Becton's Word

Six Japanese suicide planes crash-dived the destroyer off Okinawa. A bomb jammed the rudder, and the ship heeled in a sitting-duck circle. Flaming gasoline billowed over the decks, burning gunners strapped to their seats. Said Commander Frederick J. Becton: "I'll never abandon ship as long as a gun will fire."

In Seattle this week citizens could troop wonderingly aboard to gape at the shattered mast, twisted guns and clawed hull of the 2,200-ton destroyer Laffey, still-floating proof of Becton's word.

The cost of that furious two-hour battle to the Laffey was 31 men killed or missing, 60 wounded. The Japs lost their six suicide planes and eight more shot down. In brisk, factual fashion, Lieut. Frank Manson, communications officer, told how it went, that morning of April 16:

"Planes were all around--lots of ours and at least 30 of theirs. Twenty started converging on us from the north. . . . Five-inch guns shot one down 1,000 yards off and another close aboard. Two circled to the stern and No. 3 [gun] mount shot both down, one so close we got our first casualty--one man killed. A moment later a Val [Japanese dive bomber] exploded just off the starboard quarter, injuring several men. A plane from the port bow grazed the No. 3 mount and exploded near enough to put one gun out of action.

"Two planes approached. . . . Antiaircraft fire got one. Another came in low . . . struck and swept across the deck house, knocking out some of our guns and starting fires in the 40-mm. magazine. Within 30 seconds two planes hit the afterdeck house, sealing several men to their deaths in compartments below. Just then a Corsair came chasing a Japanese right over the mainmast. The Jap took off half the yardarm and the Corsair took off the other half. The Jap crashed in the water. The Corsair pulled out with a wing damaged, shot down another plane and then crashed. Another ship rescued the pilot.

"Then a large plane carrying a 500-or 1,000-lb. bomb came from the starboard. Mount 2 put a 5-inch projectile squarely into it and the plane disintegrated 200 yards from us. Another plane apparently hit by the air patrol came by in a mass of flame and crashed off the port bow. The next Jap plane knocked off the other yardarm and crashed alongside. The last plane approached from the starboard and dropped a bomb amidships, killing several men in the wardroom where a doctor was treating the wounded.

"Every man stayed on his battle station. If one was killed, a radioman or pharmacist's mate would take his place. . . ."

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