DOCSLIB.ORG

Richard Becker: Memoirs of an F2G Racer Story by Scott Germain

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Richard Becker: Memoirs of an F2G Racer Story by Scott Germain Number 19 Number www.warbirddigest.com WARBIRD DIGEST WARBIRD RelicRelic RACERRACER F2G SUPER CORSAIR MARCH / APRIL RUFF STUFF P-38 LIGHTNING USAF HERITAGE FLIGHT 10 YEARS OF TRIBUTE Issue #19 March / April 2008 • $8.99 U.S.A. Printed in the U.S.A. DISPLAY UNTIL 4/28/08 UNTIL DISPLAY RelicRelic HERE IS A DEGREE OF ELEGANCE mixed with brute power when you first see an F2G Super Corsair. Yeah, it’s a TCorsair... But it’s different. It seems bigger, stronger, faster... It seems like it stands tall on the ramp over mere Mustangs and P-40s. It never saw duty for its intended mission: a fast-climbing kamikaze killer in the Pacific Theater. The war ended, but there RACERRACERStory by Scott Germain and Photography by Paul Bowen were still battles ahead for the thirteen F2Gs that were built. These battles occurred around the racing pylons at Cleveland in the late 1940s. This is where the F2G would become king and write its Odegaard holds the F2G in place for Paul Bowen’s lens. Like the P-51, the late-war F2G version sported a bubble canopy for all own history. Scott Germain interviews Robert ‘Bob’ Odegaard; around vision. Note the simplified induction intake, smaller and the custodian of the only flyable F2G Super Corsair. more streamlined than the airplane’s 1949 version. 10 WARBIRD DIGEST #19 MARCH/APRIL 2008 WARBIRD DIGEST #19 MARCH/APRIL 2008 11 Richard Becker: Memoirs of an F2G Racer Story by Scott Germain Quite the pair! Both Becker and Cleland used 211 Octane fuel to get more horsepower from their racers in the 1948 Thompson race. Both pushed too hard and suffered tremendous backfires. The explosions felt like a hand grenade going off in the cockpit according to Becker, pilot of the number 74 airplane. Both airplanes blew (inset) Cleland teammate Tony Janazzo would race the black number 84 airplane in 1947. It is thought he suffered the induction trucks loose and managed to land safely. They are seen here with the offending parts already carbon monoxide poisoning, fell unconscious, and the airlpane flew into the ground. He was killed instantly. removed. Notice the heavy exhaust stains on Race 94 from the race, as well as the prop spinners and minor Photo: Emil Strasser via Gerald Liang clipping of the wing tips . Photo: Emil Strasser via Gerald Liang ICHARD “DICK” BECKER probably Many men never get to witness one world changing historic Cleland. Cleland was an SBD pilot in the war, and had sunk a premiere event. The other two years didn’t fare out so well— event, let alone several. Richard Becker is one such man. As Japanese carrier. The two would embark on an adventure that engine troubles. In fact, the last year, the engine blew up on me. never felt as if he raced in the shadow a 1939 enlistee in the United States Navy, he was serving was supposed to include an airline in Alaska and air racing in Fortunately, I made a good landing at the airport without busting of Cook Cleland, and nor should he aboard the USS Antares on the morning of December Cleveland. Only one idea would come to be. up,” he remembered. His tales of racing intermix through the R years he turned the pylons, and the glimpse into the real meat of 7, 1941. His dry stores ship was probably the first to be Cleland raced an FG-1D in 1946, and was disappointed with his have. As a pilot for Cleland, Becker raced attacked that day, and they maneuvered a few miles outside the F2G’s history is priceless. sixth place finish. Cleland’s Navy ties, in the form of support the F2G Super Corsairs during the 1947, the mouth of Pearl Harbor