RIP USS Indianapolis on this day in 1945 the USS Indianapolis was sunk while carrying one of the atomic bombs. Of the 1196 crew only 316 survived. Most were killed by the initial explosion or fatal wound. However hundreds would die from shark attacks that lasted for days. The survivors were rescued after 4 days of being stranded at sea.
With the last death being the captain who took his own life after years of being called a "murderer" for not zigzagging. Even though the Japanese sub captain stated in the trial that the zigzagging would not have saved the ship, the court found the captain in dereliction. It was not till years after the suicide that the captain was pardoned, by Pres Clinton.
Comments