Commissioned on 31 January 1944, USS Franklin (CV-13) would become one of the most decorated Essex-class aircraft carriers to act as a cornerstone in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. The first operation that Franklin engaged in was the Mariana Islands Campaign: her aircraft gave crucial air support to forces landing on the Bonin Islands, Guam, and the Palau Islands. In September, Franklin began the support of the Peleliu landing, and then, in October, she contributed greatly to the Battle of Leyte Gulf, taking part in both the Battle of Sibuyan Sea and the Battle of Cape Engano.
On 30 October 1944, Franklin was put to a critical test when enemy Kamikazes struck her flight deck and galley. This called for her return to Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington, for repairs. But it was not to be for long. Returning to the Pacific in March 1945, Franklin joined Task Force 58 for air attacks against the Japanese homeland in support of the Okinawa landings. On 19 March, a Japanese aircraft bomb struck her flight deck, touching off widespread fires and explosions. In that chaos, there were acts of extraordinary heroism, especially by Lieutenant Commander Joseph T. O’Callahan and Lieutenant Donald A. Gary, both of whom were to receive the Medal of Honor for their life-saving work. The attack killed 807 men and wounded 487.
After makeshift repairs, Franklin made the long, slow voyage to the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York City, where complete repairs were made. After the war, she was decommissioned in February 1947 at Bayonne, New Jersey. While serving in the reserve fleet, Franklin received several redesignations to include: an attack aircraft carrier, CVA-13, in October 1952; an antisubmarine support carrier, CVS-13, in August 1953, and finally, an aircraft transport, AVT-8, in May 1959. In October of 1964, she was stricken from the Naval Reserve Register, and sold for scrap two years later.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard was once a haven of refuge and restoration for vessels damaged during its history. During World War II, more than 5,000 ships found refuge and repair within the yard. Standing among them is Franklin, in particular, for her harrowing journey and the resilience of her crew. On March 19, 1945, as she launched sorties against the Japanese mainland, a single Japanese bomber inflicted devastating damage upon her. This created a firestorm that ensnared hundreds of men below deck in desperation to survive. In the mayhem, the crew with assistance from other attending ships, which included the USS Santa Fe, fought the fires and had them under control just shy of almost 10 hours.
The Franklin’s voyage to the Brooklyn Navy Yard was nothing short of miraculous: steaming 12,000 miles via the Panama Canal to New York Harbor under her power, she arrived with less than one-third of her normal crew and still listing sharply to starboard. On 17 May 1945, the full extent of her damage was revealed to the public in a display recounting the sacrifices of her gallant crew.
In the larger context of World War II, the USS Missouri also had some very key roles. Commissioned on June 11, 1944, she entered the Pacific Theater in early January 1945. The Missouri provided anti-aircraft defense during strikes against Tokyo and supported the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She withstood the current of kamikaze attacks-the most notorious incident happening on April 11, 1945, when a kamikaze aircraft struck her starboard side. The body of the pilot was given a military burial by the captain, William M. Callaghan, which in itself fits as an act of respect in wartime.
As the war was ending, Missouri joined Task Force 34 for strikes against mainland Japan and became the focal point of the final stages of the war. News of Japan’s capitulation reached Admiral Halsey on August 15, 1945, and by August 23, Missouri had been confirmed as the surrender ship.
Wrapped within the sagas of USS Franklin and USS Missouri are the bravery, sacrifice, and resilience now known as the US Navy in World War II. These ships and their crews had to bear unimaginable horrors, but their legacy lives on to testify to their indomitable spirit and devotion.