A tremendous geyser of flame and smoke gushes skyward as one of the many explosions suffered by the ship detonates with shattering violence. Official US Navy photograph.

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Franklin hard hit, 19 March 1945, off Kyushu. She had been returned to service in January, following a kamikaze attack on 30 October (see above).

Close up of the Franklin. BuShips described this fire as "the most severe survived by any U.S. warship during the course of World War II."

Flames and smoke roll out of USS Franklin (CV-13) — with a river of burning gasoline spreading destruction as it streams out the side of the ship. Official US Navy photograph.

Ship's after 5"/38 twin gun mount burning, as her crew tried to control fires on 19 March 1945. The carrier had been hit by a Japanese air attack while operating off the coast of Japan. Photographed from USS Santa Fe (CL-60), which extinguished the fire in this gun mount by playing streams of water through the mount's open door. Later, the other 5"/38 twin gun mount and the 40mm quad machine gun mount (at right) also burned. Note ammunition loaded in the feed racks of the 40mm guns.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-273903).

Seconds after an explosion hurls pieces of the flight deck and aircraft into the air, part of the crew runs for their lives.

Afire and listing after she was hit by a Japanese air attack while operating off the coast of Japan, 19 March 1945. Photographed from USS Santa Fe (CL-60), which was alongside assisting with firefighting and rescue work.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-273880).

USS Franklin (CV-13) burning off the Japanese coast after she was hit by air attack, 19 March 1945. Photographed from USS Santa Fe (CL-60), which was alongside to help with firefighting and rescue work.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-273888).

Twisted and blackened, the debris aboard USS Franklin (CV-13) testifies to the force of the blasts and the heat of the flame that racked the carrier. Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

Dead in the water with a 14 degree list to starboard, with USS Santa Fe (CL-60) alongside.

USS Santa Fe (CL-60) maneuvers into position alongside USS Franklin (CV-13) disregarding all hazards in order to render aid needed. Official US Navy photograph.

Preparations are made for transfer of personnel, wounded and otherwise from the flight deck to USS Santa Fe (CL-60). Official US Navy photograph.

One of the casualties is transferred from USS Franklin (CV-13) to the cruiser USS Santa Fe (CL-60) after being given first aid treatment. Official US Navy photograph.

Listing badly, her flight deck a gaping ruin, USS Franklin (CV-13) says farewell to USS Santa Fe (CL-60) as the latter moves away; the skeleton crew left aboard Franklin soon started the tremendous task of repairing the boilers and engine rooms so that she could start the long trek home. Official US Navy photograph.

Exhausted by the shock of the explosions, and their efforts to quell the flames, survivors of USS Franklin (CV-13) rest on the deck of the cruiser USS Santa Fe (CL-60). Official US Navy photograph.

Lieutenant Commander Joseph T. O'Callahan, USNR(ChC) gives "Last Rites" to an injured crewman aboard USS Franklin (CV-13), after the ship was set afire by a Japanese air attack, 19 March 1945. The crewman is reportedly Robert C. Blanchard, who survived his injuries.

Official U.S. Navy Photographs.

Note: For his heroism on board Franklin, Lieutenant Commander O'Callahan was awarded the Medal of Honor. The escort ship USS O'Callahan (DE-1051, later FF-1051) was named after him.

Photograph of LT Donald A. Gary, USN, taken circa 1945. Halftone reproduction, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1948, The Navy", page 191.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph (# NH 94631).

Note: For his heroism on board Franklin, then Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Gary was awarded the Medal of Honor. The guided missile frigate USS Gary (FFG-51) was named after him.

Still smoking, USS Franklin (CV-13) is towed from the scene of the disaster by the cruiser USS Pittsburgh (CA-72) before the crewmen aboard the carrier effected emergency engine repairs. Official US Navy photograph.

USS Pittsburgh (CA-72) tows USS Franklin after a dangerous starboard list had been corrected; she now is listing slightly to port but shortly afterward was able to continue under her own power because the propulsion mechanism had been repaired. Official US Navy photograph.

USS Franklin (CV-13) approaches New York City, while en route to the New York Navy Yard for repairs, 26 April 1945. Note the extensive damage to her after flight deck, received when she was hit by a Japanese air attack off the coast of Japan on 19 March 1945. Photographed by Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-274014).

New York Harbor, April 28th, 1945.

View on the flight deck, looking forward, while the carrier was in New York Harbor, circa 28 April 1945. She had just returned from the Pacific for repair of battle damage received off Japan on 19 March 1945. Note damage to her flight deck, large U.S. ensign flying from her island, and the Manhattan skyline in the background.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-4760).

USS Franklin (CV-13) anchored in New York Harbor, upon her arrival from the Pacific for repair of battle damage, circa 28 April 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-4771).

USS Franklin (CV-13) (at left) steams past USS Marblehead (CL-12), in New York Harbor, circa 28 April 1945, after her arrival from the Pacific for battle damage repairs.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-4777).

"A Battle-Scarred Carrier Reaches Port for Repairs — Officers and men of the USS Franklin, Essex-class carrier, stand at attention on the flight deck as the ship reaches the Brooklyn Navy Yard on New York's East River front for repairs [note Williamsburg Bridge in the background.] Hit by two 500-pound bombs while participating in an attack against the Jap fleet in the Inland Sea, March 19, 1945, the Franklin, manned by a skeleton crew, sailed more than 12,000 miles to get home under her own power (AP)." (Released on Thursday, May 17.) Official US Navy photograph.

Church service on the ship's ruined hangar deck, taken upon her return to the U.S. from the Pacific for repair of battle damage received off Japan on 19 March 1945. Location is probably in, or near, New York Harbor, circa 28 April 1945.

Official U.S. Navy Photographs.

Grainy but interesting shot of USS Franklin (CV-13) in drydock, New York, 1945. The entire flight deck and supporting upper hull was removed and rebuilt because of the extensive damage caused by two Japanese bombs that penetrated the flight deck, exploding on the hangar deck, igniting fuel and ordinance from the aircraft below decks. The circular rings to the left are the two forward 5" DP gun mount supports with the island superstructure behind them. The lower ring would be the flight deck level. U.S. Navy, National Archives photo.