THE SINKING OF THE USS PANAY
Nanking, China (JFK+50) The gunboat USS Panay* was attacked and sunk 80 years ago, December 12, 1937, by warplanes of the Japanese empire.
The Japanese invaded China in the summer of 1937 and the Panay, part of the Asiatic Fleet patrolling the Yangtze River in protection of American lives and property, evacuated the remaining American citizens living in Nanking the previous day.
The USS Panay was hit by two bombs dropped from Japanese fighter planes.
Three American sailors were killed and forty-three sailors and civilians were wounded in the attack.
The Japanese government, which accepted full responsibility for the attack, claimed it was unintentional. A letter of apology arrived in Washington on December 24, 1937, and later the Japanese agreed to pay $2 million in reparations.
*USS Panay was built by Kiangnan Dockyard & Engineering Works in Shanghai, China. She was launched on Nov 10 1927 & commissioned on Sept 10, 1938. Lt. Commander James Mackey was the ship's first commander. Lt. Commander James J. Hughes was skipper at the time of the sinking. The river gunboat had a compliment of 59 officers & crew.
USS Panay
Nanking, China (JFK+50) The gunboat USS Panay* was attacked and sunk 80 years ago, December 12, 1937, by warplanes of the Japanese empire.
The Japanese invaded China in the summer of 1937 and the Panay, part of the Asiatic Fleet patrolling the Yangtze River in protection of American lives and property, evacuated the remaining American citizens living in Nanking the previous day.
The USS Panay was hit by two bombs dropped from Japanese fighter planes.
Three American sailors were killed and forty-three sailors and civilians were wounded in the attack.
The Japanese government, which accepted full responsibility for the attack, claimed it was unintentional. A letter of apology arrived in Washington on December 24, 1937, and later the Japanese agreed to pay $2 million in reparations.
*USS Panay was built by Kiangnan Dockyard & Engineering Works in Shanghai, China. She was launched on Nov 10 1927 & commissioned on Sept 10, 1938. Lt. Commander James Mackey was the ship's first commander. Lt. Commander James J. Hughes was skipper at the time of the sinking. The river gunboat had a compliment of 59 officers & crew.
USS Panay
NARA Photo
