Comments on: USS Franklin: Struck by a Japanese Dive Bomber During World War II http://www.historynet.com/uss-franklin-struck-by-a-japanese-dive-bomber-during-world-war-ii.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Sat, 18 May 2013 21:56:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Eugene Dennen http://www.historynet.com/uss-franklin-struck-by-a-japanese-dive-bomber-during-world-war-ii.htm#comment-1076874 Eugene Dennen Sat, 27 Apr 2013 20:39:20 +0000 #comment-1076874 I was on the Franklin and rescued from the Sea of Japan. I don't remember the name of the ship that rescued me. Thank you for any information. I was a gunner. I remember releasing life savers and that there wasn't any water to fight the fire. I was on the Franklin and rescued from the Sea of Japan. I don't remember the name of the ship that rescued me. Thank you for any information. I was a gunner. I remember releasing life savers and that there wasn't any water to fight the fire.

]]> By: Daurice Williams Malina http://www.historynet.com/uss-franklin-struck-by-a-japanese-dive-bomber-during-world-war-ii.htm#comment-1030397 Daurice Williams Malina Sun, 14 Apr 2013 18:56:01 +0000 #comment-1030397 My uncle, Corporal Windell Williams, a marine from Temple, Texas, died on March 19, 1945 on the Franklin. I was six years old and and remember the telegram telling of Windell's death being delivered to my grandparents. I have the telegram in my possession now. My uncle, Corporal Windell Williams, a marine from
Temple, Texas, died on March 19, 1945 on the
Franklin. I was six years old and and remember
the telegram telling of Windell's death being delivered to my grandparents. I have the telegram in my possession now.

]]> By: Brooks Rowlett http://www.historynet.com/uss-franklin-struck-by-a-japanese-dive-bomber-during-world-war-ii.htm#comment-997785 Brooks Rowlett Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:11:44 +0000 #comment-997785 One of the puzzles about FRANKLIN is what REALLY attacked the ship. This story gives the version that a D4Y Judy attacked her and dropped two 500 lb (they would really have been 200kg or 550 pound) bombs. The problem is that they Judy couldn't carry two such weapons as there was only one centerline suspension point for a bomb (even though it could carry more weight, there was only one set of hooks). The wing pylons coudn't carry 200 kg. So it seems that if FRANKLIN was really hit by two bombs, they couldn't have been dropped by a Judy. Other versions suggested a D3A2 Val, a B6N Jill torpedo bomber, or something else. There are two other possibilities. A recent book on the FRANKLIN claims that it was actually only one bomb. The other possibility is that the attacking aircraft was an Aichi B7A "Grace", a somewhat obscure late-war Japanese aircraft, and the only single-engine aircraft that could actually carry two 200kg bombs in an internal bomb bay. This is supported by Admiral Matome Ugaki's diary which mentions a strike by a squadron of the "Grace" aircraft on the day of the attack. If so it would be the only known successful attack by a B7A., of which only 124 (including prototypes) were built. One of the puzzles about FRANKLIN is what REALLY attacked the ship. This story gives the version that a D4Y Judy attacked her and dropped two 500 lb (they would really have been 200kg or 550 pound) bombs. The problem is that they Judy couldn't carry two such weapons as there was only one centerline suspension point for a bomb (even though it could carry more weight, there was only one set of hooks). The wing pylons coudn't carry 200 kg. So it seems that if FRANKLIN was really hit by two bombs, they couldn't have been dropped by a Judy. Other versions suggested a D3A2 Val, a B6N Jill torpedo bomber, or something else. There are two other possibilities. A recent book on the FRANKLIN claims that it was actually only one bomb. The other possibility is that the attacking aircraft was an Aichi B7A "Grace", a somewhat obscure late-war Japanese aircraft, and the only single-engine aircraft that could actually carry two 200kg bombs in an internal bomb bay. This is supported by Admiral Matome Ugaki's diary which mentions a strike by a squadron of the "Grace" aircraft on the day of the attack. If so it would be the only known successful attack by a B7A., of which only 124 (including prototypes) were built.

]]> By: Steve Scott http://www.historynet.com/uss-franklin-struck-by-a-japanese-dive-bomber-during-world-war-ii.htm#comment-905611 Steve Scott Mon, 25 Feb 2013 01:22:43 +0000 #comment-905611 My dad MMCS 1944-1966.USS constellation CVA 64 Gulf of tonkin 1965-66.My dad had a Division officer who should have been murdered fragged) along with the suicidal idiot named Gehres. From what I have learned on this day the C.O of USS Franklin caused all this harm and then had the gall to point the finger at others.I was in the Navy from 1974 -1980 HT2 and we called men like this \zero's\ not a good term.god bless the courageous men who lost their lives because of this Jap spy.I mostly have good memories of my service during the cold war taking care of SSBN's but I hate officers like these.i think it is a sailors duty to kill people like this if the opportunity arises.Obviously I find this story enraging.God bless the US Navy forever!.Hooyah!. My dad MMCS 1944-1966.USS constellation CVA 64 Gulf of tonkin 1965-66.My dad had a Division officer who should have been murdered fragged) along with the suicidal idiot named Gehres. From what I have learned on this day the C.O of USS Franklin caused all this harm and then had the gall to point the finger at others.I was in the Navy from 1974 -1980 HT2 and we called men like this \zero's\ not a good term.god bless the courageous men who lost their lives because of this Jap spy.I mostly have good memories of my service during the cold war taking care of SSBN's but I hate officers like these.i think it is a sailors duty to kill people like this if the opportunity arises.Obviously I find this story enraging.God bless the US Navy forever!.Hooyah!.

