USS Stoddard (DD-566) alongside to transfer a package to USS Missouri (BB-63) on July 13, 1945, while steaming with Task Group 38.4 off Hokkaido, Japan. Also on this day, Stoddard along with other destroyers in the task group’s screen came alongside Missouri to refuel despite the rough seas—so rough, in fact, that two of Stoddard’s men were injured and one was thrown overboard during the refueling. Remarkably, the man thrown overboard was recovered and with only mild cold shock. Throughout July, Stoddard screened Task Group 38.4 as it made strikes on mainland Japan, with Stoddard herself briefly bombarding Chichijima with Destroyer Division 113, until she was detached to transport Assistant Secretary of the Navy H.S. Hensel and party to Iwo Jima on July 26, 1945.
Footage (428-NPC-14435): [ Ссылка ]
USS STODDARD War Diary 7/1-31/45: [ Ссылка ]
Missouri (BB-63) July 1945: [ Ссылка ]
COMTASK-GROUP 38.4 Rep of air opers against Japan 7/10/45-8/15/45: [ Ссылка ]
