Twenty-Three Minutes to Eternity: The Final Voyage of the Escort Carrier USS Liscome Bay

Preface

8. Twenty-Three Minutes and Counting 127 9. Abandon Ship! 144 10. Paci¤c Dawn 168 11. Surviving 190 12. Aftermath 210 Notes 225 Bibliography 237 Index 243 viii / Contents Illustrations The Paci¤c, Gilbert Islands, and Olympic Peninsula 3 Ensign Francis X. Daily 118 Irving D. Wiltsie with his son Ronald 118 Lieutenant Commander Oliver Ames 119 Mess Attendant Second Class Doris Miller 119 USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) 120 Liscome Bay off the coast of California 121 Rear Admiral Henry M. Mullinnix 122 A Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat, circa early 1942 122 Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class Tim E. Woodham 123 Commander John G. Crommelin 123 Liscome Bay explodes 124 Survivors gather on board Leonard Wood (APA-12) 125 Stained-glass window commemorating Liscome Bay 126 x / Illustrations Abbreviations ACV auxiliary aircraft carrier or tender AE ammunition ship AH hospital ship AP transport ship AV seaplane tender AVG aircraft tender, general purpose A-V(G) USNR aviation of¤cers holding designations as naval aviators, quali¤ed for general detail a®oat or ashore A-V(N) USNR aviation ®ight of¤cers, detailed to active duty in the aeronautic organization of the navy immediately following their completion of training and designation as naval aviators A-V(S) USNR aviation of¤cers, commissioned and warrant, including gunners, radio electricians, machinists, aerographers, and photographers , quali¤ed for specialist duties A-V(T) USNR aviation of¤cers, former civil aviation pilots or aviators of the army, navy, marine corps, or coast guard, quali¤ed for specialist duties BB battleship CA heavy cruiser ChC-V(G) USNR commissioned chaplains quali¤ed for general detail a®oat and ashore CL light cruiser CV aircraft carrier CVE aircraft carrier, escort CVL aircraft carrier, small ...