_The centrally located airship mooring mast at Ewa from which the field
derived its distinctive name, February 1941._]
That morning, 15 of the ships at Pearl Harbor numbered Marine
detachments among their complements: eight battleships, two heavy
cruisers, four light cruisers, and one auxiliary. A 16th detachment,
assigned to the auxiliary (target/gunnery training ship) _Utah_
(AG-16), was ashore on temporary duty at the 14th Naval District Rifle
Range at Puuloa Point.
At 0753, Lieutenant Frank Erickson, USCG, the Naval Air Station (NAS)
Ford Island duty officer, watched Privates First Class Frank Dudovick
and James D. Young, and Private Paul O. Zeller, USMCR--the Marine color
guard--march up and take post for Colors. Satisfied that all looked
in order outside, Erickson stepped back into the office to check if
the assistant officer-of-the-day was ready to play the recording for
sounding Colors on the loudspeaker. The sound of two heavy explosions,
however, sent the Coast Guard pilot running to the door. He reached it
just in time to see a Kate fly past 1010 Dock and release a torpedo.
The markings on the plane--“which looked like balls of fire”--left no
question as to its identity; the explosion of the torpedo as it struck
the battleship _California_ (BB-44), moored near the administration
building, left no doubt as to its intent.
[Illustration: