Operation Hailstone

Truk-lagoon

The Truk (Chuuk) Lagoon where the US-Fighters started Operation Hailstone on 17 Feb. 1944. Several japanese Ships were sunk.

Truk Lagoon, February 4, 1944. A Marine Corps flying boat took this photograph of the Japanese fleet in Truk Lagoon.

A Japanese freighter in Truk Atoll is hit by a torpedo dropped from a VT-10 Avenger, 17 February 1944. Including the ground-breaking night attack of 16-17 February, Enterprise CV-6's Torpedo Ten accounted for one third of the total shipping destroyed by the Task Force 58 attack on Truk Atoll.

The Japanese submarine tender Heian Maru burning in Truk anchorage during Operation Hailstone, 17 February 1944.

Fighting Ten F6F-3 Hellcats return to Enterprise CV-6 following a strike against Truk Atoll, 16-17 February 1944. In two days and one night of raids, Enterprise and Task Force 58 destroyed over 220,000 tons of enemy shipping and damaged or destroyed 270 Japanese planes.

PhoM 1/c Joe Day (foreground) and PhoM 1/c Len Globus (top) examine a VB-10 SBD Dauntless, damaged during a photographic mission over Truk Atoll, 16-17 February 1944.

Vought OS2U-3 "Kingfisher" is recovered by USS Baltimore (CA-68) after she had rescued Lieutenant George M. Blair from Truk Lagoon, 18 February 1944. Plane's pilot is Lieutenant Denver F. Baxter. His radioman, ARMC Reuben F. Hickman, is on the wing, preparing to attach the plane so it can be hoisted on board. Blair's F6F "Hellcat", of Fighting Squadron Nine from USS Essex (CV-9), had been shot down during the dawn fighter sweep over Truk.

Japanese ships being bombed during attack on Truk by US carrier based planes. Taken by a plane from the USS Intrepid

Japanese ammunition ships in Truk Harbor explode following a dive-bombing attack by a US carrier based plane. The pilot and crewmembers of this plane are presumed to be lost since their plane was caught in this terrific explosion. February 17, 1944

Aerial showing destruction resulting from raid on Truk

Navy bombers attack Japanese warships during raid on Truk

Dive bomber over Truk

Two fighter pilots on board the USS Enterprise wait on deck during raid on Truk, Caroline Islands. February, 16, 1944

Japanese ships in Dublon Anchorage - Truk Atoll

Ships lying off Dublon under attack. Larger ships are unidentified. Several of the smaller vessels appear to have been used for tuna fishing in the surrounding waters. February 16, 1944

Japanese Vice Admiral Chuichi Hara (center) surrenders Japanese forces on Truk aboard USS Portland, September 2, 1945.