Flight Deck of USS Yorktown After Being Hit by the Japanese

Image size: 3000 x 2107 pixel. 1.1 MB
Date: Thursday, 4 June 1942
Place: Pacific Ocean
Photographer: unknown

Looking forward on the flight deck of USS Yorktown (CV-5) shortly after she was hit by two Japanese aerial torpedoes, 4 June 1942. Men are preparing to abandon ship. Island's port side is at right, with the curved supporting structure for the Primary Flight Control booth at top. Knotted lines in the foreground were apparently used to evacuate the island's upper platforms. The planes which scored torpedo hits were shot down either in passing the Yorktown or in attempting to pass through the fire of her escorting vessels. Not one of the attacking squadron returned to its carrier. By 1447 firing ceased. The Yorktown, listing heavily to port, was losing speed and turning in a small circle to port. She stopped and white smoke poured from her stacks. The screening vessels began to circle. Inside the Yorktown all lights had gone out. The Diesel generators were cut in, but the circuit breakers would not hold and the ship remained in darkness. The list gradually increased to 26 Degrees. Without power nothing could be done to correct it. The Commanding Officer and the Damage Control Officer thought it probable that the ship would capsize in a few minutes, and at 1455 orders were given to abandon ship. Inside, men clambered over steeply sloping decks in total darkness to remove the wounded. After an inspection on which no living personnel were found, the Commanding Officer left the ship. Destroyers closed in to pick up survivors.


Source :
United States Naval Historical C
https://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii1301

A-20G Havoc Attacks Japanese Taiei Maru Ship

Image size: 1600 x 1344 pixel. 473 KB
Date: Sunday, 19 March 1944
Place: Wewak, Papua New Guinea
Photographer: unknown

Douglas A-20G-30-DO Havoc "Tobias the Terrible" serial number 43-9477 of the 89th Bomb Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group, 5th Air Force, pulls out after skip bombing Taiei Maru off Wewak. Pilot Lieutenant John Soloc's engine was shot out as he came around to attack; losing power, he elected to continue the attack. As he delivered his bomb amidships, his wingtip and propeller struck the ship's mast. The hydraulics were shot out and the bomb bay doors could not be closed. Unable to gain altitude or speed, the A-20 crashed a few miles away. Soloc survived; his gunner, John L. Bradley, went down with the plane. After seventeen hours in the water, he was spotted by Lieutenant John P. "Jock" Henebry of the 90th Bomb Squadron. A US Navy Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina flying boat picked him up. Soloc was given a week's leave and returned to combat; he flew 61 missions by the end of the war. Taiei Maru, a 3,221 ton freighter operated by the Kuribayashi Shosen Kisen Kaisha (Kuribayashi Competitive Steamship Lines) was part of Wewak convoy Number 21 with Yakumo Maru and auxiliary subchasers Cha-47 and Cha-49. Two Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the 63rd Bomb Squadron, 43rd Bomb Group, 5th Air Force sank Yakumo Maru at 0230 Hours by radar; after sunrise nine A-20Gs of the 89th, with over 70 other Allied aircraft, attacked the convoy. An intercepted message from Imperial Japanese Army General Headquarters on March 28 reported all four ships sunk and notified 8th Area Army on Wewak that their supply convoys were suspended indefinitely because of Allied aerial supremacy. Wewak fell to the Australians on May 10, 1945.


Source :
https://sofrep.com/news/battle-of-the-bismarck-sea-skip-bombing-headhunters-and-swimming-lessons/
https://worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii1562
https://www.yokota.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1913795/100-years-of-3rd-wing-service/

Robert Rowan Explodes Off the Coast of Gela

Image size: 1600 x 1082 pixel. 803 KB
Date: Sunday, 11 July 1943
Place: Gela, Sicily, Italy
Photographer: Unknown

During the Allied invasion of Sicily, the Liberty ship Robert Rowan (K-40) explodes after being hit by a German Ju 88 bomber off of Gela, Sicily (Italy), on 11 July 1943. Robert Rowan was built at the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company, Wilmington, North Carolina (USA). She was laid down on 3 March 1943, launched 6 April, and delivered to the Isthmain Steamship Company on 13 April. Her maiden voyage started on 14 May 1943 at Hampton Roads, Virginia (USA) to Oran (Algeria) as part of convoy UGS-8A. She was sent on to Gela, Sicily (Italy) to support the invasion of Sicily ("Operation Husky"). She arrived at Gela 11 July 1943 with a cargo of ammunition and 334 soldiers of the 18th Infantry. She also carried 14 U.S. Navy personnel, 32 U.S. Navy armed guards, and 41 crewmen. Just before 14:00 hrs German Junkers Ju 88 bombers appeared overhead and attacked the ships in the bay. During the attack the Rowan was hit by three 500 kg bombs. One bomb passed through the ship, but the other two exploded in the holds. Because of the nature of the cargo the ship was abandoned without any attempt to put the fire out. All 421 men on board safely evacuated the ship and were picked up by PT boats and transferred to nearby destroyers. Within twenty minutes the fire reached her munitions with a tremendous explosion tearing the ship in half. The burning ship came to rest on an even keel and burned for two days. The destroyer USS McLanahan (DD-615) tried to sink the ship because the fires lit up the area during the night, but this failed as the water was too shallow. The hulk lay in the waters off Gela until 1948 when it was sold and scrapped.

Source:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SC180476.jpg

USS Yorktown After Bomb Hits in the Battle of Midway

Image size: 1600 x 1283 pixel. 249 KB
Date: Thursday, 4 June 1942
Place: Midway, Oceania
Photographer: Unknown

Fires are burning in USS Yorktown's (CV-5) uptakes. USS Portland (CA-35) stands by. With her boiler rooms out of action through the effects of the bomb hit in her uptakes, Yorktown coasted to a stop, while her escorts circled around her. Her crewmen fought fires in her smokestack and elsewhere, patched holes in her uptakes and flight deck, treated casualties and stayed alert for another possible enemy attack. The crew of one boiler room heroically worked amid heat and smoke to keep the ship's auxiliary systems operating. To maintain his mobility, Task Force 17 commander Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher shifted his flag to USS Astoria. Ships were sent from the nearby Task Force 16 to reinforce those clustered around the stricken carrier. Meanwhile, Yorktown aircraft returning from attacks on the Japanese carrier Soryu were diverted to USS Enterprise. Some, however, were too short of fuel to fly on, and ditched nearby. As damage control parties made progress, flight deck crews respotted several fighters aft to takeoff position and the engineering force began to bring other boilers back into service. After nearly two hours' hard work by all hands, Yorktown was underway again, though only capable of about twenty knots speed. To the west, as yet undetected, Japanese torpedo planes from IJN Hiryu were approaching. The Japanese aircraft penetrated heavy air and gunfire opposition to hit Yorktown with two torpedoes, opening a huge hole on her midships port side. The stricken ship again went dead in the water and took on a severe list. Concerned that she was about to roll over, her Captain ordered his crew to abandon ship. After a further torpedo hit by IJN I-168, Yorktown rolled over on her port side and sank by the stern on the morning of June 7. 

Source:

http://einestages.spiegel.de/static/entry/seeschlacht_um_die_vogelinseln/100012/angriff_auf_die_uss_yorktown.html?o=position-ASCENDING&s=0&r=48&a=24923&of=14&c=1

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1137

Nakajima B5N2 Passes USS Northampton (CA-26)

Image size: 1600 x 1260 pixel. 324 KB
Date: Monday, 26 October 1942
Place: Solomon Islands, Pacific Ocean
Photographer: Unknown

Battle of Santa Cruz, October 26, 1942. Nakajima B5N2 Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber (Allied code name "Kate") carrying Type 91 17.7 inch (45 centimeter) torpedo heads for USS Hornet (CV-8). USS Northampton (CA-26) is behind the Kate. That morning USS Enterprise (CV-6) planes bombed carrier Zuiho. Planes from Hornet severely damaged carrier Shokaku, and cruiser Chikuma. Two other cruisers were aleo attacked by Hornet aircraft. Meanwhile, Hornet, herself, was fighting off a coordinated dive bombing and torpedo plane attack which left her so severely damaged that she had to be abandoned. Survivors were soon picked up by destroyers. Northampton tried several times to tow the stricken carrier to safety. The abandoned Hornet, ablaze from stem 'to stern, refused to accept her intended fate from friends. She still floated after receiving nine torpedoes and more than 400 rounds of 5-inch shellflre from destroyers USS Anderson (DD-411) and USS Mustin (DD-413). After attempting to tow her as well, Japanese destroyers also tried to sink her by firing four 24-inch torpedoes at her blazing hull. At 0135 Hours, October 27, 1942, she finally sank off the Santa Cruz Islands. Her name was struck from the Navy List January 13, 1943. 

