Saturday, June 29, 2013 Continued

 

CHARLESTOWN, SOUTH CAROLINA PART 2

 

Photos from the U.S.S. Laffey Destroyer moored at Patriots Point, Charleston, SC

 

U.S.S. Laffey Destroyer commissioned February 8, 1944

On April 16, 1945 while operating off Okinawa, Laffey was assailed by 22 Japanese bombers and suicide kamikazes.  Five kamikazes and 3 bombs struck her and 2 bombs scored near misses to kill 32 and wound 71 of her 336 man crew, who in their heroism shot down 11 attackers and kept her afloat.  She was decommissioned in 1975 and arrived at Patriots Point in Charleston, SC in 1981.

Laffey is approximately 50 feet wide

Glad I'm not handling these lines

South Carolina State flag on the bow

Torpedo room

Mess hall -- seats attached to tables

Hatch to lower decks

Engine room

Tear Drop depth charge description

Tear drop depth charge

In the signal bridge

Signal bridge

Semaphore flag holder

Statistics card

View of bow from signal bridge

Radar

Signal lights

Add caption

Practice mount

Torpedoes

Captain's personal taxi

After the crippling attack off Okinawa, these brave sailors hoisted the American flag

Gyrodyne -- unmanned reconnaissance vehicle used in Vietnam

Info about Gyrodyne

View from one side of Laffey to the other

View of USS Yorktown from bow of Laffey