USS Bates (APD-47) burning off Ie Shima, Japan, 25 May 1945 (NH 66450)

The U.S. Navy high-speed transport USS Bates (APD-47) burning off Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands (Japan), after a suicide attack by three Japanese planes, 25 May 1945. The first dropped a bomb, scoring a near miss which ruptured the starboard hull of the ship, and then crashed into the starboard side of the fantail. The second aircraft, almost simultaneously, made a suicide hit on the pilothouse. Shortly thereafter, the third aircraft made a bombing run scoring a near miss amidships, portside, rupturing the hull. At 1145hrs the commanding officer ordered Bates abandoned. Twenty-one of her crew were either dead or missing from the attacks. During the afternoon, the tug USS Cree (ATF-84) was able to get a line aboard and towed Bates to Ie Shima anchorage. At 1923hrs on 25 May 1945, the still burning Bates capsized and sank.