USS Indianapolis
The WW2 Podcast
Angus Wallace
4.6 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 15 July 2018
⏱️ 47 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode we're looking at the sinking of the USS Indianapolis.
Returning from delivering the atomic bomb to Tinian, in preparation for it to be dropped, the Indianapolis was hit twice by torpedoes from a Japanese submarine. She sank in less than a quarter of an hour.
800-900 men went in the shark infested waters, and no one in the US Navy was aware of the unfolding tragedy. The men floated in small groups for five nights and four days before they were finally spotted by the passing US plane.
And that is just half the story.
I'm joined by Sara Vladic.
Sara is the director of the documentary USS Indianapolis: The Legacy, she's also so-written a book looking at the events surrounding the sinking, the book is titled Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-Year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man. It is quite a story!
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello and welcome to another episode of the World War II podcast. I was quite excited about recording this episode. |
| 0:08.0 | I have a rather clear memory of reading a comic book as a child and being amazed at the story. I'm discussing the |
| 0:16.2 | sinking of the USS Indianapolis. My assumption is that that story made into a UK comic book on the back of the character |
| 0:26.4 | Quint in Jaws giving a four minute speech about the events surrounding the sinking. |
| 0:31.8 | The scene is on YouTube and it's a fantastic scene and well worth a watch. |
| 0:36.8 | Joining me today is Sarah Vladich. |
| 0:39.7 | Sarah is the director of the documentary USS Indianapolis The Legacy. |
| 0:46.0 | She's also Corinne a book looking at the events surrounding the Sinkin and the book is |
| 0:51.2 | Indianapolis the true story of the worst sea disaster in US naval history |
| 0:56.4 | and the 50 year fight to exonerate an innocent man. It is quite a story. But before we get cracking, just to remind you kind |
| 1:04.8 | listener if you're interested in becoming a patron of the podcast, go to |
| 1:09.8 | Patreon. |
| 1:13.8 | By becoming a patron, you'll be able to bask in the satisfied rosy glow |
| 1:20.0 | that in doing so you'll be helping me find the time to put the show together. |
| 1:25.0 | But more than that, you're rewarding yourself. |
| 1:29.0 | With more World War II chat that I make available to patrons. |
| 1:35.0 | Patreon will also provide you with a personalized RSS feed. |
| 1:40.0 | It's in the top right of the Patreon window somewhere, which, when put into your podcast software of choice, will allow these extras to be automatically downloaded for your pleasure. So that's Patreon.com |
| 1:55.1 | slash W.W.2 Podcast and I thank those who already support the show. |
| 2:00.9 | Sarah, thanks for joining me. |
| 2:04.0 | So if we start with the U.S.S. Indianapolis, |
| 2:08.0 | I hadn't realized it had seen so much action. |
... |
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