|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

USS Franklin CV-13 (WWII)

The USS Franklin was an Essex-class aircraft carrier commissioned in 1944. After around a year of service, however, she was crippled by bombs. Despite being repaired, she never returned to active service. For her services during World War II, the USS Franklin received four battle stars.

The USS Franklin in World War II

The USS Franklin sailed for Pearl Harbor in June of 1944, and from there to Eniwetok, where she joined up with another task force. At the end of June, she launched carrier strikes on the Bonins, to provide support for the subsequent assault on the Marianas. On July 4, she participated in strikes against Iwo Jima, Chichi Jima, and Ha Ha Jima.

Shortly after, on July 6, she was involved in strikes on Rota and Guam that continued until July 21 when she began to provide support for invasion forces. On July 25 and 26 her planes were involved in air strikes against the Palau island group, and following this she departed for Saipan. In early August she participated in more raids on the Bonins, and subsequently against Chichi Jima and Ototo Jima.

After an upkeep and rest period between August 9 and 28, the USS Franklin resumed attacks against the Bonins, partnering with Enterprise, Belleau Wood, and San Jacinto. Between August 31 and September 2, the Franklin inflicted plenty of ground damage, sank two cargo ships, struck down several enemy planes, and carried out extensive photographic surveys.

Between September 3 and 6, the Franklin participated in air strikes against Yap, in preparation for the Peleliu invasion later that month. In early October, during preparations for the coming Leyte occupation, she came under attack from Japanese bombers, and narrowly missed being struck by torpedoes.

In October, the USS Franklin provided considerable support for the Leyte operations despite being damaged by a bomb on October 16. During the initial Leyte landings on October 20, Franklin aircraft were patrolling surrounding airstrips in search of an enemy attack force, and on the morning of October 24, Franklin planes attacked the Japanese First Raiding Force as part of the Battle of the Sibuvan Sea. The Franklin subsequently took off on what would turn out to be a wild goose chase, as she raced to intercept a supposed Japanese carrier force that turned out to be non-existent. Following this, she teamed up with other carriers on October 25 in the Battle off Cape Enganon.

After refueling, she returned to Leyte on October 27, but took heavy damage when she was pursued by three enemy bombers, apparently on a suicide mission. After retiring for extensive repairs and subsequent training exercises that lasted several months, she departed for Okinawa to provide support for landings, and launched strikes against Kagoshima and Izumi during March 1945.

On March 19, 1945, the USS Franklin had managed to maneuver to within just fifty miles of the Japanese mainland-closer than any other U.S. carrier. From there, she launched sweeps against Honshu, and a strike in Kobe Harbor. Shortly after, a single aircraft-a Japanese dive bomber-burst through cloud cover to drop two bombs on the carrier craft. One of the bombs struck the flight deck centerline and penetrated to the hangar deck, while the other tore through two decks. The resulting destruction and fires triggered the explosion of ammunitions, rockets, and bombs.

The USS Franklin was seriously damaged: she was listing to starboard and had lost radio communications. Many of her crew were blown overboard, killed, or wounded, with a total of 724 killed and 265 wounded. The hundreds of men who voluntarily remained on the ship saved the day, and the Franklin, with firefighting and rescue activities, and wetting down magazines that were in danger of exploding.

The Franklin was towed to safety by the Pittsburgh. She eventually managed to make it to Pearl Harbor under her own steam, and from there sailed to the Brooklyn Navy Yard for substantial repairs. Despite the heavy damages she had suffered, the USS Franklin was eventually restored to her former condition.

After the War

Following the end of the war, the SS Franklin was decommissioned on February 17, 1947, at Bayonne, New Jersey. While she was resdesignated several times over the next few years, she never returned to active duty, and was struck from the Naval Register on October 1, 1964. She was scrapped in 1966.

One important thing to know about the USS Franklin and other Navy ships is that these contained a large amount of asbestos, and many U.S. Navy men have developed asbestos-related diseases as a result of asbestos exposure that occurred during their years of service. If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS Franklin CV-13 (WWII), or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a free packet with more information. Enter your contact information in the form in the right column and we'll send a copy immediately.

Aircraft Carriers Index

USS America USS Antietam CV 36 K USS Antietam CV 36 USS Badoeng Strait CVE 116 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Belleau wood CVL 24 USS Bennington CV 20 USS Bon Homme Richard CVa USS Boxer CV USS Bunker CV USS Cabot CVL 28 USS Constellation CV USS Coral Sea CV USS Corregidor CVE 58 USS Sable ix USS San jacinto CVL USS Saratoga CV USS Saratoga CV3 USS Shangri La

USS Cowpens CVL 25 USS Enterprise CV 6 USS Enterprise CVN USS Essex CV 9 USS Forrestal CV USS Franklin CV 13 USS Hancock CV 19 USS Hornet CV 12 USS Hornet CV 8 USS Independence C1 USS Independence CVL 22 USS Intrepid CV 11 USS Kearsage CV 33 USS Kearsage CV USS Kitty Hawk USS Sicily CVe USS Sitkoh bay USS Tarawa CV USS Ticonderoga CV USS Valley forge CV

USS Lake Champlain CV 39 USS Langley CV 1 USS Langley CVL 27 USS Lexington CV 16 USS Lexington CV 2 USS Leyte CV 32 USS Midway CV USS Oriskany CV USS Phillipine Sea CV USS Point cruz CVE USS Princeton CV USS Princeton CVL USS Randolph CV USS Ranger CV USS Rendova USS Wasp CV 18 USS Wasp CV 7 USS Wolverine IX 64 USS Yorktown CV 10 USS Yorktown CV 5

Name:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Phone Number:

Email:

Diagnosis:

Select... Mesothelioma Lung Cancer Asbestosis Severe Asbestosis Unknown

Comments:

Show Your Support

Free Wristbands
Get an Asbestos Awareness Wristband. Read More

VA Claim Help

Support Book

Cancer Support Book
Get a Free Copy of Lean on Me - Cancer Through a Carer's Eyes. Read More

In Your Area

Asbestos Exposure
Learn about asbestos exposure and legal options in your area. Read More

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: Verify Here.