Inferno The Life and Death Struggle of the USS Franklin

[Capt652]

Hi all.

I found a very interesting book that I am presently reading. I am sure others would be interested if they would like to live life on a carrier during WWII. This book is authored by Joseph A. Springer. Copyright date is 2007. The book starts with a history of the Franklin and then mixes actual sailors and fliers into the story. As the factual day by day story is told the author interjects the perspective of the men who were on board at the time the events occurred. The actual words of the participants reveals the thoughts, fears and actions of these brave men...the frustration of a torpedo pilot dropping a fish and watching it veer off course or steer in circles...a 20mm gunner looking up and seeing a Jap plane screaming down on him and wanting so bad to blow that plane to pieces...an engineer way below decks wondering if a bomb was going to blow a hole in the side of the carrier...a plane captain trying to save his plane from an out of control fire...
I must say a very enjoyable read!

Capt652

[j leyland]

A contemporary book on the same subject is "I was Chaplain on the Franklin", the viewpoint of a priest highly decorated for his efforts during the fire.

[Bob Bartlett]

I recommend very highly the book "Inferno" by Joe Springer. This is the first major work about the FRANKLIN in over twenty years. It covers some areas not covered by earlier books. This includes her first cruise, the Oct '44 Kamakazi attack, the attempted court-marshal of 19MAR45 survivors by Capt. Gehers, and the blame that the crew places on Capt. Gehers for the excessive casualties. I met the author at the 2007 FRANKLIN reunion as well many of the crew that apear in the book.
Bob Bartlett
Relative of a CV-13 Survivor