About M Glenn Ross

The Battles Continue: USS Franklin 15-29 October 1944

By Glenn | October 21, 2023 |

Map of the various battles fought between 24-26 October 1944 in the Philippines.

2nd of 3 part series about USS Franklin’s battles in October 1944.

10-15 October 1944: USS Franklin Attacks

By Glenn | October 10, 2023 |

A crowed deck of planes, pilots, and crews of Air Group 13 in October 1944. The first nine are Hellcat fighters, the ones in the back are Helldivers and Avengers. Franklin would be struck by a Kamikaze on 30 October 1944.

USS Franklin sees plenty of action 10-14 October 1944.

Historian Richard B. Frank On The Asia-Pacific War

By Glenn | October 6, 2023 |

Cover of Richard B. Frank's book, Tower of Skulls: A History of the Asia-Pacific War July 1937-May 1942

Excellent presentation on The Asia-Pacific War by historian Ricvhard B. Frank.

USS Franklin Initiated Into The “Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep”

By Glenn | September 20, 2023 |

Men dressed in odd clothing preparing to participate in the Crossing of the Line Ceremony

On September 20, 1944 USS Franklin crossed the Equator. Like nearly every US Naval vessel before her, polliwogs were initiated into the Mysteries of the Deep.

Friday Night Links 15 September 2023

By Glenn | September 15, 2023 |

Two officers hold the USS Franklin's flag in April 1945. The flag, which flew from the island during the 19 March attack, is encased in glass within a wooden frame. (Screenshot from a US Navy film.)

Links I have found informative about both USS Franklin and World War II in the Pacific.

USS Franklin Fields More Fighters (Part 2 of 2)

By Glenn | September 9, 2023 |

F4U-1D of VF-5 on USS Franklin (CV-13) 1945 receiving permission to take off from member of the deck crew. US Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation. The white diamond on the plane's tail identifies it as being from Franklin.

Part 2 of a 2-part series discussing how the types of aircraft changed aboard USs Franklin t counter Japaense attacks.

USS Franklin Aircraft: Corsairs, Helldivers, And More! (Part 1 of 2)

By Glenn | August 31, 2023 |

11 Pilots of Torpedo Squadron 13 (VT-13) in their ready room aboard USS Franklin (CV-13), 24 October 1944, just before the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea. They are watching as the position of the Japanese fleet is posted. VT-13's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Larry French, is second from the left, with a navigation board beside his chair. Note life vests, with die marker pouches, worn by several of these men. Other life vests, and .38 caliber revolvers, are hanging on the bulkhead. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, 80-G-290733

Part 1 of a 2-part series on the aircraft that flew on USS Franklin (CV-13)

Yes, USS Franklin Appears In “Apocalypse ‘45” Documentary

By Glenn | August 11, 2023 |

The DVD Cover of Apocalypse '45 showing USS Franklin wracked by tremendous explosions and towering clouds of smoke and flame

Director Erik Nelson has crafted Apocalypse ’45, a documentary about the final eight months of World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO). Originally released several years ago, it’s now available on DVD. As part of my research on my book about Big Ben and its crew, I watched it last night. What…