Hancock (CVA 19) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 29 text:

1Topj The faces of those who flew the planes. lAbove rightl A 1,000 pound bomb devastates an enemy merchant vessel. lRightj Hancock ordnance men re-arm aircraft for another mission. fFar Rightj The LSO guides a returning dive bomber aboard.

Page 28 text:

Hanna's Pilots Take A Heavy Japanese Toll Flushed with the confidence that only success can bring, Hancock and her air wing continued to hit Japanese airfields and shipping lanes from the Philippines to Southeast Asia as part of powerful carrier task forces. Already, her planes had accounted for 97 enemy planes, four large warships, and 12 merchant ships sunk. And her successful combat record would only improve as the Allies began pointing their strength at the Japanese home islands. Coordinated carrier strikes were carried out against Japanese airfields in the Empire's inner defense ring despite reinforced and stiffened resistence. Early in January, l945, Hancock turned west and then north, striking at Japanese ports in Siam, Hong Kong and Kowloon, and finally in the home islands themselves. Hancock pilots found themselves in dog fights overToky0 in early February. ln six days of air raids against the Japanese capital, a record 83 confirmed aircraft kills were recorded and many more probables added to the list. American planes were literally controlling Japanese sky lanes.

Page 30 text:

Q . H Emo f F., I! . if 33 5 is f Ji' if ,Ah 'W S 4 .av Q 2 I vV,, J I ,fig A ' l ' 172- l Wi ff I , 4 V Il' 1 , ' CL' . W ' . 4 . I , 1 1 I - .1 , If I W if f, .. V l I 26 4f'i - 1 x ' W f A fAb0ve rightl Probable view of Hancock as she turns away from formation to fight fires from Kamikaze hit. fAbove middlel Remains of the Japanese kamikaze suicide plane on l'lancock's flight deck. fRightJ The dead are taken below. fAbovej We commit their bodies to the deep. A . li