Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
U.S.S. Franklin (CV-13)
"Big Ben"
Photographed By James Hulse, August 18, 2023
1. U.S.S. Franklin (CV-13) Marker
U.S.S. Franklin (CV-13)
"Big Ben"
Commissioned 31 January 1944
Received 4 Battle Stars for World War II Service
Participated in Air Strikes and Support of
Marianas Invasion • Guam Invasion
Peleliu Invasion • Leyte Invasion • Okinawa Invasion
The Hardest Hit Carrier to Survive the War
The Franklin was first hit by kamikazes Oct. 13th and again on October 16th 1944. On October 30th three kamikazes struck killing 56 and wounding 60. On March 19, 1945 within 50 miles of the Japanese mainland, two enemy bombs ripped through the Franklin's decks igniting fires which triggered explosions of ammunition, bombs and rockets on the hangar deck. 724 of the crew were killed and 265 wounded. Dead in the water with most of her surviving crew blown overboard or driven off by fire, volunteers who stayed aboard worked to save the ship. Medal of Honor winner LtCmdr Joseph T. O'Callahan, the ships chaplain, administered last rites amid the carnage, organized and directed firefighting and rescue parties and led men below to wet down magazines. Medal of Honor winner Lt.(j.g.) Donald Gray discovered 300 men trapped in the decks below and finding an exit through air ducts returned repeatedly to lead groups to safety. The USS Franklin
this page online
Decommissioned 17 February 1947
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II.
Location. 30° 16.361′ N, 98° 52.019′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County. Memorial is at the intersection of East Main Street and North Washington Street on East Main Street. The marker is located in the central section of the WWII Veterans Memorial Courtyard which is a part of the National Museum of the Pacific War. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 340 E Main St, Fredericksburg TX 78624, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Patrol Squadron Forty-Four (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Ozbourn (DD 846) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Clinton (here, next to this marker); USS Oklahoma City (here, next to this marker); Rear Admiral Walter N. "Buck" Dietzen Jr. (here, next to this marker); Dedicated to All Who Served Aboard the USS Steinaker DD/DDR-863 (here, next to this marker); USS Cabot (here, next to this marker); USS Oklahoma City CL-91 (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.
Also see . . . USS Franklin (CV-13). Wikipedia
USS Franklin (CV/CVA/CVS-13, AVT-8), nicknamed(Submitted on March 20, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)"Big Ben," was one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II for the United States Navy, and the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name. Commissioned in January 1944, she served in several campaigns in the Pacific War, earning four battle stars. In March 1945, while launching strikes against the Japanese mainland, she was badly damaged when a single Japanese dive bomber struck her with two bombs. The attack resulted in the loss of 807 of her crew and Franklin became the most heavily-damaged United States aircraft carrier to survive the war. The complement of Franklin suffered 924 killed in action during the war, the worst for any surviving U.S. warship and second only to that of USS Arizona.Photographed By James Hulse, August 18, 20232. U.S.S. Franklin (CV-13)The marker is the fifth large marker from the right side.
Public Domain - US Navy -, March 19, 1945
3. U.S.S. Franklin (CV-13)
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Franklin (CV-13) afire and listing after a Japanese air attack, off the coast of Japan, 19 March 1945. Note the fire hoses and the crewmen on her forward flight deck, and water streaming from her hangar deck. Photographed from the light cruiser USS Santa Fe (CL-60).
Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 50 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 20, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
