Known throughout the fleet as Big Ben, the USS Franklin was christened for the legacy of the four prior U.S. Navy ships named after Benjamin Franklin. The Franklin was a creation of World War II, one of twenty-four Essex-class fast carriers built during the conflict, forming the backbone of the U.S. Navy's war against Japan.
By the time the war had moved to Okinawa in the spring of 1945, Big Ben had already seen substantial combat, having participated in the island campaigns of the central and western Pacific and the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, where she sustained heavy damage from the new and deadly Japanese kamikaze.
On March 19, 1945, the Franklin was launching her aircraft against Honshu, the Japanese mainland, including the shipping industry in Kobe Harbor. Suddenly, a single enemy aircraft pierced the cloud cover and made a low level run on the ship, striking it with a 250kg bomb which pierced the deck and set off a chain reaction of exploding ordnance and aviation fuel.
The aircraft carrier, now on fire, listing heavily to starboard, and with over 1,000 casualties, appeared to be mortally wounded. Inferno tells the heroic tale of the efforts that saved Big Ben. It is a tremendous story of endurance and seamanship, told in harrowing detail in the survivors own words. Inferno makes for gripping reading.
About the Author :
Joseph A. Springer retired from the United States Air Force after twenty-three years as an Aircraft Weapons Specialist. He now specializes in military oral history, having interviewed more than one thousand combat veterans over the last thirty-five years. Joes first book, Black Devil Brigade, tells the oral history of the First Special Service Force in World War II. Joe and his wife Susan reside in West Central Illinois.
Review :
Naval History, December 2007 (circ.: 60,000)
“Joseph Springer brings to life one of the most exciting stories of World War II as seen and told from the perspective of officers and Sailors who served on board the Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Franklin. The author has crafted a well-researched and easy-to-read oral history that not only pays tribute to the men who sailed in the Franklin but to the legacy of naval service and its values of honor, courage, and commitment … This book is a fitting tribute to the crew members of the Franklin and all the Sailors who fought during World War II.”
World War II Database, November 2007 (vpm: 30,000)
“I was immediately impressed by Springer's writing style, which was straight-forward but was done without sacrificing detail. He professed that his interest in the history of USS Franklin had been nearly life-long, and it showed. The book delivered in clear detail everything encompassing the ship's history, configuration throughout the war, and the environments she had been in. Springer also succeeded in providing just enough information about the Pacific War so to shine light on why Franklin engaged in actions that she did … With this book, the men of Franklin, along with their courage in the face of disaster and their accomplishment of bringing the devastated ship back home on her own power, were made known.
I highly recommend Inferno, a history told with harrowing and gripping detail.”
Midwest Book Review, November 2007
“A gripping true story of bravery and sacrifice, featuring the words of men who served aboard ‘Big Ben’ as well as a handful of black and white photographs. A welcome addition to naval and World War II history shelves.”
Midwest Book Review, December 2007
“A gripping true story of bravery and sacrifice, featuring the words of the men who served aboard ‘Big Ben’ as well as a handful of black and white photographs. A welcome addition to naval and World War II history shelves.”
