Down To The Sea: An Epic Story of Naval Disaster in World War II
Smithsonian Books, 2007. First edition. Hardcover. First edition, first printing. Fine in fine dust jacket. Hardcover. 368 pp. with bibliography, index. Illustrated with photos. In December, 1944, while supporting MacArthur's invasion of the Philippines, Admiral William "Bull" Halsey neglected the "Law of Storms" of the sea and sent the Third Fleet sailing directly into the largest storm the U.S, Navy had ever encountered--a maelstrom of 90-foot seas and 160-mph winds. Three ships sunk, 28 were damaged,a nd 756 men lost their lives. In all, only 92 survivors from all the ships (each carrying some 300 men) were rescued, some spending up to 80 hours in the water. In assembling this history of the event, the author drew on extensive interviews with nearly every living survivor and rescuer, many families of lost sailors, transcripts and other records from two naval courts of inquiry, letters, diaries, ships logs, etc. Fine / fine. Item #E27476
ISBN: 9780061173165
Price: $14.95