Explosions Rock the USS Franklin

Name/Title

Explosions Rock the USS Franklin

Description

Explosions rock the USS Franklin (CV-13) after being hit by bombs from a Japanese Dive Bomber off Honshu, Okinawa during operations on March 19, 1945.

Context

On March 19th, 1945, while launching strikes against the Japanese mainland, the USS Franklin (CV-13) was badly damaged when a single Japanese dive bomber struck her with two bombs. The attack resulted in the loss of 807 of her crew and Franklin became the most heavily damaged United States aircraft carrier to survive the war. The blue and orange marks on the photograph are editing marks by photographer Edward Steichen.

Collection

Steichen

Acquisition

Accession

2025.2

Source or Donor

Museum of Modern Art

Acquisition Method

Donation

Made/Created

Date made

Mar 1945

Update Date

February 20, 2025