You are hereArchive - May 25, 2014
Archive - May 25, 2014
Surviving sailor's book: "Out of the Depths". WWII, Pacific. USS Indianapolis torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-58
(quote)
USS Indianapolis was a Portland class heavy cruiser of the US Navy, flagship for Admiral Raymond Spruance while he commanded the Fifth Fleet in battles across the Central Pacific. On 30 July 1945, the ship was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-58, sinking in 12 minutes. Of 1,196 crewmen aboard, 300 went down with the ship. The remaining 900 faced exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning, and shark attacks. Her sinking led to the greatest single loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy.
On 30 July 1945, the ship was torpedoed by the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-58, sinking in 12 minutes. Of 1,196 crewmen aboard, approximately 300 went down with the ship.
The remaining 900 faced exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning, and shark attacks.
Out of the Depths: A WWII Vet's Miracle of Survival Edgar Harrell, survived the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in 1945.
Harrell saw fierce combat on the ship - events that shook him to the core. The 89-year-old vividly recalls one harrowing incident when a Japanese kamikaze plane struck the Indianapolis in the battle for Okinawa. "I can remember seeing that plane, thinking that life is over," Harrell shared. "This is the end of life because he's diving for the fantail." read more »
