"Langley" was so severely damaged that her captain gave the order to abandon ship at 1325, and "Whipple" came alongside to rescue survivors, using two of the destroyer's life rafts, a cargo net slung over the side, and a number of lines trailed over the side. "Whipple" picked up 308 men from "Langley's" crew and passengers while "Edsall" picked up 177 survivors. At 1358, the rescue completed, "Whipple" stood off to scuttle "Langley", opening fire at 1429 with her 4-inch main battery. After nine rounds of 4-inch and two torpedoes, "Langley" settled lower and lower but refused stubbornly to sink. Soon, orders arrived directing "Whipple" and "Edsall" to clear the area prior to any more bombing attacks.