| Lucky Lady - The World War II Heroics of the USS Santa Fe and Franklin
(2002)
|
| Front Cover |
Book Details |
|
| Genre |
Non-Fiction |
| Subject |
Santa Fe (Cruiser); Franklin (Aircraft Carrier); World War, 1939-1945 - Naval operations, American; World War, 1939-1945 - Campaigns - Pacific; Rescues - United States - History |
| Publication Date |
11/25/2002 |
| Format |
Hardcover (8.9
x
6.4
mm)
|
| Publisher |
Carroll & Graf |
| Language |
English |
| Extras |
Dust Jacket; Dust Jacket Cover |
|
| Description |
| Steve Jackson's Lucky Lady chronicles the saga of the aircraft carrier Franklin, the light cruiser Santa Fe, and their tragic encounter on March 19, 1945, when a Japanese bomber broke through U.S. air cover and dropped two 500-pound bombs on the Franklin. Fires were set off as ammunition and fuel exploded. The Franklin was near sinking, with all her 2,500 sailors in mortal danger. To the Japanese high command, American aircraft carriers represented supreme power. If several could be sunk, it might vanquish America's resolve. Against this backdrop, the Santa Fe, nicknamed the "Lucky Lady" for its unparalleled record of avoiding casualties throughout the war, came steaming to the Franklin's aid. In a maneuver heralded as one of the greatest feats of seamanship in naval history, the Santa Fe bellied up alongside the listing tinderbox of the Franklin, rescuing more than 800 sailors who were ferried across rope catwalks as flames on the burning sea licked at them from below. Despite the risk of being swamped by the much larger ship, the Lucky Lady remained alongside the Franklin, helping to shepherd the crippled vessel toward safety. Meanwhile, in the skies above, a vicious battle was fought, as the Franklin was stalked by Japanese planes eager to finish off their kill. In a haunting conclusion, Jackson measures the sacrifices and the triumphs of the two ships. This book is a fitting memorial that will move readers everywhere. 8 pages of black-and-white photographs heighten this dramatic saga. |
| Personal Details |
| Store |
American Political Biography Press |
| Purchase Price |
$10.00 |
| Acquire Date |
11/4/2019 |
| Condition |
Very Good/Very Good |
| Rating |
0 |
| Links |
Library of Congress
|
|
| Product Details |
| LoC Classification |
D774.S26 .J33 2003 |
| Dewey |
940.545973 |
| ISBN |
9780786710614 |
| Cover Price |
$28.00 |
| No. of Pages |
528 |
| First Edition |
No |
| Rare |
No |
|
| Notes/Review |
On the back cover, the largest print declares, "The Captain of the Santa Fe Risks his ship to save the Franklin" Naturally, I figured this would be the story of the battle that was fought on March 19, 1945, about sixty miles from the shores of Japan where the Franklin met its fate.
Instead, this book tells us the full war-time story of both these ships, from Pearl Harbor to Japan's surrender. It is told mostly through the personal stories of a handful of men on each ship. Unit histories can often come across as dry and impersonal. I don't really find the story of a ship as interesting as the stories of men. This is the story of men; tales of valor and sacrifice, tales of good luck and bad luck. This is not a dry and impersonal story, but a sometimes visceral description of naval combat.
My quibbles with this book are quite minor. There are more typographical errors than I recall of any book of this length. And it would be better if there were some maps to aid the reader.
The book has a very few photographs, a short bibliography, and an index but no notes. |
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