 On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis, which had just delivered key components of the Hiroshima atomic bomb to the Pacific island of Tinian, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. Only 316 out of 1,196 men survived the sinking and shark-infested waters. | |
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Cruiser Sunk, 1,196 Casualties; Took Atom Bomb Cargo to GuamSpecial to The New York Times
Washington, Aug. 14--The American heavy cruiser Indianapolis was sunk by enemy action in the Philippine Sea with 1,196 casualties, every man aboard, the Navy announced today. The 9,950-ton ship left San Francisco on July 16 on a special high-speed run to deliver essential atomic bomb materials to Guam. The cargo was delivered. The cruiser was lost after having left Guam. The sinking, which took one of the Navy's heaviest tolls of lives since Pearl Harbor, was disclosed a few minutes before President Truman announced Japan's surrender. Casualties included five Navy dead, including one officer; 845 Navy missing, including sixty-three officers; 307 Navy wounded, including fifteen officers; thirty Marine missing, including two officers, and nine enlisted Marine wounded. Next of kin have been notified. The skipper, Capt. Charles B. McVay 3d, 47, of Washington, was wounded. The Navy Department also reported for the first time that in a previous action on March 31 the Indianapolis, flagship of the Fifth Fleet, was damaged by a suicide plane off Okinawa. She had been at the Mare Island, Calif., Navy Yard for repairs just before she left on her last mission. In that attack, Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, commander of the Fifth Fleet, was aboard but escaped injury. He had just completed a week of attacks on the Japanese home islands and was directing a pre-invasion bombardment of Okinawa beach defenses. A Kamikaze [suicide] pilot, emerging from a cloud 2,500 feet up just after dawn, power- dived for the flagship's bridge. Piercing 20-mm. anti-aircraft fire, the flier released his bomb about twenty-five feet above the deck and crashed his plane on the port side of the deck aft. The bomb went through the deck armor, ripped through a table around which several men were breakfasting, shot through the crew's living quarters and the fuel tanks and exploded in the water after having passed through the bottom of the ship. The concussion blew two holes in the cruiser's bottom. Nine men sleeping in a compartment were killed and several others in the mess hall injured. The ship, though crippled, remained watertight except for the damaged area. Leaving the formation, she headed for a home port and repairs. Admiral Spruance and his staff transferred to another ship. The Indianapolis, a 10,000-ton "treaty ship" authorized by the Congress in 1929, was commissioned in 1932 in Philadelphia. She had a colorful career before the war, having been host twice to President Roosevelt. Aboard the Indianapolis, former Secretary of the Navy Claude Swanson made his inspection tour of the Pacific in 1933. At the time of Pearl Harbor the Indianapolis was carrying out simulated bombardment of Johnston Island, 500 miles south of Hawaii. Her first combat was in the Battle of Bougainville. After that the ship followed the Pacific war into every area and traveled with fast carrier task forces that struck Tokyo. In only three or four other ship losses has the Navy in this war suffered more casualties than in the sinking of the Indianapolis. The Arizona, hit by the Japanese in the Pearl Harbor attack, which precipitated the war, was lost with more than 2,000 casualties, 1,104 of them dead. The carrier Franklin was seriously damaged off the Japanese coast last spring with 1,072 casualties-- Twin Blasts Consume Ship By Wireless to The New York Times Peleliu, Palau Islands, Aug. 5 (Delayed)--After a tremendous double explosion, believed caused by one or two torpedoes fired by an undetected Japanese submarine in a moonlit sea, the Indianapolis sank within fifteen minutes near Peleliu just past midnight July 30 [East Longitude date]. The 315 survivors were picked up 100 hours and more later after an unparalleled battle with the sea in which the only armor for most of the men were kapok lifejackets and courage. At least 200 lost the battle and drowned, some insane from exhaustion and the effects of sea