Astonishing World War 2 Photo -- Corrected

[swsig]

I've seen a lot of World War 2 photos, but this one is new to me, and it is pretty extraordinary.

On May 14, 1945 the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise was hit by a kamikaze. The resulting explosion blew the forward aircraft elevator and two crewmen overboard. Keeping their wits about them, these resourceful sailors swam to the floating wooden elevator deck and hitched a ride from a passing destroyer. I guess it's not only admirals who can walk on water.

 

[Shark Bait]

I don't see a photo in your post

 

[grendelbean]

Love the story - would have loved a photo.

 

[AJ]

Would like to see the picture................

 

[STCM(SW)]

Pictures I found........

 

[swsig]

Here ya go. It displayed perfectly before I put my computer to sleep last night. I have no idea what gremlins caused it to disappear. View it while you can!

 

[desi2358]

Shows up on my computer okay. It's a fascinating pic, recently saw a photo of the Kamikaze hit where you can see the elevator platform thrown into the air. It was quite a hit, Enterprise was out of the war. Repairs took too long for her to get back before it was all over

Just saw the additional pics, one of those was the one where you can see the elevator blown into the air

 

[grendelbean]

Great picture! Those bluejackets probably found a cold beer somehwere along the way, I wouldn't be surprised. Outstanding.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Impressive scene.

Please educate a land lubber; Would the approaching destroyer have slowed to a crawl and dropped lines/rope ladders? And, if it they were (hypothetically) incapacitated and incapable of climbing, would rescuers enter the water and lash them to ropes?

Curious minds want to know.

 

[bushmaster1313]

The next Enterprise, CVN-80, is due in service 2027

USS Enterprise (CVN-80) - Wikipedia

Her Mission: Project power—Obliterate America's enemies

 

[Baggy Wrinkle]

Many options for rescue depending on circumstances. A small boat in the water is the preferred method if there is time; the rescuing ship might not want to get to close to floating debris that might get caught in the rudder or propellers or damage the hull. If there is no time and the CO is willing to risk damage to own ship then life rings with lines might be thrown to the survivors and if they are able they can crawl up cargo nets or ladders. Designated rescue swimmers on naval vessels is a recent development, though in WWII volunteers were known to go over the side to rescue people in the water.

 

[AJ]

Many options for rescue depending on circumstances. A small boat in the water is the preferred method if there is time; the rescuing ship might not want to get to close to floating debris that might get caught in the rudder or propellers or damage the hull. If there is no time and the CO is willing to risk damage to own ship then life rings with lines might be thrown to the survivors and if they are able they can crawl up cargo nets or ladders. Designated rescue swimmers on naval vessels is a recent development, though in WWII volunteers were known to go over the side to rescue people in the water.

Might not want to stop due to enemy submarines in the area..........

 

[STCM(SW)]

A good CO of a Sumner class DD like my first ship(DD 734) could get close
and get lines/life rings to the men.

 

[swsig]

The ships had been under air attack (note the elevated 5" guns, and the gun director on top of the pilot house trained to starboard searching for aircraft), so my guess is that that the destroyer captain would not take the time to lower and recover a boat. Since the overboard sailors were in good enough shape to stand, a rope ladder or cargo net plus life rings on lines (as Baggy Wrinkle stated) were probably used. FYI, the rescuing destroyer is the USS Waldron, DD-699.

 

[m75rlg]

Many options for rescue depending on circumstances. . . . Designated rescue swimmers on naval vessels is a recent development, though in WWII volunteers were known to go over the side to rescue people in the water.

On 3 February 1943, US Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba participated in the rescue of the survivors of the SS Dorchester, which had been torpedoed by a German submarine. The rescue was marked by the Escanaba's historic first use of rescue swimmers clad in survival suits to aid survivors, who were too weakened by shock or hypothermia in the icy water to pull themselves up cargo nets or sea ladders to the safety and warmth of rescuers' ships, or even to hold on to ropes cast to them from the rescue vessel. By way of the lines the rescue swimmers tied around those who were having trouble helping themselves, many struggling survivors who--debilitated by the cold--would have otherwise died, were hauled aboard the Escanaba by crewmen on deck. Even those in the water who appeared to be dead were harnessed by the retrieval swimmers and pulled aboard — indeed, it was found that only 12 of the 50 apparently dead victims thus brought aboard by the retrieval teams actually turned out to be dead. The rest proved themselves to be quite alive once given the benefit of warmth, dryness, and medical attention.

