World War Two Archives - Page 10 of 38

US Aircraft Carrier USS Franklin CV-13

Laid down on 7 December 1942 and launched on 14 October 1943, USS Franklin CV-13 was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the US Navy. Commissioned into the navy on 31 January 1944 she then undertook a work-up phase before moving to the Pacific.

From the end of June 1944, Franklin took part in the Mariana and Palau Islands campaigns which lasted until early August. She then supported the Leyte Landings, where on the 15th of September, she was hit by a bomb on the after outboard corner of the deck edge elevator, killing three men and wounding 22.

On the morning of 24 October, in the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, her planes formed part of the waves that attacked the Japanese First Raiding Force (under Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita), helping to sink Musashi south of Luzon, damage Fusō and Yamashiro, and sink Wakaba. Franklin’s strike groups combined with those from the other carriers on 25 October in the Battle off Cape Engaño to damage Chiyoda (she would be sunk by American cruiser gunfire subsequently) and sink Zuihō.

On 30 October 1944, Franklin was struck by a Japanese kamikaze attack that hit the flight deck and crashed through to the gallery deck, killing 56 men and wounding 60. A second attacker missed Franklin with two bombs before flying into the stern of Belleau Wood. Repairs took until 2 February 1945.

While undertaking strikes against the Japanese mainland on 19 March 1945, Franklin was hit by two semi-armour piercing bombs dropped by a Yokosuka D4Y “Judy” dive bomber. One bomb struck the flight deck centerline, penetrating to the hangar deck, causing destruction and igniting fires through the second and third decks, and knocking out the combat information center and air plot. The second hit aft, tearing through two decks.

At the time, Franklin was preparing a raid an consequently numerous plane were fueled and armed on deck and in the hanger. This added significantly to the damage caused and the intensity of the fires. Casualty figures vary from 724 killed and 265 wounded to 807 killed and at least 487 wounded. This appears to be caused by the inclusion or not of passengers, civilians on board, air group casualties and marines.

USS Franklin was repaired in New York and returned to active duty after the war finished. She was placed in reserve on 17 February 1947. Due to the significant wartime damage, she was never reactivated or upgraded. While in reserve she was redesignated as an attack aircraft carrier CVA-13 on 1 October 1952, an antisubmarine warfare support carrier CVS-13 on 8 August 1953 and, ultimately, as an aircraft transport AVT-8 on 15 May 1959.

USS Franklin was sold for scrap on 27 July 1966.

USS Franklin CV-13 Under Construction

USS Franklin CV-13 in Service

USS Franklin (CV-13). Stern, looking forward. Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. 6 January 1944.

USS Franklin (CV-13) in the Elizabeth River, off Norfolk, Virginia, 21 February 1944 — USS Franklin (CV-13). Stern, looking forward. Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. 6 January 1944.

USS Franklin CV-13 Aircraft Operations

Pilots of VT-13 in their ready room aboard USS Franklin (CV-13), 24 October 1944, just before the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea

Grumman F6F-3 and-5 Hellcat and Curtiss SB2C-4 Helldiver CVG-13 on deck of USS Franklin (CV-13) in October 1944 — Pilots of VT-13 in their ready room aboard USS Franklin (CV-13), 24 October 1944, just before the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea

USS Franklin CV-13 at Leyte Gulf

A Japanese dive bomber (encircled) plunges downward USS Franklin (CV-13) the kamikaze that hit USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24)

A Japanese kamikaze hits the flight deck of USS Franklin (CV-13), October 30, 1944. — A Japanese dive bomber (encircled) plunges downward USS Franklin (CV-13) the kamikaze that hit USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24)

USS Franklin CV-13 Under Attack March 1945

March 19, 1945 USS Franklin CV-13 on fire after being bombed by Japanese aircraft off Honshu, Japan.

March 19, 1945 USS Franklin CV-13 after being bombed by Japanese aircraft off Honshu — March 19, 1945 USS Franklin CV-13 on fire after being bombed by Japanese aircraft off Honshu, Japan.

USS Franklin CV-13 in New York for Repair

April 1945 USS Franklin CV-13 approaching New York for repairs.

USS Franklin (CV-13) arriving at New York City (USA) on 28 April 1945 — April 1945 USS Franklin CV-13 approaching New York for repairs.

USS Franklin CV-13 in Reserve

The two large ships at right on the near side of the peninsula are Alaska (CB-1) and Guam (CB-2). The next two ships astern are North Carolina (BB-55) and Washington (BB-56). Further astern are (from outboard to inboard) Fargo (CL-106), Albemarle (AV-5) and Wakefield (AP-21). The carriers Enterprise (CV-6) and Franklin (CV-13) are at the far left.

The decommissioned USS Franklin (AVT-8) being moved at Bayonne, New Jersey (USA), in 1964. — The two large ships at right on the near side of the peninsula are Alaska (CB-1) and Guam (CB-2). The next two ships astern are North Carolina (BB-55) and Washington (BB-56). Further astern are (from outboard to inboard) Fargo (CL-106), Albemarle (AV-5) and Wakefield (AP-21). The carriers Enterprise (CV-6) and Franklin (CV-13) are at the far left.

Junkers Ju 86 in Australia

Junkers Ju 86 Z Werknummer 086 0952 was built in1937 in Dessau, Germany and registered as D-AGEY. During March 1937, over a three-week period, it was piloted by Hans Kommoll on a ferry flight from Germany to Australia. Just before landing, an engine failed resulting in it swinging off the runway. It took about five weeks before a replacement engine arrived from Germany by sea.

On May 14, 1937 it was registered in Australia as VH-UYA and named “Lawrence Hargrave” for the British-born Australian engineer, explorer, astronomer, inventor and aeronautical pioneer. This aircraft was acquired by Sydney wool broker, H. Beinssen in exchange for £23,000 worth of Australian wool being shipped to Germany.

Placed on charter to Airlines of Australia Ltd. it was hoped that the diesel engines would prove more economical to operate than other aircraft. However, engine reliability problems resulted in the operator cancelling the lease. The aircraft was shipped back Germany in August where it became D-AREY.

Junkers B3A (Ju 86K) Lawrence Hargreaves — Junkers Ju 86 Z Lawrence Hargreaves still with German markings

Junkers Ju 86Z-2 Lawrence Hargrave in Australia 1937

Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai

Developed from the Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden, the N1K2-J addressed the major defects present in its predecessor, primarily the mid-mounted wing and long landing gear. The wing was lowered, thereby shortening the landing gear, while the fuselage was lengthened and the tail unit redesigned. The design changes resulted in a lightening of the fighter by 250 kg.

Despite its continued reliability issues, the Homare engine was retained as there was no alternative available. Armament was maintained at four 20mm cannon all located in the wings. First flying on 1 January 1944, it was named Shiden-Kai (kai meaning modified), while the Allies maintained the code-name George.

A total of 406 Kawanishi K1N2-J Shiden-Kai fighters were built.