USS Franklin (CV-13) shown in smoke and flames as a result of an attack of Japanese dive-bomber which scored hits with two 500 lb. armor-piercing bombs, 19 March 1945. Photograph released 17 May 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-49131.

A tremendous geyser of flame and smoke gushes skyward as one of the many explosions suffered by the ship detonates with shattering violence. Official US Navy photograph.

(If you have any specific details concerning this photo, please contact us.)

USS Franklin (CV-13) is hit and set ablaze by a Japanese divebomber on March 19, 1945. Franklin was attacked by a single Japanese plane which dropped two armor-piercing bombs, devastating the hangar deck and setting off ammunition. Casualties totaled 724 killed and 265 wounded.

Franklin hard hit, 19 March 1945, off Kyushu. She had been returned to service in January, following a kamikaze attack on 30 October (see above).

USS Franklin (CV-13) burns after being hit by bombs dropped from Japanese aircraft, 19 March 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-273867.

Close up of the Franklin. BuShips described this fire as "the most severe survived by any U.S. warship during the course of World War II."

Flames and smoke roll out of USS Franklin (CV-13) — with a river of burning gasoline spreading destruction as it streams out the side of the ship. Official US Navy photograph.

Ship's after 5"/38 twin gun mount burning, as her crew tried to control fires on 19 March 1945. The carrier had been hit by a Japanese air attack while operating off the coast of Japan. Photographed from USS Santa Fe (CL-60), which extinguished the fire in this gun mount by playing streams of water through the mount's open door. Later, the other 5"/38 twin gun mount and the 40mm quad machine gun mount (at right) also burned. Note ammunition loaded in the feed racks of the 40mm guns.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-273903).

Photo of Franklin taken from light cruiser USS Santa Fe (CL-60).

USS Franklin (CV-13) burning off the Japanese coast after she was hit by air attack, 19 March 1945. Photographed from USS Santa Fe (CL-60), a few moments before picture NS021331.

USS Franklin (CV-13) burning off the Japanese coast after she was hit by air attack, 19 March 1945. Photographed from USS Santa Fe (CL-60), which was alongside to help with firefighting and rescue work.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-273888).

Seconds after an explosion hurls pieces of the flight deck and aircraft into the air, part of the crew runs for their lives.

USS Franklin (CV-13) afire and listing after a Japanese air attack, 19 March 1945.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-273882.

Afire and listing after she was hit by a Japanese air attack while operating off the coast of Japan, 19 March 1945. Photographed from USS Santa Fe (CL-60), which was alongside assisting with firefighting and rescue work.

David's older second cousin, Robert (Bobby) Woodell, was a sailor aboard Franklin on this date.

Afire and listing after she was hit by a Japanese air attack while operating off the coast of Japan, 19 March 1945. Photographed from USS Santa Fe (CL-60), which was alongside assisting with firefighting and rescue work.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-273880).

USS Franklin, photographed from light cruiser USS Santa Fe (CL-60).

As above.

Twisted and blackened, the debris aboard USS Franklin (CV-13) testifies to the force of the blasts and the heat of the flame that racked the carrier. Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

Dead in the water with a 14 degree list to starboard, with USS Santa Fe (CL-60) alongside.

USS Santa Fe (CL-60) maneuvers into position alongside USS Franklin (CV-13) disregarding all hazards in order to render aid needed. Official US Navy photograph.

The burning USS Franklin (CV-13) with USS Santa Fe (CL-60) alongside, transferring 833 nonessential crew members to safety aboard the cruiser while at the same time assisting in fire fighting.

NS021304a: Roughly two thirds of Franklin's flight deck is on fire or smouldering in this aerial shot from an Essex (CV-9) aircraft. Santa Fe (CL-60) is alongside, trying to get water into the hangar deck through vents in the side of the ship. Navy photo now in the collections of NARA II, College Park, Maryland (# 80-G-373734).

USS Santa Fe (CL-60) assisting USS Franklin (CV-13) in fire fighting and rescue after the carrier was bombed and severely damaged off the island of Kyushu on 19 March 1945.

Preparations are made for transfer of personnel, wounded and otherwise from the flight deck to USS Santa Fe (CL-60). Official US Navy photograph.

