Franklin (CV 13) - Naval Cruise Book

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L ' ig tJciis Bombers have pinpointed their objectives on wo Jinui after two days of furious assault, unchecked and unharmed. This time Big Ben carried with her two unwilling stran- gers ; Japanese naval prisoners of war who had been picked up by a destroyer from a blasted ship. Fearful and hesitant, they were brought aboard in a breeches buoy, much as Dr. Moy had returned to the ship. As Chief Gregg led them down the flight deck through the groups of curious blue- jackets the Japs glanced once at the many IVipponese flags painted on the island structure, then passed along with bowed heads. Their first question to Tom Young, radarraan, who interpreted their language, was: ' hen will wo be done away with, please? Enemy planes buzzed through the night as the task group steamed south. Two Emilys, closing from the northward, flying 75 miles apart, were detected by the radar. Without hesitation, two night fighters were catapulted from Big Ben ' s deck. Lt. Tony Martin, veteran Jap killer, and Lt. (jg) Warren X ' olf, flew out to meet the Japanese Sand- man. In CIC, Lt. John Wineger stationed Tony and Wai- ren in the path of one on-rushing Jap. Warren made the

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Klastersky, S2c, a torpedo plane cajitain. found himself marooned after a friendly visit to a ship ahout a mile away from Big Ben ' s towering bulk. No boat was available to bring him back home, but Arthur, a 19-year-old New Yorker, had no idea of being left behind. He climbed down his host ship ' s anchor chain and his pal tossed him a life jacket. Off for Big Ben he went through the dark waters, struggling against both wind and tide, and a half hour later ho readied the Franklin — and none too soon, because his life jacket bad begun to lose its buoyancy. Big Ben steamed out 50 miles east of the lagoon, for two days ' gunnery practice, came back for a load of bombs and ammunition. On August 27th. as Task Group 38.4. Rear Ad- miral Davison in the Fninklin. with carriers Enterprise, Bcllcau Wood and San Jacinto, got underway for much- bombed Iwo Jima, escorted by the cruisers Biolixi and . ew Orleans. The circular screen held the destroyers Maury, Craven, Gridley, Md ' .ull. Mugford, Ralph Talbott, Palter- son, Bailey, li ' ilkes, Micholson and Stvanson. This was the third time in three months that Big Ben and her comrades bad |iaid a call on liie Jap in his closely guarded home waters. Surely this time he would be ready. But on September 1st the warplanes thundered in on the island redoubts, undetected. I ' i liars of smoke again rose to the sky from blazing Jap shipping, hangars and barracks. Once more a force of cruisers and destroyers moved in and pounded the harbors and coast until the very rocks Hew into the air. Again the fast carrier task force slip()ed away C.omdr. Richard I.. Kibhe, US.M. of the divehomhers, became Commander tij Air Group 13 on Aujiust 12. when Sunshine Houerton was called to other duty

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