Inferno: The Epic Life and Death Struggle of the USS Franklin in World War II

I have started reading this detailed account of the event ; the bombing of the S.S.Franklin. It has a lot of personal stories and recountings that are so insightful. My dad was a Aircraft Radio Tech 2c on board during this mission, and as many soldiers of that era, they didnt talk much of their experience. This is an eye opener. Our youth today would be well served to read factual history.

Two of my shipmates were ship's company on the USS Forrestal CVA-59 and went through that trial at sea. I served in USS Enterprise CVAN-65 and left the ship before the Big E survived a big fire at sea. Someone who has never lived aboard one of these floating cities with an airport on the roof can't fully appreciate how damn dangerous they can be. The crew of the Franklin were damn fine sailors & marines _ every man jack of them. The disgusting actions of the Franklin's captain left me with a bad taste. He was a disgrace to the US Navy and I'm appalled the senior admirals didn't censure him. Hand salute to Admiral Forrestal for nixing him getting an MOH. The photo is the Big E off of Hawaii January 14, 1969.

In this exciting book, author Joseph A. Springer tells the tale of the USS Franklin and her fight to survive against the Japanese. "Big Ben" was one of over twenty Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II. Measuring over 800 feet long and carrying 90+ aircraft, Big Ben and her sister ships had brought the war right to Japan's doorstep by the early spring of 1945. The Franklin had served in numerous campaigns since her commissioning, earning a remarkable battle record along the way. In March, 1945, the Franklin and the rest of the Big Blue Fleet were poised less than 60 miles from Japan. Franklin's planes were assigned to bomb airfields suspected of housing kamikaze aircraft. The Franklin had a run-in with a kamikaze the previous fall which resulted in the loss of many men and necessitated her return to the mainland for repairs. While undergoing refit, the Franklin received a new captain, Leslie Edward Gehres. He was a by-the-book captain who regularly belittled his crew. The crew members took an immediate dislike to Gehres, and this only grew worse as time went on. On March 19, 1945, a single Japanese Judy dive bomber weaved through the intense flak put up by the Americans and dropped a single bomb square on the deck of the Franklin. During the next twenty-eight hours, the Franklin fought for her life as huge explosions racked the ship. Hundreds of men were killed and many were blown off the ship due to the raging fires. There were numerous acts of heroism and gallantry as the crew fought to save the ship. The light cruiser USS Santa Fe moved alongside the Franklin to assist with the firefighting as well as evacuating the wounded. Finally, the ship's fires were brought under control and a tow line was rigged between the Franklin and the heavy cruiser USS Pittsburgh. The Franklin was towed out of harm's way until she could steam on her own. In the end, the Franklin was able to steam all the way back to New York for repairs. But, 798 men were killed and 487 wounded in this terrible attack. Captain Gehres threatened to court-martial the men who had left the ship, including the ones who were blown over the side. He made up little cards and distributed them to the men who had remained on the ship. He also refused to let the survivors who left the ship sail back to the United States aboard the Franklin. This is an excellent book. What makes the book so good is the oral histories provided by the surviving crew members. These brave men give the reader a vivid picture of what it was like to serve on the Franklin. They also pulled no punches in describing their dislike of captain Gehres. The best part was the survivors' description of the dive bombing attack and how they banded together to save the ship. I give this book my highest recommendation. Oral histories are the best way to really learn about an event, and Joseph Springer has used the oral histories contained in this book to paint a picture of what it was really like to serve on a fleet carrier in World War II. The interwoven text provided by Springer is informative as well. World War II history fans will definitely enjoy this fine book.

This book was very close to home for me and my family. My Mother's 2nd oldest brother was on the USS Franklin for the duration of the war. He was a Fireman, and also worked in the boiler room, that's where he was when this happened to the Franklin. I could think of his experience through the whole book. My Uncle was on the ship when it sailed into NY harbor and he came home to upstate NY. The metal pieces in his head left him with terrible headaches, and the pictures in his mind of men jumping overboard with their helmets strapped under their chins only to have their necks broken when they hit the water. How many he saved by taking the strap or the helmet off, but the many he couldn't save, gave him nightmares for many years after. The one thing my Uncle never did, was to talk about this Inferno.

Finally after all these years an author tells the whole story as nearlly as it can be told, ( too many of the knowledgeable crew are now deceased). The book (hardcover edition) is well illustrated, complete with diagrams of the ship and the bomb stikes. It is important that the reader grasp the enormous explosive nature of fully armed and fueled aircraft both on the flight deck and especiallly the hangar deck. It is not the power of a single 500kg bomb or a second 250kg bomb that can destroy a ship of this size, it is the fire and sustained explosions from all of those armed and fueled planes that nearly blew the USS Ben Franklin out of the water on March 19, 1945. The heroic efforts of the crew of the USS Ben Franklin and the crew of the USS Santa Fe for fighting the fires until they were under control are the primary reason that Franklin survived the day. My father was the ordinance officer for VMF-214 & VMF-452. This book will go down as the definitive edition on the subject.

"Inferno" is the story of the "USS Franklin", set in the western Pacific during the late stages of World War 2. Known throughout the Fleet as "The Big Ben", the ship was hit by a kamikaze in March of 1945. Incredibly, she had also been hit by kamikazes the previous fall, taken out of service, overhauled, and returned to service. There are twin ordeals here, the obvious one with the Japanese Imperial Navy but also issues with a most difficult skipper. The "Franklin" experienced a change of command during refurbishing-with unhappy -and controversial-results. Those are well-documented here. Most of "Inferno" unfolds via interviews author Springer conducted with the surviving crew. This reviewer firmly believes that direct accounts of an historical event are superior to a straight text narrative. One has to marvel at the sheer amount of effort the author expended in searching for these men, marshalling their accounts and sifting through their recollections. An interesting touch to "Inferno" is that the technical talk is loaded on early in the text to satisfy those who can appreciate it. Also, the maps herein are quite useful, if a bit challenging. Placed together early in the text, the author obviously took some effort in compiling them. The bottom line is that "Inferno" is a well done addition the already large base of military and naval history of World War 2. It's interesting to note that in contrast to "Danger's Hour", a similar, recent naval history release, not one reviewer to date has challenged the author on the facts herein.

Very interesting story about a valiant ship and crew. It's also the tale of a Captain that should not have be in command of a ship and sailors during WW2. Occasionally, someone reaches high command who simply should not be in charge of people, (example, Marcus A Arnheiter). The Captain of the Franklin was one of those. It is a fine story of saving a ship so badly damaged that in most cases she would have sunk.

For 5 years, I served as a Docent on the U.S.S. Hornet, CV 12 in Alameda, California. This museum ship, sister of CV 13 Franklin, is open to visitors who care to see what these ships were about. In my Engine Room tour, taking 20 visitors down to bottom of the ship for an hour, I would spend some 10 minutes telling the story of the Franklin. As often as not, there would be tears. In the Forward Engine Room, at the bottom of the main control panel, there is mounted a control box with the brass label CV13, originally from the Franklin. A.A. Hoehling had written The Franklin Comes Home, a good book that earned it BlueJacket Navy. Inferno was much richer in its read and the human elements. Highly recomended. With all of the WW2 men rapidly dying off, it is not likely that we'll get the stories of most of the other Essex Carriers. Each fought the war from its own unique perspective and accomplishments. Thank you Mr. Springer for telling this story. As a high school teacher, our students have no sense of reality or proportionality about war, gallantry, and 1,000 men dying in less than an hour. It's here, in this book.

Okay, Boomers, you saw Saving Private Ryan, and you think you know just how bad WWII could be? That was war in Europe, that was the Army. There was also the war in the Pacific and the BlueJackets. The boys in the Navy, you know, the ones that had the cushy assignments: 3 hots and a bunk. This book is a must read for anyone who fancies themselves WWII history buff, but really it's a great read for anyone, it's so well written and so compelling. It's an oral history, so a great deal of the material is told in the words of the men who were there. Springer has a perfect ear for capturing just the right material from his interviews to move his story forward and yet still capture the flavor of the real deal. He's also not afraid to put conflicting accounts justaposed, which ironically gives it more credibility (fog of war). He also puts in just the right amount of his own prose to give the reader the historical context. There are also excellent diagrams, maps and appendices to provide more detail. The other thing any reader needs to know before purchasing is that this is a very specific account of life (and death) aboard the USS Franklin, it's not and does not try to be a history of the war in the Pacific. I have no clue why Amazon is suggesting patton, italy or eisenhower as tags. It's a wonderful account of the truly astounding acts of bravery of the younger members of "the Greatest Generation" in their own words, captured thankfully before we lose these precious people to the winds of time. It's also an account of the incredible and intractable ego of their commander, which led to the devastation of the Franklin in the first place. Ego can be a great thing in a leader but it can also lead to stupidly irrational 'reasoning', and truly disastrous results, as demonstrated here. A minor regret: I wish someone (anyone) who thought Gehres was a good leader (Springer states there were many) would have gone on the record with some detail as to why they felt that way. It would have made the story more complete in my mind. Who were these people and why did they feel that way? I can accept that somebody would be a good leader in peace but not in war, or that a commander would be a good leader on a cruiser or a battleship but not on a carrier, or that he had managed to control his ego previously, but as he got older, it raged out of control. I just wish I knew what the case was here. In any case, Springer certainly makes his case that Gehres was a catastrophe leading the Franklin. Most of all, the book truly proves at all levels, large and small, that individuals matter, even (or perhaps especially) in the military. I can't wait to get Springer's

It was excellent. I’ve served on three Essex Class carriers is and could accurately imagine the scenarios described n the book. It was horrific. The book reinforced my belief in the curse of thirteen.

I have started reading this detailed account of the event ; the bombing of the S.S.Franklin. It has a lot of personal stories and recountings that are so insightful. My dad was a Aircraft Radio Tech 2c on board during this mission, and as many soldiers of that era, they didnt talk much of their experience. This is an eye opener. Our youth today would be well served to read factual history.

Two of my shipmates were ship's company on the USS Forrestal CVA-59 and went through that trial at sea. I served in USS Enterprise CVAN-65 and left the ship before the Big E survived a big fire at sea. Someone who has never lived aboard one of these floating cities with an airport on the roof can't fully appreciate how damn dangerous they can be. The crew of the Franklin were damn fine sailors & marines _ every man jack of them. The disgusting actions of the Franklin's captain left me with a bad taste. He was a disgrace to the US Navy and I'm appalled the senior admirals didn't censure him. Hand salute to Admiral Forrestal for nixing him getting an MOH. The photo is the Big E off of Hawaii January 14, 1969.

In this exciting book, author Joseph A. Springer tells the tale of the USS Franklin and her fight to survive against the Japanese. "Big Ben" was one of over twenty Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II. Measuring over 800 feet long and carrying 90+ aircraft, Big Ben and her sister ships had brought the war right to Japan's doorstep by the early spring of 1945. The Franklin had served in numerous campaigns since her commissioning, earning a remarkable battle record along the way. In March, 1945, the Franklin and the rest of the Big Blue Fleet were poised less than 60 miles from Japan. Franklin's planes were assigned to bomb airfields suspected of housing kamikaze aircraft. The Franklin had a run-in with a kamikaze the previous fall which resulted in the loss of many men and necessitated her return to the mainland for repairs. While undergoing refit, the Franklin received a new captain, Leslie Edward Gehres. He was a by-the-book captain who regularly belittled his crew. The crew members took an immediate dislike to Gehres, and this only grew worse as time went on. On March 19, 1945, a single Japanese Judy dive bomber weaved through the intense flak put up by the Americans and dropped a single bomb square on the deck of the Franklin. During the next twenty-eight hours, the Franklin fought for her life as huge explosions racked the ship. Hundreds of men were killed and many were blown off the ship due to the raging fires. There were numerous acts of heroism and gallantry as the crew fought to save the ship. The light cruiser USS Santa Fe moved alongside the Franklin to assist with the firefighting as well as evacuating the wounded. Finally, the ship's fires were brought under control and a tow line was rigged between the Franklin and the heavy cruiser USS Pittsburgh. The Franklin was towed out of harm's way until she could steam on her own. In the end, the Franklin was able to steam all the way back to New York for repairs. But, 798 men were killed and 487 wounded in this terrible attack. Captain Gehres threatened to court-martial the men who had left the ship, including the ones who were blown over the side. He made up little cards and distributed them to the men who had remained on the ship. He also refused to let the survivors who left the ship sail back to the United States aboard the Franklin. This is an excellent book. What makes the book so good is the oral histories provided by the surviving crew members. These brave men give the reader a vivid picture of what it was like to serve on the Franklin. They also pulled no punches in describing their dislike of captain Gehres. The best part was the survivors' description of the dive bombing attack and how they banded together to save the ship. I give this book my highest recommendation. Oral histories are the best way to really learn about an event, and Joseph Springer has used the oral histories contained in this book to paint a picture of what it was really like to serve on a fleet carrier in World War II. The interwoven text provided by Springer is informative as well. World War II history fans will definitely enjoy this fine book.

This book was very close to home for me and my family. My Mother's 2nd oldest brother was on the USS Franklin for the duration of the war. He was a Fireman, and also worked in the boiler room, that's where he was when this happened to the Franklin. I could think of his experience through the whole book. My Uncle was on the ship when it sailed into NY harbor and he came home to upstate NY. The metal pieces in his head left him with terrible headaches, and the pictures in his mind of men jumping overboard with their helmets strapped under their chins only to have their necks broken when they hit the water. How many he saved by taking the strap or the helmet off, but the many he couldn't save, gave him nightmares for many years after. The one thing my Uncle never did, was to talk about this Inferno.

Finally after all these years an author tells the whole story as nearlly as it can be told, ( too many of the knowledgeable crew are now deceased). The book (hardcover edition) is well illustrated, complete with diagrams of the ship and the bomb stikes. It is important that the reader grasp the enormous explosive nature of fully armed and fueled aircraft both on the flight deck and especiallly the hangar deck. It is not the power of a single 500kg bomb or a second 250kg bomb that can destroy a ship of this size, it is the fire and sustained explosions from all of those armed and fueled planes that nearly blew the USS Ben Franklin out of the water on March 19, 1945. The heroic efforts of the crew of the USS Ben Franklin and the crew of the USS Santa Fe for fighting the fires until they were under control are the primary reason that Franklin survived the day. My father was the ordinance officer for VMF-214 & VMF-452. This book will go down as the definitive edition on the subject.

"Inferno" is the story of the "USS Franklin", set in the western Pacific during the late stages of World War 2. Known throughout the Fleet as "The Big Ben", the ship was hit by a kamikaze in March of 1945. Incredibly, she had also been hit by kamikazes the previous fall, taken out of service, overhauled, and returned to service. There are twin ordeals here, the obvious one with the Japanese Imperial Navy but also issues with a most difficult skipper. The "Franklin" experienced a change of command during refurbishing-with unhappy -and controversial-results. Those are well-documented here. Most of "Inferno" unfolds via interviews author Springer conducted with the surviving crew. This reviewer firmly believes that direct accounts of an historical event are superior to a straight text narrative. One has to marvel at the sheer amount of effort the author expended in searching for these men, marshalling their accounts and sifting through their recollections. An interesting touch to "Inferno" is that the technical talk is loaded on early in the text to satisfy those who can appreciate it. Also, the maps herein are quite useful, if a bit challenging. Placed together early in the text, the author obviously took some effort in compiling them. The bottom line is that "Inferno" is a well done addition the already large base of military and naval history of World War 2. It's interesting to note that in contrast to "Danger's Hour", a similar, recent naval history release, not one reviewer to date has challenged the author on the facts herein.

Very interesting story about a valiant ship and crew. It's also the tale of a Captain that should not have be in command of a ship and sailors during WW2. Occasionally, someone reaches high command who simply should not be in charge of people, (example, Marcus A Arnheiter). The Captain of the Franklin was one of those. It is a fine story of saving a ship so badly damaged that in most cases she would have sunk.

For 5 years, I served as a Docent on the U.S.S. Hornet, CV 12 in Alameda, California. This museum ship, sister of CV 13 Franklin, is open to visitors who care to see what these ships were about. In my Engine Room tour, taking 20 visitors down to bottom of the ship for an hour, I would spend some 10 minutes telling the story of the Franklin. As often as not, there would be tears. In the Forward Engine Room, at the bottom of the main control panel, there is mounted a control box with the brass label CV13, originally from the Franklin. A.A. Hoehling had written The Franklin Comes Home, a good book that earned it BlueJacket Navy. Inferno was much richer in its read and the human elements. Highly recomended. With all of the WW2 men rapidly dying off, it is not likely that we'll get the stories of most of the other Essex Carriers. Each fought the war from its own unique perspective and accomplishments. Thank you Mr. Springer for telling this story. As a high school teacher, our students have no sense of reality or proportionality about war, gallantry, and 1,000 men dying in less than an hour. It's here, in this book.

