14 MARCH 1945 USS FRANKLIN SAILS TOWARD DESTINY
This is the first in a series of posts covering the period 14 March 1945 to 24 March 1945. They will cover the period from when she left Ulithi Atoll on 14 March until she returned there on 24 March.
At this point in World War II, the Japanese were reeling from the Allied onslaught. But resistance was stiffening, not collapsing and Japan’s leaders were unwilling to surrender.
FRANKLIN was part of Task Force 58, commanded by Admiral Marc Mitscher. Their mission was to eliminate any Japanese threats, air and naval, that would oppose the invasion of Okinawa, set for 1 April.
Captain At The Conn
Her deck log stated:
Anchored as before. 0400 set all ships clocked back one hour to zone minus 9 time. 0415 completed pumping aviation gasoline having received 65,600 gallons. 0445 lighted fires under boilers numbers 1 and 8. 0555 USS Minneapolis got underway and stood out. 0630 USS SAN DIEGO YORKTOWN INTREPID and ENTERPRISE got underway and stood out. 0635 made all preparations for getting underway. 0715 completed taking on fuel oil having received 1,072,986 gallons. 0716 fuel oil tanker cast off. 0730 underway from birth 21, Ulithi Island to combat areas, steaming on various courses and at various speeds while leaving anchorage. USS FRANKLIN is part of task group 58.2 as follows: FRANKLIN (C. T. G. And O. T. C.) HANCOCK, WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, BALTIMORE, PITTSBURGH, BATAAN, SAN JACINTO, SANTA FE, and screening destroyers. Steaming under boilers numbers 1, 3, 4, and 8. Captain at conn, Executive Officer and Navigator on the bridge. 0750 went to general quarters while leaving swept channel. 0753 set material condition ZEBRA. 0758 past beacon able a beam to starboard. Course 120 (T and g ) speed 17 knots (128 rpm).1
Signed
M. M. TAPPEN
Lieutenant, U. S. Naval Reserve
…Commenced Zigzagging Plan 6…
At 1010, her deck log reported that she began anti-aircraft gunnery practice. That afternoon she commenced flight operations with the air group simulating attacks on the ship and a targeting sled. Flight operations concluded at 1723. The ship then engaged in zigzagging and various course changes for the remainder of the calendar day.2
The participants were en route to the arena.
Did you arrive here via a search engine? I am the author of the forthcoming book, Heroes By The Hundreds: The Story of the USS Franklin (CV-13). In addition to writing about the bravery of the crews that saved her, I will write about the lessons we can learn in leadership and decision-making. I’ll also write about the changes the US Navy made because of those lessons learned.
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