LOST IN SOLOMONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 October 1942, Page 3

LOST IN SOLOMONS

AIRCRAFT=CARRIER WASP SUNK BY JAPANESE SUBMARINES AMERICAN SHIP WITH FINE RECORD. NINETY PER CENT OF PERSONNEL SAVED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, October 26. A Navy Department communique states that the aircraft-carrier Wasp was sunk in the South Pacific on October 15 as a result of a submarine attack. The Wasp floated for ' five hours. The announcement of the loss was delayed as long as a possibility remained that the enemy was not aware of the sinking. The Wasp was operating with a task force which was covering the movement of reinforcements and supplies into Guadalcanal’ when, at 2.50 p.m., three torpedoes struck in the vicinity of the magazines and gasoline tanks, resulting in many explosions and serious fires throughout the ship. Fifteen minutes later a heavy explosion rocked the Wasp, and others followed in the vicinity of the hangar decks The fires could not be controlled and the ship was abandoned three hours after the attack. A United States destroyer torpedoed the Wasp at 8 p.m. when all hope had been abandoned. , Ninety per cent of the personnel were rescued. The Wasp, a vessel of 14,700 tons, was completed in 1940 and cost about £5,000,000. She had a speed of 30 knots and carried about 77 planes. Her listed complement, including air personnel, was 1800. . The Wasp played a gallant part m taking fighter plane reinforcements, to beleaguered Malta some months ago, and Mr Churchill paid a tribute to her in one of his speeches.