Okay, Boomers, you saw Saving Private Ryan, and you think you know just how bad WWII could be? That was war in Europe, that was the Army. There was also the war in the Pacific and the BlueJackets. The boys in the Navy, you know, the ones that had the cushy assignments: 3 hots and a bunk. This book is a must read for anyone who fancies themselves WWII history buff, but really it's a great read for anyone, it's so well written and so compelling. It's an oral history, so a great deal of the material is told in the words of the men who were there. Springer has a perfect ear for capturing just the right material from his interviews to move his story forward and yet still capture the flavor of the real deal. He's also not afraid to put conflicting accounts justaposed, which ironically gives it more credibility (fog of war). He also puts in just the right amount of his own prose to give the reader the historical context. There are also excellent diagrams, maps and appendices to provide more detail. The other thing any reader needs to know before purchasing is that this is a very specific account of life (and death) aboard the USS Franklin, it's not and does not try to be a history of the war in the Pacific. I have no clue why Amazon is suggesting patton, italy or eisenhower as tags. It's a wonderful account of the truly astounding acts of bravery of the younger members of "the Greatest Generation" in their own words, captured thankfully before we lose these precious people to the winds of time. It's also an account of the incredible and intractable ego of their commander, which led to the devastation of the Franklin in the first place. Ego can be a great thing in a leader but it can also lead to stupidly irrational 'reasoning', and truly disastrous results, as demonstrated here. A minor regret: I wish someone (anyone) who thought Gehres was a good leader (Springer states there were many) would have gone on the record with some detail as to why they felt that way. It would have made the story more complete in my mind. Who were these people and why did they feel that way? I can accept that somebody would be a good leader in peace but not in war, or that a commander would be a good leader on a cruiser or a battleship but not on a carrier, or that he had managed to control his ego previously, but as he got older, it raged out of control. I just wish I knew what the case was here. In any case, Springer certainly makes his case that Gehres was a catastrophe leading the Franklin. Most of all, the book truly proves at all levels, large and small, that individuals matter, even (or perhaps especially) in the military. I can't wait to get Springer's

It was excellent. I’ve served on three Essex Class carriers is and could accurately imagine the scenarios described n the book. It was horrific. The book reinforced my belief in the curse of thirteen.

This is a stunning story about something that happened in US Naval history that I believe many Americans know nothing about. I urge you to take the time to read this story about courage and betrayal aboard an American aircraft carrier off the coast of Japan during the final year of the war in the Pacific. If you read this book, you will forever look at war and death with a different understanding. Moving. Stunning. Beautiful. Tragic. Life and death as it took place and in their own words. Read it. You will not be sorry. RMS

Excellent. Extremely well researched and the author tells the story well. It's not often I find a "history" book that I can't put down. Was looking for information about a friend I had who was on the USS Franklin and the book even mentioned a buddy of my friend who had been one of those died in the bombing. I wish he could have been around to have read the book because in his later years he liked to talk about that event.

Great! The truth from the guys that lived it and in their words. A verbal depiction of a battle as witnessed and lived by crewmen as they fought to save both themselves and their ship.

Excellent read. Everyone should know about what the crew of the Franklin went through. I am a 3rd generation navy veteran and we all agree that this book was excellent. We all also agree that Captain Gering should have been court martial and dismissed from service even before we read the book.

This book is a great read for anyone interested in the carriers roll during WWII. The book is different from others written about the war, because of the interviews of survivors, telling first hand accounts of what actually happened during and after the ship was attacked. The only thing missing in this book were pictures. Many times the book mentions the historic pictures taken of the attack and the aftermath, but not one picture is in this book. Pictures would have brought more meaning to the books description of the events as described.

Very good book and wonderful reading, Author had all the problems of the ship, it almost put you right on the flight deck and suffered like the crew.

Excellent read on the most under told tragedy of WWII. This is the most intense, heartbreaking and angering incident to take place during that time.

Bare facts that become a page turner due to the organizational skill of Springer. I know one of the persons quoted and he verified the authenticity of the contents.

I had never heard the truth about Big Ben until I read about it in Springer's book, "Inferno". A great read for Navy story enthusiasts.

This is the latest in a series of books I've read about carriers in the Pacific. It's also one of the most amazing exhibitions of bravery and savage control ever seen.

The best book I have ever read about the Franklin. First person experiences.

As a relative of a survivor of the FRANKLIN, I would say this is a fantastic book. I think I have just about everything written on the FRANKLIN except the battle reports as well as over 300 volumns on the Pacific champaigh having studied it for twenty years. I have also met many of the crewman qouted in the book. The coverage of the first cruise is unique not having been covered previously. This gives such a realistic and personnal touch. The details are forthright and reflect the actual conditions. As to a "Pro-Gehers" opinion, there is a man from Capt.Gehers' home town who is suppose to be writing the captain's biography. I agree holdhartedly with the previous review.

Very enlightening. I've always been interested in the story of the Franklin. Most people do not realize just how dangerous it was on a carrier in the Pacific during WW2.

This book is a great read for WWII buffs. You could almost feel the heat from the fires as you read. The book honors the heroes that kept the ship afloat after being subject to kamakazie attack. It is a must read if you are interested in America's response to the Japanese efforts to destroy our naval fleet's hopping from island to island to the final push to Japan.

I really appreciate the level of detail that the book provides to the reader. It's an education for me - I am a Docent on the USS Hornet.

Love all second WW11 history. Well written and the story of one carrier in the Pacific

An excellent oral history of those who were there. For any naval history buffs, this is a must read book which details the heroism of those who so gallantly fought to save their ship, as well as those who fought for their survival in the waters of the Pacific. A story of America's young men who witnessed and lived through some of the most terrible experiences brought about through warfare. The crew of the USS Franklin truly exemplified the attitude of never give up the ship.

Well written account with first person interviews contributed by officers and men as the narrative unfolds.

Very well researched and detailed narrative.

Very well written description of one of World War II's most gallant aircraft carriers!! Well worth reading by anyone interested in the events of World War II!

excellent book great history 5 star loved the tales from those that were there. Any WW II history buff should read this

This is one of the best of its kind. Factual, great pictures and interviews. Author pulls no punches.

