The stricken Ommaney Bay (NHHC) Identifying the wreck In the event 95 personnel died, including two from an assisting destroyer who were killed when those warheads were eventually detonated. The order to abandon ship was issued, given the possibility of stored torpedo warheads exploding at any moment. The second bomb had exploded close to the starboard side, after rupturing the fire main on the second deck and passing through the hangar deck. The carrier burns as a destroyer stands by with fire-hoses (Robert O Baumrucker / NHHC) One entered the carrier’s flight deck and detonated below, causing a series of explosions among the fully fuelled aircraft in the forward third of the hangar deck. In December she had supported operations on Mindoro, and was preparing for landings in Lingayen Gulf when she came under attack.Īs it crashed, the twin-engined Japanese plane released two bombs that caused severe damage. Built in 1943 and named after an Alaskan bay, the following year under Captain Howard L Young she had supported the invasion of Palau and taken part in the Battle off Samar. The 156m Casablanca-class vessel had a complement of 860 and carried 27 aircraft. Ommaney Bay ( CVE 79), which received two battle stars for her war service, sank on 4 January, 1945, after a Japanese kamikaze aircraft had crashed into her starboard side. The USA’s Naval History & Heritage Command ( NHHC) made the identification official on 10 July. Also read: Valhalla divers identify WW1 U-boat at 104m
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |