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After service in Europe, Harding
participated in the invasion of Okinawa. While serving on screening duties
on 16 April1945 she and other ships were attacked with by four suicide
planes. One was driven off, another was shot down, but a third steered
directly for Harding's bridge. The aircraft splashed close aboard to
starboard, tearing a huge gash in Harding's side from keel to main
deck when her bomb exploded. The stricken ship backed toward Kerama Retto,
where she received temporary repairs before returning to Pearl Harbor via
Saipan. 14 crewmen were killed; 8 were missing and presumed killed; 9 were wounded.
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