Al Bullock
Inferno at Sea: The USS Franklin's Trial by Fire

Inferno at Sea: The USS Franklin's Trial by Fire
Inferno at Sea: The USS Franklin's Trial by Fire
ArtistAmerican, 1923–2019
Artist
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Inferno at Sea: The USS Franklin's Trial by Fire
DateMarch 19, 1945
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsImage: 7 11/16 × 9 1/2 in. (19.5 × 24.2 cm)
 Sheet: 8 1/16 × 9 15/16 in. (20.5 × 25.3 cm)
Credit LineGift of Will Michels in honor of August Di Stefano
Object number2022.641.13
Not on view

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Department
Photography
Object Type
Provenance[Annapolis Maritime Antiques
, Annapolis, MD]; purchased by Will Michels, Houston; given to MFAH, 2022.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

A crown of flame mantles one of the five-inch turrets on the FRANKLIN, with jets of fire flickering out of the muzzles of the twin rifles. Crewmen aboard the cruiser SANTA FE extinguished the blaze by playing streams of water through the open hatch.
Al Bullock
A crown of flame mantles one of the five-inch turrets on the FRANKLIN, with jets of fire flickering out of the muzzles of the twin rifles. Crewmen aboard the cruiser SANTA FE extinguished the blaze by playing streams of water through the open hatch.
March 19, 1945
Gelatin silver print
2022.641.16
The USS Franklin, blasted by a Japanese dive-bomber in March 1945, lists sharply to starboard as the USS Santa Fe approaches.
Al Bullock
The USS Franklin, blasted by a Japanese dive-bomber in March 1945, lists sharply to starboard as the USS Santa Fe approaches.
March 19, 1945
Gelatin silver print
2022.641.7
USS FRANKLIN (CV-13) burning after being hit by bombs from Japanese dive bombers: taken from the USS SANTA FE (CL-60)
Al Bullock
USS FRANKLIN (CV-13) burning after being hit by bombs from Japanese dive bombers: taken from the USS SANTA FE (CL-60)
March 19, 1945
Gelatin silver print
2022.641.12
Following Navy tradition, the Cruiser SANTA FE risks its own destruction by moving alongside to within "arm's length" of the FRANKLIN in order to fight the fires and to remove exhausted and injured crewmen. Bringing the cruiser in such close proximity to the carrier was a magnificent feat of seamanship on the part of the skipper and officers of the SANTA FE.
Al Bullock
Following Navy tradition, the Cruiser SANTA FE risks its own destruction by moving alongside to within "arm's length" of the FRANKLIN in order to fight the fires and to remove exhausted and injured crewmen. Bringing the cruiser in such close proximity to the carrier was a magnificent feat of seamanship on the part of the skipper and officers of the SANTA FE.
March 19, 1945
Gelatin silver print
2022.641.17
Seething banks of smoke envelop the stern of the FRANKLIN as flames race through the interior of the ship. Men of the Cruiser SANTA FE watch in fascinated horror as they await the opportunity to lend a hand. Burning gasoline escapes out of the side of the ship, while a group of survivors clambore down a cargo net at the far left.
Al Bullock
Seething banks of smoke envelop the stern of the FRANKLIN as flames race through the interior of the ship. Men of the Cruiser SANTA FE watch in fascinated horror as they await the opportunity to lend a hand. Burning gasoline escapes out of the side of the ship, while a group of survivors clambore down a cargo net at the far left.
March 19, 1945
Gelatin silver print
2022.641.8
Survivors, including some injured, are photographed on the flight deck of the FRANKLIN as they await transferral to the SANTA FE, secured alongside the carrier
Al Bullock
Survivors, including some injured, are photographed on the flight deck of the FRANKLIN as they await transferral to the SANTA FE, secured alongside the carrier
March 19, 1945
Gelatin silver print
2022.641.14
The list of the FRANKLIN affords an unusually clear vision of the extent of the havoc on the flight deck. Tongues of flames run along the wooden surface as crewmen converge on the endangered area with firehose. Despite the appalling shock of the explosion, the undamaged guns went into action when the japanese loosed a follow-up aerial attack, and succeeded in driving the few away without sustaining further hits.
Al Bullock
The list of the FRANKLIN affords an unusually clear vision of the extent of the havoc on the flight deck. Tongues of flames run along the wooden surface as crewmen converge on the endangered area with firehose. Despite the appalling shock of the explosion, the undamaged guns went into action when the japanese loosed a follow-up aerial attack, and succeeded in driving the few away without sustaining further hits.
March 19, 1945
Gelatin silver print
2022.641.15
Debris flies aloft after an explosion convulses the FRANKLIN...only one of a series of .....which dangered the ship anew, meant the loss of additional lives increased the long list of the shrined seeking to escape the ......of the blast, member of fire fighting detail fall back .. to return immediately and renew their assault against the flames.
Al Bullock
Debris flies aloft after an explosion convulses the FRANKLIN...only one of a series of .....which dangered the ship anew, meant the loss of additional lives increased the long list of the shrined seeking to escape the ......of the blast, member of fire fighting detail fall back .. to return immediately and renew their assault against the flames.
March 19, 1945
Gelatin silver print
2022.641.9
Picture taken at the instant of a high order detonation on port side. Note debris in air and firefighters running to escape. Note topmast broken at radar platform level.
Al Bullock
Picture taken at the instant of a high order detonation on port side. Note debris in air and firefighters running to escape. Note topmast broken at radar platform level.
March 19, 1945
Gelatin silver print
2022.641.10
Highlighted by an area of flame, smoke spreads a choking curtain over the stern of the carrier. Behind the pall scores of courageous men risked their lives as they exerted every effort to save their ship.
Al Bullock
Highlighted by an area of flame, smoke spreads a choking curtain over the stern of the carrier. Behind the pall scores of courageous men risked their lives as they exerted every effort to save their ship.
March 19, 1945
Gelatin silver print
2022.641.11
Religious services under the blasted flight deck of the USS Franklin
CPhoM R. Woodward, USNR
Religious services under the blasted flight deck of the USS Franklin
March 1945
Gelatin silver print
2007.113
The flight deck of the USS SARATOGA at dawn, as the ship moves in for an air strike against Rabaul
Wayne Miller
The flight deck of the USS SARATOGA at dawn, as the ship moves in for an air strike against Rabaul
November 1943
Gelatin silver print
2022.641.18