Changes

Four of the bombers approached Barnett and George F. Elliott (AP-13), whose crews opened fire with all guns that would bear. One passed close aboard her starboard side, burning furiously from repeated 20-millimeter hits, while a second Mitsubishi strafed Barnett’s deck with its machine guns. It then crossed the transport about seven feet above the signal bridge, inadvertently striking the signal mast and shearing off its left wing. As a result, the bomber plunged into the water on the port side of the ship. Scattered fragments lightly wounded two sailors. A third bomber came under heavy fire when it passed between the transport and George F. Elliott, crashing in flames about 1,500 yards to port. The fourth crashed George F. Elliott’s deck just abaft the bridge, starting numerous gasoline fires that forced her abandonment and led ultimately to her scuttling by destroyer Hull (DD-350) later that day.

Four of the bombers approached Barnett and George F. Elliott (AP-13), whose crews opened fire with all guns that would bear. One passed close aboard her starboard side, burning furiously from repeated 20-millimeter hits, while a second Mitsubishi strafed Barnett’s deck with its machine guns. It then crossed the transport about seven feet above the signal bridge, inadvertently striking the signal mast and shearing off its left wing. As a result, the bomber plunged into the water on the port side of the ship. Scattered fragments lightly wounded two sailors. A third bomber came under heavy fire when it passed between the transport and George F. Elliott, crashing in flames about 1,500 yards to port. The fourth crashed George F. Elliott’s deck just [[abaft]] the bridge, starting numerous gasoline fires that forced her abandonment and led ultimately to her scuttling by destroyer Hull (DD-350) later that day.