USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79) Memorial
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HANSENNI
N 32° 41.328 W 117° 14.718
11S E 477004 N 3616814
USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79) memorial located in the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma, California, USA
Waymark Code: WM3V43
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 05/19/2008
Views: 59
This bronze and granite memorial is located just inside of the main entrance of the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma, California.
On January 4, 1944, while in the Sulu Sea, a twin-engine Japanese suicide plane penetrated the screen undetected and made for the Ommaney Bay. The plane nicked her island then crashed into her starboard side. Two bombs were released; one of them penetrated the flight deck and detonated below, setting off a series of explosions among the fully-gassed planes on the forward third of the hangar deck. The second bomb passed through the hangar deck, ruptured the fire main on the second deck, and exploded near the starboard side.
Water pressure forward was lost immediately, along with power and bridge communications. Men struggling with the terrific blazes on the hangar deck soon had to abandon it because of the heavy black smoke from the burning planes and ricocheting .50 caliber ammunition. Escorts could not lend their power to the fight because of the exploding ammunition and intense heat from the fires. By 17:50 the entire topside area had become untenable, and the stored torpedo warheads threatened to go off at any time. The order to abandon ship was given.
At 19:45 the carrier was sunk by a torpedo from the destroyer USS Burns (DD-588). A total of 95 crewmen were lost, including 2 killed on an assisting destroyer when torpedo warheads on the carrier’s hangar deck went off.
Ommaney Bay received 2 battle stars for World War II service.
(courtesy of Wikipedia)
Property Permission: Public
Access instructions: Cemetery is open from dawn to dusk daily.
Access times: From: 8:00 AM To: 8:00 PM
Location of waymark:
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
Point Loma, CA USA
Commemoration: USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79)
Date of Dedication: Not listed
Website for Waymark: Not listed
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