Aftermath
108 men from the Princeton were lost in the attack, 10 officers and 98 enlisted men; 1,361 crewmen were rescued. In addition the assisting ships had also suffered damage and casualties:
- Birmingham — 233 killed, 426 wounded, a heavily damaged topside, and loss of 2 5-in., 2 40mm and 2 20mm guns.
- Morrison — foremast lost, portside smashed
- Irwin — forward 5-in. mounts and director out, starboard side smashed.
- Reno — one 40mm smashed.
Captain John M. Hoskins, who had been interim commanding officer of CVL-23 was also rescued, but lost his right foot. He would later become the new commanding officer of the fifth Princeton, launched as a replacement in 1945.
Nineteen-year-old Seabee R. Gallatin remarked: "Many men were lost to sea on the USS Princeton, yet no one knows about it. In a way, it was a miracle that so many men could be saved as well as myself. The ship was a burning inferno!"
Read more about this topic: USS Princeton (CVL-23)
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“The aftermath of joy is not usually more joy.”
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