A Family Story, Pearl Harbor
Dolores' father, Fred Bayersdorfer, a Navy Chief, was on this ship at Pearl Harbor.
The USS Detroit was a light cruiser that was moored at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked.
Attack
The USS Detroit was moored between the USS Raleigh and the USS Utah when the Japanese attacked. The USS Raleigh and USS Utah were hit by torpedoes, but the USS Detroit was able to get away.
Response
The USS Detroit fired back at the Japanese planes with its anti-aircraft guns and shot down two Japanese aircraft. The USS Detroit then joined forces with the USS Phoenix, USS St. Louis, and two destroyers to search for Japanese landings on Oahu.
Search
The ships searched the Pacific for three days before returning to Pearl Harbor on December 10.
Many years later, Fred Bayersdorfer became my father-in-law. After his Navy and government service retirements, he worked at our real estate office, in property management, and was fondly known as Mr. B.
Oriental Hybrid Lilies, Longwood Gardens,
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania USA IMG 2228
Canon PowerShot G11 Camera, f/4.5, 1/400 sec., ISO-400, 25 mm, No Flash
Photograph by Roy Kelley
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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