions and confusion. At 9:30, as steam ceased to How from the boilers, the great screws were stilted and Big Ben lost steering control. 50 miles from Japan, the nearest any American surface warship had approached the islands thus far during the war. the Franklin lay dead in the water. The Santa Fe, unable to hold her position, backed away rapidly, snapping the lines that held her. Already Comdr. Taylor was hurrying forward to assemble the equipment and lay out the lines for a tow by the cruiser Pzttsbztrgh, an incredibly dilhcult task amid the confusion on the crowded forecastle. Wlieri Big Ben lay on a steady heading, drifting with the current, Santa Fc came in again boldly, with magnificent seamanship. Captain Fitz slammed his cruiser into actual contact with the gallery deck of the Fralzklin, now close to the water, as the stricken carrier listed heavily. He held the Santa Fe there by the force of her engines, using the for- ward gun turrets as fenders against the overhanging decks. Comdr. Hale had orders from the captain to evacuate the wounded, the men of the Air Group, and highly trained personnel from any department who would not be needed to save the ship. Destroyers plodded through the icy water. picking up men on rafts, or swimming. The chill March air made exposure an ordeal. Men on the ship were soaked to the skin from tending fire hoses, and shivered under blankets while they rested. What a precarious situation this wasl The little group ot warships was almost immobile, the cruiser Pznsburgfz stop- ped, busy with her boats over the side passing a messenger line to the Ffflvllfflliflg the cruiser Santa. Fc alongside the blaz- ing Franklin. However the five destroyers of Division 101-. the Hunt, Hickoaf, Marslzal. illiller, and Tirzgey steamed slow - ly in a circle around the heavy ships, picking up survivors as they went, ready to defend the group. Enemy planes were again approaching the formation and there were alarms. but as yet no attacks. Ut-ing within less than 100 miles of major Japanese air bases, it was considered but a matter of time until enemy bombers would return. The Ffllllkllill- had one riosion rffizned. l,t. Donald Gary. still trapped in 4' an flooring beconzes .slippery on. Big H011-S Il'SfI.lIg' flight fleelf for nwn uzmitizzg their turn on fire hoses iortv min. quad lorward. manned hy a volunteer Crew. and it fould fire only under local control. A dozen twenty mm. maeliine :uns on the forward port side. commanded hy l.t. les- Xlltritton. Hns. ldghtlioot. and hoatswainis mate lfuller. fornpleted the ltattery. Like Father Uiflallahan. who distinguished himself in the tlf'alJf'i'dl4' aetions on the flight deek. where hre and ex- -loonn-fl mf--sing' f-ompartrnent with those three hundred men. had 1 flash of inspiration. Nearly two hours they had ht-en if4'lv-fl in. f'Xl Q'fll l1 UTY moment to he their last. :X ineni- ozt flash'-fl to him ol a possililr' means of est-ape. ilihrowuli the srnokj. rnurk. whivh ilu- strongest light would not pffritftmte. sluinloing over rovkt-ls and ltoinlls. with an Ninos? ffwliaiz-tw-tl rr-sf-ue lrl'l'2JllIl'l'. he ln-gan ln- Hf'LlTf'll lor the 'lr'-T tl. ttwuri' intal-ge -parte leading upto ilu-star-k strueture. ile '1 f:lVtIr,1lllf'fl lm lfl2if'lllIllel.e niate 5iuull'y Kram- ' fir-,png through lIllf'Ilef' hr-al. wht-re ilu- hulkheads ff-' ti if 'fl rl iflf 'floxes lit, soon lorrziletl llI1'1'llll'2lIIf'Q'lu i ,,i,1r., . . t ff -uisfmiulioif one- ul Ihr- lungs- uplzllxes smoke- ' of 1 ii, from :lui l,4,il1'l-A through whivh lrw-sh 1 Mr fin lgrf lix flllllllltlllf pziinlully up live' dr-1-ks-. ' .4 lol lllff ml ni. llo' uplnl-,l'-, llu- Iwo Illt'lI the found light and LllI'. lly dropping down on the outside they eould reach a gun platform and make their way forward to safely. llut l.t. Donald Cary did not go forward to safely. or even to ask aid for the men trapped helow. Knowing that momen- tarily the homhs might explode and the men could not live niuvh longer in the smoke. he descended alone into that hole. where a slip meant death. to luring his shipmates out. He refused lo let Kramer. who was exhausted. aeeompany him. ln his words: l hroke my llashlight knocking on the Com- partment door as a signal to the men inside. When I stepped through tht- door there was a look of hope and anxiety on eaeh man's fare that l shall never forget. All were ohlivious to the sound of exploding ammunition. waiting for me to speak. I explained that l had found a way out and. although they would have lo hreathe some smoke. it wouldnit hurt them il' they kept their heads and followed instructions. Slowly. painfully. lit. Gary guided the nien to safety. 'lilll'l'4' trips he made. eaeh a little faster than the last. the knowledge ol' the lvoinlvs and rot-kels rlose lu the llanies. spurring his l'llltll'lS. l.t. Cary and llr. l ut-lling were the last In lt-uve: :Inf wounded lnzin had dit-tl. Today nearly three liunnlit-nl nn-n illllltlel lutll ol those who lvroupht liig lien 1 U ff: if IL. up va i 1 1 I -.fil 1 5 Q K, ki! . ff Edsel Uuvst, a, buy frwnz, X1ll-SSI-SSIIIIIIII, Il'llS mmf uf lllllIffH't1S Il'fIU hill! fu .v14'1'nz in ffm' ivy IMI hack thank ll-'nald t-any .ind llovlot l lu'llin:g for saying their lixes. ilu' list ot tlu' ship was now tu'-irly siytt-1-11 tho,- ' ' - - '- UCS, titmulr. .lnrika coolly l'l't'Ulmll'tl. as lu' tnaintai1u'd his 11051 ml tlu' lvruige with tlu' captain, tlu' Ulltt't't' ol' the deck. Nlelyin llgppett. and ilu- luidue l'or1'1'. l.t. littltltlll lxranter. the coin- intinitxttitm otlu'1'1', had a portulvle radio oper-tliyio 1,11 UW ttigtu deck. assisted lu ilitwltnician Stone lt tdio V K . 