USS Indianapolis (CA-35)

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The USS Indianapolis was commissioned in 1932. After delivering the first atomic bomb to the United States air base at Tinian Island on July 26 1945, she was in the Philippine Sea when attacked at 12:14 a.m. on July 30 1945, by a Japanese submarine. Most of the crew was killed by shark attacks, as they floated helplessly for several days, waiting for someone to rescue them.

The Indianapolis was put down March 31 1930 by the Camden, N.J.launched November 7 1931; sponsored by Miss Lucy Taggart, daughter of the late Senator Thomas Taggart, a former mayor of Indianapolis; and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard November 15 1932, Captain John M. Smeallie in command.

When Japanese hit Pearl Harbor the USS Indianapolis joined to search for the Japanese carriers . She arrived at Pearl Harbor December 13 1941 and entered for operations against the enemy.

Her first location was the South Pacific, deep in the enemies water about 350 miles south of New Britain. Late in the afternoon of February 20 1942, the American ships were attacked by 18 twin-engined bombers, flying in 2 waves. In the battle that followed, 16 of the planes were shot down by aircraft,fire of the ships and fighter planes from Lexington. All ships escaped damage. On March 10 the USS Yorktown attacked the enemies ports at Lae and where the enemy was surprise . Carrier-based planes flew in from the south, crossing the high mountain range and swooping in to attack Japanese harbor shipping. As they placed heavy damage on Japanese warships and transports, the American flyers knocked down many of the enemy planes which rose to protect the ports. American losses were very light.'