USS PRINCETON CVL-23 ...
The Battle of Leyte Gulf ...
October 24, 1944 ...
This video is a tribute to my uncle, William K. Taylor, and all those who served aboard the USS Princeton during World War II. On October 24, 1944, the carrier was part of Task Force 38.3, commanded by Admiral Bull Halsey, supporting General Douglas MacArthur's landing force on Leyte Island in the Philippine Islands. On the morning of the 24th, the Princeton was attacked by Japanese land based bombers and was hit by one 500 pound bomb on the flight deck. My uncle was one of many of the crew that was topside at their stations when this happened. As a result of the one bomb hit, the carrier was damaged beyond repair and late that same afternoon, was sunk by torpedoes fired from the USS Reno.