1 I.lectrician Nlodeen. and l.l. til-'se licports ot' radar warnings of enemy planes u ere eounng tn. l.t. tiomdr. lioliert ltownes' Datnage lfontrol Department, though its ranks were sh.ttte1'ed. fought tires. laliored to keep pressure on ttu- water mains hy closing oil' ruptured liraiu'hes. lihey were assisted hy the engitwers. All water for tire-tighting now came front a tiny diesel pump forward. which tnacliinists mate. .Xl Collins had started at his liattle station and tended all morning. Une of the Sllllfll Feis hoses, stretched to the Fr1111H1i11. was ruptured hy fragments of dehtis. thrown up in an explosion. Without hesitation, sea- man George 5. Smith crawled into the dangerous gap he- tw een the great steel sides ot' the two warships and replaced the damaged section. The tight went on. :Xt noon Captain Gehres conferred with the engineering othcer. Lt. Comdr. Greene. and procured three additional rescue hreathers from the Stlllftl Fe. for an attempt to get hack to the engineering spaces. Until this time it had heen impossihle. due to tires and smoke. hut now the explosions were diminishing in violence and the hangar deck fires were lieing l-rought under control. If the engineers could get the screws turning there might yet hc hope for Big lieneeif the .laps 1Iidn't get her hrst. Nearly eight hundred men were on tl1e.S1111111 f 1'l1y12:f,illg hardly that many remained ahoard the Fr1z11l.'l1'11. Captain tlehres ordered the cruiser to clear the side. hut not liefore the Stlllfll F12 had furnished inyalualile aid to Iciig lien hy assisting in getting her under tow, using the powerful winches on the cruiser's focs'i to pull the line ahoard from the l'1'll.sf1urg. Thirty sweating stewards mates and forty sailors. under iioatswain Frishee. were helping Comdr. Tay- lor with this operation. Hardly had the cruiser cleared the side than the long ex- pected Japanese attack came. Just hefore 1:00 p.m. a Judy homlier slipped past the comhat air patrol and came in on a fast glide-in run. headed straight for Big Ben. Fr1111lr11'11's remaining guns fired desperatelyg the ships of the screen opened up their hatteries. His homh dropped. a hig one. that exploded short on the starhoard quarter. 200 yards away. The comhat air patrol shot down that Jap in sight of the screen. The towing line was hnally connected: Chief Carpenter ifddins and shipfitter Locke had cut loose one of Fr1111l.'l1'11is anchors with the last acetylene on the ship and ninety fathoms-5-'IO feet M- of heavy chain was paid out to the l'1'1'tsl1z1rg with a two-inch steel hawser on the end. Shortly after 2:00 p.m. the 1 1'lIs11urg succeeded in gettinf1Fr1111k11'11 underway and headed south. at three and one-half knots- at that rate Big Ben would he a landmark in Japanese waters for a week to come. But the engineers were working. under the direction of -we!! L f..1 - gt H , 1, ' 1 ' 1 S1 nm I 'is s1'1'f'rl111y' '1 1 1 11 '111,1,'11-fl' ffl 111111111l1'1f, .SVIIIIIIIII fm l11111111g4l1111. III lfld 1 1 n ' a 'Els 1d1 1 eent ie chinisls Macomhei and Gieen were the lust n1e11 to struggle past the still hlalinv compartments O11 the lllllfl deck and Hain e11try to the forward auxiliary 100111 and NllI1lllL1 One nded l1y electrician s mates l indheia and Valloni attempted to 17111117 llollts and ventilation to the spaces Macomhei and 111611211 with machinist s mates billi lxliehei and Heck, 111 1est1ffate1l the forward fiierooms a11d envineroom Lt Comdr Greene set up headquarters 111 the waiiant oflicei s mess the closest spot to the envine spaces that H1611 could live without masks and directed operations 111111 expeii s 1 1 11 W1 1101 s 1 NN trapi 1 1r 111- IU 1 lt L 1 1 e 1111 e t1 Nl! I I HOU' 5 N 1 ni 11111 t 111 apa111 se 111.1111 fame roarirff 111 11 ack 11111 111 was 11111111 o ly anti airriaft fire and 1 patiol shot 111m down scxcral miles a11a1 111 1 110 pm lt Lomdi bieene knew it would he impossible to ffft the for 11.1111 t!lU1IlC5 11011111111 since Numher One and Numher T110 hieiooms were hopel1 ssly damaffed llhe 11o1lers of Numher ' Lt. Con '. fir ' 1. Lts. Cary, Wvlrt . Ellis. and Tiara, Ma- l'lILll'tf!4' ol' 1111- .'pa1:', 111' 111112, il rnask. linally made- his ' 1y ij ' 5 - - 1 - 1 ' , ' 'Q . ' jf 1111111 nl and LlfSlIl't'tl tl11:s1e 1111'11. 111 1 ' Iffl lf 1. 1 urs , 1' 5 1 , 1 ' ' anl wlieving 11111 ship a11a111l1111:1l. tl1'1t 11. 1 1111 ggt 1er11 ff U- ' ' ' ' 'c .' ' ' ' as Q 1 o11t 1' l Il 1111- fires that lllflfflicfl escape hal 1111111 1 gyht 1 lfireroom. Wfhile the electrical ollicers. Tiara and Ellis. 1111111-1' 1-1111t1'11l. It was 5:1111 l1.1n. 11111-11 lll1'Y 11r1-atherl their ki 1' , ' if ' S Q , 'k' ' ' i. ' ' lirst l'1'e.'11 air alter ten hour: of hell. -' D '5 1 '-' 3' 5. 1 Al2:f31p. .' 1l1'1' ' ' 1: 5' , ' '15 t 1 f V. 1 . .S .S I i 1. . Q A V p . - im. IV 1 V. H. , Y . y I de i , a ' . , . ., .' , . -. ' W I, 1, ,- ' V. f -1 1 7 1 . A 1 C D I lA-- JI ' D, . l I .A s , 5 - 1 - 1- 1- at -. ' ' - f H . mfg Cf , - K - e ' Z3 rf af- A A p A 1. 1, 1 1 .Au D Q 1,1 - ! 3' .... PV?- H 31- -1 3-1 W 1 E3 S31 .... .-.1 .1-1 1 C11 9.1 R951 .Ma M. n. N 1 H .1 hli 1.-1 1.., 11-. ...l ...1 nn 11-I .1 31 .11 .- ..- .11 1.1 .11 1 1 .1 1:1 .1 1. .11 , . ,,. 1.- .111 ,.. ,,11 .QM ence horn of fifteen years naval service. ITltlCl1 of it helow decks. The electricians found the forward emergency diesel still running. Expertly they disconnected all damaged circuits from the fllalll distrihution hoard. 111611 connected the diesel- drive11 generator to the panel. Lights flashed on in some of the smoky spaces. Ventilators cominenced spinning. though it was still so hot that men gasped for hreath. ln the evap- orator compartment. beneath the generator platform. 011 which six me11 lay dead. seven others were trapped with their faces i11 the hilges that they might l1reathe. Lt. Gary. in Une were flooded with salt water and the uptakes of hoth lireroonis were damaged hy explosions. The only hope was to get the after engines steaming from Firerooms Three and Four. By 6:30 the electrical gang had penetrated aft and were sweating to get power to these spaces. By seven p.m. they had succeeded Elllfl. as the fires had heen hrought under control. it was possihle to go anywhere on the third deck. By 9:00 p.m. Lt. Gary. mPop Turner. uSpeedyH Brumfield. R. Barry. g'Cl1ul1hyi' Scott. Heck and Machinist Green were at work lighting olf Boiler Five i11 Fireroom Number T11ree. 14 .sllllfll f1'S gllllS are lr111111'1l 1111111 flu' sky 11.1 nfwrfx 1'1111lir1111': 1 r1111H1'11 .vur1'1'1'11rx rcs! 1111 IIVI' 11111 l I the alter Vllllllltl K-.' lll .ippealell inl.n'l and l,Is, Swanson .ind Xllnle, asslsltwl lw it-niimii lxnlwvll and sexeral nia- tllllllslis inates, lil ull when sleznn IlI't'N5lll'l' was olltaintwl. lty nndniglit with sletnn np on one lloilt-ig warming-np nt the nmnn engines was t'UtIllllt'llt't'tl. Ilofl-ns ol t'IlQlllt't'l'r iesniinwl lln-ii' stations .ind t'ttllllIlllt'tl tln' work. lly dawn tlltllltbl' lloilvr was in operqilioll and vnl in on the nlaln engines. With two slnills doing Jill i',p,in. Ilia lien was 1 .ing ahead six knots. llnl still under tow, and aliont 125 nnles lroni japan. nt liread and tinned sausage with a little water to wash it down. lint to all hands it was manna. A-Xliter dark the laps were again ont in l'oi't'e. dropping llares on the horizon, exidently looking for Ilia lien. Instead, they encountered other task groups. and a eontinnons lvattle was fought all night. ten miles away. ldorty Japanese planes were shot down hy ships and night lighters. lletween the fires that in- termittently hroke out. a muster was held and 75 ollieers and Qlttl men were found lit for duty. However. at this time. many were away on tire parties. or helow decks, and eonld not he counted. lt was iniperative that the fires he kept ' W ' innler vonliol. Xny light lroni the ship and the ,lapane-se ' ' lfoliilit-rs. only len miles away. wnnltl write :1 qnir-k end In tht- stniy. l'artit-s nntler l,ls. llc-flu Nlorpan. Cordon A 1 llassig. l,t-wis llaxis. lloli lliayer. and many others. fought lln- snioltlerina t-niln-rs. iliwire destroyers froni the sf-reen . . , . . were alongside lo assist. lhe Qllllfwr drew up at lizllll p.m.: at midnight the destroyer lfulllzrfl pulled r-lose to the fantail and longhl for two honrs against a particularly stnhlvorn tire. Une lad ol' the ship. directing dest1'oyer's hose from a dangerous perch on a jagged. out-thrust strip of metal, was ll had het-n 11 rough night. The lirst fond in nearly twelve nnallle to reuain the deck until morning. UUYS N 35 SPIN tltl lt! llltl IIIUII till llll' litM'5-l ill Ililfli. klllff slice DllI'il1g Iliff day llundfgdg had digtinguiglwql lhelngelyeg, i I I i i i Nearly every man alloard had eontrihuted Somethingg toss- ing away hot ammunition: hanging on to fire hosesg help- ing w onnded comrades to safety: working on the tow' linesg starting the engines: serxing food and water. Doctors Sher- man. Smith, and lfuelling had lahored tirelessly. Chaplain Uffallahan had earned the respect and admiration of every man hy his fearless c'onduet. a vital spark that kept men go- ing on when they felt like lying down to die. lly dawn. Marc-h Zllth. H5 miles from the Coast of Shikokn. the t'LtlIlL1lIliS lvullelin hoard had a cheering message: We are nnder nnr own power and will he making hfteen knots l l l l l l I l fwfr-A ill!! llllfll ull IIN nntn jI'lfliNlIll n f'lllIl'lAI'll pfunw. 1'lI'IIl'liIlQ II lllllll fllfltllgfl Ilia' llflllyilflf dwell' spurt-.Q ,--K J. l-- ,H Q l L F. F . L' 97 u -4 ' 4 ' ff-1' A 1.-- ' 'vu lisfs f1f'u1'1'f s' fu lltlff, as l'1'lisl1z1rg lmvs 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 4 4 w W A , Q f L E I L F , . ...V. Y, ., -f....,,,- 'f.,g,?1lf5 ,m,, :sg ,.,A 1, , Some of Big Berfs ojieers and one of the portable pumps- I - u l 0 Nlzaruly-billyv used to clear flooded decks or to fight fire If '41 DIVISION VIN Depaflmeflw f V fl-L fLookou1i Divisiorzj Air Department ,flrresting Gear Gang f-41'r Department! llof-for F1u'll1'11,g nuff l,l.l'll4l1'lIIlIll Cary Sflfurfluy Ufff-,-,,,,,,,, The plzologrupfzers who look many of these pictures. ... .w . .9- , , Y rinvmli ?f3f?ff?ff..7:f?i7E?f?f:::::i'I, .. ,., ,rx 5: U 550' MJ- .a Q- rv .ry x . ' fi - - , .' ,- --' Ifg flmzffx .rf Dvpurflzzvlzls .UOFIII-llg qulurlvrs on 1116 hangar dvcl: 45 5: S '71f' '1l'l'l'Sf0Ilf DI'l'iSI-CPI? lCllIlIIL7Tj' Dwpf1rfrnm1IW 4 wg ! 5 3 11 1-Fi 9-' U I nf ff' ' In f ffff f,n.wf 1-, llffnfflmrfflu I 3 lllkllhltllll 4 ,III liflllllllllfllfl ? if in a N n. 'xi li! C J U 1 f? is ,ill 4 'U' 4. 3 Z. . 'Il' 33 ll 59 1 L l ll 51 I I5 1 t E -4 H! o 1. . K .1 D :El r.. :hx 'ix 5'! 'i4, 'B! H' .4 EEE? r I+: A C5 ' T - Q V: V in 'Sn i Q 'I ' Cm tb' to CN h 'S , b 'ii 9 'fix rn V-4 Division 41'r Department radar restored, llig lien moved eonfirlently, her deck watch eers it 'lin 't lteir Jost. 'attain ,e tres 'fr almost tie s time in ' e d' ys s rv: . On March 21th bi ben dismissed her screening destroy- ers to lake her owfn proud place in the column of w'arJ,hips steaminff into Ulithi laffoon. lhe captain of the illilltr, speakinl for his crew, sent: 'lilease permit me to express the unhounded admiration of all hands on hoard Miller for you and your allant ship. We are proud to have heen asso- ciated with her. Lt. Qoindr. Johnson. The destroyer Sleplren Potter who had been in the screen the 19th sent: 'Our hats are off to you. The ,laps canit heal the spirit you have displayed. Captain Gehres answered hoth messaffes: Thank you both for your messaffes, which have been read to the crew. We think you are stout fellows, too Thanks for your proteetionf Biff Ben steamed into the lagoon with her crew in straight ranks chins up heedless of the drizzlinff rain living proof of the courageous words: 'A ship that will not be sunk cannot be sunk' --Captain Ieslie F. Cdtres U. S. N. I 'Shi , . 0 FW.-..... .'.,L::g' Q . . . . ,., .z.:.:zat:: . L 13 ,eg 4 S-Une' lJ1'1'1'.s1'u11 1 C0111n111l1fr'11l1'm1Dwpf1l'rn1w11l 7 .9-Tim l,l'1'iSI'UIl nf. - 4. Q..- .II Q.. :.Ti J '..I J ..- ..n ,A va .1 1 K-2 LTI L 1 5555 cfi ff? 'Iii :Qi -1:5 fili .LISA - .41 .ffl -v ff! ffl 111 is' H253 ESQ .111 , xt.: 5'iF?W 3 P3251 V :::: rug fl:' pn 1. ' .1. ,. .,.. Us . 22, :uf -u-1 L. -21 34: .. 1 ...g .li il .. 51: . '24 .Ji MT' A . ? ii. -. rfrii 1 L7 ,M .. a Damage Control Department 5 gi : I 3 3 'I 1 4 u 4 1 4 n 4 I ' 4322! ' iii 3.513-L. ' ' 'ar . 8 P' ,rg ul S H? Engineer Ujicers Electrical l7il?l.Sl.0l1 Lsm.ndz'ngN 11Iacl1im'r1y Division Qsitfingi ,Wu n S 'I .iz xr Q i , ,K 'R +I' 0111 flllllllff-Y I,iI'l-81.011 .- Hill CllIlIIl'fj' IJi1'I.Sl.UlI ildfilll' ljI'1llf'lIIIll'I1f :fill IQUIIIIPFY ,fl.l'I'Si4llll -nn-. . , .A....1f, H, ... ..,, P wff WEE 1 X fl Cf .4 w. Q 1 . 1 Z E? In L. nn I!! Qu S5 :N not IN 1.1 ..- ht pf il S 1 1 V li -r 4 an 1 7 -- U r n ,. u n Q- -, nv' .IE ...gli W., -.-ff r v ..q .1 4-A , 4 ,.,. .. 1.41 V .1- ,H 1. ,.. yn In I.: ., -me ,.. ,.4. ,nu ,a ,nv , 14.0 nn ..-A nu v.. ... ..1 vp- y,. In ,- e 3rd Gunnery IJI.l'l.Sf0Il 21111 Gunnery DiUl.Sl'Clll, -lllz ClllllIf'f.W' l7I'l'l.SiUlI . , ..., an u 4 CIEIAPTER ELEVEN . . . I-III surf' hw liward as, that gray Sllllllllvl' morning, as we hnelt on tht' a'm'l.' and pravr-11 for lhe lnulflies nho ivouldnil he Corning home . . . Ilnjv in-iw I'l'l'-Y close Io as fha! clay . . . they alzra-vs will lie close . . . 5, - .J B I G B F CQ H U 1 Sxnmixiin mr Lxiutxfiw-311. determined to fight again, the torn. tire-blackened llattop anchored at Ulithi. Sunday, llarch 25th. lt?