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The
Convoy of the Cripples
The Houston being torpedoed blowing
its hatch cover,
October 16,
1944
Artist, Raymond A. Massey dedicated this,
his first World War II print to the men and women who proudly
served their country in the U.S. Navy.
This image was especially dedicated to the
five Sullivan brothers: Joseph, Francis, Albert, Madison and
George; Who were killed in action in 1942 when their ship,
the U.S.S. Juneau sunk. The U.S.S. The Sullivans, a naval
destroyer, was named in honor of these valiant American heroes.
On October 16, 1944, the U.S.S. The Sullivans
was one of five destroyers assigned to escort the disabled
cruisers, the U.S.S. Houston and the U.S.S. Canberra. Admiral
Halsey was using this "Convoy of Cripples" as a
decoy to attract enemy aircraft.
This print shows a frozen moment in history
in which the Houston, already under tow by the tugboat, Pawnee,
is being torpedoed by a Japanese "Betty" which had
eluded Halsey's aircraft, and found the cruisers. The torpedo
hit the rear deck blowing the hatch cover high into the air.
A wing of a seaplane that was sitting on
the port catapult can also be seen in the debris of the explosion.
The "Sully" successfully shot down this enemy aircraft
moments later. In the distance, the Canberra can be seen also
under tow by the fleet tug, Munsee.
The action took place east of the Phillipines,
about 90 miles south of Formosa. Despite the torpedo strikes
on the Houston, all the ships in the "Convoy of the Cripples"
reached port safely successfully completing their "decoy"
assignment.
23 x 30 in. lithograph - 780 edition
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