Rescue of the U.S.S. Franklin by the U.S.S. Pittsburgh
--- by Glen W. Hicks
Former crew member
"H" Div.
U.S.S.Pittsburgh CA72
Today is 19 March and most of us had returned to our "Battle Stations" after having breakfast. It was a brisk, cool morning with a low cloud overcast. At 0535 Carriers launched their planes for a strike on Kyushu. All of a sudden a Jap plane dropped out of a low overcast and dropped two 500 lb. bombs on the Carrier U.S.S. Franklin which was a few hundred yards on our port sides. All hell broke loose, within seconds she was a raging inferno. The pilots were in their planes waiting their turns to take off and there were explosions everywhere, mixing gasoline and ammunition together. Only 45 aircraft got aloft safely out of 98 planes. the time of the attack was 0707 and I just happened to have a front row view of this holocaust.
The Pittsburgh. light cruiser Santa Fe and 4 destroyers were ordered to stand by Franklin. Many Bogies now reported in vicinity. 0840 Task Commander ordered U.S.S. Pittsburgh to proceed vicinity U.S.S. Franklin and render all possible aid. 0855 arrived vicinity of U.S.S. Franklin, many men in water. As we pulled up along the port side of the Franklin, she was still ablaze and still exploding. Fire was still coming out of the barrels of her 5-inch mounts, the heat was terrific. The cruiser Santa Fe and destroyer Hunt went along Franklin's port side to assist in fire fighting and disembark personnel. Pittsburgh lowered both motor whaleboats to pick up survivors. Being a Navy Corpsman, I was assigned to boat #2. We picked up 34 to 40 men and 1 body. Some men slipped beneath the waves before we could get to them. The men were burned and covered with oil, how sad. While we were rescuing the survivors, at 0904 a Jap "Judy" made a glide bombing attack, bomb missing starboard side of Franklin and hit near the Pittsburgh's fantail (stern) lifting the cruiser's aft section out of the water.
The Franklin is now dead in the water with about a 15 deg. list to starboard. At 1101 Pittsburgh started approach on portside of Franklin to take her in tow. Fires now almost under control. U.S.S. Hunt along starboard quarter assisting in firefighting. 1135 passed Manila line to U.S.S. Franklin. No power on deck or sufficient manpower to hauling towing wire. Line led to Santa Fe through fair leads who pulled wire aboard about 1235. 1250 Bogie reported 012 deg., 17 miles. 1334 U.S.S. Franklin hooked up ready for towing. 1354 started towing operations--ships at nearly right angles to each other-- towing shackle caught in bull nose preventing chain from coming out. Hauled out Franklin chain where it was secured by stoppers at 1402. 1436 opened fire at plane attacking Franklin, plane chased by fighters. 1500 gradually getting underway on U.S.S. Franklin. Have drifted since 0930 within 40 miles of Kyushu in the Bungo Straits. Was originally 50 miles away at the time of the attack. Speed through the water 5 knots. 1519 changed course to 180 deg. Ship yaws badly-- course being steered varies from 170 deg. - 215 deg. 2115 Destroyer Div. 106 and 96, U.S.S. Guam and U.S.S. Alaska (Battle Cruisers) joined group. Tow commenced yawing wildly tending to turn to port, pulling the U.S.S. Pittsburgh stern with it as much as 120 deg.. Course made good at 2300, speed 2 knots. Also at 2300 list corrected on Franklin and towing thereafter proceeded more satisfactorily, able to maintain a course about 150 deg. -- speed 4 knots. Also at 2300 survivor from U.S.S. Franklin died aboard from pneumonia.
20 March 1945: Towing Franklin on course 155 deg., speed 4 knots. Guam, Alaska, Santa Fe and Destroyer Div. 96, 106 and 110 in special screening disposition, guide in U.S.S. Pittsburgh. 0245 U.S.S. Franklin now making 2 knots on her engines, towing speed increased. 0830 changed course to 180 deg., 0930 Franklin gained steering control in Pilot House, now in column astern of Pittsburgh, 1116 Bogie bearing 32 miles. 1140 Franklin increased speed to 8 knots at 1150 increased speed to 12 knots and slowly to 15 knots. U.S.S. Franklin reports she is able to steam singly. 1218 slowed to cast off tow. 1233 cast off towline, having towed U.S.S. Franklin 120 miles. Guide now in Franklin in column 1500 yards astern of U.S.S. Pittsburgh. 1430 two Bogies in area. 1445 set condition#1, 1448 opened fire on diving plane attacking U.S.S. Franklin, bomb missed astern of U.S.S. Pittsburgh. Many Bogies reported on various bearings. 1622 (C.A.P.) Combat Air Patrol shot down 1 "Judy." 1730 set condition #1E. Continued retirement to southward toward area fueling and rendezvous. Night fighters supplied by T.G. 58.2. 2231 Set condition #1 in A.A. Battery, Bogies bearing 290 deg. 25 miles.
21 March 1945: Enroute to fueling rendezvous. Set condition #1 in A.A. Batteries a number of times this day due to Bogies (enemy aircraft), reported as close as 6 miles.
22 March 1945: 1406 U.S.S. Pittsburgh detached from T.G. 58.2 and ordered to proceed and report to C.O.M.T.G. 58.1. 1500 reported to C.O.M.T.G. 58.1 for duty. 1716 changed course to 290 deg. enroute launching position for strike against Okinawa.
NOTE:
The U.S.S. Franklin was the first seriously damaged major vessel to be successfully towed to safety from enemy waters by another major vessel under enemy air attack.
The casualties were heavy with 724 crew members killed and 262 injured.
The crew of the U.S.S. Franklin became the most decorated crew in U.S. Naval history. Everyone a true hero. 2 Medals of Honor, 19 Navy Crosses, 22 Silver Stars, 114 Bronze Stars, 234 Special Letters of Commendation.