In all, Escanaba plucked 133 survivors from the water that day, only one of whom went on to die aboard the cutter after rescue. For their work in supervising and organizing the rescue, commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Carl U. Peterson received the Legion of Merit and executive officer Lieutenant Robert H. Prause Jr., whose experiments in a tethered rubber suit off a dock at Bluie West One had paved the way for this new "retriever method," received a letter of commendation. Ship's doctor Assistant Surgeon Ralph R. Nix of the US Public Health Service also received a letter of commendation for his work saving the lives of the critically chilled survivors. Three crew members who went "over the side" to bring in survivors, Ensign Richard A. Arrighi, Ship's Cook 2nd Class Forrest O. Rednour, and Steward's Mate 3rd Class Warren T. Deyampert, were awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for their actions in the water. All decorations and commendations, however, were to be awarded posthumously.

 

[jimmyj]

Every year my American Legion Post has a Memorial Service to honor the Four Chaplains who gave Their life vest to sailors without and went down with the U.S.S. Dorchester

 

[Kurusu]

On 3 February 1943, US Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba participated in the rescue of the survivors of the SS Dorchester, which had been torpedoed by a German submarine. The rescue was marked by the Escanaba's historic first use of rescue swimmers clad in survival suits to aid survivors, who were too weakened by shock or hypothermia in the icy water to pull themselves up cargo nets or sea ladders to the safety and warmth of rescuers' ships, or even to hold on to ropes cast to them from the rescue vessel. By way of the lines the rescue swimmers tied around those who were having trouble helping themselves, many struggling survivors who--debilitated by the cold--would have otherwise died, were hauled aboard the Escanaba by crewmen on deck. Even those in the water who appeared to be dead were harnessed by the retrieval swimmers and pulled aboard — indeed, it was found that only 12 of the 50 apparently dead victims thus brought aboard by the retrieval teams actually turned out to be dead. The rest proved themselves to be quite alive once given the benefit of warmth, dryness, and medical attention.

In all, Escanaba plucked 133 survivors from the water that day, only one of whom went on to die aboard the cutter after rescue. For their work in supervising and organizing the rescue, commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Carl U. Peterson received the Legion of Merit and executive officer Lieutenant Robert H. Prause Jr., whose experiments in a tethered rubber suit off a dock at Bluie West One had paved the way for this new "retriever method," received a letter of commendation. Ship's doctor Assistant Surgeon Ralph R. Nix of the US Public Health Service also received a letter of commendation for his work saving the lives of the critically chilled survivors. Three crew members who went "over the side" to bring in survivors, Ensign Richard A. Arrighi, Ship's Cook 2nd Class Forrest O. Rednour, and Steward's Mate 3rd Class Warren T. Deyampert, were awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for their actions in the water. All decorations and commendations, however, were to be awarded posthumously.

The name Escanaba rang a bell. USCG Cutter Escanaba was lost on the 13th of June of that same year with the loss of all but two of her crew. She sank after an explosion while performing escort duty. Cause of the explosion not know but attributed to a torpedo hit from an enemy submarine.

 

[vigil617]

On 3 February 1943, US Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba participated in the rescue of the survivors of the SS Dorchester, which had been torpedoed by a German submarine. The rescue was marked by the Escanaba's historic first use of rescue swimmers clad in survival suits to aid survivors, who were too weakened by shock or hypothermia in the icy water to pull themselves up cargo nets or sea ladders to the safety and warmth of rescuers' ships, or even to hold on to ropes cast to them from the rescue vessel. By way of the lines the rescue swimmers tied around those who were having trouble helping themselves, many struggling survivors who--debilitated by the cold--would have otherwise died, were hauled aboard the Escanaba by crewmen on deck. Even those in the water who appeared to be dead were harnessed by the retrieval swimmers and pulled aboard — indeed, it was found that only 12 of the 50 apparently dead victims thus brought aboard by the retrieval teams actually turned out to be dead. The rest proved themselves to be quite alive once given the benefit of warmth, dryness, and medical attention.