-15. mass of Thanksgiving on the flight deck was led by Father Joseph O'Callahang Protestant service ol Thanksgiving was led by Charles G. Weldon Catlin. Most men attended both servicesg some wept openly during the humble, sincere prayers. And since it is of Thy mercy, U gracious Father, that another week is added to our livesg we here dedicate again our soul and our bodies to Thee and Thy service, in a sober, righteous. and godly lifeg during the week we made new resolutions and in these, do Thou, O merciful God, confirm and strengthen usg that, as we grow in age we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus l:'l:'rnal Father, strong to save, llnhose arnz, doth hind the resllvss ware, Who lzldst the mighty ocean deep, Its oan appointed limits lfeepg O hear as when ne Cry Zo Thee For those in peril on. the sea . . .E The Thanksgiving services were followed by Memorial Services for the dead. On the flight deck, in the htfully falling rain moving across the harbor in sheets, the men of the Franklin, led by Father O'Callahan, assembled to the mournful strains of a dirge softly played by the surviving bandsmen. In a beautiful, heart-touching talk. the priest re- called to the men that their comrades had died on Saint Joseph's Day - Saint Joseph. the patron saint of a merciful Chfiftf who taught U5 t0 Pray - - -M death-that their death. though tragic, had been in merci- The services closed with the Navyis hymn, Hlfternal ful circumstances, with every man having a brief moment Father. for a last prayer. Protestant Memorial Services on Franklinys hangar deck . . . Chaplain G. Weldon Carlin conducting .-L, r ' . Q .B , 'e ur, . -1 X 1,1 .,..,. N as ., .4 'ii Ii ff? -r ft V' .,. . K Q. 249- 9.1 V ,H-z. ,M P' A ' , 1,-.il 124 .'.4.'F?'f h ,lx 4 .Lv li ' -sg. in . XMI , . 34. f.. 54 rv -z r ug ,Q -u id EL ,- ,as . I 1 , Q. 1 if? ,. ,. .1 's ,vb , au Q.- n 1 1.4 1 .4 ll 'yi Al jj .qi '19 Ir 1 'I' iii 45.4 I 5.2 1 5..- i . !-. .Q v 1 I nn A, HU M. ua f .- 4 ,Q ll 4. iz! . I. Ill ll SGH ,.., Ill-I v, .. .J lvl I :nil -I nl 5' , 1 g ?l. A , A 'QS gi 4 ABOVE: -Catholic Memorial Services on flight deck . . . Father O:C'alZa ha n conducting . . . BELOW: Saluie to the bmw ,. Au... I va... x And while their sad toss could never be forgotten, those who lived must ncvcr forget they had dit-tl proud deaths, in the service of their country. lighting for Codis cause against bloody oppression. A Psalm was read and men bowed and prayed for the souls of their shipmatcs. The Marine squad fired threc volleys and men stood in salute. honoring their fallen comrades. 96 9? N' Monday evening the hospital ship Bountiful sent its tal- ented entertainment group to the Franklin. Amid debris and fire-swept steel. with a bomb-blasted elevator for a back- drop. their performance did much to brighten men's spirits. All salvageable equipment was given to other ships or to the repair force. A Tiny Timw, which had lain in a dan- gerous position on the second deck and defied all efforts of the shipis personnel for days. was carefully carried topside and lowered into the water, by volunteersiunder the direc- tion of a bomb disposal officer from the repair force. Tuesday, March 26th, accompanied by two destroyer es- corts, Franklin and Santa, Fe were underway at sunset for Pearl Harbor. Under the personal direction of Captain Gehres every officer and man labored throughout the days. The debris must be cleared away and the ship made habit- able, the personal effects of more than 2000 men must be collected, inventoried, and packaged. With water, lights, and manpower at a premium these tasks required weeks to ac- complish. There was little of laughter or gaiety on the shattered decks as men found surcease from tension and memories in the exhaustion of toil. They were proud that Franklin still sailed, proud to have brought her from the jaws of death, sad in the absence of their friends. Another dispatch arrived from the commander of the Fifth Fleet, Admiral Spruance, to the Franklin, and to every ship in the Fleet, as well as to the Commander in Chief of the Pacific Ocean Area, Admiral Nimitz: Wfhe courage, fortitude, and ability of you and your crew in saving and bringing back Franklin for future use against the enemy cannot be too highly praised. Fran.klirf.s hand lost its instrzunrznts, hut not its spirit Hfnrnhon Watson, does his Nhat trickn Spirits lifted some. Captain Gehres, at a little show on Wednesday afternoon, where a makeshift band played, using old kettles, bottles and combs to H11 in the harmony, ad- dressed the men informally. The determination of this fight- ing captain was never more plainly evident than in his words: Hwe are going to take this ship back out and get even with the little yellow scoundrels. I, for one, am going to be the first volunteer to take her backfl Big Ben, with Santa Fe, steamed slowly into Pearl Harbor on April 3rd, 1945. In the words of one of the men, H011 March 3rd we had sailed from Pearl-so clean, so proud, and in such fighting trim. On April 3rd we were returning, in such a wrecked condition that it was almost unbelievable. A group of fifty WVAVES and the station band were on the dock to greet us, singing 'Aloha'. Some of our crew cried unashamedly, as did many of those who came to greet us at the dockf, The seven hundred and four men who were coming back to Pearl Harbor on Big Ben were drawn up in thin ranks on the undamaged part of the flight deck. Saxie Dowellis makeshift band struck up a tune and Franklinis men showed the world they could still sing. The captain. himself, had written their song, and it was to the time of the 'G Marine Hymniiz From the Jap isle of Kyushu To Arnericats shining shore llictre brought our ship, the Franklin, To he hxcrl to fight some rnore. Oh the laps they thought theyicl sunk us As they came anal came again But they couldnit get the shot in That was marked! to sink Big Ben. Frorn the Shores of lap Kyushu., By Ulithiis steaming strand, Anil the isles of Aloha Nui We all come to our own land. Many shiprnates sail not with as Hut their spirit shall not dieg When our lrugle sounds To Stations We will answer for them 'f4ye. . 5 9 3 2 . 1 . . . I . O I . 'Y 4 i 1 i I .. - , . L I I In 1 If 1 . ,. I . 4 . 1 f 9 54 1 hi . .6 'W 'Q 4 'E 5 1 It ,, I 4. is Y r- 'B'S 'il I v m Az Pearl Harbor, zmiting' fo greet Big Ben, sailors and Colors flying. bam! playing, crew erect and singing. Big WAVES zcatcfz. with silent alfa as lfze bonzb-blllclwlzed flat- top returns from lmftlv Bon comes back Z0 Pearl FfWe'f'f'fr i I Q 1'wf3: 'vin --'---af I -M- rs ..-ix , nl-,s,mwf,f A. f5'?'Iw ' f1g2'ff, s2'.ff 'L' 'L f' f5T.f'!TM1f , Mi-X Y P43529 ff' g 3 I Q I t 1 5 if v 1 F J - 5 1 1- ,Y 9 n rr? u ,igz naw 'If 2 l 4 ' 1 3 xi Alllbf nwn, are sombvr, lmfzcvfvzz songs . . . lfzf-sf' arw llrv boys ffm! brought lzvr back 1 Q, Q3 fi 5-v xi 9' i 2 ..,,,....,. 