Air Group 13

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 Has A Busy October

October 3, 2024
Air Group-13 Hellcats, Avengers, and Helldivers prepare to strike the Japanese in the Philippines in October 1944. USS Franklin, part...
Air Group 13 / Battle of Leyte Gulf / Kamikaze attack / October 1944 / US Navy / USS Franklin
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.

USS Franklin Supports Peleliu Invasion, September 1944

September 16, 2024
The view of Peleliu shows how much of the island is dominated by the airstrip. Landing beaches were to the...
Air Group 13 / Peleliu / US Navy / USS Franklin
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 Draws Its First Blood–July 4, 1944

July 3, 2024
Air Group-13 Hellcats, Avengers, and Helldivers prepare to strike the Japanese in the Philippines in October 1944. On 30 June...
Action Reports / Air Group 13 / July 4th / US Navy / USS Franklin
Coach John Wooden

Memorial Day Remembrances of Lts. John Wooden, Fred Stalcup, and Wayne Winecoff, USN

May 27, 2024
Air Group-13 Hellcats, Avengers, and Helldivers prepare to strike the Japanese in the Philippines in October 1944. Memorial Day is...
Air Group 13 / Memorial Day / USS Franklin
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.

Kamikazes Attack USS Franklin (CV-13)

October 30, 2023
Air Group-13 Hellcats, Avengers, and Helldivers prepare to strike the Japanese in the Philippines in October 1944. Normally, 17-year-old Seaman...
Air Group 13 / Kamikaze attack / October 1944
Map of the various battles fought between 24-26 October 1944 in the Philippines.

The Battles Continue: USS Franklin 15-29 October 1944

October 21, 2023
Map of the various battles fought between 24-26 October 1944 in the Philippines. Photo courtesy of Gdr at en.wikipedia This...
Air Group 13 / Battle of Leyte Gulf / October 1944 / USS Franklin
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

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

August 31, 2023
Pilots of Torpedo Squadron 13 (VT-13) in their ready room aboard USS Franklin (CV-13), 24 October 1944, just before the...
Air Group 13 / Air Group 5 / USS Franklin

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