Air Attack near Ie Shima, Okinawa
While patrolling 2 miles south of Ie Shima, Okinawa, Bates engaged three attacking Japanese planes with gunfire. ... The first plane dropped a bomb, scoring a near miss which ruptured the starboard hull of the ship, and then crashed into the starboard side of the fantail. The second plane, almost simultaneously, made a suicide hit on the pilothouse. Shortly thereafter the third plane made a bombing run scoring a near miss amidships, portside, rupturing the hull. ... At 1145, Bates was ordered abandoned. ... Twenty-one of her crew were either dead or missing from the attacks. ... During the afternoon Cree (ATF-84) was able to get a line aboard and towed Bates to Ie Shima anchorage. At 1923, May 25 1945 the still burning Bates capsized and sank in 20 fathoms of water.