51111111 1111111111911 111111 110111. 1-111iste11 1111111 111111 1l11l'1y-111116 1.1111- 1-ers 111111 gixen their lixes 111114 their l'111ll11l'y. 51-11111 111111111011 111111 111111 1111i1111rs 111111 111011 XS1'l'1' 11111111111 111f1' as she 1111110 111111112 Mlter 11111 days i11 111-11111 11L1l'111JI' it was 1le1'i11e1l hy 1111' N1111 1l1xl111l'1lIl1'1l1. 111111 111g 111111 111111111 l'1J1lll'Il 111 11111 11r11ok- 1511 N1111' Yard 1'11r ll'll1l1l'S. l1r1111kly11 proniised to have hcr 11111111 in a1'li11n 111' the 1irs1 111. 1l1e years-eight II10Il1llS. 1111 April 0111 she sailed east for Pananta a11d passed 111l'O1lg1l 11111 01111111 on 1l1e 17111. Xxiilll covering airplanes 111'1'1'111'111l 111 g'1lL1l'11 against SLl11ITli1l'1I16S s11e was underway 1111111 111111111 101' New York 1111 April 19111. steaming through 11111 1iLlI'111116Lll1 1'11r the XX11I111Wdl'11 Passage. As 11151 lien neared 1111113 L1 11e1'1na11 S1l1lIllL1l'1l1C sank a merchant ship less t11a11 11111 miles away. Men who knew what 0116 torpedo wo11ld 110 111 11111 111111011311 carrier hreathed more quickly for several 1.1. . nrinl unuhhl' .....- I ... 1 -nv days. 171111 1111 April 211111 she arrived 1111 Gravesend Bay, New York. 1111 April fi1Jth. 1915, IJTOIIC1 hut hattered. 1 flIll'lflifL stood l1y the Statute of Liherty. all hands at salute. and into lirooklyn Navy Yard. j1111rney's end . . . thirteen 111011531111 miles from the coast of e11emy Japan. The crew moved ashore to barracks and prepared for rehabilitation leave which Captain Cehres was in Washin- ton trying to ohtain for every ofhcer and man. The navy yard worked day and night. 1-111111151 away entire sections of hlasted decks. 011 May 17111 the hrst awards for valor were presented to n1e11 of the 1-rew 011 1111- deck of t11e ship they 11ad fought to save. MI--- 1 1, 2 ZW 104564 'P metlfi W: 5, I5 1 Home al last . . . journfefs end 51.4 ...- XX IXIIMIBI RS XI IND OI RII XIII IIR OJ 1 K J I V7 Y, 41 If iw 1 V Y 4' T 4' 4' D, , JL I 1 ' ' A A L A ll J A guf., . NAVIGATION H Is! Row: SHERWOOD, F. B.: Svcoml Roux- Smal-LR, Ii. C.. NI'III.I,, J. J.. IVIARFRIN. J. SAN- TORA, C. E., ACQLT.u'lx'.x. N. P.. KEEPER, H. D.: Tfzird Ron: P1iNN1NO'rON, R. M.. SMITH. I+. J.. COLLINS. W. H.. WIALSH, T., GR11-WITH, D. M.. I'IITI..-XNDICK, C. W. SECOND DIVISION-First Row: FRYBERGER, H. C.. DAWSON, R. A., IVIINTKIN, P. G.. TROUBLE. F., KIC- CIITCHON. D. A.. CRICOS. D. O., Second Row: PLYMA, C. J., Y.x1qLRY. A. W., SMITH, A. F.. INIAXCOLD. F. T., SEARS, W. P.. SPROAT, J. R.. LEEK, W. F., Y,xRD1.r:Y, M. L.. IVIAYER, J. D.. B.-IR.-xscH. I. J., HMHLTON. Ii. J. Mcluzuxfz, F. G., Third Row: IVICINISRNIZY, H. M., BROWN, L. W., NICCLURE, R. J., MLrRR,xY. J. F.. AYSCUR, F. G.. FRANRO, A., HLTOSON. D. C., GRADIN, H. L., GALLENA, J., STOVER. L. W., LLOYD. R. Ii.. STASIIQWSRI, A. F., ISALDYGA, F. F., LAW, G. W.. ISR.-xm.I5Y. A. T. IZ. AND M. DIVISIONS RA Fir-.sl RU1l'.'J.XNSl-IN, Ii.. IIR1f:Rx1':R. II.. IIIISICY. II. W.. JXRUCIX. N. J.. AVXl.l.L3N1. l J.. N.x'1'T. W. J., Svmml Row: URCO. V.. V.xl.l.1N,x, I... I'lf:x'l r1l-3. C. N.. lIOx11'O, .I.. Iiuumis. XX .. III.fXNIx, XX IQLSICY, G. J., DIUICIU. V.. C.xsTI.rc. II. M.. SlIIIWI'llf2I.I-III. H. S.: 'l'!11'n1' lfnux' II um-ix. I'.. IVNXNKS, F.. IMRIR J., IIIILILI., I... l3H.l..lNr:. G., NIlIl.I.lfIR. lx.. IIROWN. D.. I.lcl-zmxxx. IS.. XX1cs'1'. II. XX .. Nlmtlluumq, D, RX.. Nl XYSIVII-1111 C. lf.. WCMIIIIQN. A. W.. IVIMJI.-xRlf:N. H. II.: lfnzzrlll Roux- AIII.I.l'Ili. XXI.. XX XIQNIHR. Ii.. lin:-'1fuxx. XX .. XIXPIII J., ,I'IOIiG.-KN, W., Y.-KIICII, I . I5., Mr:I..ucR1r:, J., LIIIHlSTl.'XN. D.. Z1I.1sR. .I.. NICIITINl2.'XI.F, XY .. J WRSON. Ix ' unzgllill' l funn,-,F -.w'..-y-.-,.. , ...np-n .nun-anunndliw ........r....-1-...a.I-.w wr- ......'..-.. .fn nnunua-H0411 It . I I. I 1: iii. Zfl 152 FIRST DIVBIIIN Fmflif ROW' TUWNIICY. J.. S1.,xPPER. Ii. M.. NICOLLE. VI'.'Xi.. II.-XHTLIETT. C. C.. TOWN- Em. In J.. IuI.,xxcO3 J. L.. JR., DO1.L.xR. J. M.. I'Nl'NTI'IS. H. J.. WCOCJD.-XLI..,9AI. W.. FREEMAN. B. A.. A1.'xYxs,x1:1gx. J. J.. Sm-mul ffmrs G.xRR1E1.sON. C.. I511..xxcl.x. D. A.. BIORAN. J. A.. YOLNG. NI. L.. DN PIR- IH I., HARNICIQ. H. S.. H VXRMON. H. P.. JOHNsOx. W. F.. YOINC. I.. F.. HENRE1.. 0. NI.. JENSON. F. D. 310 SUPPLY AND IXIIiDICAI. DIQPABTIXIIFNI'S A Firsl lffmy' IJIIITZ. J. F.. XII-IIiIiI'I'T. J. Ii.. Tl-:m-ORD. 0. F.. IIIISFIK, U. C.. STINIC, A. D.. VIIHITI-I, J. F.. IAIULICR. J. H. CROWOER. J. C.. W'H14:1f:1.ER. J. IQ.: Swarm! ROR-: XII-lDEIBOS. Ii. B.. Sm1.1.1Nc:. Ii. J.. I'IDlCl.MAN. H.. WOI.1f. I.. II.. ANOEI.. I, Q., Sxwru. D. Ii.. Mr-:nl-:lROs. 'I'.. IIE B,xSsE'rT. U. J.. S1-IEA. I . P.. BRIGG. P.: 7'l11'r11ROu'.' Sam l.Tx. D.. IIIIIINIIXLLII IM. D.. I'II.IIIIECIi. Y.. NIWNINO.. D.. SVGAR, J., II.-XSKIN, S.. CO1.11M1NTz. I.. IVIONI-jI.I.. M.. IXII-IIJIQIRUS. NI.. IIICBIQRNXRIIU, J. A.. YINQENT. T. TNI. I . H G . If-IJIVISIUN--Firsl lfuu-.' ALT. C. IC.. SI-IYMORI-I, J. B.. RICIQS. B. M.. VINCENT. B. C.. LANGAM, R. L.. I W'm.,.QT, Ii. F.. Ku TTZ. F. L., NICAYUY. J. F.. PERRY, J. WV., BAKER, H. L.g Second Row: SM.-XL.-XRZ, W. P.. A. H1 Sgfljh rj, Au .s,y,,,.3R5Ox, J. H.. H.-w11.cH.xK, WI.. W'H1TEHE.ID, N. WV.. LABORSKY, J. E., AYERS, R. WI.. 3 Iixnrww. Ii. I... NIO-If: rfgm. I . D.. NILLLINS. J. J.. SIROT-x. I.. III.-XRTIN. B. W.. A. J.g Third ffwu: IIXHIH-l'II'I'. NI. .I.. IiOu.H, U.. IIEECH. II. F.. JLMP. T. J.. UNEIL1., B. E.. COY. C. C.. BISESI. 5. P., I Q Fuss, D. M., KIRR, A. S., IYIOORE, L. D.. NAPIER, L. H. A -I 1 1 I -5 I A DIVISION-First Roux- SCHILLER, W. L., HOPPICR. E.. EOE, G., PRATIIER, A. M., STITES, J. T.. NI- QUETTE, E. C., Second Row: IVIILLER, R. S.. RIRIJ, R. E.. IJOLITO, R. F.. NIOORE, O. J., MCMANLIS, IS. F., AIIAMS,'J. E., HAAS, W. H.. POLINYCHRO, M., SKEAN, W., 7'!I1'rd Row: WVRAITH, G. A., ROBERTS, T. F.. ZWERGEL, B. F.. ROSENBLITM. H.. GIACOLONE, J. A., DIORRIS, D. F., EPSTI-IIN, H. H., IWAUDER, W. J. B DIVISION -First Row: BRIQMFIELD, J., MCCAEFREY, E., NEMII-IR, J., R-'II-ILFI, M.. D I I WTASLIEWSKI, V., STEWART, R.. HALL, S., IWACOMBER, W. E., CLEBER, J. A.. J., DAVIS, D., BERRY, R., Second Row: ALFON0, C., LENAHAN, G.. FINNEGAN. ETCH, R., NICRAE, D., ZABONIR, E. J.. ROSA S.. KYLLONEY A ALBFRTI W IYICLEAN, W., Third Row: VICARIO, A. J., IVIOMAN, C. L., PITTS, J. T., KING, T., IMIARTINT, J., LAPINSKT, CHURCH, R., ROLSSE-XLT, R., GILI., S.. IWYILLIAMS, E. D.. IVICCARTNEY, W., ZINGERLINE. W.. AGLREDAIQES. E.: Fourfh Row: BROWN. E., M CALEI-QR, C., KENNEDY, J.. NICOLL, WYYCHULES, PHHOIIGH T LOYD J WVATSON, R. W., SCOTT, E. S., WV.