Watch a Historic Original Footage of the U.S.S. Franklin in Action

By early 1945, Japan’s military was struggling to hold on. Its navy had lost most of its battleships and carriers, and many of its remaining aircraft were grounded due to fuel shortages. American forces believed the Japanese had only 2,000 to 3,000 aircraft left, and even fewer skilled pilots. The losses in the Marianas campaign, particularly in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, had devastated Japan’s air power. Meanwhile, American B-29 bombers were striking major cities from airfields on Tinian and Guam, bringing the war closer to Japan’s home islands.

However, the Americans underestimated Japan’s remaining air strength. In reality, Japan had hidden nearly 6,000 aircraft in rural areas, storing them in farm buildings, tunnels, and tree groves. Many of these planes were operated by survivors of Japan’s lost aircraft carriers, waiting for the right moment to strike. On March 19, 1945, a small group of Japanese bombers launched an attack that would nearly destroy one of the U.S. Navy’s most battle-hardened aircraft carriers—the U.S.S. Franklin.

The Attack on the U.S.S. Franklin

As Franklin prepared to launch aircraft for another mission, a Japanese bomber broke through American defenses and dropped two bombs. The first, a 500-pound armor-piercing bomb, struck the flight deck, where fully armed and fueled aircraft were lined up for takeoff. The second bomb penetrated through the deck and exploded inside the hangar bay, where additional planes were being prepared for launch.

The impact triggered a series of catastrophic explosions. Fuel ignited instantly, and the stored munitions began to detonate. Fires raged across the ship, consuming aircraft, ammunition, and crew members caught in the blast. Over the next eight hours, Franklin was engulfed in flames and secondary explosions, making rescue efforts nearly impossible. The death toll climbed to 800 men, many of whom were vaporized by the intense heat. Hundreds of survivors, unable to withstand the fire and smoke, were forced to jump into the sea.

Fighting to Save the Ship

Despite the devastation, a core group of sailors and officers refused to abandon the Franklin. Those who remained fought desperately to control the fires, rescue trapped crewmembers, and prevent the carrier from capsizing. The damage was so severe that only a few hundred uninjured crew members were left to keep the ship afloat. As night fell, Japanese aircraft returned, attempting to finish off the crippled vessel. However, nearby American ships provided cover, shooting down or driving off the attackers.

Some of the most harrowing acts of bravery took place deep inside the ship. Sailors navigated smoke-filled passageways and burning compartments to rescue crewmen trapped below decks. Engineering teams worked under suffocating conditions to restart a boiler, allowing the carrier to generate enough power to move. With the help of a heavy cruiser towing her, Franklin managed to retreat from the battle zone before finally regaining enough power to sail under her own strength.

Keep going for the footage below: