Eye Witness Account – USS Yorktown

RAdmiral Joseph M. Worthington, commander of the USS Benham (DD-796), describes the efforts of his ship at the time of the USS Yorktown‘s attack.  This is condensed from the oral history in the “Pacific War Remembered,” by John Mason, Jr.

USS Yorktown, first attack

“About noon, the Yorktown (CV-5) reported her first dive-bombing attack and the Benham, 2 cruisers and another destroyer headed for her position; she was showing great columns of smoke.  Yorktown launched what remaining planes she had before the Japanese torpedo planes came in.  Most of them were shot down by our fighter planes or by our guns.  Even so, two torpedoes struck the Yorktown…

Adm. Joseph Worthington, when he was a Midshipman

“The Benham was on the side bearing the brunt of the attack and was shooting with everything she had.  One 5″ shell from the Yorktown went through the Benham stack and killed one of our officers and wounded others.  There was no way to dodge the shells of our carrier  as she fought in desperation.  The attack lasted roughly 10 minutes and the Yorktown took a strong list.

men trying to extinguish the fires on the USS Yorktown

“The captain of the Yorktown gave an order to abandon ship, officers and men slid over the side, climbed down nets and went into the water.  We and two other destroyers tried to pick up as many as we could from the water.  The commodore ordered us to pull out and send other ships in, but there were too many survivors in the water around our propellers.  We had taken aboard about 725 survivors – we had far more than capacity, but if there are people in the water you have to pick them up… including a fighter pilot, while we were steaming away.  He was some distance from the Yorktown and just by the grace of God we spotted him.

USS Benham

“In daylight we were ordered to transfer survivors to the Portland.  We rigged 4 breeches buoys, and by using an airplane crane, we transferred the survivors.  Some were wounded and they were transferred by stretcher.  It was a slow and tedious procedure… during all this the executive officer of the Portland asked how many more, I said, ‘Oh about 400.’  He replied, ‘We already have 400 by actual count.’  So I said, ‘Well, that is about half the number that are coming, so we will take your count.’  And he replied, ‘What do you think this is, the Grand Hotel?”‘

“I must say that the Portland sowed what a ship can do when the crew is properly trained.  They not only handled the breeches buoys, the stretchers and the ambulatory cases, but they also launched and recovered planes for antisubmarine patrol… they were able to get the planes in the air and then pick them up by what they called the dog method, on a sled – all going on simultaneously.

“The Yorktown was in tow by the fleet tug Vireo when the Benham returned.  The Hammann was alongside powering salvage pumps and lights and 6 destroyers provided a circular screen.  Then reports came in that torpedoes were on the way. When we got around the bow, we saw the Hammann sinking fast…  We were ordered to attempt rescue operations.

USS Hammann (DD-412) explodes

At least 3 torpedoes hit the Yorktown.  They had gone under the Hammann and when they exploded on their target, depth charges and torpedoes on the Hammann blew.  “We had no life rafts left, no boats left… The only thing to do was put men in life jackets and use lifelines.  This time we recovered nearly 200.

“I reported to the commodore,’Urgently recommend taking these survivors to Pearl… I believe we can save some lives.’  He didn’t hesitate, but said, ‘Proceed.’  Of course every bunk in the ship was used as a hospital bed.  Everybody on board helped with first aid and looked after the wounded.

The last of the USS Yorktown

“Admiral Nimitz was on the dock, members of his staff were on the dock.  Ambulances were lined up.  This was the first combatant ship returning to Pearl Harbor after the Battle of Midway.”

Click on images to enlarge.

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Military Humor –  

“I’ve got ’em in my sights guys!”

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Farewell Salutes – 

Arthur Ambrosini – Bronx, NY & Margate, FL; US Army, Vietnam

Joseph Book – Revere, MA; US Army Air Corps, WWII

Leslie Ellis – Christchurch, NZ; RNZ Air Force # 403074, WWII, Squadrons 485, 488/118

Carol Gackstetter – St. Paul, MN; US Navy, WWII, PTO

Adam Koczrowski (29) – Denham Springs, LA; USMC, SSgt.

Emerson Lee – North Georgia; US Navy, WWII, pilot

Fred Nives – brn: Vienna, Austria, NYC; US Army, WWII, ETO

Mark Salesse – New Brunswick, CAN; RC Army, Duke of Connaught’s Own, Croatia/2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry

George Sylvester – Philadelphia, PA; US Air Force (Ret. 32 years), West Point, Vietnam, fighter pilot, 3-star general

M. Lee Toothman – Jupiter, FL; US Army Air Corps, WWII, pilot, 446th Bomber Group, ETO/US Army, Korea,medic, field hospital

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