USS Whitehurst Logo by: Pat Stephens, Webmaster, DESA
 

The Pilot's Pistol Suicide Bomber's Pistol Recovered by C. W. Davis Document and Picture provided by Alan Davis, Nephew of C. W. On 12 April 1945, a Japanese Kamikaze Pilot (Suicide Bomber) flew his "Val" Dive Bomber into the superstructure of USS Whitehurst.  It passed through the Combat Information Center (Radar Room), Pilot House, and its 500 pound bomb carried through the ship and exploded off the starboard bow.  Forty-two men were lost in an instant.  The remains of the plane and pilot, came to rest outside the pilot house on the signal bridge. C. W. Davis recovered the pistol and properly secured his Commanding Officer's permission to keep the weapon as a war-time souvenir. This is a "photoshopped" illustration of the Kamikaze strike. Max Crow, Webmaster Alan Davis provided the following letter detailing his own research for information about the pilot's pistol. Max I was going through some old papers last night and found this original letter dated 13 May 1945 on USS Whitehurst stationary.  It is signed by the CO, Lt. Cmdr. J. C Horton and gives my Uncle the right to retain property of the Royal semi-automatic pistol...  Again, the origin of this pistol is still unknown, but this model was known to be used by the Japanese (see below).  Would any of the crew members have had this type of gun? A picture of the type of gun that is nearly identical to my Uncle’s gun is also attached.  I found this on the web with the following notations: <Circa 1940. FN (Fabrique Nationale) M/19 semi-automatic pistol. Possibly made in USA under licence. Left side of frame marked AUTOMATIC PISTOL DEMOT?? CAL 7.65 m/m metal covered bullet. Contained in a leather holster. This pistol was sent to Australia by the 5 Military History Team. It is supposed that this weapon was captured in Indochina by the Japanese.> <This pistol was manufactured in Spain and is known as the Ruby type. It is a copy of the Browning 1903.  Browning sued them over it but lost the suit.  They were made for France during WWI and later for general sale by several companies. These guns were a favorite of the Japanese and were purchased on an individual basis by soldiers and pilots during the early thirties. Reine Smith> Thanks, Alan Davis Webmaster's note: Many thanks to Alan Davis for preserving and sharing this interesting piece of Whitehurst History.  To read more about the Kamikaze Strike, which is well documented in the WWII section of this USS Whitehurst Web site, click on the WWII Era link below. mc    WWII Era | Korea War & '50s | Viet Nam & 60s |  Reunions | All Links Page | Search & Rescue Memorial | Poetry  | Enemy Below | Taps List | Photos/Armament | History | Crews Index | Home

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