Source:

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1132

USS Columbia (CL-56) Hit by Kamikaze Attack

Image size: 1600 x 1220 pixel. 498 KB
Date: Saturday, 6 January 1945
Place: Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippines
Photographer: Unknown

Before and after views of USS Columbia (CL-56) hit by a Japanese A6M Zero-Sen Kamikaze aircraft diving on the ship at 1729 Hours on January 6, 1945, during the Lingayen Gulf operation. Columbia was first crashed close aboard by one of the kamikaze planes, then was struck on her port quarter by a second. The plane and its bomb penetrated two decks before exploding with tremendously damaging effect, killing thirteen and wounding 44 of the crew, putting her after turrets out of action, and setting the ship afire. Prompt flooding of two magazines prevented further explosions, and damage control measures enabled Columbia to complete her bombardment with her two operative turrets, and remain in action to give close support to underwater demolition teams. On the morning of the landings, January 9, as Columbia lay close inshore and surrounded by landing craft unable to maneuver, she was again crashed by a kamikaze. Knocking out six gun directors and a gun mount. Twenty-four men were killed and 97 wounded. Drastically shorthanded as she was, Columbia again put out fires, repaired damage, and continued her bombardment and fire support. Columbia sailed for Leyte that night, guarding a group of unloaded transports, and made emergency repairs. Her crew's accomplishments in saving their ship and carrying out their mission without interruption were recognized with the Navy Unit Commendation for this operation. The cruiser was under repair in the United States and in transit until June 16, 1945, when she arrived in the Western Pacific to participate in the operations to liberate Borneo. 

Source:

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1114

USS West Virginia (BB-48) Shoots Down a Japanese Kamikaze Plane

Image size: 1600 x 1024 pixel. 375 KB
Date: Tuesday, 27 March 1945
Place: Okinawa, East China Sea, Japan
Photographer: Unknown

Joining Task Force 64 for the invasion of the Okinawa Gunto area on March 25, 1945, USS West Virginia (BB-48) was assigned to fire support section one. West Virginia spent the ensuing days softening up Okinawa for the forthcoming American landings. At 1029 Hours on March 26, lookouts reported a gun flash from shore, followed by a splash in the water some 6,000 yards off the port bow. Firing her first salvoes of the operation, West Virginia let fly 28 rounds of 16- inch gunfire against the pugnacious Japanese batteries. The following day, the "Wee Vee," as her crew called her, fought against enemy air opposition, taking a Yokosuka P1Y Ginga (Galaxy) "Frances" bomber under fire at 0520. The twin-engined bomber crashed off the battleship's port quarter, the victim of West Virginia's anti-aircraft guns. Over the days that followed, enemy suicide attacks by Japanese planes continued. From the American landing on April 1 to May 25, seven major kamikaze attacks had been attempted, involving more than 1,500 planes. Almost a score of American ships were sunk, and twenty-five others damaged. The total strength of the Allied fleet at Okinawa was 1300 ships, including 40 carriers, 18 battleships, and 200 destroyers. The U.S. Navy sustained greater casualties in this operation than in any other battle of the war!

Source:

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1110

USS Yorktown (CV-5) Lists After Two Torpedoes

Image size: 1600 x 1472 pixel. 614 KB
Date: Thursday, 4 June 1942
Place: Midway, Oceania
Photographer: Unknown

After the 4 June mid-morning U.S. Navy attacks on the Japanese carrier force, only the Hiryu remained operational. Shortly before 1100 she launched eighteen dive bombers, escorted by six fighters, to strike a retaliatory blow. At about noon, as these planes approached USS Yorktown (CV-5), the most exposed of the three American aircraft carriers, they were intercepted by the U.S. combat air patrol, which shot down most of the bombers. Seven, however, survived to attack, hitting Yorktown with three bombs and stopping her. While Yorktown's crew worked to repair damage and get their ship underway, a second force left Hiryu, this one consisting of ten torpedo planes and six fighters. Though the U.S. carrier was moving again by 1430, and even launched more fighters, the Japanese aircraft penetrated heavy air and gunfire opposition to hit Yorktown with two torpedoes, opening a huge hole on her midships port side. The stricken ship again went dead in the water and took on a severe list. Concerned that she was about to roll over, her Captain ordered his crew to abandon ship. On 6 June 1942 the Japanese submarine I-168 scored another two torpedo hits on the crippled aircraft carrier and she sank on 7 June. Destroyers spent an entire day seeking out the Japanese submarine that sunk the Yorktown and her escort destroyer, USS Hammann (DD-412), but failed to sink I-168. The submarine was finally sunk by the USS Scamp (SS-277) on 27 July 1943.

Source:
U.S. Navy photo 80-G-17062; National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 2003.001.223
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sinking_of_the_USS_Yorktown_%28CV-5%29_02.jpg
http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1020

Defendants in the Beer Hall Putsch trial

Image size: 1600 x 1075 pixel. 369 KB
Date: Tuesday, 1 April 1924
Place: München, Bayern/Bavaria, Germany
Photographer: Heinrich Hoffmann

