Daily Event for March 31, 2013

During the offensive against Okinawa Kamikaze attacks were commonplace. On March 31, 1945 a Kamikaze dropped out of the clouds from less than 3,000 feet and headed toward USS Indianapolis CA-35. The aircraft was taken under fire by the 20mm batteries, which fired 392 rounds at the incoming plane. The gunfire had little effect, but captain McVey stated that tracer fire hit the aircraft and altered it from it's original course, but failed to stop it from hitting the ship.

The aircraft slammed into the Indy on her port side aft of the main deck, the bomb which was carried passed through the ship exploding in the water below causing more damage. The damage control team kept the water down and Indy headed under her own power to Kerama Retto and put in for repairs. Sadly that also had to bury nine of the crew who were killed in the attack.

Admiral Raymond Spruance was embarked at the time of the attack as Indy was his flagship, he was not injured. On Apr. 3 he personally awarded several men the Purple Heart. He transferred his flag to USS New
Mexico BB-40 on Apr. 5th.

On Apr. 7 Indianapolis was back at sea and soon began her voyage toward Pearl Harbor and finally Mare Island Naval Shipyard for permanent repairs, perhaps it was because she was in San Francisco that she was chosen for the mission to deliver the atomic bomb to Tinian, if she had not been damaged perhaps another ship would have carried the parts to Tinian and Indy might have survived the war.
© 2013 Michael W. Pocock
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