One of the casualties is transferred from USS Franklin (CV-13) to the cruiser USS Santa Fe (CL-60) after being given first aid treatment. Official US Navy photograph.

Dead in the water on March 19, 1945, the Franklin as seen from USS Santa Fe (CL-60) as the cruiser pulls away from the still burning carrier.

Listing badly, her flight deck a gaping ruin, USS Franklin (CV-13) says farewell to USS Santa Fe (CL-60) as the latter moves away; the skeleton crew left aboard Franklin soon started the tremendous task of repairing the boilers and engine rooms so that she could start the long trek home. Official US Navy photograph.

Exhausted by the shock of the explosions, and their efforts to quell the flames, survivors of USS Franklin (CV-13) rest on the deck of the cruiser USS Santa Fe (CL-60). Official US Navy photograph.

Lieutenant Commander Joseph T. O'Callahan, USNR(ChC) gives "Last Rites" to an injured crewman aboard USS Franklin (CV-13), after the ship was set afire by a Japanese air attack, 19 March 1945. The crewman is reportedly Robert C. Blanchard, who survived his injuries.

Official U.S. Navy Photographs.

Note: For his heroism on board Franklin, Lieutenant Commander O'Callahan was awarded the Medal of Honor. The escort ship USS O'Callahan (DE-1051, later FF-1051) was named after him.

NS021314: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-49132.

NS021336: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-K-5003-B.

Commander Joseph T. O'Callahan, USNR(ChC), left, meets with Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt, in the Offices of the Chief of Naval Operations, circa summer 1945, following Admiral Hewitt's return to the United States from London and Chaplain O'Callahan's promotion to the rank of Commander. O'Callahan was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism on board USS Franklin (CV-13), off Japan on 19 March 1945.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (NH&HC) Photograph, # NH 49175. Collection of Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt.

Photograph of LT Donald A. Gary, USN, taken circa 1945. Halftone reproduction, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1948, The Navy", page 191.

U.S. Naval History & Heritage Command (NH&HC) photo, (# NH 94631).

Note: For his heroism on board Franklin, then Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Gary was awarded the Medal of Honor. The guided missile frigate USS Gary (FFG-51) was named after him.

President Harry Truman presenting awards at a ceremony in the White House, 23 January 1946. Lieutenant Donald A. Gary, USN, hero of the Japanese aerial attack on USS Franklin (CV-13), is presented the Medal of Honor. Almost 300 men trapped in an isolated messing compartment below decks owe their lives to the Lieutenant, who discovered the only possible escape route for them through a ventilating tube and led them to safety.

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-701805.

Still smoking, USS Franklin (CV-13) is towed from the scene of the disaster by the cruiser USS Pittsburgh (CA-72) before the crewmen aboard the carrier effected emergency engine repairs. Official US Navy photograph.

USS Pittsburgh (CA-72) tows USS Franklin after a dangerous starboard list had been corrected; she now is listing slightly to port but shortly afterward was able to continue under her own power because the propulsion mechanism had been repaired. Official US Navy photograph.

"Ill-Fated U.S.S. Franklin Survivors, Reach Safe Port"

Newspaper clipping.

USS Franklin (CV-13) approaches New York City, while en route to the New York Navy Yard for repairs, 26 April 1945. Note the extensive damage to her after flight deck, received when she was hit by a Japanese air attack off the coast of Japan on 19 March 1945. Photographed by Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey.

NS021311: Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-274014).

New York Harbor, April 28th, 1945.

USS Franklin (CV-13) arrives at New York Navy Yard for repair of battle damage, circa 28 April 1945. Photographed looking aft, showing her burned-out after flight deck, with Manhattan beyond. Note oversize battle ensign flying from rear of her island. New York skyline and bridge in the distance, large American flag in foreground.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # 80-G-K-5063.

View of the wrecked flight deck aft of USS Franklin (CV-13) off Manhattan, 28 April 1945.

General view of flight deck aft as USS Franklin (CV-13) arrived at Navy Yard, New York.

From USS Franklin CV-13 War Damage Report No. 56.

