AFTER PEARL HARBOR, A war had to be won and the small fast carrier, USS Cabot and her brave men certainly did not let us down. In fact, her pilots and men gave the USA our revenge for what the Japanese did to us at Pearl Harbor! The Cabot was in combat for 17 months. During that time she was responsible for destroying 360 enemy planes, 265 ships, and numerous shore installations throughout the pacific. She won nine Battle Stars for her actions in the Marshall Islands, Western Carolina Islands, Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. President Truman awarded her a Presidential Unit Citation.The Cabot was one of the "bait" ships that Admiral Halsey used to lure the Japanese Fleet into what he hoped would be one last decisive battle. The Japanese Fleet struck the "bait" with 70 fighter planes against the Cabots eight pilots of the famed "Meat Axe Squadron". In less than 15 minutes, 27 enemy planes had been shot down at no loss to the squadron. Three pilots qualified as ace on this one major action. Bitten by the "bait" the Japanese Fleet ran for cover. The Cabots last major action resulted in the biggest naval prize of the Pacific Campaign; The sinking of the 60,000 plus ton, largest battleship of the war, the Yamoto. Her greatest tragedy happened on November 25th of 1945 when the Japanese used Kamikaze against the Cabot. Even though in flames from the Cabot's guns, two of the Kamikaze exploded on the Cabot; killing thirty five sailors, and wounding 67. |
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| Cabots Leading Ace Lt. C.N. Nooy With 19 Kills! | Lt. Commander W.C. Eder Another Cabot Ace! |
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| Lt. Jack Wirth Another Ace! | USS Cabot |
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| TBM Right After Wave Off | Pilot Of This Plane Did The Impossible Landed This Plane, Took Off Again The Deck Is Too Short!! |
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| Ace Howard Skidmore Performs Only Known Takeoff From A Catwalk! | A Judy Shot Down Near Cabot In October 1945 |
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| A Few Seconds After The First Hit | The First Kamakaze Hit The Catapult Room |
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| First Kamikaze ( Circled ) To Hit! | After First Hit! |
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| Rushing To Damaged Deck | Cabot Is Hit! |
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| Cabot Is Hit! | Man With Hose Saved All Three On Plane |
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| One Of The Most Precious Losses A Crewmember Killed By Kamikaze | Inside Catapult Room Hit By Kamikaze |
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| Buriel At Sea For The Brave Men "Thirty Five Gave The Ultimate Sacrifice" | In Addition To Those Killed 67 Men Were Wounded! |
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| Catapult Room Damage | Deck Damage |
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| Catapult Room Damage | Catapult Room Damage |
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| Catapult Room Damage | Catapult Room Damage |
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| USS Wasp Hit & Splashing Zero Taken From Cabot | USS Wasp Hit & Splashing Zero Taken From Cabot |
I have attempted to put together a brief history of the USS Cabot. I am sure that I can not give a full accounting of what it was really
like to have been there. If anyone can provide any information to help me to give the men of the Cabot the true credit
that they deserve, please contact me. I welcome any corrections, suggestions, pictures, or information to improve this page. Survivors of these battles
are still with us and this page is for them and for the families of those who have passed on.
George Noel deLange Jr.