In the early morning of 21 February 1945, the 2nd Mitate Special Attack Unit sortied from Katori airfield in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. After refueling at Hachijo Jima, the force, consisting of twelve Yokosuka D4Y Suisei (code name :Judy") and eight Nakajima B6N Tenzan (code name "Jill") attacked US forces gathered off Iwo Jima. Heavy cloud cover prevented the CAP over the US fleet from engaging the enemy aircraft, who weren't detected until only 75 miles out. Their most notable successes were the sinking of escort carrier Bismarck Sea (CVE-95) and damging carrier Saratoga (CV-2) badly enough to end her wartime career. Also damaged were escort carrier Lunga Point (CVE-94), LST-477, and Keokuk, as related below.
During the afternoon of 21 February 1945, Keokuk was cruising in formation with a group of LSTs and net tenders, approximately fifty miles southeast of Iwo Jima in latitude 24° 08' N, longitude 141° 28' E. Keokuk had been cruising in this formation for the past 24 hours, acting as column leader in column one of a three-column formation.
At 1719, about one hour before sunset, four enemy planes were spotted off the port bow about 4000 yards distant. General Quarters was sounded and word passed that suicide planes were attacking. At 1720 a plane identified as a Jill attacked Keokuk, coming out of the clouds from dead ahead at an altitude of 100 feet at 2000 yards and dropping to about 50 feet at 1000 yard away.
Just as the plane was about to hit the bridge it made a left bank, causing the propeller to cut the No. 1 20mm gun shield and gun crew, and the wing to cut the 24 inch searchlight, just forward of the No. 1 20mm gun tub. This contact with the searchlight and gun shield caused the plane to swing to starboard and downward, striking the gig davit amidship, and continuing on aft on the starboard side where a 500 pound bomb exploded
on deck outside the sickbay. The plane was hit with 20mm shells from No. 1 and No. 2 20mm guns, and was seen descending upon the ship in flames.
After the bomb hit the ship, the starboard battery, considting of six 20mm, one 40mm, and one 50 caliber was knocked out of commission; only No. 5 20mm remained in firing condition. A fire was started in the small arms magazine, but was extinguished in time to prevent any further damage. All control and indicating equipment was rendered inoperative from the bridge, and steering shifted to the stering engine room.
Fires were started on the flying bridge at No. 1 20mm, No. 1 40mm mount, No. 1 40mm clipping room, the starboard motor whaleboat, sickbay, laundry, radio II, motor generator room, 50 caliber magazine, overhead of net deck, as well as gasoline fires on deck from sickbay to the after net winches. Fires were put under control at 1800 and finally put out completely at 1850.
Before the starboard guns were put out of commission they accounted for another Jill which was attacking an LST off Keokuk's starboard quarter. The pilot of that plane was seen bailing out. This plane and one attacking Keokuk were thus accounted for by Keokuk's gunners. Obsrvers from other ships in the formation confimed this fact.
The attack was definitely ascertained as a suicide attack. One reason Keokuk was selected as a target was that it appeared to be the largest in the formation. All observations from eyewitnesses agree the attacking aircraft were Jills. Bodies of two pilots, with papers, were found near the after deck winches.
Total casualities amounted to 15 killed in action, 1 missing in action, and 44 wounded. An additional sailor died aboard Cecil (APA-96) the next day. Keokuk left ocnvoy at 1850 to transfer wounded to Cecil and Hocking (APA-121). Keoikuk laid to off Iwo Jima unti lthe 26th, when she sailed to Saipan for repairs, arriving
02 March. She then sailed to Leyte, arriving 09 March for repairs by Markab (AD-21), whcih were completed 18 March.
The following damage photos were included as enclosures to Keokuk's Report of AA Action off Iwo JIma, Bonin Islands, 2/21/45, dated 27 February 1945 (serial AKN-4/A2-11/A12 (017):
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One additional man was lost earlier and remains on duty:
