The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-04-09
JAP AIR FORCE
FAILS TO U. S.
CONTINUED from Page One)

them crashing only 200 yards of
the stern and in the center of a
cluster of small craft without dam,
aging anything.
The air battle was the first Of
any kind on large scale in the
Okinawa area although the in.
vasion force leaders expected such
action on invasion day and were
pleasantly surprised at the light
aerial opposition Heretofore.
From the flying bridge Of this
ship it was a thrilling show. Jap
anese planes zoomed out; of the
overcast, with bombs and torpe
does into such terrific cones O.
anti-aircraft fire that none hac
a chance of completing it's rur
across this close-packed amphi'
bious fleet
Most dramatic was Nipponese
divebomber, which in a long
straight glide appeared to be com
ing right at Turner'S ship, the
ships guns were spouting a ter
rifle stream of bullets straigh
into the oncoming aircraft.
The pilot couldn't live long ir
that fire and he obviously was
helpless as the plane swerved
plunging toward a nearby ship.
God! Don't let it hit that ship
don't let it, one seaman shouted
The plane barely passed over thu
bow of the ship, caught wing II
the water and plunged into the
sea- just missing an Lei Qandins
craft Infantry and several small
craft. A huge sheet Of flame mark
ed it's destruction.
Small craft raced to the poin
where the plane went down, 20(
yards from this ship, but failee
to find any trace OF Wreckage.
The first two planes doWned IL
this area splashed into the watel
shortly after pm. half an houl
later one crashed into a reef ane
exploded without doing any dam
age. Then minutes later a battle
ship brought down another on thu
outward fringe of the amphiblou
fleet. A few minutes later anoth
er spun into the beach, hitting al
amphibious craft, setting it afire
At least one crashed on OkinaWi
north of the American line. Blu
most Of the attacks centeret
against the screening destroyers
particularly those to the north
west of Okinawa's Bolo Point.
Their obvious intent was to Wip'
out the destroyers which coulf
block any enemy fleet intrusion
'1f this is the best they can d.
we had better 60 right on to ia
pan," said Admiral Turner. "Ap
parently we've got more ship
than they have planes"
Another japanese plane crashed
in flames just short OF a hosplta
ship, it's burning debris almost hit
ting that vessel Of mercy which
promptly pulled out of the are;
with unashamed haste.
On the northern horizon, smok'
from several damaged destroyer
could be seen. The story of those
destroyers was one of extreme
heroism.
One destroyer. attacked by eigh
to 10 planes, shot down the frs
two before taking a hit. Then tW'
more planes came in. An Lex
drew alongside the burning war
ship to remove survivors and sho
down the next attacking plane.
Another destroyer came to thu
rescue and was hit three times il
six attacks.
Two more destroyers rushed up
drove the attacking Nippones'
planes off and picked up survivor
as the first distressed warshil
went down. Damage control crew
attempted to save another dam
aged destroyer, but she was burn
| ing so badly they sank her witt
gunfire. To the north another de
stroyer had 80 feet of her sterr
blown away and also had to b.
sunk.
Another destroyer shot down twt
planes before sustaining damage
and CALAMITY took in tow another
shin which had been hit by three