The participants of the ill-fated Nazi Münich Putsch (better known as Beer Hall Putsch) posed together for the camera as defendants during the Ludendorff-Hitler trial – April 1, 1924. From left to right: Oberleutnant Heinz Pernet (5 September 1896 - 30 June 1973), Dr. Friedrich Weber (30 January 1892 - 19 July 1955), Dr. Wilhelm Frick (12 March 1877 – 16 October 1946), Oberstleutnant Hermann Kriebel (20 January 1876 - 16 February 1941), General der Infanterie a.D. Erich Ludendorff (9 April 1865 - 20 December 1937), Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 - 30 April 1945), Oberleutnant der Reserve Wilhelm Brückner (11 December 1884 - 18 August 1954), Ernst Röhm (28 November 1887 – 2 July 1934), and Robert Wagner (13 October 1895 - 14 August 1946). Note that only two of the defendants (Hitler and Frick) were dressed in civilian clothing. Also, Kriebel and Ludendorff wearing pickelhaube (spiked German helmet). BTW, Pernet was Erich Ludendorff's stepson. The Beer Hall Putsch was a failed attempt at revolution that occurred between the evening of 8 November and the early afternoon of 9 November 1923, when Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler, Generalquartiermeister Erich Ludendorff, and other heads of the Kampfbund unsuccessfully attempted to seize power in Münich.

Source:

Bundesarchiv Bild 102-00344A

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Hall_Putsch

Japanese Bomb Impacts USS Enterprise (CV-6) During Battle of the Eastern Solomons

Image size: 1600 x 1275 pixel. 665 KB
Date: Monday, 24 August 1942
Place: Eastern Solomons, Solomon Islands
Photographer: Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Marion Riley

A Japanese bomb exploding on the flight deck of USS Enterprise (CV-6), just aft of the island, on 24 August 1942. According to the original photo caption, this explosion killed the photographer, Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Robert F. Read. However, Morison's "History of U.S. Naval Operations in World War II" (volume 5, page 97) states that Read was killed by the bomb that had earlier hit the after starboard 5"/38 gun gallery, which can be seen burning in the upper left. Morison further states that the bomb seen here exploded with a low order detonation, inflicting only minor damage. One of the most famous images of the Pacific War - a bomb caught at the instant it exploded on the Big E's flight deck during the Eastern Solomons battle - has long been attributed to Photographer's Mate Second Class Robert Frederic Read. Read lost his life during the battle of 24 August 1942 and it is widely believed that his final photo was of the bomb that killed him. While outwardly plausible, the story contradicts the historical record. Enterprise's action report for 24 August 1942 indicates that four photographers were in action during the afternoon attack. Ralph Baker (PhoM 1/c) and Read both operated still cameras: Baker from a point forward of the island, Read from the aft starboard 5" gun gallery, at flight deck level. Marion Riley (PhoM 2/c) manned a motion picture camera from the aft end of the ship's island, above the flight deck. W. Edward Smith (PhoM 2/c) was stationed in the Air Plot, also in the ship's island. Read, the action report states, photographed the enemy planes as they attacked and were shot down. The first bomb to strike the ship did not deter him, but the second bomb destroyed the gun platform were Read was stationed. Read was killed instantly by this bomb, along with 37 other men. The bomb exploding in the photo was the third to hit the ship, and was photographed from above the flight deck. Torpedo Ten photographer Joe Houston recently contacted both Smith and Riley's son, Marion Riley III. Ed Smith indicated, and Mr. Riley confirmed, that the photo is Marion Riley's. Riley's camera was damaged by the explosion, but the film survived. A dramatic sequence of stills from the film was published in Life Magazine months after the battle. Read's legacy is not diminished by this revelation. It appears that at least one of Read's photos survives to this day: that of an enemy plane burning on the sea while the Big E races by just yards away. The ship's rail, the curve of the hull, and the angle of the shot all indicate this photo was taken from the aft starboard quarter of the ship, where Read was stationed. More of Read's photos probably languish in the archives, waiting only for proper identification. 

Source:

Official U.S. Navy Photograph 80-G-17489, now in the collections of the National Archives

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-e/cv6-a.htm

http://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery3/index.php/wwii1042

The Sinking of U-31 off Wilhelmshaven

Image size: 1600 x 958 pixel. 445 KB
Date: Monday, 11 March 1940
Place: Jadebusen, Off Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Photographer: Unknown

The sinking of the Type VII A boat U-31 by a British Bristol Blenheim bomber off Wilhelmshaven on 11 March 1940. This photo taken from the No.82 Squadron Blenheim as it flew over the submarine. It shows U-31 immediately before the impact of the bombs. All 58 of her crew were lost including the captain, Kapitänleutnant Johannes Habekost (born 3 February 1907). She was raised in March 1940, repaired and returned to service. Sunk again on November 2, 1940 NW of Ireland by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Antelope. 2 dead and 44 survivors. Previously this boat, under the command of Kptlt. Johannes Habekost, making history after she attacked the first convoy in the war on 16 September 1939 and sank the British steamer Aviemore, part of convoy OB-4. Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-31 did not suffer any casualties until the time of her loss

Source:

Walter Storbeck photo collection

"U-Boot im Focus" magazine, edition No.2 - 2007, page 2