water, sun and thirst. The remainder went down with the ship. The ship's commander, Captain McVay, son of a retired admiral, was saved by one of the rescue vessels summoned to the scene when a Navy plane on routine anti-submarine patrol happened to sight some of the men in the water three and a half days after the ship had gone down. Captain McVay was one of the fortunate few in a life raft; the vessel sank so rapidly that only six rafts were released in time. The Indianapolis was traveling without escort. This had been her frequent practice, and the men aboard were in the habit of saying to each other, three-fourths in jest, that "some day she was going to get it." And "Get it she did," a haggard survivor, his skin blotched with the great running scabs of "immersion ulcers," remarked grimly today. Planes, Ships Scour Area Once the rapidly dwindling parties of survivors were sighted kicking and waving frantically to attract attention in the glassy sea, every plane and every ship available in the vicinity was ordered immediately to the scene. The planes were loaded with rafts and other life-saving gear, medical kits, food and water, which they tumbled from their bomb bays. One seaplane landed on the water, which by then had become rough with heavy swells, and taxied among the men who had no rafts, picking up fifty-six. Some of these men were so badly burned, both by the explosion in the ship and by the sun, that when helped aboard the plane the seared flesh on their arms shredded away in their rescuers' hands. Besides injuries suffered aboard ship in the enormous blast, some of the men had pneumonia, some were afflicted with temporary blindness caused by the intolerable glare of sun on water, against which they had no protection until their eyelids were cemented together by gummy secretion. A great many of those not on rafts had hallucinations, in which they imagined they were drinking cool water or milk--hallucination Many men participated in a weird mass delusion that the hull of the Indianapolis and its cool drinking fountains were just beneath them under the water and slipped from their life jackets after having fought off clear-headed companions who tried forcibly to dissuade them, dived and were seen no more. Others, returning from solitary exploration of the empty sea, seriously reported mythical islands where hospitable Seabees or, frequently, beautiful native girls, poured tomato juice. At this dozens would swim off joyously to the never-never land--and not return. Contributing to the horrid torture of the thirst-maddened men in the water was the frequent sight--and this was not imaginary--of planes on search or transport missions. Although some of the aircraft passed close, the preoccupied pilots and crews did not notice the wildly gesticulating specks in that immensity of blue water. Once there were blinking lights, as if two ships were signaling each other. At these, and at a clearly visible night-flying planes on other occasions, the despairing swimmers flashed what lights they had, and Captain McVay in his raft fired Very rockets that lit the sky. But only the swollen red eyes of the men in the water saw. The Indianapolis had just completed a record run from Mare Island when she set out from Hawaii. Overdue 60 Hours By Wireless to The New York Times Guam, Aug. 14--It was learned today that a court of inquiry had been convened to investigate the loss of the Indianapolis which was sixty hours overdue at Leyte before rescued survivors revealed that the ship had been sunk. We Remember: 1940: Britain is to extend the naval blockade of ships which may be carrying supplies to Germany to take in virtually all ships crossing the North Atlantic. The Minister for Economic Warfare, Hugh Dalton, told the Commons today that the steps were necessary now that Germany controlled the European coast from the North Cape to the Pyrenees. Neutral countries will be granted "Navicerts" to cover domestic needs, but not for re-export. France and all French Africa are to be designated enemy territory. (Andy Etherington) Bombs fall for the first time on Merthyr Tydfil. Penetrating cloud and drizzle a Dornier at 06:04 released 15 HEs onto Norwich which causes considerable damage, killing 10 and injuring 16 residents. Additional to other cloud cover attacks over the east, south, Scotland and the Orkneys there was a follow-up anti-shipping foray off Suffolk. In the early evening there was a raid on Esher's balloon sites, where the ARP post was hit. Night operations included mining of Liverpool Bay - partly by Fw 200s - and mining of Barry Docks in Wales. At Monmouth 13 HEs fell, Heysham, Lancashire was another target. (Andy Etherington) RAF Fighter Command: 5 Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed, no RAF casualties. (Andy Etherington) Hitler tells Goering to have his forces ready to begin 'the great battle of the Luftwaffe against England' at 12 hours notice. (Andy Etherington) Wavell, from Mombasa, Kenya, replies to Churchill's request that the newly arrived South African Brigade be used in an offensive manner against the Italians. ...South African Brigade is only partially trained ... must also become acclimatised and learn anti-malaria precautions, etc. Conditions in East Africa necessitate crossing of 200 miles of almost roadless and waterless bush desert before offensive against Italian East Africa can be made. African native troops who have smaller requirements and are more accustomed to bush conditions are more suitable than white troops for forward role... As to use elsewhere, I understood when the brigade was offered that Smuts had given pledge in Union that South Africans would not be used north of the Equator... I am sure you will keep considerations of geography, climate, deserts, distances etc. (Andy Etherington) The US Philippine Department Commander, MG George Grunert, complains to the War Department that his ammunition reserves were only sufficient for "three or four days" of combat. Relayed to Marshall by Brigadier General George V. Strong, Chief of War Plans Division. (Marc Small) 1941: The US gunboat Tutiula is damaged by an attack by Japanese bombers in Chungking. The Japanese apology does nothing to ease strained relations between the US and Japan. US President Roosevelt today slapped an embargo on the export of aviation fuel from the United States. This action follows action 5 days earlier that effectively froze exports of scrap iron and oil. (John Nicholas and Andy Etherington) Aircraft from HMS Victorious and HMS Furious attack German shipping and installations near Kirkenes and Petsamo, Norway. Petsamo (today Petchenga in Russia) the territory was Finnish, but effectively controlled by Germans. The British attack came just after Finland had informed UK that the diplomatic ties will be 'interrupted' Russian and the Polish government in exile signed a treaty of friendship in London today. The first result of the treaty will be the formation of a Polsh army from prisoners of war held in Russia. General Sikorski, the exiled Polish Prime Minister, said after the signing that, while not all questions had been settled between Russia and Poland, the treaty provided a basis for useful collaboration. (Andy Etherington) From his HQ in Rastenburg, Hitler orders assaults towards Leningrad and the Caucasus rather than a frontal attack on Moscow. (Andy Etherington) Roosevelt's advisor Harry Hopkins, arrives in Moscow, to discuss ways to help the Soviet war effort. (Andy Etherington) Robert Murphy (former Governor-General and High Commissioner) proposes creation of a "National Defense Commission for the Far East" to meet in Singapore and to coordinate regional defense with Dutch and UK representatives. The proposal was ignored. (Marc Small) US Army Chief of Staff George Marshall informs the War Department Staff that it was now US policy to defend the Philippines but that European concerns took priority. (Marc Small) Submarine HMS Cachalot mistakes an Italian torpedo boat for a tanker in poor visibility. The Torpedo boat suddenly appears out of fog at 800 metres, and rams Cachalot holing Z tank, but not the pressure hull. The commander orders abandon ship and opens the main vents, and the submarine gently sinks bows first into 200 feet of water. The Italian torpedo boat commander lowers boats and ensures the safety of all the submarine crew except a Maltese steward who has disappeared, before he requests permission of the submarine commander to discontinue the search. There is just the single casualty. This sinking takes place off Benghazi at 32 49N 20 11E. (Alex Gordon) 1942: The Japanese occupy small islands between Timor and New Guinea in an effort to support their campaign against Port