Captain's boat taken aboard at Kerama Retto, May 4, 1945.

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Leaving Kerama Retto, May 4, 1945.

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A Japanese Kawasaki Hien Ki-61 (allied reporting name Tony) coming for kamikaze attack on USS Sangamon (CVE-26), 4 May 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-336279.

Kamikaze dive that missed, May 4, 1945, 7PM.

USS Sangamon (CVE-26), Japanese Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien ("flying swallow"), allied reporting name Tony, coming in for kamikaze attack, 4 May 1945. (Same as above.)

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-336250.

"May 4, 1945, 1900. Kamikaze came so close it took off radio antennas just aft of bridge. 33 minutes later Sangamon took direct hit by kamikaze."

USS Sangamon (CVE-26), a Japanese plane plummets into the sea, narrowingly missing the escort carrier's flight deck. This attack is probably the first of several attacks on the carrier off Kerama Retto in the early evening of 4 May 1945. Note the smoke from the 20mm guns firing directly at the plane. Land can be seen in the left distance.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-334505.

"Pictures taken when hit at night, May 4, 1945."

USS Sangamon (CVE-26), fire on deck after crash of Japanese kamikaze plane, 4 May 1945.

NS-cve26-06: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), photo # 80-G-336253.

Flight deck looking aft, May 5, 1945.

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Another view of flight deck looking aft, after kamikaze hit, May 5, 1945.

(Photo contributed by Brian Bartlett; caption by Don Schroeder)

Another view of flight deck looking aft, after kamikaze hit, May 5, 1945.

(Photo contributed by Brian Bartlett; caption by Don Schroeder)

Hole in flight deck near after elevator caused by kamikaze attack on 4 May 1945 off Okinawa. Note elevator in background.

(Photo contributed by Brian Bartlett and Mike Green)

Flight deck looking aft, after kamikaze hit, May 5, 1945.

(Photo contributed by Brian Bartlett; caption by Don Schroeder)

Flight deck looking forward, May 5, 1945.

(High-resolution, 625Kb)

Damage to tractors that were used to move planes on flight deck, after kamikaze hit, May 5, 1945.

(Photo contributed by Brian Bartlett; caption by Don Schroeder)

Additional information: "There are two tractors and two jeeps in this photo. The tractors are Fordson BNO-25s that were modified Ford 9N Tractors built specifically for the Navy. The jeeps are the second and fourth vehicles; the one furthest from the camera is upside down and the one between the two tractors has its hood open." (Thanks to Tracy White, Researcher @ Large.)

May 5, 1945. The crew is mustering at stations to see who is missing from the attack the night before. There is no one at the bridge: steering has been transferred to aft steering on the port side due to damage on the bridge from the kamikaze hit.

(Larger view, 209Kb)

Hanger deck, May 5, 1945.

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"This view from the Hangar Deck looking up through the Flight Deck shows part of the hole made by the Jap plane."

"The explosion also blew several holes in the side of the ship."

Damage to hanger deck after kamikaze hit, May 5, 1945. Half of rear elevator down in elevator shaft.

(Photo contributed by Brian Bartlett; caption by Don Schroeder)

All that was left of Jap plane after May 4, 1945 attack.

(As above.) Parts of a Japanese plane that hit USS Sangamon (CVE-26). Photo taken on 5 May 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-336280.

This was the only communications the USS Sangamon had after she was hit by a kamikaze destroying all planes but this one and all radio and radar equipment.

(High-resolution, 649Kb)

Conference on May 5, 1945, to make decision on where to go: (left to right) Captain Malstrom, Rear Admiral William D. Sample, and Commander O'Beirne.

(High-resolution, 625Kb)

Cmdr O'Beirne (Executive Officer), left middle, and Capt Malstrom, right middle; May 5, 1945.

(Photo contributed by Brian Bartlett; caption by Don Schroeder)

Controling ship from aft steering station, May 5, 1945, as communications from the bridge had been lost: Lt Kramer, asst. navigator; Cmdr Moore, navigator; Cmdr O'Beirne, XO.

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Burial at sea on May 5, 1945 prior to leaving Task Force to head home.

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(See also: Burial Edition of "Sangy News")

Transferring casualties from the Sangamon to a destroyer, May 5, 1945.

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As above.

(Photo contributed by Brian Bartlett; caption by Don Schroeder)

Set of 5 official photos, with their captions. (Contributed by Ed Zajkowski.)