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Soon after midnight on April 3, 1945, while
off Okinawa, Prichett was closed by two bogies. The first veered off,
but the second dropped a 500 pound bomb aimed at the fantail. Exploding
close by, the bomb holed the destroyer below the waterline, causing fires
and flooding aft. The crippled destroyer accelerated to a speed in excess of
28 knots to minimize flooding. Meanwhile, damage control crews brought fires
under control, enabling Pritchett to remain in the area until
relieved shortly before noon. Prichett then retired to Kerama Retto
for emergency repairs.
On 29 July , while standing by
Callaghan—a kamikaze victim—
Prichett became the target of a
second suicide-minded Japanese pilot. Taken under fire by Pritchett
gun crews, the attacker splashed approximately 6 feet off the destroyer’s
port side. The aircraft exploded on impact, bowing in the ship’s hull and
causing extensive damage to her superstructure, port depth charge racks, and
radio and power leads. Despite the damage, Prichett remained in the
area and for another two hours continued to pick up survivors from
Callaghan.
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