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On January 22, 1945, Ticonderoga was
operating as part of TF 38, launching air strikes against Japanese airfields
on Formosa. Shortly after noon, a kamikaze aircraft crashed through
Ticonderoga’s flight deck; the aircraft’s bomb exploded just above
the hangar deck, setting fire to several stowed planes. Ticonderoga’s
captain maneuvered the ship to keep the wind from fanning the blaze. He
also ordered magazines and other compartments flooded to prevent further
explosions and correct a starboard list. Finally, he instructed the damage
control party to continue flooding compartments on Ticonderoga's port
side, inducing a port list which dumped most of the flaming debris
overboard. Meanwhile, though Ticonderoga’s gunners shot down three other
attackers, a fourth plane smashed into the carrier's starboard side near the
island. This plane’s bomb set more planes on fire, riddled her flight deck,
and injured or killed another 100 sailors. Damaged control crews finally
brought fires under control by mid afternoon. Ticonderoga retired to
Ulithi to unload wounded before returning to the U.S. for repairs.
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