INTO THE WIND AT LEYTE GULF

The story of the USS Princeton CVL-23, a US Navy light aircraft carrier. The Princeton was part of Task Group 38.3, under command of Admiral Bull Halsey, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 24-25 October 1944. This was my uncle's carrier, where he served as a Plane Captain on the flight deck, and was at his station at the time that a Japanese Judy land based bomber dropped 2 500 lb. bombs, aimed at the Princeton. The first dropped into the sea, exploding harmlessly, but the 2nd bomb struck the carrier's flight deck, just forward of the afty elevator, penetrating several decks before exploding.

Although valiant efforts were made by the USS Birmingham, USS Irwin & USS Reno in fighting the fires onbaord the Princeton, a 2nd larger detonation in the ship's magazines later in the afternoon, forced the US Navy to abandon rescue efforts and the carrier was ordered sunk by the USS Reno, sometime after 1500 hrs. My video is a tribute to my uncle and those who served with him that day.