In all, Escanaba plucked 133 survivors from the water that day, only one of whom went on to die aboard the cutter after rescue. For their work in supervising and organizing the rescue, commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Carl U. Peterson received the Legion of Merit and executive officer Lieutenant Robert H. Prause Jr., whose experiments in a tethered rubber suit off a dock at Bluie West One had paved the way for this new "retriever method," received a letter of commendation. Ship's doctor Assistant Surgeon Ralph R. Nix of the US Public Health Service also received a letter of commendation for his work saving the lives of the critically chilled survivors. Three crew members who went "over the side" to bring in survivors, Ensign Richard A. Arrighi, Ship's Cook 2nd Class Forrest O. Rednour, and Steward's Mate 3rd Class Warren T. Deyampert, were awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for their actions in the water. All decorations and commendations, however, were to be awarded posthumously.

Escanaba continues to live on today in the Coast Guard, as one of the "Famous Class" of 270-foot cutters on active service carries the name. I was a plankowner of one of her sister cutters, Tampa, whose predecessor was torpedoed while on escort duty off Ireland in World War I with the loss of all 111 hands. The class of 13 ships memorializes distinguished cutters from the past.

 

[vigil617]

On 3 February 1943, US Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba participated in the rescue of the survivors of the SS Dorchester, which had been torpedoed by a German submarine. The rescue was marked by the Escanaba's historic first use of rescue swimmers clad in survival suits to aid survivors, who were too weakened by shock or hypothermia in the icy water to pull themselves up cargo nets or sea ladders to the safety and warmth of rescuers' ships, or even to hold on to ropes cast to them from the rescue vessel. By way of the lines the rescue swimmers tied around those who were having trouble helping themselves, many struggling survivors who--debilitated by the cold--would have otherwise died, were hauled aboard the Escanaba by crewmen on deck. Even those in the water who appeared to be dead were harnessed by the retrieval swimmers and pulled aboard — indeed, it was found that only 12 of the 50 apparently dead victims thus brought aboard by the retrieval teams actually turned out to be dead. The rest proved themselves to be quite alive once given the benefit of warmth, dryness, and medical attention.

In all, Escanaba plucked 133 survivors from the water that day, only one of whom went on to die aboard the cutter after rescue. For their work in supervising and organizing the rescue, commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Carl U. Peterson received the Legion of Merit and executive officer Lieutenant Robert H. Prause Jr., whose experiments in a tethered rubber suit off a dock at Bluie West One had paved the way for this new "retriever method," received a letter of commendation. Ship's doctor Assistant Surgeon Ralph R. Nix of the US Public Health Service also received a letter of commendation for his work saving the lives of the critically chilled survivors. Three crew members who went "over the side" to bring in survivors, Ensign Richard A. Arrighi, Ship's Cook 2nd Class Forrest O. Rednour, and Steward's Mate 3rd Class Warren T. Deyampert, were awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for their actions in the water. All decorations and commendations, however, were to be awarded posthumously.

Escanaba continues to live on today in the Coast Guard, as one of the "Famous Class" of 270-foot cutters on active service carries the name. I was a plankowner of one of her sister cutters, Tampa, which was torpedoed while on escort duty off Ireland in World War I. The class of 13 ships memorializes distinguished cutters from the past.

Rusty, another method of survivor retrieval used on some ships employs a J-shaped davit that can be swung over the side rigged with a line attached to a horsecollar-style vest for hoisting a victim on board.

 

[andy52]

The ships had been under air attack (note the elevated 5" guns, and the gun director on top of the pilot house trained to starboard searching for aircraft), so my guess is that that the destroyer captain would not take the time to lower and recover a boat. Since the overboard sailors were in good enough shape to stand, a rope ladder or cargo net plus life rings on lines (as Baggy Wrinkle stated) were probably used. FYI, the rescuing destroyer is the USS Waldron, DD-699.

Thanks I tried to make out the hull number but couldn't.
I wasn't sure if it was a Sumner or a Gearing. My first ship was a Gearing Class Destroyer DD-841 and the two look very similar from that angle.