Kamakaze Attack
Retiring in her task group to refuel, Franklin returned to the Leyte action on October 27, her planes concentrating on a heavy cruiser and two destroyers south of Mindoro. She was underway about 1,000 miles off Samar on October 30 when enemy bombers appeare d bent on a suicide mission. Three doggedly pursued Franklin, the first plummeting off her starboard side the second hitting the flight deck and crashing through to the gallery deck, showering destruction, killing 56 and wounding 60. The third disc harging another near miss at Franklin before diving into the flight deck of Belleau Wood.