Damage to the foward funnel of HMAS Australia from a Japanese Kamikaze attack on 9 January 1945. ...

Damage to the foward funnel of HMAS Australia from a Japanese Kamikaze attack on 9 January 1945. After completing her scheduled bombardment in suppport of the landings on the Lingayen beaches at 1.00pm lookouts sighted two Japanese aircraft approaching from the east. One dived past HMAS Australia and struck USS Mississippi near the bridge the other aircraft dived on HMAS Australia. "He missed his aim, however, and diving under the foreyard his wing tip cauight on a mast strut which swung him into the foremost funnel and over the side. There was no other material damage than cutting off the top third of the funnel, which necessitated closing down two boilers in "A" boiler room, and damage to radar and WT aerials, which was quickly repaired. There were no other casualities. A hole was cut in the damaged funnel by the next day and all boilers were again in action. So ended Australia's last operation of the war." (source, Australia in the War of 1939-1945, Royal Australian Navy 1942-1945, by G Herman Gill, Canberra, 1968. Page 590, quote from HMAS Australia Action Report). HMAS Australia was hit by five Japanese suicide bombers during the Lingayen Gulf operation and fought off a number of other attacks. Despite the damage sustained she stayed in action until this last attack when her funnel was damaged beyond local repair.

• Damage to the foward funnel of HMAS Australia from a Japanese Kamikaze attack on 9 January 1945. ...
• A view of the port side of HMAS Australia showing the damage to the foward funnel inflicted by a ...
• A 12 foot by 14 foot hole on the waterline under the bridge on the port side of HMAS Australia. ...
• The foward starboard 4 inch twin mount (S1) damaged by a Japanese Kamizake attack on HMAS ...
• The ready use lockers for the forward starboard 4 inch twin mount (S1) damaged during the attack ...
• Damage to part of the superstructure of HMAS Australia inflicted by a Japanese Kamikaze attack in ...
• Damage to the crane, probably on the port side, of HMAS Australia inflicted by a Japanese ...
• Fittings on the deck of HMAS Australia damaged by Japanese Kamikaze attacks. HMAS Australia was ...
• The damaged port railing at the stern of HMAS Australia with a single barrel 40mm Bofors gun with ...