Okinawa

O K I N A W A

A Japanese suicide pilot's shroud

Japanese shroud

A cavorting single winged plane made feints at a ship off the starboard bow and at another off the starboard beam. It was under fire from several ships when the pilot leveled off on a course for the Nevada's bridge structure. All the Nevada's starboard AA guns were brought to bear. the plane swerved from its course when a wing ripped of and fluttered into the sea. It struck the main deck just aft of the break in the deck and pin wheeled almost to he catapult. Fires and casualties resulted.

This unfortunately blurred photograph portrays an intensely dramatic scene - the instant that the flaming Kamikaze struck the starboard side of the main deck aft, exploding instantly. five-inch shell bursts fired at oncoming enemy plane still dot the sky.

ship being bombed

So badly damaged was one OS2U Kingfisher Scout plane that it was judged a total loss, jettisoned, and sunk.

A close up of the pits gouged into turret 3 as a result of the explosion.

The main deck aft, showing the catapult, withstands heavy weather. As can readily be understood, planes would not last long in such a sea, hence they were not carried while on convoy duty

Kingfisher scout plane

The next eight days the Nevada continued to pound the beaches and inland targets. At 1732 April 5, a Japanese shore battery opened fire on the Nevada. Seventy one rounds of main battery ammunition were fired. Her crew had gone to General quarters or Air Defense 60 - odd times in 22 days.

gouged turret

deck littered with shore battery