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On November 1,1944, the Japanese launched
kamikaze attacks against U.S. ships patrolling lower Leyte Gulf. In the
early afternoon, a Japanese aircraft burst into flames near Abner Read. A
bomb from the plane dropped down one of the destroyer's stacks and exploded
in her after engine room. The plane itself came down diagonally across Abner
Read’s main deck, setting fire to the entire after section. A tremendous
internal explosion caused Abner Read to list to starboard. The ship rolled
over on her starboard side and sank stern first. Survivors were rescued by
the
USS
Claxton (DD-571), itself damaged earlier by kamikaze attack and
which was then being assisted by Abner Read. 22 killed or missing.
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