Rare photos found of Taichu Maru sinking Sept '43

[Quagmire]

A Japanese youth discovered a series of rare photographs taken by his grandfather aboard the Taichu Maru during WWII. His grandfather was a sailor on board the Taichu Maru when it was sunk by the USS Balao in September of 1943. The freighter was enroute to Iwo Jima from Tokyo and its demise occurred just north of Chi Chi Jima. The boys grandfather was a life long photography enthusiast and it was said he always had his camera with him. He captured the sinking from before the first torpedo strike to his time in the lifeboat. His work follows below...


While shooting a beautiful sunset the first torpedo was captured seconds before impact.


This photograph was snapped as the surviving sailors waited to board the remaining lifeboats. The carnage on the deck was caused by the blast of the second torpedo.


The captain of the Taichu Maru looks on as his ship sinks.


The USS Balao surfaces remarkably close to finish off the ship with its deck gun. The Japanese crew defiantly ignores their enemy and does not ask for rescue.


Another example of Japanese defiance as the crew continues to ignore their enemy.

The USS Balao finished off the Taichu Maru with its deck gun and then slipped beneath the waves. The Americans left the crew of the freighter to the sea. Fortunately a Japanese patrol aircraft responded to the distress call sent before all power was lost. The floatplane landed near the lifeboats and rescued the crew. All crew members returned to the merchant marine but only the boys grandfather survived the war...
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