For one of them, Liscome Bay (CVE 56), this new “Torpedo Junction” sign create confirm no joke, however, a grim facts
They realize “Torpedo Junction” inside the recognition of religion that World war ii escort carriers, oriented easily on merchant ship hulls, have been susceptible to opponent torpedoes while they lacked brand new armor of its big deck alternatives. Of your 77 companion carriers commissioned through the World war ii, a total of 6 was in fact shed in order to enemy step, hence talks volumes about their resilience given that they dodged kamikazes if you are supporting beachheads,, fought against challenging potential from the Race from Leyte Gulf in October 1944, and you will hunted Italian language U-Boats in the Atlantic.
That have an overall length of 512 foot and you will a displacement off eight,800 lots, Liscome Bay in addition to almost every other companion carriers which were part of the fresh new naval pushes supporting the operation was indeed allotted to supply the crucial romantic heavens support toward Marines and you will Military troops storming ashore
Called shortly after a human anatomy regarding drinking water during the Alaska, Liscome Bay began her road to Pacific handle along with her keel installing on December 9, 1942, at Kaiser Shipbuilding Business Grass within the Vancouver, Washingtonmissioned with the August eight, 1943, the brand new escort carrier along with her crew had almost no time to get their sea legs, into the ing for Their state to join the fresh pushes assembling for Process Galvanic, this new attack of one’s Gilbert Countries. This new supplier performed the job well, their embarked planes signing 2,278 combat sorties.
From the 5:ten an excellent.yards. towards the November 24, 1943, Liscome Bay try section of a task 
classification steaming 20 miles southwest of Butaritari Area within fifteen knots whenever a lookout shouted one to a beneficial torpedo was a student in water heading to your vessel. Inside moments the brand new deadly underwater ordnance, certainly one of a spread away from torpedoes fired regarding Japanese submed towards the escort carrier’s starboard side. They strike at the worst possible area, close to the bomb journal. The ensuing huge explosions triggered when the bombs ignited killed of many crewmen instantly, and additionally some Mixture Squadron (VC) 39 pilots resting regarding cockpits of their aircraft on the patio waiting around for the original launch of the afternoon. Those people alot more lucky souls recalled the fresh new tremendous shock of your blow one to threw them to the fresh new outlines ruptured and you can fuel went. Occasionally poorly burnt plus in someone else struggling with broken skeleton and you may shrapnel injuries, new survivors made the way because of smashed hatches, twisted bulkheads, and you may people hole they could find in an effort to-arrive topside so they you can expect to abandon vessel.
Those types of 272 men able to go over the side is actually Master John Crommelin, one of five brothers offering due to the fact naval officials. In the bath if torpedo struck, Crommelin, who had been providing due to the fact Master out of Personnel to Rear-admiral Henry Mullinix, used simply detergent suds and you can suffered really serious burns off as he abandoned ship. Donald Cruse, who had quit Wasp (Cv eight) whenever she try torpedoed the last from his 2nd boat you to definitely November day. Sleeping in the event the explosion shook the fresh new boat, he instantly listed the smell and realized it designed not so great news. A keen aerographer’s spouse, the guy generated their ways onto an excellent catwalk, impeded from the a severed his Calf msucles which had been possibly struck by flying shrapnel or sliced of the a crooked piece of wreckage. Watching brand new airline platform, the guy spotted that the give elevator was moved, being blown skyward for example “good cork during the a container.” Whenever Cruse went along the front side, Liscome Bay had been list greatly to help you starboard, you to definitely lasting memory of your own greasy h2o to the he plunged are a chicken, destined to getting supported on-board the fresh vessel for Thanksgiving the overnight, floating close your.
When you look at the 1943, an early administrator revealing agreeable 1st order, an escort provider not as much as structure within the Tacoma, Washington, noted a handmade signal connected so you can a beneficial bulkhead by the some sailor since an attempt at macabre humor
Liscome Bay sank in only 23 times. Every advised, 644 men forgotten the existence you to definitely morning. One of them was basically Rear-admiral Mullinix in addition to ship’s very first and you may last ruling manager, Head Irving D. Wiltsie. And additionally slain try Ship’s Make Third-class Doris Miller, an enthusiastic African-American have been issued the new Navy Get across to own brave steps onboard the newest battleship Western Virginia (BB forty-eight) when you look at the Japanese assault to your Pearl Harbor.