1945 — Jan 21, USN Avenger bombs explode upon landing on USS Hancock, So. China Sea–62
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard for: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/ Last edit 12-14-2023.
— 62 Baugher. US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (21192 to 30146). 8-27-2011.
— 62 NavSource Online: Aircraft Carrier Photo Archive. “USS Hancock (CV-19).” 11-8-2011.
— 62 USSHancockcv19.com. “World War Two Gallery.”
Narrative Information
Baugher: “23539 (VT-124) exploded after landing on USS Hancock Jan 21, 1945. The aircraft made a normal landing and taxied forward, but the landing on the flight deck must have dislodged two of its 500-lb bombs. The two bombs exploded on the flight deck, killing 62 sailors and injuring numerous others.” (Baugher. US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (21192 to 30146). 8-27-2011.)
Mighty Ninety: “At 1328 Task Group 38.2 finally fell victim to the conflagration, albeit from a different source. USS HANCOCK was recovering strike aircraft when a TBM Avenger landed with a live bomb that had failed to release from its ordnance bay. The bomb detonated on the carrier deck, immediately killing the Avenger’s crew and many surrounding flight deck personnel. The explosion punched through to the gallery and hangar decks causing multiple fires that were not brought under control for almost an hour.” (Mighty Ninety. “Chapter 11: Operation Gratitude. Task Force 38 raids Japanese shipping in the South China Sea.”)
NavSource Online: “January 21, 1945. 1328: VT 124, Bu #23539 [a General Motors TBM-3 Avenger], pilot, LT(JG) C.R. Dean, 298954, and crewmen F.J. Blake, ARM3c, and D.E. Zima, AOM2c, made a normal landing and taxied forward. As the plane reached a point abreast the island a violent explosion occurred, believed to have been caused by the detonation of two (2) 500 lb. bombs adrift in the plane’s bomb bay. The immediate results of the explosion were: casualties: killed – 62; critically injured – 46; seriously injured – 25; slightly injured – 20. A 10×16 foot hole in the flight deck, gallery deck area in the vicinity demolished, inboard side signal bridge wrecked. Three airplanes demolished. Numerous shrapnel holes throughout the island structure. Fires broke out on the flight, gallery, and hangar decks. Hauled clear of the formation and commenced maneuvering at various courses and speeds in an attempt to control the winds over the deck, and with high speed turns, to wash flooding water out of the hangar deck.” (NavSource Online: Aircraft Carrier Photo Archive. “USS Hancock (CV-19).” 11-8-2011 update.)
USSHancockcv19.com: “The Deck of the Hancock [photo not shown here] shortly after a VT-7 TBF Avenger was trapped aboard and while taxiing with a 500-pound bomb in its bomb bay – the pilot, not knowing that he had an armed bomb hung up in his Bomb bay.. opened his Bomb bay doors; the bomb falling to the deck and exploded.” (USSHancockcv19.com. “World War Two Gallery.”)
Sources
Baugher, Joseph F. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (21192 to 30146). Aug 27, 2011 revision. Accessed at: http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries3.html
Mighty Ninety. “Chapter 11: Operation Gratitude. Task Force 38 raids Japanese shipping in the South China Sea.” Accessed 11-28-2011 at: http://www.mighty90.com/Operation_GRATITUDE.html
NavSource Online: Aircraft Carrier Photo Archive. “USS Hancock (CV-19).” 11-8-2011 update. Accessed 11-28-2011 at: http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/19.htm
USSHancockcv19.com. “World War Two Gallery.” Accessed 11-28-2011 at: http://usshancockcv19.com/gallery.htm