The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The U.S.S. FRANKLIN (CV-13) - (3/19/1945) - Jul. 21st, 2004

www.hbo.com ^ | Mark Tidwell

[w_over_w]

Well it is a late nite, see you tomorrow....YEE Hawwww

Thanks and good nite . . . George Bailey. ;^)

[snippy_about_it]

Were "the rumors" ever proven one way or the other?

I don't think so. The crew was evacuated, they sent a search party on her after the fourth, then a salvage team before she sank. You would think they would know if anyone was trapped by then. Unfortunatly the crew of the destroyer moored next to here were all lost when she was hit by the 4th torpedo. It's not clear to me yet who or if anyone was on board besides crew from the Hamman.

Quick repairs at Pearl Harbor put Yorktown into good enough condition to participate in the Battle of Midway on 4-6 June 1942. During this great turning point of the Pacific War, her air group fatally damaged the Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu and shared in the destruction of the carrier Hiryu and cruiser Mikuma. However, successive strikes by dive bombers and torpedo planes from Hiryu seriously damaged Yorktown, causing her abandonment during the afternoon of 4 June. Two days later, while salvage efforts were underway, the Japanese submarine I-168 torpedoed both the damaged carrier and the destroyer Hammann (DD-412), sinking the latter immediately and Yorktown shortly after daybreak on 7 June 1942. USS Yorktown's wreck was discovered and examined in May 1998, in surprisingly good condition after fifty-six years beneath more than three miles of sea water.

And more from another site:

The crew was evacuated by order of Captain Buckmaster but the carrier did not go down. She began to drift and a recovery team was able to board her on June 5, but she was not to be saved. The Yorktown was finished off on June 8 when struck by 3 of 4 torpedoes fired by the Japanese submarine I-168. The destroyer Hammann, moored to and providing power to the crippled carrier, was struck by the 4th torpedo and was lost with virtually all hands.

[snippy_about_it]

Sure, go to bed while I do all the research. ;-)

As the Japanese fleet withdrew following the 4 June carrier battle, PBYs from Midway began searching for the dozens of downed U.S. aviators. Ensign George Gay, a Torpedo Squadron Eight pilot from USS Hornet and the only man to survive his group's heroic attack on the Japanese carriers, was rescued on 5 June, after spending a day and night floating, and hiding, near burning Japanese ships. The enemy picked up another three American fliers, and killed them all after interrogation.

During the succeeding days, other pilots and aircrewmen were rescued by patrol planes and U.S. warships, as were the survivors of USS Yorktown, USS Hammann and of two sunken Japanese ships, the carrier Hiryu and cruiser Mikuma. On 21 June, seventeen days after ditching their plane, a TBD crew was recovered some 360 miles from Midway, the last of the battle's survivors to be rescued at sea.

Other aviators, perhaps not rescued at sea but survivors all the same, were evacuated to Hawaii. Among them were the remaining Marine Fighting Squadron 221 pilots who had so valiantly defended Midway against overwhelming odds and the Midway airmen who had attacked the Japanese fleet on 4 June. Some of the survivors were in good condition and quickly returned to duty. Others, injured in many of the ways offered by modern war, spent months and years in hospitals, personally enduring the tragic aspects of a great triumph.

This page presents photographs of Battle of Midway survivors at Pearl Harbor soon after rescue, and in other locations during the following months.

LINK

[SAMWolf]

Seriously, does military investigative data like this ever get declassified?

Some of it eventually does, some of it was never classified it just gets buried in all the paperwork and no one knows it's there until some historian stumbles across it.

[SAMWolf]

This is why I lovingly call you Mr. Know it All. LOL!

See post #93. :-(

[SAMWolf]

Thanks alfa6. Your answer is right on the money. :-)

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Alfa6.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for looking up the info, Partner. :-)

[snippy_about_it]

Aha!!! Lookie here;

Actions and Activities after 4 June 1942 --

USS Yorktown Salvage and Torpedoing, 5-6 June 1942

Once the abandoned Yorktown's crewmen were safely recovered, her escorts departed, leaving behind the destroyer Hughes (DD-410) to keep watch. Early the next day, 5 June, a seaplane from the Japanese cruiser Chikuma spotted the drifting carrier. In mid-morning, Hughes discovered two injured men who had been left behind, rescued them and examined the ship.