-XETZI-II-, K., LEON, M., VENTIIRA, A. P., IBREEDLOYE, G. I I 7 x-A. U 3 Ml II ' 7011- CLIJR--F1'r.sI Row: BOWMAN, M. K., NOBIE. C., ORNIIORIII. C. S.. BRI xIIfII:I.II. J. l.. NICCIII' J. W.. HARRY, R.. VOLLINI. T. J.. COOK, R. M.. I'I.Kl.l.. D.. IIIIIXRK. J. R., SI-I-OIR! Roux- RINO. GILI., S. A., PITTS, J., MQRI f D. E S ' 2 I ' - ' 1' - ' I' ' ' ' KYLLONICN, A. SI' IQLSFIY C.. Mf.CuTr:IIO 9 4. I AL, ., KIEAN, W., I5I..XNC.0, J. I... DOLLAR, J. M.. IIT IS, P. In. DIY. h. EER, Ix. C., SCOTT. li. S.. 7vl1lfllRl!ll'.' ISISIIHH, II.I .. . ' ' ' Xl JI III. I. J.. AIINIKI-.N, I .I N, D. A.. NII:OI.I.I:, W. V.. I'IR'XNlx. D. C.. WYXLSII, Ii. T.. WIll.l.l-IR. H. I-'.. IILXXHI IV. I... IIICTRILI.. I . G. RIA l N .. ...... . . ,, aax-...--. -I---'ee'::M. T-f-7:f1nN': !gS!'T'f . .. . . 4 . 4 Q II I J if .. .I 'i-1,D1WN51QN- FJVSJ RUN'-' NQBLJC, C. M., WILSON, R. W., KLEIFIELD, J., fHuIIj SPC0HdR01l7.' HODGES, I.. L.. LJOILI-2. L. A.. JXIBBLETT, L. In., BUCOLO, J., AUIJETTE, R. J., JNJITCHELL, A.. CLOAR, J. C.. BROWN. ll- IXINSEILI, T.. KLENIN, M.. JARVIS, P. P., FRANK. D. C., Third Row: MILES, L. T.. MILLER, H. F., Jig UH--XY1liMY. h.. IMNIINIQ, C.. L., l3I.ACK,P., NEWMAN, A. S.. NEWIIIAN, P. C.. WADOSRY. L.. KOVAC. J. R.. .45 WWvliJIJIIIil,CH.,P..xURCUNNOH, J.xTfI0s0 menwere not prosent 711711911 plz0l0 1l'IlS lakerz: B.AKER',lH. G.. JWCGEE, D J. JXORX, L J.. H.-XIJK, L. L.. MILLER, A. E.. IxNIv,Ic. A.. JWANLIN, C. E.. D IINACH. R. E., SCHLEOEI-, R. J., BROWN, W. H. K DIYISIOX-First Row: DAVIS, H. C., POOL, L. J.. BOWAIAN, M. K.. CHANEY. J. W.. COOK. R. M.: Second Roux HOFFMAN, D. N., BORIAND. R.. ILIJERTON. F. C.. DAY, R. W.. JXIORRIS. C.. MCCOY, H. A.. J fi JONES. H. W.. CLARIN, A. F.. H.-INNA, E.. HIfNT, P. B.. KIRK, E. S., PERRY, C. H.: Third Roux- MI'RR.xY, Q1 F.. PETRILI.. I . G.. HE.'Xl.I-lY, W. A., RITTER, D. L.. STEYESON. G. VIARD. K. F.. LEECH. R.. BENNETT. R. Y.. NIIQRRNIAN, R.. MI'EI.I.I-:R, D.. MCGRANE, W. P. Tlwso rrwn. no! here ai :hat finw: CRIIO. J. T.. 7:1 WIARTIN, W. E., B,IC..I, R. .- QI 2 E12 I E Vi F? !'JI ij 52 Z I I Z fJJ Hf.LHS -A A him lfou.: LIQIIR llI.,IIII4, J. M.. IICDR PATTERSON. J- D-I CDR GREENE. T. J.. CDR DAVIS, L. If.. Lum CIM IJ A 1,1 M,IyI-:R, J. If.: Srfcond Roux- JVIACH EOE, G., APC NJOHLER, J. H., LT HUSTON, . J. L.. LT CIIIIIITII. LT JI, DII.I.ON, IJ. W.. LT .IG BIISEY. C. W.. LT .IG TIARA, J. B-. LT SPEAR, R- CM LT JSO-.uI.Ix', NJ. K.. LNS J'JRl'IJZ, J. li., Third Rlill?,' CPC CROWIIER, J. H.. CHGIIN HODOES, L. V.. LT JG HOTT, nn. H. L.. Lrws PI Ie'IzI,I:. J- W.. LNS 'I'OwNI.I-LY. I . J.. ENS SHERWOUU. P- B-A ENS GLEBER' J- LT JC' 'S-. VI III.I.I.I.I+, J. L.. LNS J'fIUl.. J. L.. NJACII YEIQR, H. J., BOSN JVIONTY, J. A. R., ENS MERITT. J. lx., Fourth k 3 Hou' he VLJIxf,I.T, H. H., JIT Jr. VVIQICIIT. L. R., CARI' WILSON, R. M., ENS TR-AUBE, E. B. I 'J is V-1 AIR DEPARTMENT-First Row: KNIGHT, J. B., HOIT R. II., HLSTON J. E. MORTI J., DILLOIN, J. Wu .Second Row: DUIIAIME A. I., LIEBONOW, R. W. W'vAI'I'ORD E. W. IVIARCILW P. I. MCII ER J. J., MYERS H. W., FLAHERTY J. T. NEWIvI.w, C. B., NTIDLOW J. P: Third Row: ZIMMERMAN Q. M., L THEROLX E. J. VERBEL, E. A. DTUSICK F. A. MCNAUOIITOR, L. W., bIMOUIES R. J. V-4 GAS AND ORDNANCE-First Row: MCDUFVIE, E. H. YLCIQ H. J. GRIFFITH, C. L.. DAVIS. L. F.. OR.wDORI'F C. Sn Second Row: DOWINEY M.. NEIGHBORS C. VC. MCTCERNABK J. E., PAPPAS. G. E.. O'CONNELL E. J. HILL T. J. OSTROLL H., MULI.E.-IIJY, F. C. NEILSON, W. F., TUANCUSO, L., Third Razr: HENSEL, A. E., YORK. D. R., H.-XRTBERCER, C. L.. KORSCA.-XRD, J., HUSHION, W. C., FEDDEN, C. C.. TTOW.-XRD. V. C., CTLEARY, D. T., SEVENSKY, R., TH.-XRP, S. L., XVALLEN, A. L. ' T 7 4 T I I I V I 7 7 9 7 ' , V V , A I 'I X ' ' 9 X 7 T 1 9 1 7 7 , I w 3 5 1 Q 'I s 7 V FEDOREK, T., HILL, R. K., TVTILLER, C. E., HI-JNDRICIQSON, D. E.. MURRAY, N. I., I-IOFFMAN, C. H., COOPER, 9 T 3 7 1 9 - 4 7 T' 4 X J 7 N . , 4 4 V 1 N 7 T7 7 A n 1 T 9 ' 9 I 7 Y-I a v 9 a 7 H 1 1 ' T f K I 4 D ...- 'f, L giff' ww :Q ' yi ,j In t xi A . if it W ' If V531 'R fi! I , Y Y ,Q A T : 1 I . Q L 5,.'::. S Q - K.-VW I ffgJ..k . D ' , MESS COOKS-First Row: RUSSI-:I., L. G.. LAROCCO. P., Second ROR-: M.xRsII.xIqI.. C. E., IIlxI:sI:T'r L., ROYLANCE, L. D., CH.xI,IvI,xN, C. B., R.xsRRL.xCR, M. C.. AI.IIIqII'I'sON. P.. HIIRI..IQ:x' J. B. AICHOI Q U P I Third Row: SMITH, E. D., YASINSKI, E. P.. l.I1:ON,xRIJ, G. JL.. JUIINSTUN. D. Y.. Suu xI:I-'I:R. J. R.. HRRIIAI. .-X N '41 Il -1 - - -- I STEWARDS MATES-Firsz Roux PILTTISON, L.. TIJIINEII, C. G.. SITEGER. F.. HAMILTON. A. L.. WASH INOTON, C. C.g Second Row: GORDON J., CANNON, H. L., SMITH, M. C.. STEW.ARD.lR.. BAIQILR, L. R.. ALSTON. lf.. SAVACIJ. E. J. REYNOR, Kg Third Row: KELLEY, A., BXITY, D., Wvli,-XYISR, M.. HARPER. J.. DAVID. G. T., HAI.I.. W., ISAIIKINS. PI., WLHITE, W. J. fudiilil-f CIOMMANDILII C. E. DICKINSON fjfilllllllllldillg Ujivvr. 9 fllllf' 19446 10 Q 5' e entire Ii hz deck remozwd, vxcu L or tlw 'orzvurrl 150 QW. rhw 1JI'LQ'Q'6'Sf rf' mir job III 5 , P K. I . naval lzislory is zmderwrzy. 'Fa m. ,Q , , . . , . . A -, ' ' 'V '1.'-'L'L TIS.-L .- - '-' 'l'v' 'FLIITGJ 5,1 -,uw - NU' ,'fI vm- . . . . , ., .. ' - '- Q ' I f F b. F' . I .. J T' ,, k,. ,-,.,.----.- -H - v 1 Captain Ccfllrrfs prffsffnfs the Purple llwar! I0 l irPnzan Dau Cunun1'r1,gs Sorrze of llze lwenty llzousalzd Visitors who zrerv aboard N10 Franklin on, Navy Day. Octobvr 27111, 1945 On Memorial Day, May 31st, the Frar1klin's crew stood at attention in Rockefeller Plaza, by the model of The Fight- ing Lady--an Essex class carrier---while Father OlCallahan, on a nationwide radio broadcast, held memorial services for the gallant men who would not come back from the battlefields and ocean wastes over which World War II wag fought. Some of the men connnenced thirty days, leave in June. Three hundred new men had been sent by the Navy to take over ship's duties while they were away. As MXN Division, these youngsters worked hard through the summer, they held promise of being real sailors when Big Ben sailed again. Some of them had friends who had died on the Franklin. One lad, Henry Syrek, newly enlisted, remembered his brother Frank Syrek, aviation ordnanceman, who died on her decks three months before. On June 20th the remaining rewards were presented. Ten days later, June 30th, Captain Gehres was detached to be- come the commander of the Naval