This short film recounts the heroic story of the USS Franklin, a World War II aircraft carrier known as “Big Ben,” which at the time lay deserted in the Navy Yard at Bayonne, New Jersey (it was scrapped in 1966). The Franklin is remembered for its captain and crew’s refusal to abandon ship despite severe damage from a Japanese dive bomber attack on March 19, 1945. The attack caused massive fires and explosions, resulting in the deaths of 700 men. Despite the devastation, the crew fought valiantly to save the ship, with assistance from the cruiser Santa Fe and the destroyer Hickock. The Franklin, crippled but still afloat, eventually steered for port under its own power. The ship now stands as a silent memorial to the bravery and sacrifice of its crew, embodying the spirit of American resilience and heroism.

00:00: Introduction to the deserted fighting ship, the USS Franklin, lying lonely in the Navy Yard at Bayonne, New Jersey.

0:31 – 0:47: The USS Franklin, also known as “Big Ben,” is remembered as a legendary ship from World War II, known for its captain and crew who refused to give up.

0:47 – 1:06: During World War II, 3,000 men lived on the 27,000-ton carrier, and on one tragic day near the war’s end, 700 men died.

1:06 – 1:26: The story begins on March 19, 1945, with the Franklin steaming into action off Japan.

1:26 – 1:40: At 7 a.m., a Japanese dive bomber strikes the ship.

1:40 – 2:00: Two enemy bombs hit, causing massive fires and explosions as the crew fights to control the damage.

2:00 – 2:14: At 7:11 a.m., a series of violent explosions rock the ship, turning it into a fiery ammunition dump.

2:14 – 2:44: The cruiser Santa Fe comes alongside to take off the gravely injured, while another enemy plane is blasted.

2:44 – 3:02: Despite the damage, the Franklin continues to steam towards Japan at 8 knots.

3:02 – 3:16: Captain Garry refuses to abandon ship.

3:16 – 3:30: The Santa Fe returns to assist, spraying the Franklin’s fires with hoses.

3:30 – 4:01: Hundreds are dead and dying, but the captain and crew refuse to give up. The ship is listing 14 degrees but still afloat.

4:01 – 4:13: Chaplain Father Joseph O’Callahan, one of two heroic officers awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, ministers to a critically wounded sailor.

4:13 – 4:35: Another enemy plane is shot down.

4:35 – 5:01: The destroyer Hickock moves in to rescue men stranded on the Franklin’s fantail.

5:01 – 5:14: 800 men are rescued from the water, with almost 2,000 of the original 3,000 men surviving unhurt.

5:14 – 5:41: The crewmen who stayed with the ship are rescued by other ships.

5:41 – 6:05: The Franklin, crippled but still afloat, steers for port under her own power.

6:05 – 6:24: The men of the Franklin are saluted for their bravery, with the ship steaming past the Statue of Liberty into history.

6:24 – 6:37: The war ends, and the Franklin’s fighting might is muzzled, but she stands ready to serve again if needed.

6:37 – 7:07: The ship is now a silent memorial to the men who died and the spirit that made her a part of America’s heritage.

7:07 – 7:39: The film concludes with a reflection on the memories of the Franklin’s past and the men who served on her.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com