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Salamaua

Ship Designation: 
CVE-96
Date Lost: 
Saturday, January 13, 1945
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.

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 12

Namesort descending Service Branch
CBM Harvie Bottoms USN
AM 1c George Cunningham USN
SK 1c Kenneth Lavars USN
Sea 2c Cliff Lewis USN
Sea 1c Feliciao Montanio USN
Sea 1c David Pohl USN
Sea 2c Donald Thayer USN
Sea 2c James Thorpe USN
Sea 2c John Torgerson USN
EM 3c Charlie Vlahek USN
Sea 1c Ralph Windle USN
AOM 1c Robert Wiorek USN
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships