Title
Irven Klug and the Imperial Palace
Description
A postwar photo of Irven Klug in front of the bridge at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan.
Context
Lt(jg) Irven Francis Klug was a F6F Hellcat pilot with Carrier Air Group 88 (CAG-88) aboard USS Yorktown (CV-10). Air Group 88 included torpedo, bombing, and fighter plane squadrons that served aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-10) from July to September 1945.
Air Group 88 and the USS Yorktown would experience the last dogfight and casualties of World War II. Emperor Hirohito recorded the unconditional surrender of Japan the morning of August 15, 1944. The announcement would be broadcast over the radio at noon.
Yet unknown to the USS Yorktown, the ship sent Air Group 88 out for patrol that morning. The pilots were in the air when the surrender message was received. The Yorktown ordered the group to return to the carrier, but it was too late. A group of Japanese fighter pilots who had yet to respond to the surrender encountered the Air Group, and the final dogfight of World War II commenced.
The dogfight only lasted 15 minutes. Four planes were lost, and Lt. Billy Hobbs and Ensigns Eugene Mandeberg, Howard Harrison, and Joseph Sahloff would not return with their Air Group to the Yorktown.
Air Group 88 and the USS Yorktown would experience the last dogfight and casualties of World War II. Emperor Hirohito recorded the unconditional surrender of Japan the morning of August 15, 1944. The announcement would be broadcast over the radio at noon.
Yet unknown to the USS Yorktown, the ship sent Air Group 88 out for patrol that morning. The pilots were in the air when the surrender message was received. The Yorktown ordered the group to return to the carrier, but it was too late. A group of Japanese fighter pilots who had yet to respond to the surrender encountered the Air Group, and the final dogfight of World War II commenced.
The dogfight only lasted 15 minutes. Four planes were lost, and Lt. Billy Hobbs and Ensigns Eugene Mandeberg, Howard Harrison, and Joseph Sahloff would not return with their Air Group to the Yorktown.
Accession #
2020.0101