I don't write many book reviews, but I had to write one about this book. First let me explain, I'm just someone who likes to read about WWII (not usually the Pacific/Japanese side of the war - more the European side). I'm not a historian, or trying to be an expert in the subject. So, this is coming from a lay person who just happened to buy this book on a fluke. My only chance to read is when I'm on public transportation to and from work. The first half of this book occasionally had my laughing out loud on the bus (and I'd get crazy looks because when they would look at the title, why would someone laugh at that book?!) But the stories the sailors told.... I could read a book like this all day/every day. With just soldiers/sailors telling their stories as the book progressed. The 2nd half of the book had my jaw dropping/gasping and sometimes trying to to bawl my eyes out. I absolutely recommend this book. It's an easy read. You can enjoy some of their stories, and hurt along with them on other stories. Just thinking about what these "kids" went thru for our country is awe inspiring and amazing. I got so wrapped up in this book I even missed my stop on the el and had to come cross over and come back. I hope you give this book a try.

This is a history book of highest quality, describing a story almost unbelievable - but which is true. It is not a pleasant book to read as the story is pretty nightmarish, but it is very well written and I finished it in a couple of days, because I simply couldn't stop reading. USS "Franklin" was a huge, powerful and very modern aircraft-carrier, one of 24 units of Essex-class. Those were the ships which allowed United States to crush Japanese armed forces and win the Pacific War. The first of them, USS "Essex" entered service in 1942 and they served in World War II, in Korea War, during Cuban missile crisis, in Vietnam War and participated in American space program - and it was only in 1991 that the last to be still operationnal, USS "Lexington", was decomissioned. Although many of them were grievously damaged in service, none was ever sunk - and four of them are still preserved today as museums (USS "Yorktown", USS "Intrepid", USS "Hornet" and USS "Lexington"). USS "Franklin" was the fifth ship of the class. Named after Benjamin Franklin, she was nicknamed by her crew "Big Ben" (most US carriers have nicknames - USS "Intrepid" was known as "Evil I", USS "Lexington" was called "Blue Ghost" and USS "Hornet" was unoficially named "Horny Maru" by her particularly irreverent crew...). Commisioned in January 1944 and arrived in combat area in June 1944, she had a short but very eventful war-time service. Damaged a first time by a kamikaze on 30 October 1944 she was back in combat on 15 March 1945, participating in the raid on Japanese mainland airfields, in preparation for Okinawa invasion. It was during this mission, on 19 March 1945, that she was targeted by a single Yokosuka D4Y "Judy" dive bomber. It had to be operated by a particularly astute, skillful and lucky pilot, as the attack surprised Americans and the carrier was hit by both 550-pounds bombs carried by this kind of plane. The results of the attack was carnage and destruction on a scale never achieved on any US Navy ship which managed to remain afloat. 798 crew members ultimately died - in all World War II heavier American losses occurred only on battleship USS "Arizona" and heavy-cruiser USS "Indianapolis", which both were sunk. In a matter of minutes the ship was burning and bombs and other munitions exploding. Admiral Davison who was in command of the Task Force of which USS "Franklin" was part authorized the captain of the carrier to order "abandon ship" if he wanted - but the skipper refused, knowing that there were hundreds of people trapped beyond the deck. The fight to save the ship and the trapped crew members lasted full 48 hours, as she was towed away from Japanese waters and fighters from other carriers, as well as what remained of her own guns, were protecting her from more Japanese attacks. Ultimately, USS "Franklin" was saved, but she was out of war for good and out of service for more than a year. This book tells the whole story of war time service of "Big Ben" almost entirely by giving voice to the surviving crew members (and some crew members from ships which helped save her). Author worked very hard for many years to locate and interview the survivors and this book is a great exercice of oral history. Author of course introduced in every chapter some descriptions of events taken from reports and history books as well as some official communications and documents, but they are the frame - the picture itself was painted entirely by people who really served, worked, fought and suffered on USS "Franklin", including during those horrible 48 hours of hell, on 19 and 20 March 1945. This is an excellent book, of highest quality, well written and very well illustrated, a result of many years of hard labour by the author. A book to buy, read and keep. Enjoy!

This riveting story from start to finish makes 911 seem like a backyard fire. Not only is this well-researched history made alive 60 years later, but well-told, with eye-witness accounts that send chills from your stem to stern. It is told with shocking immediacy and verisimilitude to satisfy any sailor or naval historian. Only Eugene Sledge's WWII war memoir rivals this harrowing, late-in-war account of the violence of war. The continuous former-crew member accounts heighten the terror-filled violence inflicted upon the USS Franklin less than 60 miles away from Japan late in the war. Yet, there are more shocking revelations as you grippingly near the end of what I believe is the best read about carriers in the Pacific theatre I have encountered, the most educational. It is phenomenal in its detail on the armament of the planes and the ship itself down to the amount of arms expended after each battle. No other WWII book has attempted such accuracy. If you ever tour a carrier, this is the one book to read beforehand. Only then will you be armed with the proper awe and respect to understand the necessity for carriers in our arsenal of democracy.

