About M Glenn Ross

Landing Signal Officer On USS Franklin

By Glenn | November 11, 2024 |

Photo taken below flight deck level showing A Curtiss SB2C-3 "Hell-diver" bomber taking a "wave-off" while attempting to land in March 1945. Landing signal officer's platform is in the foreground

“Iron Mike” Mikronis was the Landing Signal Officer on USS Franklin on 19 March 1945.

Was Captain Leslie Gehres, USN, Ill-Treated?

By Glenn | November 7, 2024 |

Captain Leslie Gehres in his Patrol Wing Four headquarters. Photo US Navy

Did Captain Leslie Gehres, a mustang, face discrimination from US Naval Academy graduates?

Navy Day Does Without USS Franklin

By Glenn | October 29, 2024 |

USS Franklin In New York Harbor April 1945 80-G-K-4760

USS Franklin, showing horrendous battle damage, is moored at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1945.

Research Visit to the National Museum of the Pacific War

By Glenn | October 23, 2024 |

View of the George W. Bush Gallery at the National Museum of the Pacific War (Author's photo.)

Last week, I spent a morning in Fredericksburg, Texas, searching through the archives of the National Museum of the Pacific War. I was there to research my forthcoming book on the crew of USS Franklin, still today the most decorated in US Navy history. My first trip to the museum was strictly as a tourist…

USS Franklin Commissioned 14 October 1943

By Glenn | October 14, 2024 |

USS Franklin, with bunting draped underneath her bow, is floated out of dry dock on 14 October 1943.

14 October 1943 saw USS Franklin christened at the Newport News dockyard.

USS Franklin Has A Busy October

By Glenn | October 3, 2024 |

Two carriers burning after separate kamikaze strikes. USS Franklin (CV-13), at right, and USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) afire after being hit by Japanese kamikaze suicide planes, while operating off the Philippines on 30 October 1944. Photographed from USS Brush (DD-745). US Navy 80-G-326798

USS FRANKLIN (CV-13) had a busy month in October 1944. Even though her crew suffered from exhaustion, they pulled their weight in the battle against the Japanese.

“Those Who Cannot Remember History Are Doomed To Repeat It”—G. Santayana

By Glenn | September 26, 2024 |

I am surprised ath the lack of knowledgte about the USS Franklin. Especially when there are so many lessons that can be learned.

USS Franklin Supports Peleliu Invasion, September 1944

By Glenn | September 16, 2024 |

A Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat fighter makes condensation rings as it awaits the take-off flag aboard USS Yorktown (CV-10), 20 November 1943. The plane is from Fighting Squadron Five (VF-5). Yorktown was then hitting targets in the Marshall Islands to cover the landings in the Gilberts. VF-5 would serve onboard Franklin in 1945. By that time, flying Corsairs.

At the beginning of September 1944, USS Franklin, the flagship of Task Group (TG) 38.4, was leading strikes against Iwo Jima and its sister island, Chi Chi Jima. TG 38.4 was one of four task groups making up Task Force 38, commanded by Admiral Marc Mitscher, who reported to Third Fleet commander Admiral William Halsey.…

Burials At Sea by USS Franklin, 1944

By Glenn | September 8, 2024 |

Undated page from USS Franklin decklog showing burial at sea on 31 October 1944 of those crewmembers killed the day before by a Kamikaze attack.

Recently, I received an email from the brother of a crew member killed during the 30 October 1944 Kamikaze attack on USS Franklin. He had always wanted to know the latitude and longitude of the ship when his brother was buried at sea. The ship was part of the US Navy’s Task Force 58, assigned…