U.S. CARRIER BOMBED

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24570, 19 May 1945, Page 7

U.S. CARRIER BOMBED

Heavy Loss Of Life In Burning Ship

VESSEL SAVED BY CREW

NEW YORK, May 17. Japanese bombs which struck the huge American aircraft carrier Franklin on March 19, within six miles of the southern coast of Japan, caused the death of 341 men. Another 431 are missing, and more than 300 were wounded. More than one-third of the complement were casualties. She was attacked five times more by dive-bombers as she steamed towards Japan, completely out of control. There were scenes of indescribable horror aboard the Franklin. Alvin McCoy, representing the combined American press writes:—“l was a dazed survivor of the holocaust only because I was breakfasting in the undamaged area. The rescue of the crippled carrier, towed flaming and smoking from the very shores of Japan, and the saving of 800 men fished out of the sea by the protecting destroyers and cruisers, will be an epic in naval warfare. “The Franklin was all but abandoned, but the actual order never came. The sole decision rested with Captain Leslie Dehr.es, whose faith held fast. The air group end 1500 of thd crew were transferred to the light cruiser Santa Fe, leaving a skeleton crew of about 700 aboard. Those of the Franklin's aeroplanes already aloft at the. time of the attack landed safely on i other carriers. ! “One of the crew told me that a Japanese aeroplane dived from the clouds at an angle of 30 degrees. It made a perfect bomb run, skimmed about 100 ft above the deck, and dropped two 5001b armour-piercing bombs, scoring direct hits. “One exploded beneath the flightdeck, where additional aeroplanes, fuelled and armed, were awaiting to be taken to the flight-deck. The air group commander of the Franklin himself shot down the pilot of the attacking aeroplane, but the bomb-hits started a train of fires and explosions, which rent the tortured vessel for hours. ‘ . “Explosion after explosion followed the initial blasts. Large bombs exploded and hurled men and-aeroplanes the length of the ship. Smaller bombs, rockets, and machine-gun ammunition killed dozens who survived the major explosions. Aviation petrol poured over the sides of the deck like a blazing Niagara. The hangar deck became a raging, exploding inferno, snuffing out the lives of practically every man working on the aeroplanes. Story of Great Bravery “There probably will be no greater story written of individual bravery in this war than of those men who survived the bursting bombs and blazing petrol, declined to abandon the ship, and finally brought the carrier through, battle-scarred and flame-seared on every inch of her upper decks. "Those specially cited for heroism included the ship’s chaplain. Lieuten-ant-Commander Joseph O’Callahan, who was described by one of the ship’s officers as ‘the bravest man I ever saw.’ Lieutenant r Commander O’Callahan first moved round the burning, slanting, exposed flight-deck administering the last rites and then led officers and men into the flames to Jettison the hot bombs and shells. Re then recruited a dair.cge control party, and led it to one of the main ammunition magazines to wet it down and prevent its exploding. “The crew was not at battle stations because no Japanese aeroplanes had been reported in the vicinity. The men. dog-tired efter a night of constant alarms, had been released to go to brcskfQst. "The wholesale evacuation of the Franklin began at 10 a.m., when the cruiser Santa Fe drew alongside. “Early in the afternoon, after the fires were under control, the Franklin was taken in tow by the heavy cruiser Pittsburgh. The next day, the Franklin’s engines were partially repaired, and they worked up to a speed of 23 knots under her own power. The following day 300 of her crew were returned from other vessels, and. the Franklin headed for home. “The Franklin, commissioned on January 31. 1944, was the flagship of Vice-Admiral Marc Mitscher’s task force She is at present undergoing repairs in the Brooklyn Navy yard." The Franklin was one of the large Essex class cruisers of 27,000 tons. This class carries about 100 aircraft and has a speed of 35 knots. The Franklin was laid down pn the first anniversary of Pearl Harbour.

CHINESE 'EVACUATE FOOCHOW

(Rec. 12.30 a.m.) CHUNGKING, May 18. The Chinese High Command has admitted withdrawal from Foochow, following attacks by Japanese reinforcements brought up from the coast. The Japanese suffered 1000 casualties in fighting 55 miles west of Paoching, where enemy resistance was crushed.