INFERNO: THE EPIC LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE OF THE USS FRANKLIN IN WORLD WAR II JOSEPH A. SPRINGER ZENITH PRESS, 2007 HARDCOVER, $24.95, PHOTOGRAPHS, 352 PAGES The 'Essex' class can claim to be the most cost-effective and successful aircraft carriers ever built. The specification, issued in June, 1939, was for an improved 'Yorktown' class, but with displacement increased by 7,000 tons to provide stronger defensive armament, thicker armor, more power and above all, more aviation fuel. With more than 6,300 tons of oil fuel, the endurance was 27,360 km (17,000 miles) at 20 knots, while 690 tons of gasoline and 220 tons of ammunition pushed up the number of sorties which could be flown. Above all, the same number of aircraft could be carried, although in practice many more could be carried; the nominal strength was 82 but by 1945, 108 of the latest aircraft could be embarked. Eleven of the class were ordered in 1940 and a further thirteen were built during World War II. Building times were extremely short; USS Essex (CV-9) was built in 20 months, and the wartime average was cut to 17.5 months. The fifth unit of the 'Essex' class was authorized in 1940 but wasn't started until a year after Pearl Harbor as there was no slipways of the right length available. However, her builders, Newport News Shipbuilding Comapny, made up for the delay by completing her in less than fourteen months. The USS Franklin (CV-13) was launched in Norfolk, Virginia on 14 October 1943; sponsored by Lt. Commander Mildred A. McAfee, U.S. Naval Reserve, Director of the WAVES; and commissioned on 31 January 1944, with Captain James M. Shoemaker in command. The USS FRANKLIN joined Task Force 58.2 exactly six months later for an attack on the Bonin Islands. From then on she was constantly in action: during an attack on Formosa and the Ryukyus in October, 1944, she was hit by a bomber which crashed on her deck, and two days later her deck-edge lift was hit by a bomb which killed three men. During the Battle of Surigao Strait on 24 October 1944, the USS Franklin's aircraft sank a destroyer, and then attacked the giant battleship Musashi in the Sibuyan Sea. On the next day, during the Battle of Cape Engano, they crippled the Japanese light carrier Chiyoda and finished off the Zuikaku. The Franklin's run of good luck ended on 30 October 1944. While defending the Leyte Gulf landing area, she and a light aircraft carrier were attacked by five kamikaze aircraft which had broken through the fighter screen: she lost 59 dead and 60 wounded, while 33 aircraft were destroyed by the fire which followed. She had to return to Bremerton Navy Yard for major repairs, and didn't return to active service until February, 1945. As part of Task Force 58, the Franklin attacked Kyushu in the Japanese home islands on 18 March 1945. The next day saw two Yokosuka D4Y 'Judy' bombers make a daring low-level attack, and hit the USS Franklin with two 250-kg (551-lb) bombs just as she was preparing her second strike. At first, the damage didn't seem serious for the bombs hadn't penetrated below the hangar deck, but as the aircraft caught fire; their bombs and rockets, as well as the spare ordnance in the hangar, started to explode. Toxic smoke was drawn through the ship's ventilation system, with the result that many of the 724 dead were suffocated (another 265 were wounded). Many of the crew were blown overboard, driven off by fire, killed or wounded, but the remaining 106 officers and 604 enlisted voluntarily remained to save their ship through sheer valor and tenacity. Among those were two Medal of Honor recipients: Lt. Commander Joseph T. O'Callahan, Society of Jesus, U.S. Naval Reserve, the ship's chaplain and Lt.(j.g.) Donald Gray, who discovered 300 men trapped in a blackened mess compartment and returned repeatedly to lead groups to safety. The USS Santa Fe (CL-60) similarly rendered vital assistance in rescuing crewmen from the sea and taking off the numerous wounded from the Franklin. She lay dead in the water for three hours as the engine and boiler rooms couldn't be manned. Finally, the fires were put out and on the next day, the Franklin was taken in tow by the USS Pittsburgh (CA-72) until she was able to get up steam to 14 knots on her own. She limped back to Pearl Harbor and then across the Pacific to the Brooklyn Navy Yard for lengthy repairs on 28 April 1945. It was opened to the public for Navy Day celebrations and on 17 February 1947, the Franklin was placed out of commission at Bayonne, New Jersey. On 15 May 1959, she was reclassified AVT-8. The USS Franklin (Big Ben) was awarded four battle stars for World War II service. INFERNO: THE EPIC LIFE AND DEATH STRUGGLE OF THE USS FRANKLIN IN WORLD WAR II makes a significant contribution to the history of the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. Expertly researched and documented, it describes in detail the activities of both enlisted and officer during their campaign in the Pacific. The subsequent battle, the valiant efforts to save the ship, and the heroic rescue that the author vividly describes makes for fascinating reading. Lt. Colonel Robert A. Lynn, Florida Guard Orlando, Florida

This is one of the best oral histories about action in World War II that I have read. The book describes, in the words of the sailors who were there, the two attacks on the USS Franklin - the first in October, 1944 when the ship was attacked by a kamikaze plane; the second in March, 1945 when a bomb nearly destroyed the ship. The oral histories are horrifying to read. It's truly incredible what these sailors went through to save the ship from sinking. The stories don't get any better than this. There is another part of this story with respect to the second bombing. And that deals with the second captain of the ship, Gehres, and how much the sailors thought he was a tyrant. The men are in disbelief when Gehres wants to court martial all of the men who were blown overboard during explosions or jumped, or were rescued by the Santa Fe. Gehres tried to hold them for desertion and dereliction of duty. You can't go wrong with this book.

This is a good account of the USS Franklin. Its done with interviews of the surviving crew. Even decades after the war, they still have survivor's guilt over having survived while their shipmates died. For that our servicemen who return from war deserve our profound sympathy. Our losses should be remembered. A good part is explaining how the body reacts and dies from smoke and fire. Not easy reading. But necessary as the crew had to fight fires to save their ship. a lot in how the Navy fights fires came from the after action reports of the analysis of this ship. For that alone, those that sail our ships at sea should read this book. Interestingly part of the book delves into the kamikaze that hit their ship and started the fires. A lot of what has been written in Japan has not been published in English. The letters and interviews about it from Japan deserve another book, easily. It gets 4 stars because it doesn't seem to flow easily. Its a good book, but its like, here's another quote or item I want to fit in. But its a well researched book.

