While providing cover fire for a Marine capture of Bougainville, the CL-62 USS Birmingham shot down a handful of Zeros but took hits from two torpedoes and a dropped bomb. She lost 20 crewmen and limped back to Mare Island Navy Yard.
When the carrier USS Princeton was the victim of a 550 lb. bomb in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Birmingham and three destroyers attempted the rescue. While battling the very last deck fires, a massive explosion sprayed the side of the Birmingham with shrapnel, killing 229 crew and injuring 420. The Birmingham again headed to Mare Island Navy Yard.
The Battle of Okinawa was fought from March 25 to May 5, 1945. After fighting off three attacks on May 4, the Birmingham was damaged for a third time when, with a 500 lb. bomb attached, a Japanese Kamikaze plane (the pilot jumped and was later found dead in the water) struck her starboard deck, the bomb penetrating to the sick bay three levels below before exploding. About 50 crew were killed in the attack. Having seen enough of Mare Island, she staggered back to Pearl Harbor, returning to service just when news of the Japanese surrender arrived. She eventually headed for Australia.
It was my thought that she may have suffered the wishful retribution of certain US Army personnel, their way of saying, "Tanks much."
During the invasion of Sicily (July 10-26, 1943), the CL-62 USS Birmingham answered a supply request from Patton's command, which had advanced beyond its own supply train. The rations were delivered from the ship by whaleboat to army quartermasters on shore... 2,000 Spam sandwiches.
The Army doesn't like being spammed.
8-)
8-)
