Kamikaze Attack near Philippines
Salamaua's planes began blasting enemy positions at Lingayen Gulf and providing air cover for the approaching Allied ships on January 6th. On the 9th, they provided air cover for the troops landing on the assault beaches; then continued that support until the 13th. ... Just before 0900 on that day, a kamikaze carrying two 250 kg. bombs crashed Salamaua's flight deck. ... Over eighty men were injured. Fifteen were killed. ... Damage was extensive. The flight deck, the hangar deck, and spaces below blazed with a multitude of fires. One of the bombs, failing to explode, punched through the starboard side at the waterline. Power, communications, and steering failed. One of her engine rooms flooded. The starboard engine quit. But, by 0910, her gunners had splashed two of the kamikaze's compatriots. ... Temporary repairs enabled her to return to San Francisco.
