MIGHTY NINETY Color Film Footage
Between 14 March and 7 April 1945, two reels of color film were shot aboard USS ASTORIA CL-90 by a U.S. Navy fleet photographer. This footage is broken into segments below by date and subject. All 28 minutes of unedited silent footage are presented in chronological order.
Many thanks to Gary DiMaio, son of ASTORIA plankowner Mario DiMaio, for providing the original source material that makes this presentation possible. Each segment was cross-referenced with the photographs of ASTORIA ship's photographer Herman Schnipper to ensure accurate descriptions.
Task Group 58.3 underway to strike Japan, 14-18 March 1945
This segment includes:
- An OS2N-1 Kingfisher launched from ASTORIA performing a practice strafing run.
- A carrier from Task Group 58.3 refueling in preparation for the run-in toward Japan.
- Aircraft launching on the morning of March 18th to form up and conduct air strikes on the Japanese Home Islands.
All carrier footage is of either ESSEX CV-9 or BUNKER HILL CV-17.
Aerial attacks over USS ASTORIA, 19 March 1945
This segment depicts aerial attacks from Japanese aircraft over Task Group 58.3 during operations against the Japanese home islands. USS ASTORIA received confirmation for shooting down three attacking aircraft on this day, and fired on at least one other. Two of those attacks are depicted in this footage.
Also shown is the distant USS FRANKLIN CV-13 after being hit by two bombs earlier in the morning. At the end of the sequence, USS ASTORIA is leaving her task group to take position protecting the crippled FRANKLIN.
Aerial Attacks over crippled USS FRANKLIN CV-13, 19-20 March 1945
This segment depicts:
- Ships swarming around USS FRANKLIN CV-13 to assist her and recover survivors from the water after she was struck by Japanese bombs in the morning. At right the heavy cruiser PITTSBURGH CA-72 has taken FRANKLIN in tow.
- A destroyer apparently searching for survivors behind FRANKLIN.
- Harassing Japanese aircraft continuing to attack the slow-moving group through the evening of the 19th and into the next morning. The planes draw 5-inch and 40mm fire from ASTORIA.
USS ENTERPRISE CV-6 fighting fires, 20 March 1945
During operations against the Japanese home islands on March 20th, 1945, USS ENTERPRISE CV-6 suffered friendly fire damage from ships in her task group. As Japanese aircraft made unsuccessful bombing attempts, antiaircraft fire from other ships dropped low and two 5" rounds detonated over her flight deck. In this film sequence, fires burn on the flight deck of ENTERPRISE. In the second portion of the video, ENTERPRISE has turned to port to draw smoke away from her superstructure.
Aerial action over Task Group 58.2, 20 March 1945
This segment depicts:
- A Japanese plane being fired upon while making a run through the task group at very low altitude.
- An F6F Hellcat as the victim of friendly fire, its belly tank burning brightly as it makes a water landing on the edge of the task group screen.
- USS ASTORIA gun crews in silhouette at their battle stations as the sun sets.
USS ENTERPRISE CV-6 after fire damage, 21 March 1945
This segment depicts close-ups of USS ENTERPRISE CV-6 showing some of the fire damage and discoloration to the carrier’s superstructure and forward gun mounts from friendly fire the previous day.
USS ASTORIA shoots down Japanese bomber, 21 March 1945
In this segment, ASTORIA’s port battery opens up on a Japanese twin-engine bomber, hitting it multiple times as it flies through the screen of Task Group 58.2. The bomber falls out of control and crashes into the water. The latter portion depicts smoke from the wreckage of the downed plane as the task group steams past. This was ASTORIA’s fifth confirmed plane in three days.
Underway replenishment off Japan, 21 March 1945
This segment depicts underway replenishment in preparation for Okinawa operations. An oiler vessel is at center, fueling ASTORIA and a destroyer. The bow of the destroyer plunges up and down in the rough seas. The last portion of the segment shows a load of ammunition being brought aboard ASTORIA.
USS FRANKLIN after bomb damage, 21 March 1945
This segment depicts FRANKLIN as ASTORIA steams beside her on 21 March 1945. Also visible are USS SANTA FE CL-60 and several destroyers. Close-ups of FRANKLIN show the results of damage suffered from Japanese bombs two days earlier. Her mast array is bent and she is still listing to starboard. Although most of the visible damage is in the aft of the ship, the photographer primarily focuses on the bow section. This suggests that funerals taking place on the hangar deck might have been the intended subject matter.
The final portion shows a geyser of water shooting up, likely from an incident that took place later in the day when air cover shot down a Japanese plane attempting to attack the wounded carrier. USS ASTORIA screened both FRANKLIN and ENTERPRISE CV-6 as the two damaged carriers prepared to leave the area for repair.
USS ASTORIA Kingfisher floatplane rescue, 29 March 1945 -- part 1
During Okinawa operations on 29 March 1945, ASTORIA's Kingfisher floatplanes were launched to rescue downed airmen from a carrier in their task group. The two rescue pilots were Lt (jg) J.F. Newman and Lt (jg) Donald Comb. The downed aviators had ditched in Kagoshima Bay, Honshu, in the Japanese home islands. Lt (jg) Newman landed under enemy fire and recovered one aircrewman, but the other man was found dead. While returning to the Fast Carrier Task Force, an escort fighter was shot down and ditched. Lt (jg) Comb landed and recovered the pilot, so both planes returned to the ASTORIA with rescues to their credit.
In this segment, one of the pilots tests his control surfaces, gives the A-OK, and is catapulted from the deck of USS ASTORIA. Upon return, the planes are hooked up via crane and brought back aboard. Note the destroyers that have moved in close to provide surface and air cover during recovery operations, and the wide sweeping turn visible in ASTORIA's wake to create calmer seas for the landing floatplanes.
USS ASTORIA Kingfisher floatplane rescue, 29 March 1945 -- part 2
In this segment, ASTORIA's rescue pilots and their rescuees are congratulated by ship's commanding officer Captain George C. Dyer, USN. The first two men are Lt (jg) J.F. Newman (in leather jacket) and an aviator named Somerville. The second two men are Lt (jg) Donald Comb and an aviator named Kelleher. Note that Comb and Kelleher repeat their greetings from Captain Dyer; the staged feel to the final round of handshakes is likely because this footage was intended for stateside press release. Both ASTORIA rescue pilots received Distinguished Flying Crosses for their role in this recovery operation.
Underway replenishment in high seas off Okinawa, 5 April 1945
This segment depicts underway replenishment in high seas during Okinawa operations. An oiler is fueling ASTORIA and transferring supplies via highline. Men endure heavy spray while taking aboard supplies from the port side of ASTORIA.
USS CABOT CVL-28 Kamikaze close call, 6 April 1945
This segment depicts the light carrier USS CABOT CVL-28 maneuvering to avoid one of two diving Kamikaze attacks on April 6th, 1945 during Okinawa operations. CABOT was successful in dodging both planes, suffering temporary damage to her steering as a result.
USS HANCOCK CV-19 Kamikaze hit, 7 April 1945
The final segment depicts the aircraft carrier USS HANCOCK CV-19 performing a series of turns after being struck by a Kamikaze plane on April 7th, 1945 during Okinawa operations. In the latter half of this segment another carrier, USS ESSEX CV-9, can be seen at left moving close under the smoke from HANCOCK. This move was made to protect ESSEX from any additional Japanese Kamikaze aircraft in the area. Due to effective firefighting, HANCOCK had her fires under control in less than an hour. Her casualties from the incident were 62 men killed, 71 wounded.
