Kamikaze Attack off Okinawa
While patrolling with Harry F. Bauer and Ellyson 6 June, J. William Ditter was attacked by a large group of kamikazes. The ship's gun crews downed five of the planes but a sixth glanced off her No. 2 stack, and another crashed her on the port side near the main deck. The ship lost all power and suffered many casualties, but valiant damage control kept her afloat until she could be towed by tug Ute to Kerama Retto next day.
