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About the USS Franklin the USS Franklin (CV-13)

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About the USS Franklin the USS Franklin (CV-13) About the USS Franklin The USS Franklin (CV-13) Before dawn on 19 March 1945 the U.S.S. Franklin, who had maneuvered closer to the Japanese mainland than had any other U.S. carrier during the war, launched a fighter sweep against Honshu and later a strike against shipping in Kobe Harbor. Suddenly, a single enemy plane pierced the cloud cover and made a low level run on the gallant ship to drop two semi-armor piercing bombs. One struck the flight deck centerline, penetrating to the hangar deck, effecting destruction and igniting fires through the second and third decks, and knocking out the combat information center and airplot. The second hit aft, tearing through two decks and fanning fires, which triggered ammunition, bombs and rockets. The Franklin, within 50 miles of the Japanese mainland, lay dead in the water, took a 13° starboard list, lost all radio communications, and broiled under the heat from enveloping fires. Many of the crew were blown overboard, driven off by fire, killed or wounded, but the 106 officers and 604 enlisted who voluntarily remained saved their ship through sheer valor and tenacity. The casualties totaled 724 killed and 265 wounded, and would have far exceeded this number except for the heroic work of many survivors. Among these were Medal of Honor winners, Lieutenant Commander Joseph T. O’Callahan, S. J., USNR, the ship’s chaplain, who administered the last rites, organized and directed firefighting and rescue parties, and led men below to wet down magazines that threatened to explode, and Lieutenant (junior grade) Donald Gary who discovered 300 men trapped in a blackened mess compartment, and finding an exit, returned repeatedly to lead groups to safety. The U.S.S. Santa Fe (CL-60) similarly rendered vital assistance in rescuing crewmen from the sea and closing the Franklin to take off the numerous wounded. The Franklin was taken in tow by the U.S.S. Pittsburgh until she managed to churn up speed to 14 knots and proceed to Pearl Harbor where a cleanup job permitted her to sail under her own power to Brooklyn, N.Y., arriving on 28 April. Following the end of the war, the Franklin was opened to the public, for Navy Day celebrations, and on 17 February 1947 was placed out of commission at Bayonne, N.J. On 15 May 1959 she was reclassified AVT 8. The U.S.S. Franklin received four battle stars for World War II service. From: Dictionary Of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. II, 1977, pp. 443-444 ********** This web site is devoted to all of those that so gallantly served on the U.S.S. Franklin during this most courageous time. Many lost their lives that day, many have passed on since then, and for those that remain with us, and all that served, we salute you! ********** Note from Phil Gentry who compiled the bulk of the content on this website: My father, Robert E. Gentry, Sgt, USMC, (Jun 8, 1924 – Dec 26, 1967) served on the Franklin that day. He was with many of his Marine buddies, Kenneth (KK) Thompson, Mike Sansone, John Norman, Joe Titus, Patrick Sculley, all members of the infamous group, Black Sheep Squadron. Half of the squadron assigned to the Franklin perished; lost, but not forgotten. Essex class (short-hull) Fleet Carrier . Displacement: 34,800 tons . Length: 872′ . Beam: 147′ . Draft: 28’7″ . Speed: 33 knots . Armament: 12 5″/38, 18×4 40mm, 60 20mm; 103 planes (37 F6F, 36 #B2C, 18 TBM) . Complement: 3,448 personnel . Geared turbine engines, 4 screws, 150,000 shaft hp. Built at Newport News, and commissioned 31 January 1944 The USS Franklin, fifth of her name in the United States Navy, bears an eminent name in the history of our country and our Navy.FRANKLIN I was an armed schooner fitted out, by order of General Washington, by the Massachusetts Colony at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. In 1776, the Franklin, under Captain James Mugford, captured the “Hope” loaded with military supplies and powder, intrenching tools, and gun carriages, and delivered these supplies to the Continental Army. FRANKLIN II was an eight gun brig which took part in the first war with the Barbary Pirates. FRANKLIN II was a 74-gun ship of the line laid down in 1815. After serving in the Tripolitan War, she rendered important service in the protection of American shipping in the Eastern Pacific in 1822. FRANKLIN IV was a 39-gun steam frigate launched at the close of the Civil War. Pride of the Navy, she was designated as Admiral Farragut’s flagship on his triumphant cruise to Europe in 1867. She also was for many years, the Receiving Ship at the old St. Helena Training Station across the Elizabeth River from the Norfolk Navy Yard. War Cruise of USS Franklin (CV-13) Keel laid NNSB/&DD Co., Newport News, Virginia 7 Dec 1942 