Taken directly from a report prepared by the Engineering Officer describing how his personnel handled the Kamikaze Attack of 5/1/1945. This was provided by William Ringleib Jr.
USS Terror 5 May 1945
From The Engineering Officer. To : The Commanding Officer. Via : The Executive Officer.
Subject: Engineering Personnel, performance of during and after the Japanese suicide plane attack.
1. When General Quarters sounded at 0355 on 1 May l945 all Engineering Personnel manned stations, reported ready to Engineering Control in Forward Machinery Space, and placed all machinery and fire fighting equipment in a state of readi- ness for instant use as called for in the Engineering Casualty Control Book.
2. At 0359 when plane struck ship closing off after smoke pipe extinguishing fires in #3 boiler, and knocking #3 generator from the board, the auxiliary, or Diesel generator out in and furnished emergency light and power for the few minutes necessary to light off and place #1 boiler and #2 generator in service.
3. During this entire period everything was carried out in a routine manner as practiced at drills, there was no panic, confusion, or singing out, regular power and light was restored in eleven minutes from the ttme the plane struck. Firemain pressure was never lost, it decreased some when one riser carried away and while steam was below normal pressure in boiler being lighted off.
4. When conditions were under control in the Machi- nery spaces, all men who could possibly be spared were sent to the assistance of the repair and fire fighting parties under the direction of the First Lieutenant.
5. It is not considered fitting that any officer or man in the Engineering Department should be singled out for particular praise or blame, it is felt that all did the duty required of them in the quickest time possible and with as little harm as possible to equipment used by them.
6, The Engineering Department Personnel join the Engineering Officer in telling the Commanding Officer, the Executive Officer, and all heads of departments that they feel honored in having served aboard and in some measure contributed to the lessening of the damage that could have been done to the TERROR.
7, The Engineering Officer has taken the liberty of telling the Engineering Department that their duties were WELL DONE, which in Navy tradition is the highest praise anyone in the Naval Service expects or desires.