World War II Service and Diary of John R. McKnight - Ex Rd M 3c USN

Photo taken from U.S.S. Ticonderoga CV 14 Click Projector for a short documentary.

The "Judy" approaches from the upper right. "At about noon Torpedo Defense was sounded. This was a bugle call that started with a long high note and the bos'n of the watch announced set condition 1'. This bugle call would make your hair stand up."     (George Kent AMM1c) "I was on duty at the bridge at the time. Captain Wieber was standing outside the hatch leaning in the splinter shield."   (James Chatellier S1c)

The Judy, a Japanese Yokosuka D4Y Suisei dive bomber flies overhead aiming at the forward area of the flight deck. The ship makes a radical turn to starboard as the crew tries to avoid impact. "I ran across the hanger deck...as I reached the ladder (to the flight deck) G.Q. sounded and the gunnery department opened up with the 5'' and then the 40mm."     (George Kent AMM1c) "Guns were firing. I saw Captain Wieber grab the splinter shield1 and squat down behind it just before the plane hit.     (James Chatellier S1c) 1. Splinter shields were three and one half foot solid steel walls on the outside of the deck around     the bridge.

Judy just prior to impact. "There was a sailor on the ladder in front of me. As we reached the flight deck he stopped to look up to see what the gunners were firing at. I ran forward without looking. The 20mms on the port side were all firing in the same direction .. something was getting close."     (George Kent AMM1c)

The Judy hit the deck of the Essex on the port side between elevator 2 and the 20 millimeter mounts at 12:56 p.m. "I got to the crew's shelter and got inside just as the Jap hit."    (George Kent AMM1c)

Photo taken from U.S.S. Ticonderoga CV 14

Photo taken from U.S.S. Ticonderoga CV 14

Explosions rock the ship. (Photo Supplied by Paul Lisko V-3-R Division) "The aircraft had stuck the catwalk between the 20mms and the 40mm mount..."     (George Kent AMM1c)

Secondary explosions threaten to create a much more dangerous situation. "I know that those gunners were still firing right up to the time the aircraft hit. I think that is one of the reasons why the ship's gunners shot down 33 aircraft."    (George Kent AMM1c)

Photo taken from U.S.S. Ticonderoga CV 14

Photo taken from U.S.S. Ticonderoga CV 14

Flash fires spread across the forward area of the flight deck and into the hanger deck below. "Everything turned red at the explosion. We all got burned from it to some degree. My hands and face peeled later. Everyone thought the pilot was trying to hit the superstructure. Later when I saw the photos, I realized just how close he came to getting us. The FLAG, Admiral Sherman and his staff, was located one deck below the bridge."     (James Chatellier S1c)

The crew bravely brought the fires under control in a very short time. (Photo Supplied by Paul Lisko V-3-R Division) "Right after the explosion I left the bridge and went down to the flight deck to get a report on it. A parachute was open, flapping and burning in the breeze on the deck and down into the 20 mm gun battery. There were the charred bodies of the gun crews. I am not sure but I think the count was 15 dead. A German Luger pistol was lying on the flight deck and some sailor picked it up as a souvenir no doubt. I picked up a small piece of burning parachute for the same reason, and still have it."    (James Chatellier S1c)

As the fires are doused, wreckage is seen strewn across the flight deck. "During the day the temperature was in the 100s. Very small bits and pieces of body flesh were splattered all over the side of island leaving grease spots. I don't know what division had the job, but they sprinkled lime on the spots to cut down the stench. No matter, the grease and the smell still came through."    (James Chatellier S1c)

The Japanese dive bomber left a sizable hole along the edge of the flight deck. "I went out on the catwalk...parts of the aircraft and its crew were lodged in a gun mount. There was part of a body on the sight on the left side of the 40mm. Some of us pushed it over the side but the parachute hung up on the gun sight."     (George Kent AMM1c)

Repairs to the flight deck were made and the U.S.S. Essex began launching planes only thirty minutes after impact. "I do know we were back at flight operations in a very short time, and that the guy in front of me on the ladder, who had stopped to look up, did not make it. He was one of the casualties." (George Kent AMM1c)

Damaged Anti-aircraft Gun Mounts

James Chatellier James Chatellier went aboard the U.S.S. Essex in September of 1943 and served as a S1c (Seaman 1st Class) in the Navigation Division until December of 1945. His duties on the bridge included standing watch at the wheel and at the speed indicator. George Kent George Kent served aboard the U.S.S. Essex from the commissioning in 1942 until after the war ended in 1945. He was an AMM 1c (Air Mechanic 1st Class) and worked with all the air groups that operated aboard the Essex during World War II.

Jack "Weary" McKnight - November 1944
Dates	Diary Entries	Diary Footnotes
Nov. 26	Refueled.	* 400 miles E of the Philippines   (13-26 N 131-10 E)
Nov. 27	Gunnery drills. Waiting for orders.
Nov. 26 -31	Waiting to be ordered to go to Ulithis.

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