Kamikaze Pilot Strikes USS Essex - November 25, 1944

http://www.amazon.com/Torpedo-Squadro... In this 2001 interview, LCDR Gerald W. Thomas recalls the successful attack on the USS Essex by a Kamikaze pilot. Thomas had just returned from a strike on Santa Cruz in the Philippines when a Yokosuka D4Y3 Dive Bomber piloted by Yoshinori Yamaguchi, Yoshino Special Attack Corps, dove into the flight deck. The Kamikaze pilot attack killed 16 crewman and wounded 44.

The force of the Essex's defensive guns prevented Kamikaze pilot Yamaguchi from hitting where he aimed, the center of the flight deck, which was packed with planes loaded with bombs. Instead, Yamaguchi hit the edge of the deck, scraping the 20 mm gun mounts lining it.

After the resulting fires were put out, flight operations resumed and the dead were buried at sea.

For a fuller description of the Kamikaze pilot attack and an account of Thomas' 25 months of active duty as a VT-4 Avenger Torpedo Bomber pilot, see his book Torpedo Squadron Four -- A Cockpit View of World War II:

http://www.amazon.com/Torpedo-Squadro...

Thomas was awarded 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 2 Air Medals, and 2 Presidential Unit Citations for his combat actions in WWII. More details about LCDR Gerald W. Thomas are available here:

http://Doc45.com

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[luckylanciano22]

Mr. Thomas, do you happen to remember a Navy photographer on the Essex by the name of Jack Stewart? He had just arrived on the flight deck when the kamikaze flew over his head and smashed into the ship that day. I interviewed him once, and he told me about that day, other operations in the Pacific, and David McCampbell and his brother-in-law movie actor Wayne Morris, as well as knowing Joe Rosenthal, the famed photographer that took the iconic flag-raising photo on Iwo Jima.

[Doc45Publications]

I'm sorry to say that I do not remember Jack Stewart by name. Because I almost always carried a photographer on my Avenger, I was familiar with all of the ship's photographers and so I'm sure we spoke. I had attended Photography School and was always interested in seeing their photographs, and I had already begun my collection of Air Group 4 related photos then, which now amounts to over 800 photos. 209 were published in my book, and another 120 in the Photo Supplement - Gerald

[luckylanciano22]

Thank you, Sir, I look forward to reading your book. I was a Navy photographer myself, but of our more recent war in Iraq. I know Jack had told me there were at least 18-20 photographers onboard the Essex, so you probably did speak with him at one point or another. He mentioned how the pilots would come to the photolab to see footage from their gun cameras. He said McCampbell did this regularly. I think Jack mostly dealt with still photography though. Thank you for your service! Guy

[Doc45Publications]

Thank you for your service. You mention Wayne Morris -- he swore me into the Navy. He was on the phone the whole time with someone in Hollywood, as I write in my book. He was one "McCambell's Heroes." - Gerald

[cbessex]

My Dad was on the USS Essex that day and was awarded the Bronze Star. He was my hero, a true patriot, and he loved his country with all his heart. He never told me about this attack, and never whined about the years he gave to his country. Anchors aweigh!

[Sarah Claiborne]

People talk shit about the Navy being the weak branch but what they fail to realize is that when we deploy and that stuff happens in the middle of the ocean, we're stuck with that danger. And yes, it still happens.

[MrShredhead321]

My Grandpa was on that ship in the Radio room when that happend, I love you Grandpa R.I.P

[Doc45Publications]

Too bad he did not tell you about it. As soon as the Kamikaze hit, the ship locked down. He would have been locked in the Engine room, not a happy feeling. - Gerald

[thudable]

Thanks to all who put their lives on the line to defend our freedom.

[Doc45Publications]

Many of us did not talk about our WWII experiences. GWT