Later, the tug Vireo (AT-144) came on the scene and took Yorktown under tow, while working parties jettisoned boats and an anchor. However, the old tug could do little more than keep the big ship headed into the wind.

Several other destroyers arrived early on 6 June, carrying a salvage party of Yorktown crewmen. Boarding the carrier at daybreak, the men set to work pushing guns, aircraft and other removable weights over the side, counterflooding to reduce the list and performing the many other tasks involved in saving their ship. USS Hammann (DD-412) lay alongside to provide power, water and other assistance, while other destroyers patrolled nearby to protect Yorktown from intruders.

By mid-afternoon, prompted by the previous day's seaplane report, the Japanese submarine I-168 crept undetected into the area. Taking a submerged attack position, she fired four torpedoes, hitting Hammann and Yorktown amidships on their starboard sides. The destroyer went down in a few minutes. Many of her crew killed or badly injured in the water when her depth charges exploded as she sank. Vireo cut the towline, and the salvage party were taken off the now even-more-greviously wounded carrier. But she continued to float, and plans were made to restart work the next morning.

USS Yorktown, now with large torpedo holes on both sides amidships, floated through the night of 6-7 June 1942, while her escorting destroyers unsuccessfully pursued the Japanese submarine I-168, treated injured sailors and kept watch. As dawn approached, it was clear that the carrier was lower in the water with an increasing list. As the sun rose on 7 June, Yorktown rolled over on her port side and sank by the stern.

She was not seen again by human eyes until 19 May 1998, when an expedition led by Dr. Robert Ballard located and photographed her wreck, sitting upright on the sea floor with a 25-degree list to starboard. Despite fifty-six years under 16,650 feet of salt water, Yorktown was in surprisingly good condition, with all but a little of her structure undistorted and readily recognizable. Measure 12 camouflage paint was still intact, and the white hull number "5" could be seen at her bow and stern. Evidence of Battle of Midway damage and the subsequent salvage efforts was abundant: the bomb hole in her flight deck aft of the midships elevator; fire-damaged paint and metal on her smokestack; a huge torpedo hole in her port side; anti-aircraft guns still pointing skyward and other guns missing where they had been jettisoned by the salvage party on 6 June 1942.

This page presents photographs of USS Yorktown as she sank. Link

History of the Hammann:

About 1700 Yorktown began abandoning ship. As the first three destroyers began to fill up with survivors, Hughes and then Hammann were ordered by Comdesron Two to leave screen and assist in picking up survivors from the water and life rafts in vicinity of Yorktown. Twice during the rescue operations, unidentified planes were reported in the vicinity but no enemy planes were sighted. Hammann went close astern of Yorktown and picked up the last of the survivors including the commanding officer, Captain BUCKMASTER. Total survivors rescued by Hammann was 87.

6. Upon completion of rescue work, cruisers formed column, screened by destroyers. Hammann went alongside Astoria, as directed by CTF-17, and transferred Captain BUCKMASTER and two of his officers. Resumed station in cruising disposition on Easterly courses. Hughes was directed by CTF-17 to return and standby Yorktown. The two cruisers from Taskforce 16 left the disposition to rejoin their taskforce. At sunrise the following morning, destroyers were directed to transfer all Yorktown survivors to Portland and to fuel from Portland during the transfer. While Balch and Benham were transferring survivors, Hammann went alongside Astoria, as directed by CTF-17, and received Captain BUCKMASTER and a salvage party of Yorktown officers and men. About 1500, Hammann followed Anderson alongside Portland. Transferred Yorktown survivors to Portland and received additional Yorktown officers and men for salvage party. Fueled to 90% capacity. Upon completion, Hammann, Balch, and Benham, designated as Taskgroup 17.5, Captain BUCKMASTER, set course 285° T. speed 16 knots to return to Yorktown.

9. The underwater explosion apparently killed a large number of men in the water and injured about eighty five more of whom twenty six died on board U.S.S. Benham enroute to Pearl Harbor. Of a total of 13 officers and 228 men on board, two officers were known dead and seven missing, twenty five men were known dead and forty seven missing. Of the remainder all were rescued by U.S.S. Benham and returned to Pearl Harbor excepting the Commanding Officer and one man picked up by U.S.S. Balch and later transferred to U.S.S. Gwin for transportation to Pearl Harbor.

