KAMIKAZE: HMS Formidable, May 4, 1945
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- Опубликовано: 17 апр 2020
- It was the height of the invasion of Okinawa. Japan was throwing a last-ditch effort at unseating US Marines from their beachheads. Kamikazes swarmed the skies. HMS Formidable, part of the British Pacific Fleet interdicting attacks from Formosa (Taiwan), was to suffer a direct hit on her armoured flight deck. Here's what happened - in the words of those who were there. Find the full account of this action at www.armouredcarriers.com
Full original audio:
Roy Beldam: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/it...
Richard Bigg-Wither: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/it...
John Maybank: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/it...
Stanley Harris: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/it...
Adrian Sweet: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/it...
Douglas Parker: www.iwm.org.uk/collections/it...
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Around this time my father was on a Martin PBM "Mariner" flying boat operating out of Kerama Rhetto, near Okinawa, which picked up three survivors from a FAA Grumman Avenger belonging to HMS Formidable. He had to swim out to the life raft in order to bring it alongside the plane, which the British airmen appeared to be unable to accomplish. It turned out that the three British airmen had been in the sea in their rubber life raft for three days and were absolutely exhausted. Much to their annoyance, when they later flew the three airmen back to the Formidable, the Mariner was fired upon by the British AA gunners. The Mariner was a very distinctive aircraft, being a large twin-engine flying boat with gull wings and a twin tail cocked up at an acute angle which was impossible to mistake for any other aircraft. However, at that time all of the Allied warships were being subjected to attack by a steady stream of Kamikazes, so the AA gunners had become nervous and were liable to shoot at anything in the air.
Greetings from the States. Thanks and respect to all in the Royal Navy who helped to bring about the defeat of Japan.
My late grandfather Fred L (TAG) and Gilly P (Pilot) had just landed their Avenger moments before this attack. They'd been testing their radio and allegedly the only Avanger that had been airborne that morning. I'm not sure how accurate that is. Both were injured by shrapnel but had gotten to the tower in time to survive. Gilly P was permanently injured and taken off the ship; whilst Fred L continued to fly a week later with 848
They were great ships but were nothing without the great men, many of whom were only 19 or so years old who crewed them. Little is told of the exploits of the British far East Fleet, indeed not many realise there was one because it was so overshadowed understandably by the actions of the US Navy, but it is good to see this footage to inform or remind us. Those of us born after the war owe them a great debt and much respect.
My late Father was a stoker on HMS Formidable. He did not like to talk about some of the horrors he saw whilst under attack.
Just look at all the young faces at 20.30 , 20.40 , brave young men , to whom we all owe a great deal , thanks very much fellas , if I was half the man you was , I'd be extremely proud , God rest all of you
My father GEORGE STEWART ,and my uncle CHARLES COSTELLO, served on FORMIDABLE for most of the WAR .🇬🇧
Thank you for this. My father - Harry Coopey - served on Formidable from 1943 and survived these kamikaze attacks. He wouldn’t speak of them as he lost some good friends. He would only talk about the funny incidents on board and In port. It’s really interesting for me to hear eye witnesses describing the attacks and seeing footage of the ship and the men who fought in her.
My father, Jimmy Waugh, served on the Formidable. He received a shrapnel wound in his right leg on the May 4th attack when a Kamikaze was blown up by its own bomb just above the flight deck. My dad would reminisce sometimes about the great guys he served with and some of the fun they had but for some reason never mentioned the Kamikaze attacks they fought off. I read an article years ago that the Formidable fought off circa 300 Kamikaze attacks. It must have been a terrifying ordeal for all those men, many of whom would still be in their teens.
I pray for all the soldiers who died in the battle. I am pleased that Great Britain and Japan have strong connection now after unfortunate history. I hope our friendship be forever.
Hampton Gray a Canadian pilot in the Fleet Air Arm, flying a Corsair from HMS Formidable, was awarded the Victoria Cross, for his actions August 9,1945. A new Canadian warship is to be named in his honour.
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My dad (aged 21 at the time) was an aircraft fitter on The Formidable between 1942-5 and had a finger on his left hand severed by shrapnel in the May 1945 Kamikaze attack, several of his shipmates were killed. He always considered himself very lucky. He used to work on the engines of Fairy Swordfish and Albacores. I have a few photographs of him on board with his mates.
Absolutely great channel! Instant SUBSCRIBE. I was in Vietnam where I saw some horrific things. But nothing can compare to the bravery and determination of these men who fought both at sea, and on land in WWII. They were the best generation of men. My most humble respect to them all. Cherish the time you can spend with a WWII veteran. There are fewer of them every day.
I have been schooled by this series of videos about the British carriers in the Pacific theater. I simply did not know that they were there and fought so bravely.
On the 75th anniversary of the first Kamikaze strike, we remember all our hero’s lost that day. My father was a Radar operator on the ship at the time of the attacks. He used to talk about his Navy days all the time particularly about his time in the Pacific, but if anything that came on TV about Kamikaze, he either used to change channel, or leave the room. After watching this, I fully understand why.
On a different point the RN deserves credit for working out how to operate Corsair fighters from carriers.
My Father John Collins was a radar operator at this time on the Formidable but never really talked about it and having 5 sons who pestered him about his time during the war , he must have had some patience to keep blanking us , but that was just his way, he was a quiet man from Glasgow and never discussed his war
My Grandfather Ken Collins was stoker on HMS Formidable and told about ,we owe them a lot .
Thankyou for the video my Dad served aboard HMS Formidable he was a aircraft mechanic .