Mention of the U.S.S. Franklin brings to mind CV-13 in extremis off Japan, the 872-foot long ship cloaked in towering columns of smoke as multiple explosions tore the carrier apart. Yet, as revealed in Joseph Springer's marvelous book, the Franklin's story was much fuller than just that brief moment of agony in March 1945. World War II fans will want to pick up a copy of INFERNO for it's a wonderfully-written, first-class recounting of the life and times of a gallant ship and crew. Prior to March 1945 CV-13 had a productive career. Commissioned in January 1944, Franklin and her Air Group ran up an exemplary record with Task Force 38, pounding various Japanese islands, sinking numerous ships including the giant BB Musashi, etc. In November CV-13 entered drydock to repair damage from a kamizake strike. CAPT. James Shoemaker, her popular skipper, was replaced by CAPT. Leslie Gehres, an overbearing, foul-tempered martinet whose subsequent conduct remains a shameful part of CV-13's history. Hundreds of new crewmen, many raw recruits, joined the ship before she sailed for the war zone in February 1945. Assigned to TF 58, Franklin was engaged in strikes against Japan on 19 March when a lone Judy dive-bomber slipped in and dropped a single 551-lb. bomb that devastated the ship. After many hours of horror and heroism - and at the cost of 798 KIA - the ship was saved. Subsequently repaired, CV-13 saw no further combat. Serving in the peacetime Navy, Franklin was stricken from the register in 1966 and sold for scrap. The book's back cover uses the word "riveting" in describing the book. That it is but it's also a well-researched, well-constructed book that clearly and logically introduces the reader to the world of a World War II Essex-class carrier. Springer devotes early pages to describing the ship, a great help when he later takes the reader into the ship relating the horrendous effects of the Judy's bomb on Franklin's lower levels. Likewise his descriptions of Naval equipment, procedures and tactics are well-done and devoid of needless jargon. Lastly he makes extensive use of first-person reminiscences and seamlesly blends those sections into his narrative. Make no mistake about it: INFERNO is great reading and Springer is one fine writer. Highly recommended.

You watched the PBS documentary, The War, from Ken Burns which purportedly was an oral history depicting WWII from the soldier-level point of view. It was a fine attempt but fell short of the goal in comparison to Joseph A. Springer's Inferno as he takes us on board the USS Franklin (a.k.a Big Ben) and into battle with the sailors and airmen who fought for our freedom. The reader benefits from a reduction in scope from global conflict to one in which a sailor blown overboard cannot see beyond the next ocean swell. From this perspective, one can begin to understand the war in a personal way. A well-crafted book, we are taken "from the keel, up" as Inferno begins with Big Ben's specifications and construction as well as crew training and shake down. After laying the proper groundwork, the book quickly moves the reader into naval operations as a fast fleet carrier, dealing death and destruction along a vast swath of the South Pacific including many famous battlegrounds; Iwo Jima, Peleliu, Luzon, Manila, Leyte, and Honshu. In carefully organized interviews, we are taken into the cockpits and gun turrets of dive-bombers, torpedo planes and fighter aircraft in the words of the men who were actually there. Riveting action reports, aircrew survival stories and eyewitness bomb damage assessments make it seem as if we are inside the minds of the frightened, but brave young men risking their lives to do their duty. Inferno notes that aircraft carriers were high-value targets commanding the special attention of Japanese aviators who flew through the Battle Group to zero in on flattops. Big Ben's size and importance led to one of the the Navy's first encounters with Japan's Divine Wind - their suicide Kamikaze attack planes - where they delivered a severe blow to the Franklin off of the Philippines in October 1944. This first successful attack by the Kamikaze forced Big Ben back to Bremerton, WA for repairs. Call it fate or bad luck, but this was not to be the last time that she would taste the sting of battle and catastrophic damage. A few short months later in March 1945, she would experience the near-fatal bomb attack off of Honshu that would define her crews' courage and valor as they saved the ship and brought her back to New York where she was nearly rebuilt - but never the same. The book strives to restore honor to the entire crew as the vindictive actions of a misguided captain attempted to segregate the crew into the Big Ben 704 Club - those sailors and airmen that remained on board during the entire ordeal - and those who did not; even if they were blown overboard by exploding ordnance, forced off due to flames and heat, removed to a rescue vessel as a result of injury or simply because they were ordered to abandon ship. Springer's Inferno makes it clear that All Hands of the U.S.S. Franklin, and those on the rescue vessels, were the real heroes of this heart-rending struggle. First class photos, maps, illustrations and an information-packed Addendum lend clarity to the story and help to hold the many details together in a concise and compelling manner. If you are ready for a hard-to-put-down book, Inferno: The Epic Life and Death Struggle of the USS Franklin in WWII should be on your Christmas list.

Joseph Springer has emerged as an accomplished WW II historian. Following his Special Service Force history with the gripping story of USS Franklin, he demonstrates an impressive mastery of the field. Two aspects of Inferno that particularly impress me are the excellent integration of multiple oral histories in describing the same event(s), and the historiography inherent to the CV-13 story. For decades the incomplete accounting of "Big Ben's" casualties was accepted as final, but Springer clearly demonstrates how the erroneous figure of 724 KIAs was compiled and not re-examined. (In truth, nearly 800 Franklin men lost their lives in the conflagration of 19 March 45.) There's also the intensely human story of the wretched relationship between new skipper Captain Gehres and his mostly veteran crew--a genuine HMS Bounty tale moved forward to mid 20th century. For that reason alone, Inferno serves as a study in command failure. Even a cursory reading of the multiple accounts leaves no doubt: Big Ben was saved by the efforts of numerous small teams of sailors devoted to their shipmates, who received almost no constructive leadership from the CO. How Gehres rose to so important a command--he was the only non-Annapolis officer to conn a fast carrier in WW II--would make interesting reading. The behind-the-scenes maneuverings in the Navy Department may be unknowable at this late date, but Adm. Nimitz had been dissatisfied with Gehres' performance in the Aleutians 1942-44. However, other than that, and a few minor errors, Inferno delivers a comprehensive "black gang" to aviator look at the men who lived one of the most dramatic events of WW II at sea.

Comissioned on January 30, 1944, the aircraft carrier USS Franklin (CV-13) saw action for the first time with TF 58.2 in following June, supporting the Eniwetok landings. Next, she took part in operations off the Bonins (Iwo Jima), the Marianas, the Palaus, Formosa and the Phillipines. Few days after the Battle of Leyte, on October 30, CV 13 was hit by a Kamikaze and its bomb, suffering 56 dead and 30 wounded. After undergoing repairs in ConUS (Bremerton, WA), on February 1945 she went back to the combat zone, in time to participate in US Navy's first air attacks against the Japanese mainland since the Doolittle raid back in 1942. In the early morning of March 19 the Big Ben was launching her planes less than 100 miles from the enemy coast when was hit by two bombs, suffering the most severe damage of any Essex-class carrier, including 724 dead and 265 wounded, putting her out of the war for good. In her second combat tour, she had been in action for just one day. In an impressive and amazing work, this book tells the story of the USS Franklin and her crew in their own words. Included the saga of the war operations in the Central Pacific campaign, the heroic struggle to save the apparently doomed ship and the unfortunate fate that befell part of the crewmen, with incredible and unfair accusations of cowardice and desertion levelled by their commander, Captain Lou E Gehres.

There's been a proliferation of Pacific War and aircraft carrier books in recent years, including more than one each on Leyte Gulf and the typhoon known as "Halsey's Hurricane." Therefore it's refreshing to see an original subject handled in such fine style as Springer's study of USS Franklin. "Inferno" is well researched, containing few errors and no significant ones. It's clear that the author, who previously wrote about the First Special Service Force, has educated himself about the specialized subject of carrier aviation. Few books make as full use of interviews and oral histories as Springer does. His narrative of the near-miraculous survival of "Big Ben" makes gripping reading, but he tells the full story of the carrier's wartime service, often describing the same event from the perspective of multiple witnesses. It's a technique that other writers could emulate, as it not only provides a wider account but helps demonstrate that people under stress tend to see things differently. In that regard, history is like the proverbial traffic accident where police find eyewitnesses often give contradictory testimony. However, there's no doubt that in the crisis the Franklin crew pulled together, often without direction from senior officers. The author's description of often poor leadership and even sailors robbing from the dead remind us that not all of the greatest generation were exemplary human beings. In that regard, Inferno should become a model for later books covering WW II subjects, especially since that generation is fading away.

Joe Springer got to know the surviving crew members better than any one else outside that hallowed group. My brother, S2/c Elden Rogers, was one who did not survive and in my own long search to reconstruct my brother's experiences on the Franklin the information Joe had collected was very important. Many thanks for a work well performed.

This is a no holds barred look at a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier during the Second World War in the Pacific. The narrations in this book are by the men who fought the war in the air, or from guns on the ship itself, and those who crewed the vessel. Fighter pilots, bomber pilots, bomber crewmen, crew of the vessel from the skipper on down to the mess men, they all have a story to tell about the fighting, and the dieing aboard a U.S. Navy ship of war. The tails they tell are sometimes humorous, and sometimes brutal. They are all in your face accounts as seen by those who lived them. Mr Springer has done a magnificent job of bringing together events and the men who actually lived them in a fascinating historical read.

When I read a book, I normally get drawn into it like most then sit it down after several chapters and forget about it. I picked this book up and began to read. Sometime later I was done and amazed . Still amazed by what happened to these young men. Joseph Springer gave these men a way to tell their story. I was sad at times, happy, and overall proud. Proud that their were men like the men of the Franklin. Phenomenal read. This book needs to be in schools. Only thing I dislike - their are only two books by author Joseph Springer.

INFERNO by Joseph A Springer is the best oral history I have yet seen thus far and unquestionably the best book I have read about life aboard an aircraft carrier in World War II. None are close. Springer, who conducted over 150 interviews with Franklin's airgroups, pilots, and ship's company, engages the reader with torpedo and dive bomber crews attacking enemy shipping (battleships Yamato and Musashi), Hellcat and Corsair fighters engaging enemy fighters, numerous battles and engagements including sustaining the first kamikiaze strike on an Essex class carrier and the following strikes against Japan in 1945-all told in the words of the men themselves. Springer weaves this wealth of information together with his own impressive and easily read narratives. Inferno is quite simply one of the best books I have read in years. Perhaps the most interesting part of the book tells of the untold story of the inept actions of the Franklin's skipper Captain Leslie Gehres. Crewmen described Gehres as brutal and sadistic, the perfect martinet. Without question Gehres greatest mistake was failing to call the crew to general quarters despite fifteen minutes advanced warning of the approaching Japanese bomber while Franklin was just fifty miles off the coast of Japan. The disasterous error-one that even the seventeen year old enlisted men aboard Franklin recognized as dangerous-resulted in over 1,400 casualties and the most severely damaged aircraft carrier to remain afloat in World War II. The remaining sailors aboard Franklin heroically saved the ship and sailed Franklin to New York. Springer notes that the amazing and couragous story of Franklin's recovery is tained since Gehres, mainly to deflect blame of the disaster, accused those who went over the sides to avoid the smoke, fires and explosions-almost 1,000 officers and men-with cowardice and desertion. Riviting reading indeed! INFERNO is exciting, sometimes humorous and very tragic. At times I was moved emotionally at Springer's writing (especially with his description of the Naval Aviator). Overall INFERNO is a story that has been long overdue and yerns for a cinematic release.

A massive fire on the flight deck caused by kamikaze attack spreads to other areas of the aircraft carrier USS Franklin. Springer brings to life this account of the third largest naval tragedy of WWII, behind the Arizona and Indianapolis. The format is unusual with insertions of personal account sprinkled through each section. It’s similar to Facebook posts with comments underneath.

Springer is an outstanding interviewer, organizer, and writer. As to authenticity, I happen to have Al Cole, one of the few still living survivors, as a neighbor and he verified details for me. The story, as told by Springer largely through the use of personal interviews, is spellbinding.

One of the finest books written about a group of brave men on the Ship That Wouldn't Die

A lot of up close interviews that hit you in the heart! My Grandfather was on the ship and this book helped us (younger generations) see the pain he still carries today.