USS Ulvert M. Moore (DE-442) - Ommaney Bay Crashed By Kamikaze

Ommaney Bay Crashed By Kamikaze

Ulvert M. Moore went to general quarters twice in the predawn hours of 4 January, fueled from USS Suamico (AO-49), and spent the afternoon delivering mail via highline transfer to other ships in the task force. While she was casting off from alongside USS Minneapolis (CA-36), her lookouts noted a Japanese plane slipping into the return flight pattern of the carriers. This kamikaze soon crashed into USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79) shortly after 1714, 1,000 yards (910 m) away from Ulvert M. Moore's starboard bow.

A heavy explosion rocked the "jeep carrier" from stem to stern, and large fires soon broke out along her starboard side. The destroyer escort headed for the scene at full speed and picked up four men—one of whom died before he could be brought aboard ship. All three suffered from flash burns and shock. Ommaney Bay continued to burn fiercely and eventually had to be sunk by a torpedo from USS Burns (DD-588) at 1845 that day.