Themes

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• Illustrious class carriers

• The Battle of Okinawa-Sakashima Gunto

• Attacks near Formosa

Attacks near Formosa

In mid April 1944 Task Force 57 attacked targets off Formosa. 48 Avengers attacked port installations and a chemical plant. CAP fighters shot down Japanese bombers and fighters, with CAP fighters doing a good job of keeping away enemy aircraft attempting to attack the fleet.

HMS Formidable joined TF-57 for more attacks against Sakashima Gunto, replacing the weary HMS Illustrious who departed to Britain via Leyte.

When TF-57 finally withdrew from the islands on 20th April 1944, all airfields except one were out of service with blackened skeletons of burned out aircraft scattered across gutted runways. It was with weary satisfaction that the ships turned away from Sakashima Gunto, Rawlings and Vian had successfully completed their task. The BPF had matched the stamina of the US Navy by remaining at sea for 32 days, although blooded by kamikaze attacks the rugged construction of its armoured-deck carriers had earned the admiration of their American Allies. Although the Task Force lost 57 aircraft, they had flown 2444 sorties, dropped 412 tons of bombs and fired 325 rockets a testimony to the Fleet Air Arm’s tenacity.