Launched, Captain Mildred H. McAfee, W-V(S) USNR, sponsor 14 Oct 1943 Commissioned, Captain J. M. Shoemaker, Commanding 31 Jan 1944 Started Shakedown Cruise to Trinidad, Gulf of Paria, S.A. 20 Mar 1944 Departed Norfolk, Virginia for West Coast 5 May 1944 First Canal Transit 11 May 1944 Arrived San Diego, California 19 May 1944 Departed San Diego, California 1 Jun 1944 Departed Pearl Harbor for War Zone 23 Jun 1944 Participated in Marianas Operation 1 STAR Strikes against Iwo Jima, Haha Jima, and Chichi Jima in the Bonin & Volcano Islands 3-4 Jul 1944 Strikes against Rota and Guam, and Invasion of Guam, Marianas Islands 6-22 Jul 1944 Strikes against Palau Islands, Yap and Ulithi 25-27 Jul 1944 Strikes against Bonin and Volcano Islands 4-5 Aug 1944 Western Caroline Islands Operation 1 STAR Strikes against Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima 31 Aug – 2 Sep 1944 Strikes against Yap and Ulithi Islands 6-8 Sep 1944 Invasion support of Peleliu and Angaur Islands, Palau Islands 10-16 Sep 1944 Crossed Equator 20 Sep 1944 Leyte Operation 1 STAR Strikes against Okinawa Jima, Nansei Shoto 10 Oct 1944 Strikes against Aparri, Luzon, Philippine Islands 11 Oct 1944 Strikes against Tainan, Island of Formosa 12-13 Oct 1944 The Franklin sustained negligible damage from a strafing suicide plane off Formosa on 13 October 1944. The plane crashed just aft the island structure, slid across the flight deck and burst into flames upon striking the water on the starboard side. Strikes against Aparri, Manila and Legaspi, Philippine Islands 14-19 Oct 1944 Three Japanese bombs caused minor damage to the Franklin on 15 October 1944, East of Luzon Island. One small bomb penetrated the corner of the deck edge elevator and detonated just below the flight deck level, causing minor fragment damage and a small gasoline fire. The second bomb detonated upon striking the water, close aboard to port. The third bomb detonated on water impact close aboard to starboard. Invasion Support of Leyte, Philippine Islands 20 Oct 1944 Strikes against manila Bay Area 22-23 Oct 1944 Battle of Leyte Gulf 24-26 Oct 1944 Support of Ground Troops, Leyte, Philippine Islands 27-30 Oct 1944 On 30 October 1944, the Franklin was damaged extensively by a Japanese suicide plane east of Samar Island. The plane with a bomb load aboard crashed through the flight deck, igniting planes parked at the after end of the flight deck. The bombs carried forward, detonating among the gassed planes in the hanger and causing fires in the after portion of the flight deck and hangar. The fire spread to the second and third deck spaces. In addition, gas explosions occurred in the hangar, but all fires were extinguished in two and one half hours. Structural damage was extensive to the flight and gallery decks as well as to structures within the hangar. Arrived Ulithi 2 Nov 1944 Captain L. E. Gehres relieved Captain J. M. Shoemaker as Commanding Officer 7 Nov 1944 Departed Ulithi 11 Nov 1944 Arrived Pearl Harbor 21 Nov 1944 At Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington for repairs 27 Nov-2 Feb 1945 Arrived San Francisco, California 4 Feb 1945 Departed San Francisco, California 7 Feb 1945 Departed Pearl Harbor for War Zone 3 Mar 1945 Crossed International Date Line 6 Mar 1945 Arrived Ulithi 13 Mar 1945 Okinawa Gunto Operation 1 STAR Strikes against Kyushu, Shikoku, Islands of Japanese Empire 18-19 Mar 1945 On 19 March 1945, off Shikoku, the Franklin was struck by two bombs which passed through the flight deck and detonated in the hangar. A terrific conflagration fed by gasoline in aircraft fuel tanks, together with detonations of a large number of heavy bombs and rockets loaded on aircraft, demolished a major part of the flight deck and wrecked the hangar and gallery deck spaces. Flooding from fire-fighting water caused a heavy list. All machinery spaces were evacuated because of smoke and heat and all power failed. This is the worst damage which any United States warship has survived. Arrived Ulithi 24 Mar 1945 Crossed International Date Line on Easter Sunday 1 Apr 1945 Arrived Pearl Harbor 3 Apr 1945 Second Passage through Panama Canal 20 Apr 1945 Arrived New York 26 Apr 1945 Arrived New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York for repairs 28 Apr 1945 Commander H.H. Hale relieved Captain L. E. Gehres as Commanding Officer 30 Jun 1945 Traveled approximately 102,000 miles SCORE BOARD SHIP AIR GROUP 13 AIR GROUP 5 Period of Service 1/31/44 – 3/19/45 1/31/44 – 11/21/44 2/7/45 – 3/19/45 Jap planes shot down 6 88 plus 29 probables 18 Jap planes destroyed on ground 145 8 Jap planes damaged 138 12 Warships sunk 12 for 56,000 tons None Warships damaged 19 for 254,000 tons 1 CVE, 3 small ships, 1 CV Hull Merchant ships sunk 52 for 121,000 tons None Merchant ships damaged 66 for 158,000 tons 1 large, 7 small /signed/ (lower section of this page, from T.J.
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