Known throughout the fleet as "Big Ben;" the USS Franklin was christened for the legacy of the four prior U.S. Navy ships named after Benjamin Franklin. The Franklin was a creation of World War II; one of twenty-four Essex-class fast carriers built during the conflict; forming the backbone of the U.S. Navy's war against Japan. By the time the war had moved to Okinawa in the spring of 1945; "Big Ben" had already seen substantial combat; having participated in the island campaigns of the central and western Pacific and the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the Philippines; where she sustained heavy damage from the new and deadly Japanese kamikaze. On March 19; 1945; the Franklin was launching her aircraft against Honshu; the Japanese mainland; including the shipping industry in Kobe Harbor. Suddenly; a single enemy aircraft pierced the cloud cover and made a low level run on the ship; striking it with a 250kg bomb which pierced the deck and set off a chain reaction of exploding ordnance and aviation fuel. The aircraft carrier; now on fire; listing heavily to starboard; and with over 1;000 casualties; appeared to be mortally wounded. Inferno tells the heroic tale of the efforts that saved "Big Ben." It is a tremendous story of endurance and seamanship; told in harrowing detail in the survivors own words. Inferno makes for gripping reading.
#875988 in Books 2016-07-26Original language:English 8.90 x 1.10 x 5.90l; .0 #File Name: 0758652712380 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent summary treatment of Church HistoryBy Gabriel Emanuel BorleanI thought I knew a lot of Church History; having read plenty of titles. This book is a short-version of "The Church From Age to Age" and quite a volume to get through by itself (not a booklet as I had originally thought). I enjoyed the extra historical; social; theological and economics facts learned from each historical period covered.Very well balanced treatment of a vast subject. I walked away from reading this book having a better understanding of what it meant to be a Christian in that particular time period. Highly recommend this book to anyone who has never read on this topic or who is already familiar with it.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. This is a great book; it gives you a good perspective on ...By Rev HunterThis is a great book; it gives you a good perspective on how 'The Church' started; the growth; the structure; and so on.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great book to understand who we are and why!By Cliff PerrenodAn excellent book to have and read. It capures in easy readinfg detail the history of the church and all the changes that have taken place. It helps explain the differences and reason of such for all the different traditions of the church.