]]> By: Steve Kirk http://www.historynet.com/uss-franklin-struck-by-a-japanese-dive-bomber-during-world-war-ii.htm#comment-888443 Steve Kirk Sun, 17 Feb 2013 02:57:15 +0000 #comment-888443 My Grandmother' brother was killed on Big Ben. His name was Kenneth Hanson. Her husband, my grandfather, served on LST 225 which saw action at Tinian, Solomon Islands, and Saipan. My Grandmother' brother was killed on Big Ben. His name was Kenneth Hanson. Her husband, my grandfather, served on LST 225 which saw action at Tinian, Solomon Islands, and Saipan.

]]> By: Jim Martin http://www.historynet.com/uss-franklin-struck-by-a-japanese-dive-bomber-during-world-war-ii.htm#comment-824597 Jim Martin Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:47:19 +0000 #comment-824597 My uncle, Raymond "Mickey" Belmore from Marlboro Mass was aboard when she was hit. He was an enlistee at age 34 when the war boke out. Never spoke of it except to say he was one of the oldest guys on that ship and never got a scratch. This hero lived until he was 80. HooRah the greatest generation, JJM US Navy enlisted My uncle, Raymond "Mickey" Belmore from Marlboro Mass was aboard when she was hit. He was an enlistee at age 34 when the war boke out. Never spoke of it except to say he was one of the oldest guys on that ship and never got a scratch. This hero lived until he was 80. HooRah the greatest generation,

JJM US Navy enlisted

]]> By: Jeff http://www.historynet.com/uss-franklin-struck-by-a-japanese-dive-bomber-during-world-war-ii.htm#comment-824274 Jeff Tue, 13 Nov 2012 02:35:12 +0000 #comment-824274 Its veterans day 2012 Met a man today at Foxwoods casino where I work He was wearing a USS Franklin hat and told me he was 91 and had been a gunners mate I thanked him for his service and he told me We lost a lot of men Looked up the Franklin We can not thank them enough Its veterans day 2012
Met a man today at Foxwoods casino where I work
He was wearing a USS Franklin hat and told me he was 91 and had been a gunners mate I thanked him for his service and he told me
We lost a lot of men
Looked up the Franklin
We can not thank them enough

]]> By: Gary graham http://www.historynet.com/uss-franklin-struck-by-a-japanese-dive-bomber-during-world-war-ii.htm#comment-819052 Gary graham Sun, 30 Sep 2012 01:14:43 +0000 #comment-819052 My dad was Charlie J. Graham. He was a gunners mate on the Franklin. He never spoke about that day either until one day when I was 18 he called me in to watch a documentary on the Franklin. Told me that he was there at that time and told me how he saw his best friend fall into one of the elevator shafts. If he had of gone and been in the mess line instead of taking a smoke on the deck he wouldn't be here today. He was blown off the ship and severely burned. Received the Purple Heart. Was in the VA hospital for a year. He never talked about it again. Any information on how to get a roster would be appreciated. My dad was Charlie J. Graham. He was a gunners mate on the Franklin. He never spoke about that day either until one day when I was 18 he called me in to watch a documentary on the Franklin. Told me that he was there at that time and told me how he saw his best friend fall into one of the elevator shafts. If he had of gone and been in the mess line instead of taking a smoke on the deck he wouldn't be here today. He was blown off the ship and severely burned. Received the Purple Heart. Was in the VA hospital for a year. He never talked about it again. Any information on how to get a roster would be appreciated.

]]> By: Wesley Cottle http://www.historynet.com/uss-franklin-struck-by-a-japanese-dive-bomber-during-world-war-ii.htm#comment-814816 Wesley Cottle Sat, 04 Aug 2012 18:57:54 +0000 #comment-814816 My father was a Marine, assigned to The Franklin, he survived, was cast overboard. He never spoke much of the war. My father was a Marine, assigned to The Franklin, he survived, was cast overboard. He never spoke much of the war.

]]> By: Maya Elashi (aka Kathryn Butler) http://www.historynet.com/uss-franklin-struck-by-a-japanese-dive-bomber-during-world-war-ii.htm#comment-812546 Maya Elashi (aka Kathryn Butler) Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:03:08 +0000 #comment-812546 My mother's twin brother---A.A. Poat, Jr. from Berkeley, CA---was killed on the Ben Franklin on March 19, 1945. Is anyone out there who remembers him? If so, please contact me. My mother's twin brother—A.A. Poat, Jr. from Berkeley, CA—was killed on the Ben Franklin on March 19, 1945.
Is anyone out there who remembers him? If so, please contact me.

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