View on the flight deck, looking forward, while the carrier was in New York Harbor, circa 28 April 1945. She had just returned from the Pacific for repair of battle damage received off Japan on 19 March 1945. Note damage to her flight deck, large U.S. ensign flying from her island, and the Manhattan skyline in the background.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-K-4760.

USS Franklin (CV-13) anchored in New York Harbor, upon her arrival from the Pacific for repair of battle damage, circa 28 April 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-K-4771.

USS Franklin (CV-13) (at left) steams past USS Marblehead (CL-12), in New York Harbor, circa 28 April 1945, after her arrival from the Pacific for battle damage repairs.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-4777).

"A Battle-Scarred Carrier Reaches Port for Repairs — Officers and men of the USS Franklin, Essex-class carrier, stand at attention on the flight deck as the ship reaches the Brooklyn Navy Yard on New York's East River front for repairs [note Williamsburg Bridge in the background.] Hit by two 500-pound bombs while participating in an attack against the Jap fleet in the Inland Sea, March 19, 1945, the Franklin, manned by a skeleton crew, sailed more than 12,000 miles to get home under her own power (AP)." (Released on Thursday, May 17.) Official US Navy photograph.

Official caption for photo NS021321 reads: "Church service on the ship's ruined hangar deck, taken upon her return to the U.S. from the Pacific for repair of battle damage received off Japan on 19 March 1945. Location is probably in, or near, New York Harbor, circa 28 April 1945." (Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives, #80-G-K-5056.)

However, the above information may be incorrect as far as location and date are concerned. According to "USS Franklin CV 13 WWII Cruise book," published in 1946 and written by LT Marvin K. Bowman, USN, advised and assisted by Mr. Paul Warrick of Atlanta, Ga.,

"Saddened but undaunted to fight again, the torn, fire-blackened flattop anchored in Ulithi Harbor, Sunday, March 25, 1945, mass of Thanksgiving on the flight deck was led by Father Joseph O'Callahan; Protestant service of Thanksgiving was conducted on the hangar deck by Chaplain G. [Grimes] Weldon Gatlin. Most of the men attended both services; some wept openly during the humble, sincere prayers."

"The services closed with the Navy Hymn, 'Eternal Father'. The Thanksgiving services were followed by Memorial Services for the dead. On the flight deck, the men of the Franklin, led by 'Father Joe', assembled to the mournful strains of a dirge softly played by surviving bandsmen. The priest recalled that their comrades had died on Saint Joseph's Day—Saint Joseph, the patron saint of a merciful death—that their death, though tragic, had been in merciful circumstances, with every man having a brief moment for a last prayer."

"And while their sad loss could never be forgotten, those who lived must never forget they had died proud deaths, in the service of their country, fighting for God's cause against bloody oppression."

"A Psalm was read and men bowed and prayed for the souls of their shipmates."

"The Marine squad of seven, fired three volleys and men stood in salute, honoring their fallen comrades."

USS Franklin (CV-13), Ship's Service Telephone Directory, probably burned after the kamika

Grainy but interesting shot of USS Franklin (CV-13) in drydock, New York, 1945. The entire flight deck and supporting upper hull was removed and rebuilt because of the extensive damage caused by two Japanese bombs that penetrated the flight deck, exploding on the hangar deck, igniting fuel and ordnance from the aircraft below decks. The circular rings to the left are the two forward 5" DP gun mount supports with the island superstructure behind them. The lower ring would be the flight deck level. U.S. Navy, National Archives photo.

USS Franklin (CV-13) under repair at the New York Naval Shipyard, 27 October 1945. The entire flight deck and supporting upper hull was removed and rebuilt because of the extensive damage caused by two Japanese bombs that penetrated the flight deck on 19 March 1945, exploding on the hangar deck, igniting fuel and ordnance from the aircraft below decks.

USS Franklin (CV-13) main deck/exterior bomb damage diagram from bomb strike on 19 March 1945 off Honshu.

Bureau of Ships, USS Franklin (CV-13) War Loss/Damage Report No. 56, United States Navy.

Commander Joseph Steven Allen, then a Lieutenant, was a survivor of the attack on USS Franklin (CV-13).

Photo courtesy of Naval Helicopter Association.