The US Navy destroyer Longshaw burning on May 18, 1945. On the morning of May 18, 1945, following a four-day period of fire support, Longshaw, en route to her patrol area, ran aground on a coral reef just south of Naha airfield, Okinawa, at 0719 hrs. At circa 1100 hrs Japanese shore batteries hit Longshaw´s forward magazine, which exploded. About an hour later, the landing craft LCI(L)-356 came alongside to remove the crew. 86 crewmen were killed, 95 were wounded. Later in the afternoon, Longshaw, battered beyond salvaging, was destroyed by gunfire and torpedoes from US ships.