Air Station, San Diego, California. Comdr. Taylor was detached to be the command- er of the Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Me., Comdr. Henry H. Hale became the new commanding officer. ln July, as the navy yard worked ceaselessly, and Big Ben began to look like her trim self again, the men of the ship were hard at work preparing for their next cruise. Hundreds of men were away at Damage Control School, at fire-fighter school, at schools fitting them for more responsible posi- tions. But in August, 1945, the little yellow men who thought to rule the world begged for mercy. With peace and demobilization the men of the H704 Clubll faded away, they were men with long sea service whose hearts were still in the homes they had fought to preserve. New faces, young men from the training stations, came to take their places. On Navy Day, 1945-October 27th, thousands of visitors were shown over Big Ben. The new carrier, Franklin D. Roosevelt, across the pier, being commissioned by President Truman, was not so crowded as the veteran of the Pacific. On January 23rd, 1946, in Washington, D. C., Father Joseph O,Callahan, chaplain courageous, and Lt. Donald A. Gary, received the Congressional Medal of Honor from President Harry Truman. Lt. Gary, still on Big Ben, was proudly greeted when he returned by shipmates who were happy that he had been accorded this fitting recognition. Father O'Callahan was no longer aboard, now serving on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, but his old shipmates on the Franklin are still proud to have served beside him. As repairs neared completion in April, 1946, and officers and men alike began to look forward to the shakedown cruise and joining the Fourth United States Fleet, dis- appointing news came. Due to the reduction of naval ap- propriations it was necessary to transfer the Franklin to the inactive 16th Fleet, --for Operation Zipper and the preservation process that prepares warships for deactiva- tion during the peace-time years. After she arrived at the U.S. Navy Yard Annex, Bayonne, N. J., Commander Hale was detached on June 8th for duty at the Naval Ordnance Depot, Inyokern, California, the Commander could look back on an eventful cruise since the day he reported aboard in August, 19444, through the months as Navigator when he hardly left the bridge in some of the tensest actions of the war, the succeeding months as Air Officer lbusiest and most hectic job on a carrierj, and finally a year of command while the biggest repair assignment in naval history was being accomplished by the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard. This repair job, it might be noted, was under the supervision of Ship's Superintendent J. M. McMullen, Lieutenant Com- mander, U.S.N., and was completed on 15 June, 1946. The new Commanding Officer, Commander Clarence E. Dickinson, U.S.N., was a veteran combat pilot at 33, with a brilliant record of Ufirstsw and holder of three Navy Crosses: pilot of the first naval aircraft to shoot down a Japanese plane-a Zero at Pearl Harbor, on December 7th, 1941, three days later on December 10th, 1941, he roared down in his Douglas Dauntless QSBDJ divebomber to a subsequently confirmed kill of the first major Japanese submarine in the war-the 1-170, barely 125 miles off Pearl Harbor. His third Navy Cross was won in a daring attack on the Japanese cruiser Kaga at Midway, in which he registered three direct hits. Under Commander Dickin- son, an officer thoroughly familiar with the value of pre- paredness, and the cost of itis lack, preservation measures were carried out with characteristic Navy thoroughness, de- spite the dwindling numbers of the crew. On about November lst, 1946, when the last hatch will be sealed tight, and the last line made secure, a skeleton crew of seventy men and six officers will take over their watch. There she will wait beside the dock - still the United States Ship Franklin, uBig Ben the Flattopf, a proud fight- ing ship of a fighting Navy. So THAT Is HER STORY . . . Perhaps a new generation of sailors will man her decks, sailors of ll Iwwef dar, following in the gallant pathways of the departed men who fought aboard href- She will take them all to her heart, again her spaces will echo to noise and laughter and the sound of men at work. But in the evenings, where she looms dark and grim against llle Sky, 010715-Side the wharf in U quiet, pe,,Ce.n'nw navy yard, men who love ships will look at her brooding hulk and know that liig Hen is remernbering . . . lfranmnilmring those boys, so gay and brave, who sailed her into battle . . . their . . - i . L voices, their laughter, their tears. They became at part of llfff, U5 She became a Pa' of them. Thp y,,a,, ,Hp long and memory is short, the world will soon forget. liig lien rernem,lmr.s . . . 'LSZLXS3232'2,'Et1G'L5Z1gB2I,2f.5,'23T 3 mn vyDepartment,Washington2S,D.C. :WXK3 BUY Rf t N NAVY DEPARTMENT 2253 eero o. Pars 328-DNJLK BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL 'fix WASHINGTON 25, D.C. 17 July 1945- To: Commanding Officer, U.S.S. FRANKLIN . Subj: Resolution of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio - Forwarding of . G 1. The Chief of Naval Personnel takes great pleasure in forwarding the subject Resolution, passed by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio and presented to the U'.S.S. FHANKLIN and her men in recognition of their gallant action in saving their ship and returning her safely to port. fe-ffiff-4005 n. A. izocr-1 Captain, U. S. N. met, Special Assistant to Chief of Naval Personnel QGTHGENERALASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION PL R.IVo.B8 1945-1946 To fighting men and a fighting ship-the glorious crew and the inspiring sight of the staunch aircraft carrier, U. S. S. Franklin, as it steamed past the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. XVHEREAS, The accomplishment of the U. S. S. Franklin, the 27,000-ton airplane carrier, which in the face of almost unsurmountable difficulties, and when practically sunk, refused to o down, but S fought a thrilling battle, sixty miles off the Japanese coast, indelibly carved its name on the scroll of the many illustrious and thrilling sea battles which adorn the pages of American history, and WHEREAS, The. U. S. S. Franklin limped back to port under its own power, still flying the Stars and Stripes, and in spite of japanese bombs, with their accompanying fires and explosions, returned four- teen