USS Franklin

14 March 1945 deck log of USS FRANKLIN for the time of 1201 midnight to 1600 hours. Discusses leaving Ulitihi Atoll, other ships accompanying her, gunnery practice, and air operations.

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...
Arial photo of a line of US Essex-class carrriers moored parallel to each other in Ulithi Atoll. USS Wasp (CV-18), USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Hornet (CV-12), USS Hancock (CV-19) and USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). Official U.S. Navy Photograph 80-G-294131

USS Franklin Arrives at Ulithi Atoll, 13 March 1945

Murderers' Row Third Fleet aircraft carriers at anchor in Ulithi Atoll, 8 December 1944, during a break from operations in...
The ship is floated out of her building dock immediately after christening, at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company shipyard, Newport News, Virginia, on 14 October 1943. Note WAVES officers in the foreground. The WAVES' Director, Lieutenant Commander Mildred H. McAfee, USNR, was Franklin's sponsor. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

USS Franklin Anniversary–And An Afternoon At The Museum (of the Pacific War)

When people think of December 7 as an anniversary, they usually remember the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. (And...
Selection of the books I'm using for research

Books About USS Franklin Or Its Crew

Recently I read a story about actor Sean Connery. He was asked what moment played a critical role in helping...
Map of the various battles fought between 24-26 October 1944 in the Philippines.

The Battles Continue: USS Franklin 15-29 October 1944

Map of the various battles fought between 24-26 October 1944 in the Philippines. Photo courtesy of Gdr at en.wikipedia This...
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.

10-15 October 1944: USS Franklin Attacks

Air Group-13 Hellcats, Avengers, and Helldivers prepare to strike the Japanese in the Philippines in October 1944. October, the final...
Men dressed in odd clothing preparing to participate in the Crossing of the Line Ceremony

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

Cast of characters during a Crossing the Line Ceremony George Prater Collection, Naval History And Heritage Command 2014.80.01 Big Ben...
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.

USS Franklin Fields More Fighters (Part 2 of 2)

(Read part 1: USS Franklin Aircraft: Corsairs, Helldivers, And More!) After finishing her repairs from the October 30, 1944 kamikaze...
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)

Pilots of Torpedo Squadron 13 (VT-13) in their ready room aboard USS Franklin (CV-13), 24 October 1944, just before the...
The DVD Cover of Apocalypse '45 showing USS Franklin wracked by tremendous explosions and towering clouds of smoke and flame

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

The photo on the cover is of USS Franklin on fire after being struck by bombs on 19 March 1945....