Aftermath - Escort carrier USS ST LO (CVE 63) - Photo #1
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U.S. Navy Photograph
from the personal collection of Mike McKenna
An enormous mushroom cloud rises behind the escort carrier USS ST LO (CVE 63) as she lists heavily to port. This photograph was taken from USS HEERMANN (DD 532), Taffy III's sole surviving destroyer.
"The estimated approximate chronological sequence of explosions is as follows:
1. 1053 - Jap plane hit the flight deck.
2. 1054 - Medium explosion.
3. 1055 - Heavy explosion blew part of the flight deck out.
4. 1059 - Medium explosion folded forward elevator back.
5. 1105 - Very heavy explosion - blew out part of port side.
6. 1107 - Very heavy explosion blew out part of starboard side.
7. 1114 - Very heavy.
8. 1120 - Very heavy.
9. 1125 - Ship sank."