thousand dangerous miles, though badly damaged, with hundreds of her crew killed or wounded, to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and WHEREAS, Captain L. E. Gehres, the ship's commander, in the immortal words of Captain Lawrence, declared: HI'll not abandon this ship,', and in sticking to his decision added another episode of unforgettable glory to America's sea fighters, saved his ship and two-thirds of her complement of twenty-five hundred men, and WHEREAS, High on the roll of honor for heroic service in the face of Hre, is the name of Lt. Com- mander Joseph O'Callahan, chaplain of the U. S. S. Franklin, whose brave action in moving around a burning and exposed deck, administering to the dying, recruiting damage control parties and leading officers and men into flames to jettison hot bombs and shells, wet down ammunition maga- zines, etc., made one of the shipis senior officers remark: He was the bravest man l ever sawwg and WHEREAS, Hundreds of Purple Hearts were earned, as men from all walks of life, and race, color, creed, many from the State of Ohio, fought side by side against deadly flame, smoke, bombs and explosions to bring the U. S. S. Franklin home with flags flying, therefore be it RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, That in recognition of this seemingly impossible task of achievement that this resolution be adopted by a rising vote and a copy be spread upon the journal as a testimony of the accomplishments of the American people under fire and the 'real signifi- cance of lasting victory and its fruition in a permanent peace, when an age of reason will supplant an age of war, when a philosophy of life will supplant a philosophy of death and destruction as exemplified in the devotion of the American people to the ideals of the brotherhood of man, liberty and justice and the right of every man to live in dignity and freedom as his conscience dictates, and be it further RESOLVED, That the clerk of the House of Representatives send an authenticated copy of this reso- lution to James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy, Henry L. Stimson, Secretary of War, and to Captain L. E. Gehres, of the U. S. S. Franklin. fs! Ons R. JOHNSON Clerk ITAT O On Hmarding thz Gold Mzdal fur Valar to Thr 11.55. Hircraft Gqrrizr Franklin, Officers and Gum FRANKLIN HAD BEEN STRUCK. WITH SADDENED HEARTS WE FOLLOWED THE FACTS ONE BY ONE AND LEARNED OF LOSS, CARNAGE, FIRE. EXPLOSION, AND DISASTER. BIG BEN, AFFECTIONATELY SO CALLED AFTER OUR FIRST GREAT AMERICAN. HAD BEEN CRIPPLED MANY WERE THEY WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE AND GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN SHOWN. THE PROUD CARRIER. LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD. HAD ALREADY RECEIVED ITS BATTLE SCARS IN A PREVIOUS ATTACK. WE PAY HOMAGE TO OUR NAVY: WE GLORY IN HER PROWESS: WITH FAME SHE IS ADORNED. WE SINGLE OUT FAVORITES AND ADOPT THEM AND FOLLOW THEIR CAREERS WITH PRIDE AND AFFECTION. ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO REVERE THE NAME OF BENIAMIN FRANKLIN. BIG BEN IS OF SPECIAL CONCERN. IT COULD NOT THEN BE OTHERWISE THAN THAT AS FOLLOWERS AND STUDENTS OF FRANKLIN WITH SADDENED HEARTS. WE FOLLOWED THE FACTS ONE BY ONE. N THE MORNING OF MAY EIGHTEENTH. NEWS CAME THAT THE GREAT AIRCRAFT CARRIER ERMISSION HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE CAPTAIN TO ABANDON SHIP: BUT THE CARRIER FRANKLIN WAS NOT DESERTED. CAPTAIN GEHRES AND HIS GREAT CREW. MADE OF STERNER S ZUFF. WERE DETERMINED NOT TO ABANDON..THEN AS WE LEARNED MORE Tl-IERE CAME TO US THE THRILL OF VICTORY. FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE HAD BECOME THE FACT AND THE GREAT CARRIER IUST WOULD NOT GO DOWN. A MIRACLE WAS DONE. FOR THE FRANKLIN THAT HAD GONE DEAD LIVED ONCE AGAIN! NOT IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NAVY THE TRADITION OF FORTITUDE AND HEROISM EXCELLED THAT OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW ON THE DAY AND AFTER THE CARRIER WAS BOMBED EVER IN THE ANNALS OF NAVAL HISTORY HAS GLORY BEEN BESTOWED AT ONE TIME ON SO MANY AS ON THAT MARCH NINETEENTH WHEN OUT OF THE SKY DASHED THE ENEMY INTENT ON DEATH AND TOTAL DESTRUCTION. IT WAS THEN THAT EVERY MAN DID HIS DUTY: IT WAS THEN THAT THE NOBLE CAPTAIN WAS EQUAL TO HIS GREAT RESPONSIBILITY: IT WAS THEN THAT OFFICERS AND CREW RALLIED AND WORKED AS A GREAT UNIT. SAVED LIVES AND SHIP. AND BROUGHT THE CRIPPLED FRANKLIN SAFELY HOME OVER A COURSE OF TWELVE THOUSAND LONG MILES. IT WAS ON THAT DAY THAT THE NAME FRANKLIN TOOK ON ANOTHER GLORY FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE NAME. G CHAPTERS EXTENDING FROM MONTREAL AND MASSACHUSETTSTO CALIFORNIA SPONSORED BY THE RSJTERNATIONAL BENIAMIN FRANKLIN SOCIETY. IAMES WRIGHT BROWN. PRESIDENT. RECOGNIZING 'IT-IE BRAVERY AND HEROISM OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW OF THE II. S. S. CARRIER FRANKLIN. ASKS You TO ACCEPT A MEDAL FOR VALOR TO BE PLACED ON THE CARRIER AS A CONSTANT REMINDER OF GREAT DEEDS WHICH WILL EVER BE AN EXAMPLE TO THOSE TO WHOM IS GIVEN GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. . CAPTAIN GEHRES, THE INTERNATIONAL IUNIOR BENIAMIN FRANKLIN SOCIETY WITH PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL ORGANIZATION OF THIS SCHOOL AND MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL IUNIOR EENIAMIN FRANKLIN SOCIETY. CHAPTER e. WHICH IS ONE OF SIX CHAPTERS ORGANIZED IN THE NEW YORK SCHOOL OF PRINTING. ILL YOU BE PLEASED TO RECEIVE THE MEDAL AT THE HAND OF IOSEPH AGNELLO. rlvrw IV Nnw vosuc 'rms . . , , 1' rvruiru DAY OIPJUNE till' FIIIIIBJIIOIIUI BIIIIDIIIR flillllll SHIKI, IN. NIN n EN Ilurwnuno rourv-mv: ' IRM' VlCl.-PRESIDENT J 5.11 ' QQ, f 5. 9:3 1 . .1 f ,, . .v ' fx .,. 2 1 I Q , K Q , fa -I . ' , Q Q .Q . Q- 1 A V - , V , Y 1,52 A iii ,A r -' . . 1 ,ESV fi, H3 -U 1 M ' -F WL em- : V s k :,lv.i' fr ,9,g1wfff4,,j1'f A L ' ' ,bn 4 ,ugfybg A 4 V' I :wwf LU? M faeun-.,,,,. . ,E A A ,V Aff.. i.',, , 1 Y AML me bm I V Fyairwkv 'S Q' ff' S ' ' A , r I , , y HMa..5,,,. ya 1 I 4' A A 1 h 11,1 , I .-.fv-PQ f. 38183 M Q Q, . . N nm Y , ' . gym., -M ,M V .Man ,-. ,np Ss UU! f v 4 .1 1 ..,.,.w y h 4 .f f i 10- 'Q . X I X o . I I X I . I P Q Q.. ...W . . ,.,.2'lj4,vs , 'iw 1 in , 'vi 0 ' - T . .. -. s., 'x . 'N 'ifasfi-'Q gg. Wm ' 7 Y Ak 1 .TS .. . 4. f,1y.5',kv , .. V . J I ,-1. - Juan, ,Q , x 'Q ,, 'M' . L - , , ' U L 'Q ' ' '- flufg, ,- 4 iw ' 1 . 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