Written by Gene Eric Salecher

In May 1944 the Navy had assembled a fleet of landing ships, tank (LSTs) in the West Loch section of Pearl Harbor. On May 21, an explosion tore through the calm afternoon sky, spreading fire and chaos. When the fires had been brought under control, six LSTs had been lost, many others were badly damaged, and more than 500 military personnel had been killed or injured. To ensure the success of those still able to depart for the invasion the Navy at once issued a censorship order, which has kept this disaster from public scrutiny for seventy years.