|
Achernar arrived off Okinawa on
April 1, 1945. Just after midnight, a Japanese suicide aircraft hit the
attack cargo ship's starboard side; almost simultaneously, a bomb exploded
on her port side. Fires broke out, and the ship began listing slightly to
port. The fires were soon out and the list corrected. Casualties were five
crewmen killed and 41 injured. During the afternoon of April 2 Achernar
transferred her casualties to USS Solace and proceeded to anchor off
Hagushi beach, where temporary repairs began. On the morning of April 3,
Achernar moved to Kerama Retto to begin unloading cargo. The ship
remained at Okinawa until April 19, when she sailed for the United States
via Ulithi and Pearl Harbor.
|
