Twenty-three minutes to eternity : the final voyage of the escort carrier U.S.S. Liscome Bay

A long-overdue history of America's "forgotten flattop." On November 24, 1943, a Japanese torpedo plunged into the starboard side of the American escort carrier USS Liscome Bay . The torpedo struck the thin-skinned carrier in the worst possible place the bomb storage area. The resulting explosion could be seen 16 miles away, literally ripping the Liscome Bay in half and killing 644 of her crew. In terms of lives lost, it was the costliest carrier sinking in United States naval history. Liscome Bay's loss came on her first combat operation: the American invasion of the Gilbert Islands. Despite her short career, she touched a number of remarkable and famous lives. Doris Miller, the first black American sailor to win the Navy Cross, lost his life, as did Rear Admiral Henry Mullinax, one of the Navy's first "air admirals." John Crommelin was the senior officer to survive the sinking. Later in his career, Crommelin, a decorated naval aviator himself, sparked the famous Revolt of the Admirals, which helped save the role of naval aviation in America's Cold War military. James Noles's account of the Liscome Bay and those who served aboard her is based on interviews with the ship's survivors and an unpublished memoir that the ship's pay officer made available to the author. This readable, compelling book pays homage to the crew by telling their story of experience and sacrifice. To follow Jim Noles on Twitter, access his stream here: http://www.twitter.com/mightyby Annotation On November 24, 1943, a Japanese torpedo plunged into the starboard side of the American escort carrier USS "Liscome Bay. The torpedo struck the thin-skinned carrier in the worst possible place--the bomb storage area. The resulting explosion could be seen 16 miles away, literally ripping the "Liscome Bay in half and killing 644 of her crew. In terms of lives lost, it was the costliest carrier sinking in United States naval history. "Liscome Bay 's loss came on her first combat operation: the American invasion of the Gilbert Islands. Despite her short career, she touched a number of remarkable and famous lives. Doris Miller, the first black American sailor to win the Navy Cross, lost his life, as did Rear Admiral Henry Mullinax, one of the Navy's first "air admirals." John Crommelin was the senior officer to survive the sinking. Later in his career, Crommelin, a decorated naval aviator himself, sparked the famous Revolt of the Admirals, which helped save the role of naval aviation in America's Cold War military. James Noles's account of the "Liscome Bay and those who served aboard her is based on interviews with the ship's pay officer made available to the author. This readable, compelling book pays homage to the crew by telling their story of experience and sacrifice The Loss Of The Uss Liscome Bay Came On Her First Combat Operation: The American Invasion Of The Gilbert Islands. Despite Her Short Career, She Touched A Number Of Remarkable And Famous Lives. James Noles's Account Of The Liscome Bay And Those Who Served Aboard Her Is Based On Interviews With The Ship's Survivors And An Unpublished Memoir That The Ship's Pay Officer Made Available To The Author. This Book Pays Homage To The Crew By Telling Their Story Of Experience And Sacrifice.--jacket. The Baby Flattops -- Crew For The Listing Lizzie -- Wildcats, Avengers, And A Rear Admiral -- Into The Breach -- Galvanic And Kourbash -- Three Task Forces, Three Brothers -- The God Of Death Has Come -- Twenty-three Minutes And Counting -- Abandon Ship! -- Pacific Dawn -- Surviving -- Aftermath. James L. Noles, Jr. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [237]-242) And Index. Contents......Page 8 List of Illustrations......Page 10 List of Abbreviations......Page 12 Preface......Page 16 Prologue: Unbehagen’s Dream......Page 20 1. The Baby Flattops......Page 24 2. A Crew for the “Listing Lizzie”......Page 35 3. Wildcats, Avengers, and a Rear Admiral......Page 60 4. Into the Breach......Page 77 5. Galvanic and Kourbash......Page 93 6. Three Task Forces, Three Brothers......Page 112 7. “The God of Death Has Come”......Page 122 8. Twenty-Three Minutes and Counting......Page 150 9. Abandon Ship!......Page 167 10. Pacific Dawn......Page 191 11. Surviving......Page 213 12. Aftermath......Page 233 Notes......Page 248 Bibliography......Page 260 Index......Page 266