Us Official Photographs

Mitchell bomber sinks freighter

OBJECTIVE DESTROYED: One of the most remarkable photographs of the entire attack shows a 1,500-ton freighter sinking seconds after a Mitchell strafing bomber had completed its skipbombing run. Left photograph records the explosion of the first in a two-bomb strike. The lower picture shows the freighter sinking by the stern. "As we dropped into Simpson Harbor itself, it became apparent that there was not enough room for a nine-ship sweep. I broke away to avoid a collision with another airplane in the flight and at a speed of 230 miles per hour, I started a run on a freighter of approximately 1,500 tons. At a range of 800 yards I opened fire. "I continued firing until forced to pull up clear of the vessel. One thousand-pound bomb dropped early skipped into the side of the boat, the other bomb banging off the ship's decks. Photos show this ship with decks smash. My gunner reported later that the ship sank immediately." (From narrative report by Captain Charles W. Howe, 90th Attack Squadron.)