Dive Bomber Attack near New Guinea
On September 12, LST-455 lay anchored near Lae New Guinea among allied ships presenting, a tempting target by virtue of the nest of LCI's alongside. Nine Japanese dive bombers, escorted by nine Zero fighters attacked the shipping in Morobe Bay and singled out LST-455 for attention, scoring a direct hit aft. A large bomb hit the stern, passed through the galley, and exploded in the crew's quarters, aft, starting fires and trapping men in the after steering room. Determined sailors battled the blaze and cut through bullsheads to rescue the trapped men. LST-455 shot down two of the attackers. By nightfall, her men had extinguished the blaze and commenced initial repairs.
