[Iris7]

My uncle Fred was the senior enlisted man in flight and hanger decks on the Enterprise when he left Enterprise in 1943. The CVA he as on at the time Franklin burned out was in the same task force with Franklin. He watched the whole thing and debriefed survivors. Fred said that the damage to Franklin was the result of the crew not taking effective action, and that Enterprise took worse damage from the Japanese than Franklin took that day several times, but that damage control (Fred and his lads) got the fires under control in a timely manner - unlike what happened aboard Franklin.

The Navy still uses the Franklin story to show the need for serious damage control. And, of course, to show the need for good men.

The Navy was taking draftees beginning in 1942. The old swabs were universally suprised at what snivelling cowards they were. I suspect the good draftees went into the voluntary jobs, submarines for instance.

[GATOR NAVY]

The Navy still uses the Franklin story to show the need for serious damage control.

I remember seeing a DC training film on the FRANLKIN in the late '80s.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for telling us about your uncle Fred.

The USS Forrestal fire is also used to demonstrate effective damage control.