Moresby, New Guinea. German forces capture Bataisk on the Don River. Aleutian Islands: The US 11th Air Force dispatches 1 LB-30 and 3 B-24 Liberators and 9 B-17 Flying Fortresses to fly photo reconnaissance and bombing missions to Tanaga and Kiska Islands; the missions are unsuccessful due to weather. (Jack McKillop) The US submarine Grunion (SS-216), commanded by Mannert L. Abele, is lost to unknown causes, off Kiska. All hands are lost. (Joe Sauder) During the night of 30/31 July, the US Army, Middle East Air Force (USAMEAF) dispatches B-24s to bomb a convoy in Pylos Bay, Greece, claiming hits on 2 merchant ships, and B-17s to hit the harbor at Tobruk, Libya. (Jack McKillop) In the Solomon Islands, B-17s of the USAAF's 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy) begin arriving at Espiritu Santo Island from Hawaii where they are to constitute a reconnaissance and strike force over the Guadalcanal- The US Navy establishes the Women's Naval Reserve or Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). (Jack McKillop) After laying mines off New Orleans, Louisiana, on 27 July, the German submarine U-166 attacks convoy TAW 7 about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and sinks the US ship SS Robert E Lee. The ship, headed for New Orleans, Louisiana, had more than 400 passengers and crew onboard. Ten crewmembers and 15 passengers were killed, with the remainder rescued by US Navy ships PC-566, SC-519 and the tugboat Underwriter. (Jack McKillop and Tom Hickox) In the U.S., Frank Sinatra records the last of 90 recordings with Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra on Victor Records. His last recording is "There are Such Things", which becomes number one in January 1943. Sinatra moves on to Columbia Records as a solo singing sensation. The radio program, "Stage Door Canteen," makes its debut on CBS Radio. This 30-minute show is broadcast live from New York City where 500 servicemen are entertained each week by celebrities who freely donate their time for the war effort. The host, Bert Lytell, opened each show with the phrase "Curtain going up -- for victory!" and the show ended with the celebrities singing the National Anthem. The show remained on the air until 20 April 1945. (Jack McKillop) 1943: Near Santo Stefano and Troina, US forces are fighting heavily. British forces capture Catenanouva, Sicily. In the Aleutian Islands, the US destroyers USS Farragut (DD-348) and USS Hull (DD-35) bombard the Gertrude Cove and main camp areas of Kiska Island. The action is futile; all of the Japanese troops have been evacuated. (Jack McKillop) The US Eighth Air Force's VIII Air Support Command and VIII Bomber Command fly missions from England. B-26B Marauders of the VIII Air Support Command VIII fly Missions 10A and 10B against 2 airfields with the loss of 1 bomber. Woensdrecht Airfield, The Netherlands is bombed by 11 aircraft at 0657 hours; 1 B-26 is lost. In the second mission, 24 B-26Bs are dispatched to Wevelghem Airfield at Courtrai, France but the mission is recalled because the escorting fighters are fog bound on the ground. B-17s of the VIII Bomber Command fly Mission 80 in two forces against the aviation industry at Kassel, Germany. In the first force, 94 B-17s bomb the Bettenhausen Fieseler Works between 0910-0917 hours; 6 B-17s are lost. In second force 40 B-17s attack the Waldau Fieseler Works between 0925-0928 hours; 6 B-17s are lost. 107 P-47 Thunderbolts with auxiliary tanks escort these raids and they surprise the attacking Luftwaffe fighters over Bocholt, Germany as the enemy is not yet accustomed to fighter escort penetration beyond the coastal fringe. P-47 pilots claim 25 Luftwaffe aircraft shot down; 7 P-47s are lost. (Jack McKillop) In the Solomon Islands, the US Thirteenth Air Force dispatches 9 B-24s, with an escort of 16 P-38 Lightnings and P-40s and 46 US Marine F4U Corsairs, to bomb the airfield on Ballale Island. (Jack McKillop) The German submarine U-230 lays mines off the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay in the US. Meanwhile the German Navy loses six submarines: U-43 (Type IX) is sunk south-west of the Azores, in position 34.57N, 35.11W, by a Fido homing torpedo from a US Navy F4F Wildcats and TBF Avenger of Composite Squadron Twenty Nine (VC-29) in the escort aircraft carrier USS Santee (CVE-29). All hands on the U-boat (55 men) are lost. U-43 was supposed to rendezvous with U-403 and then go on and sow mines off Lagos, Nigeria. You can find a description of the FIDO torpedo at: http://uboat. U-375 (Type VIIC) is sunk in the western Mediterranean north-west of Malta, in position 36.40N, 12.28E, by depth charges from the US submarine chaser USS PC 624. All hands on the U-boat (46 men) are lost. U-461 (Type XIV) is sunk in the Bay of Biscay north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain at 45.33N, 10.48W, by a Royal Australian Air Force Sunderland Mk III of No. 461 Squadron based at Pembroke Dock, Wales. 15 of the 68 men on the U-boat survive. U-462 (Type XIV)is sunk by a Royal Air Force Halifax Mk II of No. 502 Squadron based at Holmsley South, Hampshire, England, and gunfire from the British sloops HMS Wren, HMS Kite, HMS Woodpecker, HMS Wild Goose and HMS Woodcock in the Bay of Biscay at 45.33N, 10.58W. 65 of the 65 crewman on the U-boat survive. U-504 (Type IXC) is sunk at 1543 hours in the North Atlantic north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 45.33N, 10.56W, by depth charges from the British Sloops HMS Kite, HMS Woodpecker, HMS Wren and HMS Wild Goose. All hands, 53 men, on the U-boat are lost. U-591 (Type VIIC) is sunk in the South Atlantic near Pernambuco, Brazil, in position 08.36S, 34.34W, by depth charges from a US Navy PV-1 Ventura of Bombing Squadron One Hundred Twenty Seven (VB-127) based at NAF Natal, Brazil. 28 of the 47 man crew survive. The 28 survivors, which included the U-boat captain, were picked by the gunboat USS Saucy (PG-65, ex HMS Arabis). (Jack McKillop) Amplifying the above: Amazing numbering coincidence. The Sunderland aircraft which sank U-461 had the individual code letter U and so using the style of the RAF was listed in Squadron records as U/461. Thus U/461 sank U-461. The 461 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force unit. The captain (pilot in command) of Sunderland U/461 was Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Dudley Marrows. The aircraft was based at the RAF flying-boat station Pembroke Dock. The attack also involved U-462 and U-504, with other aircraft including two Liberators, two Halifaxes, and a Catalina. Both those boats were eventually sunk by surface ships on the same day. (info as always from UBoat.net) (Alex Gordon - also added the Type Numbers to the above list from Jack) Adolf Hitler learns that Italy is buying time before negotiating surrender terms with the Allies in light of Mussolini's fall from power. When Mussolini was ousted from power and arrested by his own police, Hitler had gathered Goering, Goebbels, Himmler, Rommel, and the commander in chief of the German navy, Karl Doenitz, at his headquarters to reveal the plans of action he had already been formulating. Among them: (1) Operation Oak, in which Mussolini would be rescued from captivity; (2) the occupation of Rome by German forces and the reinstallation of Mussolini and his fascist government; (3) Operation Black, the German occupation of all Italy; and (4) Operation Axis, the destruction of the Italian fleet to prevent it from being commandeered for Allied use. Hitler's advisor urge caution because the Italian government had not formally surrendered. The Germans had received assurances from Mussolini's successor, General Badoglio, that Italy would continue to fight at Germany's side but today, Hitler receives a message from his security police chief in Zagreb that an Italian general had confided to a Croat general that Italy's assurances of loyalty to Germany were "designed merely to gain time for the conclusion of negotiations with the enemy." (Jack McKillop) The 47-minute short film "Report from the Aleutians" is released in the U.S. This official documentary, narrated by John Huston, describes the mission of US forces on an island of the Aleutians, from which US bombers are attacking the Japanese occupied island of Kiska. The movie includes footage of a bombing raid over Kiska with B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators. (Jack McKillop) 1944: Granville and Avranches fall to US forces in France. German forces including II Parachute Corps make a strong counterattack. The British advance near Caumont, France. Tinian Town falls to the US forces on Tinian. The southern half of Guam has been mostly cleared. With Admiral