Kamikaze Attack at Kerama Retto
Throughout April, Terror remained at Kerama Retto providing logistic services and receiving casualties from ships hit by kamikazes. During the long and arduous month, Terror’s crew went to general quarters 93 times, for periods ranging from seven minutes to six and one-half hours. ... On 1 May 1945, as Terror lay at anchor in Kerama Retto, a kamikaze dove toward the ship. ... Darting through the smoke screen and approaching Terror’s port beam, the attacker banked around the stern, then came in from the starboard quarter so rapidly that only the stern guns had time to open fire. As the plane crashed into the ship's communication platform, one of its bombs exploded. The other bomb penetrated the main deck before exploding. The aircraft's engine tore through the ship's bulkheads to land in the wardroom. Fire flared immediately in the superstructure but was soon controlled and, within two hours, was extinguished. Flooding of the magazines prevented possible explosions, and no engineering damage occurred, but the kamikaze had exacted its toll. ... The attack cost Terror 171 casualties: 41 dead, 7 missing, and 123 wounded.
