On March 19, 1945, a Japanese dive bomber hit the USS Franklin, killing 724 of her crew.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_19

• 1945 – World War II: Off the coast of Japan, a dive bomber hits the aircraft carrier USS Franklin, killing 724 of her crew. Badly damaged, the ship is able to return to the US under her own power.

Wed Mar 19, 2025: On this day, March 19, 1945, a Japanese dive bomber hit the USS Franklin, killing 724 of her crew.

Tue Mar 19, 2024: On this day, March 19, 1945, a Japanese dive bomber hit the USS Franklin, killing 724 of her crew.

[John1956PA]

1. A veteran from my town was among the crew of the last aircraft to depart the ship before it was struck.

Every year on March 19, he would quietly mark the anniversary in memorial to his lost comrades and in thanksgiving for the happenstance that he was not aboard The Franklin when the attack occurred.

[ShepKat]

2. my sister's father was on that ship

He and his best friend drew straws to see who would go to breakfast first.
His best friend 'won' and went to eat.
His best friend perished and my sister's father survived.
I know where his alcoholism came from.