Link

[snippy_about_it]

LOL. Ok, Mr. Knows most everything.

[Diver Dave]

Great read about the USS FRANKLIN.

In boot camp, during the damage control and firefighting classes we had, the FRANKLIN and her crew were presented as "how to" fight shipboard fires and control hull integrity.

Aboard ship, you can't call 911. The crew becomes the fire dept.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks DD.

One of the things that I could never have gotten used to, was that on a ship at sea there's no where to go. I think that would have drove me crazy.

[SAMWolf]

Ok Ms. Expert at Research. ;-)

[PhilDragoo]

Teresa the Tipsy Billionaire advised Americans to "put some ice on it," that living in fear of terrorist attack is something sophisticated Europeans take for granted.

Lance Armstrong finished strong today, the exceptional champion in a spirited sprint, having said, "Nuts!" to Herr General Kanzer.

In an innumerable rerun of "Independence Day" Randy Quaid delivers the coup de grace to the U-Ropeans from Outer Space.

The Admiral and his aide urged Captain Gehres to abandon ship, and Gehres replied with acta non verba which could be signed, "I have not yet begun to fight."

Commander Gary and Captain O'Callahan beat the devil--they just played better banjo while bombs burst in air

Reagan's visionary enthusiasm beat Carter's mopey malaise, and we'll have at the helm for Next Year In Iran a fellow who won't explain the nuances of how we couldn't do it, or shouldn't do it, or must lisp permission from Kofi and Jacques.

Screaming fans ranked in rows
jammed the huge arena full,
but only one there is who knows
and he's the one who fights the bull.

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October 30, 1944 ~ 1,000 miles off Samar ~ USS FRANKLIN is attacked by enemy suicide bombers. Three doggedly pursue FRANKLIN, the first plummeting off her starboard side; the second hitting the flight deck and crashing through to the gallery deck, showering destruction, killing 56 and wounding 60; the third discharging another near miss at FRANKLIN before diving into the flight deck of USS BELLEAU WOOD (CVL 24). Both carriers retire to Ulithi for temporary repairs and FRANKLIN proceeds to Puget Sound Navy Yard arriving November 28, 1944, for battle damage overhaul.

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S.O.S Catastrophe: Spirit of Survival - Typhoons & Kamikaze/ Saga of the USS Franklin (1998)

From a Japanese book site [see Properties].

From WWII Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Photos

We kept reporting this bogey to the flagship and yet no one ordered the fleet to go to air defense.

Sudan kept offering Osama bin Laden and yet traitorrapist42 didn't take him.

The Predator with Hellfire returned clear visual of Osama on at least three of its eleven flights September-October, 2000, yet tr42 didn't order take the shot.

Bush took out Afghanistan and Iraq (giving us simplified firing solutions on Iran, Syria, and environs--

--yet some people are still bitching about their underwear.

[SAMWolf]

Evening Phil Dragoo.

Excellent commentary as usual.

Snippy and I watched a video on the bombing of the USS Franklin and the radio operator on the other ship said he tried repeatedly to warn the Franklin that the incoming plane was Japanese, the Franklin kept insisting it was a friendly even when told that the other ships had a visual ID on the plane.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!!

[fredhead]

There's a website for the USS Cabot (CVL-28) that shows the ship in various stages of scrapping. This ship was sold to Spain in the sixties and bought back in the nineties to be made a museum in New Orleans. The corporation went bankrupt. The ship was sold for scrap. The website is http://www.usscabot.com It was the last remaining of the Independence class light carriers that were converted from cruiser hulls. As a 20 year Navy veteran, I agree with you, it hurts seeing any warship scrapped. I am not looking forward to the day when the three carriers on which I served, Kennedy, Nimitz, and Eisenhower, are decommisioned.

[fredhead]

There is one other... after being the last Essex decommisioned, the Lexington (CV/CVT/AVT-16) is now a museum in Texas.

[Darksheare]

Wasn't aware of that one.
Thanks!

[neb52]

My Father served on the Tic from 68-72. It was decommissioned in '73, then scrapped. We have been trying to get a trip together, to go see the Lexington. It was the sister ship of the Ticonderoga(CV-14).