The Story behind the painting
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The ship depicted in the foreground is the USS Princeton (CVL-23).
She was sunk on the 24th of October 1944 in the Battle of Leyte
Gulf. She is the only light carrier that was lost in WWII, but
not many people know her story or that of the other courageous
crews and ships that tried to save her.
On October 20th, the Princeton was part of the task Group 38.3.
She cruised off Luzon and sent her planes against the airfields
at Dulag and San Pedro Bay, Leyte to prevent Japanese land based
aircraft from attacking Allied ships massed in Leyte Gulf. But
on the 24th of October the task group was found by enemy planes
from Clark and Nichols airfields and they retaliated with heavy
air strikes.
Most of the attacking Japanese planes were intercepted and shot
down or driven off by Hellcats most notably by two fighter sections
from the USS Essex. However, a lone Japanese dive bomber slipped
through the defences, and at 09:38 hit the light carrier USS Princeton
with an armor-piercing bomb between her elevators sending it crashing
through the flight deck and hanger before exploding. The fires
spread rapidly followed by a series of explosions. Covering vessels,
including the USS Birmingham (CL-62), the USS Morrison (DD-560)
the USS Irwin (DD-794) and the USS Reno (CL-96) provided rescue
and fire-fighting assistance and shielded the stricken carrier
from further attack. (All of these ships are depicted in the painting.)
The Reno was assigned to help fight fires and rescue Princeton's
personnel. She came alongside five times but could not remain
because of the intense heat and smoke. While Reno evacuated wounded
men and tried to bring the fires under control, the listing flight
deck of Princeton crushed one of Reno’s 40 mm mounts. The
Irwin in a heroic saga that brought her the award of the Navy
Unit Commendation, braved raging flames, violent explosions, falling
debris, and exploding shells as she went alongside Princeton.
Fighting dense black smoke in a choppy sea, she rigged hoses and
fought fires in the forward part of the hangar deck. The Morrison
picked up approximately 400 survivors in an hour and a half. The
destroyer then pulled alongside the Princeton to assist in fighting
the fires. Just as she reached her position the small aircraft
carrier wedged Morrison's mast and forward stack between her uptakes.
Morrison managed to get clear and Birmingham (CL-62) took her
place.
At 1524, another, much heavier explosion, possibly the bomb magazine,
blew off the carrier's stern and with it the after flight deck,
causing more casualties aboard Princeton, and even heavier casualties—more
than 300 - aboard the cruiser USS Birmingham which was coming
back alongside to assist with the firefighting and take the Morrison's
place. The Irwin immediately dispatched boats and her men dived
into icy seas to rescue survivors. Though damaged herself, the
destroyer stood at close quarters until she had rescued 646 men
from the sea and from the decks of Princeton.
Efforts to save Princeton continued,
but at 1604 the fires won. Ships were requested to take off remaining
personnel and shortly after 1706, the Irwin began to fire torpedoes
at the Princton. At 1746, Reno relieved Irwin and at 1749 the
last, and biggest, explosion occurred. Flames and debris shot
up 1000-2000 feet. Princeton's forward section was gone. By 1750
she had disappeared.
108 men from the Princeton were
lost in the attack, 10 officers and 98 enlisted men; 1,361 crew
members were rescued.On the Birmingham 85
men were killed and 300 wounded. The USS Birmingham was so badly
damaged that she was forced to retire. The USS Princeton earned
9 battle stars during World War II
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