Remembering the Ben Franklin

As the anniversary of the battle for Okinawa approaches, my thoughts include the attack on the  Franklin aircraft carrier.   On March 19, 1945, a single Japanese plane managed to bomb the Franklin, setting it afire. Casualties were high, 724  losing their lives, but enough crew remained on board to get the ship moving and on to Brooklyn.  The ship was 50 miles from the Japanese mainland when attacked.

We on the Pickens were stunned with news of the attack.  It was especially sad for us radarmen when we learned that 45 of the 48 radarmen aboard lost their lives. We were acquainted with some of the radarmen.