Berkey's TF 78 supporting, General Sibert's 6th Divison lands, unopposed, on the islands of Amsterdam and Middleburg off Cape Sansapor, New Guinea. The US Eighth Air Force in England flies two missions. In Mission 505, 237 P-47s and P-51 Mustangs fly sweeps of Evreux, St Quentin, Paris and Orleans, France claiming the destruction of 3 Luftwaffe aircraft in the air and 9 on the ground; 1 P-51 is lost. In Mission 506, 1 B-17 is dispatched on a night leaflet mission but is recalled. Also, 31 B-24s fly CARPETBAGGER missions. (Jack McKillop) In France, the US Ninth Air Force dispatches 450+ A-20 Havocs and B-26s to bomb defenses in the Chaumont area in support of the US First Army; fighters fly escort, cover the assault area and armored columns, and carry out armed reconnaissance in the Orleans-Paris area; and 200+ C-47 Skytrains fly supply and evacuation missions to the Continent (Jack McKillop) The US Fifteenth Air Force in Italy sends 300+ bombers to attack targets in Hungary and Yugoslavia: in Hungary, B-24s bomb Duna Airfield; B-17s bomb the aircraft factory at Budapest, and marshalling yards at Brod, Yugoslavia; P-38s and P-51s escort the missions. (Jack McKillop) In the Mariana Islands, US Seventh Air Force B-25s and P-47s from Saipan Island support US Marine ground troops on Tinian. (Jack McKillop) During Operation GLOBETROTTER, elements of the US Army's 6th Infantry Division are landed at Cape Opmari on the northwest coast of New Guinea and on Amsterdam and Middleburg Islands. Supporting the operation is the Navy's Task Force 77. (Jack McKillop) U-250 (Type VIIC) is sunk on this day at 19.40 hours, in the Baltic Sea in the Gulf of Finland, at position 60.28N, 28.25E, by depth charges from Russian sub chaser MO-103. 46 dead, 6 survivors. Raised in Sep 1944. From 12 April, 1945 to 20 Aug 1945 in the Russian Navy as TS-14. Later broken up. Further info from UBoat.net about this sinking: On 30 July, 1944 at 1242 hrs U-250 attacked the 56 ton Russian sub chaser MO 105 with a G7e torpedo , at the north side of the Koivisto-strait in the Gulf of Finland. The Russian boat was destroyed easily (19 dead, 7 survivors), but the noise of the explosion brought other Russian boats to the location. At 1910hrs, Russian 'Oberleutnant` Aleksander Kolenko, chief of MO 103 got a sonar contact on U-250 and dropped five depth charges. U-250 was not heavily damaged, but there were seen on the water an air-bubbles track and so MO 103 dropped a second series of five depth charges. One of these exploded over the diesel room and U-250 got a big hole in the hull and sank. KapitŠnleutnant Werner-Karl Schmidt along with five other crew-members in the control-room got themselves out at the last minute. Needless to say the Russians were thrilled to have a German U-boat captain alive and a sunken U-boat in shallow waters. Russian divers soon discovered that the boat lay at only 27 meter depth with only a slight listing of 14 degrees to the right and a large hole over the top of the diesel room. Two large air tanks, 200 tons each, were transported to the area and the Russians worked behind a smoke-curtain to raise the boat. The Germans and the Finnish did what they could to prevent the boat with the new secret T5 (Zaunkšnig) acoustic-torpedo falling into Soviet hands. Finnish coastal artillery and German torpedo boats made frequent attacks on the salvage site but to no avail. Finally in September 1944 the Russian raised U-250 and towed it between air tanks to Kronstadt for examination. On 15 Sept, 1944 U-250 came into the dry dock at Kronstadt. The former Commander Kptlt. Schmidt had to go first into the now dry boat, as the Russian believed some explosive charges might still be on the boat. The 6 survivors then spent some years in Russian captivity. (Alex Gordon) 1945: LOA KULU MASSACRE: After surrendering to overwhelming numbers of Japanese troops, around one hundred members of the Netherlands East Indies Army were disarmed and for a while permitted restricted freedom in the town of Samarinda , in Borneo, where most of the soldiers lived with their families. Early on the morning of July 30, all prisoners, including their families, were rounded up and taken before a Japanese officer who summarily sentenced them all to death. No reason was given as they were bundled into lorries and taken to Loa Kulu just outside the town. There they had their hands tied behind their backs and as the men and children watched, the women were systematically cut to pieces with swords and bayonets until they all died. The screaming children were then seized and hurled alive down a 600 foot deep mine shaft. The men captives, forced to kneel and witness the butchery of their wives and children, and suffering the most indescribable menta l torture, were then lined up for execution by beheading. When the grisly ritual was over, the bloodied corpses and severed heads of the 144 men were then thrown down the mine shaft on top of their murdered wives and children. The horror of Loa Kulu was discovered by Australian troops who had earlier started a search for the missing Dutch soldiers. (Denis Peck) The Japanese reject the Potsdam ultimatum. Nevertheless General of the Army George C Marshall, Chief of Staff, US Army, directs General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Commanding General US Army Forces in the Pacific, Lieutenant General Albert C Wedemeyer, Commanding General, US Forces in the China Theater, and Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander-in- In the Kurile Islands, 8 US Eleventh Air Force B-24s based in the Aleutians are dispatched to bomb targets in the Kuriles but are recalled because of weather disturbances. (Jack McKillop) Over Japan: 60+ B-25s and A-26 Invaders of the US Far East Air Force bomb Omura Airfield and 4 of the planes hit airfield at Izumi; P-47s support the strike and also hit numerous nearby targets of opportunity; B-25s, failing to find targets on a shipping sweep over Korean waters, bomb shipping, a railroad, and a warehouse in the Sendai area and covering P-51s also hit nearby targets of opportunity; 80+ P-47s bomb Sendai, leaving much of the town in flames; P-51s on photo reconnaissance of southern Kyushu destroy trains and small craft; and nearly 80 P-47s attack the Miyazaki, Karasehara, and Tomitaka areas, firing warehouses and damaging barracks, hangars, towers, and other buildings, and blast buildings and construction on and near Shibushi Airfield. US Twentieth Air Force P-51s based on Iwo Jima attack airfields, railroads, and other tactical targets throughout the Kobe-Osaka area. American and British carrier-based aircraft attack airfields and industrial targets in central Honshu and Maizuru Bay. US Navy Task Unit 34.8.1 consisting of 3 battleships, 4 heavy cruisers and 10 destroyers complete the bombardment of targets at Hamamatsu on Honshu. The Royal Navy battleship HMS King George V and 3 destroyers also participate in this operation. (Jack McKillop) During the night the USS Indianapolis will be torpedoed by I-58. The loss will not be discovered until she is 3 days late. Many of the 316 survivors that are rescued will not be found for several more days. Amplifing the above: The US heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35) by Japanese submarine HIJMS I-58 northeast of Leyte at 12.02N, 134.48E. After delivering parts of the atomic bomb to Tinian, USS Indianapolis was dispatched to Guam where she disembarked men and reported for onward routine to Leyte. From there she was to report to Vice Admiral Jesse B Oldendorf for further duty off Okinawa. Departing Guam 28 July, USS Indianapolis proceeded by a direct route unescorted. Early in the morning, 0015 hours, 2 heavy explosions occurred against her starboard side forward, and she capsized and sank in 12 minutes. The ship had been hit by two torpedoes. The seas had been moderate; the visibility, good, USS Indianapolis had been steaming at 17 knots. When the ship did not reach Leyte on the 31 July, as scheduled, no report was made that she was overdue. This omission was due to a misunderstanding of the Movement Report System. Thus it was not until 1025 hours on 2 August that the survivors were sighted, mostly held afloat by life jackets, although there were a few rafts which had been cut loose before the ship went down. They were sighted by a plane on routine patrol; the pilot immediately dropped a life raft and a radio transmitter. All air and surface units capable of rescue operations were dispatched to the scene at once, and the surrounding waters were thoroughly searched for survivors. http://www.ussindia (Jack McKillop) |
Sunday, August 1, 2010
WE REMEMBER JULY 30th
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