USS Franklin March 14-24 1945 Deck Logs
Are you researching USS Franklin (CV-13) or one of its crew? Here are links to a series of posts I wrote in March 2024 discussing the 1945 deck logs for USS Franklin from 14 March to 24 March.
March 19, 1945, was the day her crew responded to the attack by a Japanese bomber that would result in them becoming the most decorated crew in the history of the US Navy, not just in World War II but through the present day.
On March 14, 1945, Franklin departed Ulithi Atol with approximately 100 other ships, including 15 other carriers. 99,000 of the men in those ships were there to support the 1000 men in the aircrews who were going to attack ground targets and defend against air attacks.
These ships and men comprised Task Force 58, commanded by Admiral Marc Mitscher. Their mission was to destroy or degrade Japanese air and naval assets based in southern Japan prior to the invasion of Okinawa on 1 April. Admiral Mitscher’s commanding officer, Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, was also accompanying the task force, flying his flag from USS Indianapolis. Task Force 58 was part of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, which Spruance commanded.
Task Force 58 was divided into four task groups, each commanded by an admiral. Franklin’s task group, 58.2, was commanded by Admiral Ralph Davison, who flew his flag from Franklin. Davison had also commanded Franklin’s task group during Franklin’s 1944 deployment.
Links to USS Franklin 14-24 March 1945 Deck Logs
14 MARCH 1945 USS FRANKLIN SAILS TOWARD DESTINY
USS Franklin Deck Log 15 March-Enroute To The Empire Area
USS Franklin Deck Log 16 March 1945-Moving Toward Japan
USS FRANKLIN Deck Log 17 March 1945-Calm Before The Storm
USS Franklin Deck Log 18 March 1945-The Battle Begins
USS Franklin 19 March 1945 Deck Log-“…Took Two Bomb Hits…”
USS Franklin Deck Log 20 March 1945-With A Little Help From Her Friends
USS Franklin Deck Log 21 March 1945-Steaming As Before
USS Franklin Deck Log 22 March 1945-Making Franklin As Shipshape As Possible
USS Franklin Deck Log 23 March 1945-Repairs Continue
USS Franklin Deck Log 24 March 1945-Return to Ulithi
If you have questions about USS Franklin, feel free to use the contact form on this website to reach out to me. I’m happy to help. I’m also very interested in interviewing family members of the crew.
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 her crew, I will discuss the lessons we can learn in leadership and decision-making.
If you are looking for information about a family member who was on the crew, please reach out to me. I’m happy to help.
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-Glenn
