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The Americans

USS CABOT
(CVL-28)

USS ESSEX
(CV-9)

USS HANCOCK
(CV-19)

USS INTREPID
(CV-11)

 

The Japanese

The Kamikazes

A6M Zero

D4Y SUISEI

IJN Kumano

IJN Yasoshima

 

Narrated By

Marvin Scott

 

Historical Advisor

Michael Marmé, PH.D.
Fordham University,
New YORK, NY

 

REcommended links

World War II
Multimedia Database

Nine Sisters

 

USS Hancock (CV-19)

Hancock was the first carrier to be hit by a kamikaze on November 25, 1944. The crew was at lunch mess when general quarters sounded. Frank Maurizio took his station at a 20-millimeter gun battery while “Inny” Cerbini was on duty watching the smokestack for emissions.

Play QuickTime Video of USS Hancock
IN day of the Kamikaze

Isamu Kamitake's plane explodes over USS Hancock (CV-19)

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USS Hancock Links

USS Hancock Photos

History of the USS Hancock

I. D. “Inny” Cerbini Talks About Combat

Frank Maurizio Talks About Losing His Friends

USS Hancock Association

I. D. “Inny” Cerbini’s USS Hancock Memorial

Isamu Kamitake was part of the attack force headed for the ship, flying a night fighter even though it was daytime. Thankfully, like Yoshinori Yamaguchi, Kamitake did not have a bomb, or did not arm it. Otherwise, when his plane exploded over the flight deck, there might have been casualties aboard USS Hancock.


Isamu Kamitake's Senbaku 5 A6M night fighter after impacting USS Hancock (CV-19)

Kamitake's body was dumped into the ocean, with the rest of his plane, after it was checked for valuable intelligence. Frank Maurizio was later transferred to another gun crew, a switch that probably saved his life: in April 1945, another kamikaze hit USS Hancock right on his former gun position, killing many of Maurizio's friends.

USS Hancock Casualties

Only Isamu Kamitake, and an unknown number of Japanese pilots and aircrew killed supporting his attack, were casualties in the attack on the USS Hancock (CV-19).