during the attack. He would soon from Navy brass, made it possible for him to purchase faster Corsairs had always been called ‘Hose Nose,’ but the F2G made it be working salvage at Pearl, and clearly remembered going ‘48 and ‘49 Cleveland races. He also F2Gs. Cleland and Navy command wanted a Naval aircraft to even worse with the longer cowling. The engine induction scoop through ships and finding bodies of dead men long after the win over the Army Air Corps fighters that were entered in the was mounted topside, and that added to the visibility problem. attack. Those images would obviously impact anybody. worked on the thuggish airplanes, helped races. In 1947, the team of Cleland, Dick Becker, and Tony Several different designs were tried. Janazzo arrived in Cleveland with three F2Gs to race. “We’ll modify them, and maintained them. Scott The latter part of his naval career would be in the sky. While beat the hell outta them!,” Cleland swore to Becker. “We’ll take “When the Navy bought the airplane, they were monkeying around serving on the ground and sea in the Navy, he spent every Germain interviewed Becker several years the money and go home!” It was a big pitch, and Becker swung. with different scoops and modifications. For carrier work, they spare cent he had learning to fly while other sailors found ago, and presents a first-hand glimpse into They were all off on their adventure. didn’t want that scoop up there,” he said. The different induction bars and women. “I didn’t want any of that,” he said. He scoop designs included a simple intake at the front of the cowl, the late pilot’s life. Both Cook Cleland and wanted to fly. He had worked his way up to a second-class “That was pretty encouraging,” Becker said. “Turns out I didn’t a long straight one, and one that resembled a camel hump; the Richard Becker have recently passed on; petty officer when he went to naval flight training. After a make all that much money at it.” last being the most interesting. “They had played around with year of very intense training and, as he puts it, “A hell of a this modification of the air scoop, and Cook found out about it,” symbols not only of our great generation of lot of effort,” he graduated as a Naval Aviation Pilot. After Becker raced in ‘47, ‘48 and ‘49 with Cleland, but probably Becker said. “They loaned that to him for the ‘47 race.” World War Two veterans, but of men who the war, Becker was stationed in China and went on the suffered more disappointment than winning. Janazzo had been become a test pilot at the Naval Test Center, Patuxent River, killed in the ‘47 event, but Becker kept racing with Cleland. “We built our own, which was a shabby copy. We only had pushed aviation to new limits. Maryland. At this post, he was squadron mates with Cook “I won second place in 1947 in the Thompson, which was the limited facilities,” Becker said. There were differences between 20 WARBIRD DIGEST #19 MARCH/APRIL 2008 WARBIRD DIGEST #19 MARCH/APRIL 2008 21 Y NOW, MOST readers of this magazine have had the opportunity to see the BUnited States Air Force Heritage Flight demonstration first hand. Over the last ten years, the Heritage demo has become one of the most popular and sought after airshow attractions. USAFUSAF HERITAGE FLIGHT 10 YEARS OF TRIBUTE Story by Bradley C. Hood USAF Heritage Demonstration Team, North American—P-51 Photography by Greg Morehead The Heritage demonstration is much more than just an airshow the power-to-weight ratio of modern jet fighters like the F-15 act. When the Heritage concept began in 1995, it was never Eagle or (especially) the F-22 Raptor, are orders of magnitude intended to be anything more than a one-time deal for upper- superior to their World War Two counterparts. echelon USAF commanders during the Air Force’s 50th Anniversary celebration. It was obvious from the first flight Today’s jet fighters do everything very well. They accelerate this was a very powerful and emotional concept. The USAF set in an instant and decelerate in an instant. World War Two era out to formalize the program and bring it into the Air Combat fighters—although state of the art for their day—accelerate Command (ACC) aerial events division. This became a reality relatively slow and decelerate relatively slow by comparison. in 1997 and the rest, as they say, is history. Today the Heritage This extreme dissimilarity makes flying the Mustang, or any other Flight demo is so popular it’s second only to the Thunderbirds. World War Two fighter, very demanding within this environment. The Packard built Rolls Royce V-1650 Merlin in the P-51 was the What we do as Heritage pilots is not just about flying very close ultimate engine in its day; but it uses thousands of moving parts formation with current jet fighters. Mechanically, the objective is racing around to produce its 1,700 hp. Piston engines don’t really to showcase the changes in aircraft advances through the history of tolerate rapid or multiple throttle movements well. Flying good the Air Force. Ultimately, we are a dedication ceremony each and formation requires continuously thinking ahead and experience- every time we fly. What is at stake is the reputation of the USAF based skill to keep the throttle movements to minute increments. and our nation’s tribute to the men and women who have fought, This becomes more demanding when the jet fighter, flying as lead, and often times died, defending all that we hold so dear. It is a represents between 20 and 50 times the available horsepower of solemn responsibility and one that each of us takes very seriously.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Offspring 2015 #1
    Offspring Issue #1, 2015 OFFSPRINGOFFSPRING The National Newsletter of the SONS and DAUGHTERS of PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS, INC. “Pearl Harbor ~ December 7, 1941 ~ Lest We Forget” DECEMBER 7, 2014 Convention, Charleston SC SharingSSS Stories Star Spangled uuu SSS rrr vvv III iii NNN GGG vvv Casting ooo EEE the rrr RRR sss WWWreaththth TTThehehe Real YYYoung & Old Deal Hospitality! JJJayayay FFFriends meeting speaks place !!! W ayne aa aaa BarbarBarbar Thomas Kimmel Our Survi vvvors! Remembering... This past December 7th, two SDPHS State Chairs joined forces in representing all SDPHS at Pearl Harbor. Hawaii State Chair, Cecil Meadows (Child Survivor) and California State Chair Kathleen Farley presented floral wreaths at the USS Utah, Ford Island (December 6th) USS Arizona and USS Oklahoma on December 7th. Joining the two State Chairs were past National Officers and Child Survivors, Lee Sandefer (Past President) and Mary Ellen Smith (past Secretary). More than 2500 people came out to honor over 100 Pearl Harbor Survivors and WWII Veterans on th Kathleen Farley & December 7 at Pearl Harbor. Survivor Mickey Ganitch, USS Pennsylvania PEARL HARBOR, DECEMBER 7, 1941 Offspring Issue #1, 2015 SDPHS SDPHS CALENDAR OF EVENTS NANATIONALTIONAL OFFICERSOFFICERS • March 20 - Spring arrives...Yea! www.sdphs.org • May 2 - USS John Finn Christening Ceremony, Pascagoula, Mississippi • May 18 - Armed Forces Day • May 26 - Memorial Day & National Memorial Day Parade, Washington, D. C. (National Moment of Silence - 3:00 PM - 3:05 PM, local time) NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS • National SDPHS Convention 2016 to be held in Hawaii National President, Rick Carraway Send us your Upcoming Event informationALENDAR to put onOF the CalendarVENTS.
    [Show full text]
  • Stone Tower Books Newport, Ri
    STONE TOWER BOOKS NEWPORT, RI Te Lampion Glossary of Pearl Harbor Copyright © 2016 Daniel A. Martinez and Timothy J. Demy All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the authors. Te only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review. Stone Tower Books Lampion Press, LLC P.O. Box 932 Silverton, OR 97381 Cover illustration: Te USS Arizona (BB-39) burning after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Government photograph NARA 195617 Te views represented in this book are solely those of the authors and do not refect those of the U.S. National Park Service, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Naval War College, or any U.S. Government agency or department. ISBN: 978-1-942614-23-4 Library of Congress Control Number: 2016958346 Formatting and cover design by Amy Cole, JPL Design Solutions Maps by Gina Palmer Special thanks to Dr. Stanley M. Carpenter and Dr. Jefrey M. Shaw. Printed in the United States of America To Douglas V. Smith, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, U.S. Naval War College Friend, Mentor, Naval Aviator, Historian V ! CONTENTS ! Introduction ........................................................................1 A to Z Entries .....................................................................3 Appendices ......................................................................173 It’s All in a Name: Allied Identifcation of Japanese Planes ....................173 Aircraft
    [Show full text]
  • Naval Accidents 1945-1988, Neptune Papers No. 3
    -- Neptune Papers -- Neptune Paper No. 3: Naval Accidents 1945 - 1988 by William M. Arkin and Joshua Handler Greenpeace/Institute for Policy Studies Washington, D.C. June 1989 Neptune Paper No. 3: Naval Accidents 1945-1988 Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Nuclear Weapons Accidents......................................................................................................... 3 Nuclear Reactor Accidents ........................................................................................................... 7 Submarine Accidents .................................................................................................................... 9 Dangers of Routine Naval Operations....................................................................................... 12 Chronology of Naval Accidents: 1945 - 1988........................................................................... 16 Appendix A: Sources and Acknowledgements........................................................................ 73 Appendix B: U.S. Ship Type Abbreviations ............................................................................ 76 Table 1: Number of Ships by Type Involved in Accidents, 1945 - 1988................................ 78 Table 2: Naval Accidents by Type
    [Show full text]
  • First-Person Account Written by the Late Captain Albert J
    Memoir of Captain Albert J. Pelletier, USN (Ret.) By Captain Albert J. Pelletier, USN (Ret.) On the first of September, 1968, I retired from the United States Navy with the rank of captain, after 36 and one-half years of service. It all started back on January 29, 1914, when I was born in Superior, Wisconsin. I grew up in the little suburb of Allouez, whose claim to fame was the Great Northern Railway's ore docks, where the rich iron ore of the Mesabi Range was transferred from rail to boat for its shipment to eastern iron mills. My dad was a switchman on the docks and, as such, received annual passes for travel on the Great Northern system. While I was a junior in high school, he took me with him on a visit to his sister's home in Seattle, Washington. While there we went to Bremerton and visited one of the Navy's battleships. The die was cast with that visit. I wanted to be a sailor and see the world. I graduated from high school in June of 1931 and got a job as a handyman in the Pontiac Garage. I worked six days a week for the tidy sum of $8.00. I knew that this wasn't for me, and I kept thinking of those friendly sailors I had met the year before. One day, while picking up parts in Duluth, Minnesota, I passed the Navy recruiting office. I went in and made inquiries. In the midst of the Depression, the lines were long and the "kiddie cruise" had been abandoned.
    [Show full text]
  • Pearl Harbor Lesson Plans. INSTITUTION Department of the Navy, Washington, DC
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 478 862 SO 035 130 TITLE The Date That Lives in Infamy: Pearl Harbor Lesson Plans. INSTITUTION Department of the Navy, Washington, DC. PUB DATE 2001-11-00 NOTE 75p.; Prepared by the Naval Historical Center. For additional history lessons about the U.S. Navy, see SO 035 131-136. AVAILABLE FROM Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard, 805 Kidder Breese Street SE, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5060. Tel: 202-433-4882; Fax: 202-433-8200. For full text: http://www.history.navy.mil/ . PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Teacher (052) EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF01/PC04 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Curriculum Enrichment; High Schools; *Lesson Plans; Middle Schools; *Primary Sources; Social Studies; Student Research; *United States History; *World War II IDENTIFIERS Hawaii; *Pearl Harbor; Timelines ABSTRACT This lesson plan can help teachers and students understand what happened on Decirlber 7, 1941, beginning with the first U.S. treaty with Japan in 1854 through the attacks in 1941. Students use primary sources to synthesize information and draw conclusions about the role of the U.S. Navy in foreign policy and to understand how people in 1941 reacted to the bombing of Pearl Harbor (Hawaii). The lesson plan is designed for upper middle and high school students and consists of four sections: (1) "Permanent Friends: The Treaty of Kanagawa" (Treaty of Kanagawa; Teacher Information Sheet; Student Work Sheet; Fact Sheet: Commodore Matthew Perry);(2) "This Is Not a Drill" (Newspaper Publishing Teacher Information Sheet; A Moment in Time Photographs in Action (three)); and (Recalling Pearl Harbor: Oral Histories and Survivor Accounts (seven); Timeline and Action Reports (three)); (3) "The Aftermath" (Teacher Information Sheet; five Photographs; Action Report: USS Ward; Damage Reports: Ships; Fact Sheet Pearl Harbor); and (4)"A Date Which Will Live in Infamy" (President Franklin D.
    [Show full text]
  • 172 Howard Trost: Uss Antares
    #172 HOWARD TROST: USS ANTARES (Interrupted conversation) Chris Conybeare (CC): This is an oral history with Mr. Howard Trost. It's December 4, 1986. We're at the Sheraton Waikiki in Honolulu. It's approximately 9:15 AM. Mr. Trost lives at Lake Tahoe, California and my name is Chris Conybeare. I'm being assisted in the interview by Dan Martinez. Mr. Trost, could you state your name and rank on December 7, 1941? Howard Trost (HT): Well, my name is Howard Trost and I was storekeeper second class aboard the ANTARES on December 7, 1941. CC: Before we get to the actual events of that day, how did you happen to be here in Hawaii in the first place? HT: Well, you want to start from the time . CC: Just a --- yeah . HT: . I entered the Navy? CC: . Navy, yeah, leaving home and getting into the Navy. HT: Well, I was one of the aviation type enthusiasts as a young kid and I wanted to get into the Air Force. Matter of fact, I almost went up to Canada to get into the British Air Force and on the day that Hitler invaded Poland, which was September 1, 1939, I walked into the Army Air Force service. I wanted to join the Air Force. And I was only a high school graduate, and they were not taking high school graduates at the time, so I walked across the street and joined the Navy. And they promised me that if I spent a year and a half with the fleet, why, I would get called for Navy flight duty, okay.
    [Show full text]
  • Cost of Living Tkcjw H ALC
    --N, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 1952 t w e n t y -ETGHT ATcnce Daily Net Press Ron iManrIfpatpr lEw ttng H|pral& For tbe Week Haded - The Weather - ^ if June 14, 1953 ' Forecast of U. ft'W eather BttraaB ijocal Navy Ment pjMptice, fon mr Mr. M Joberl- ter C. AbWt of Charter Oaik, Wrinkle-Free tverciaze ^ 10,5% - Oleartng lenlghf. "Lew In upper About To wn Engaged street, la serving abbard the at­ Member of the Andlt 50a, F air and cooler Friday. ^ Thomaa Poole waa the boy Cover Wide Area tack cargo ship USS Antares In Persoual Shower winper of a Robertson Scholar- BenM at Obenlatlone Manchetter-^A City of VUk^e Charm Mra. Hi D. WUion of Phrker ahlp award made during grad­ the Atlantic Fleet. The Antarea who hy Mrs: Ruth Jobert, the fornicr uation—eKerclaee-—at -HoUiater- Manchester I currently la one of tbe-many-.MecchantLMar. men serving In the Atlantic, the rlne ships that were transferred for Northern Irdand, errived ««fe- Ruth Gibson, was honored with a Street .School yeaterday morn­ (ChMrifled AdverUsIng on Pago 18) ly end had kn enjoyable trip, ac- personal and linen shower last ing. The Herald erroneously Caribbean and In California, it to the Navy after World War II. VOL. LXXI, NO. 222 MANCHESTER, CONN., THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 1952 (TWENTY PAGES) PRICE nVB CENTS * g -tfr-* «aw aipr»m received night at a party given by Miss published the name of 'Thomas waa learned-today. Fna. Andrew V. Rlker, III, son CBISKAY day by her daughter!. Mra. Barbara Jackie and Miss Georgia Woods as the wdnner.
    [Show full text]
  • Catalogue Download
    Catalogue 168 pages of colour rich information with an introduction by writer Charles Singleton, this supplement for Pike & Shotte describes the history, armies, personalities and battles of the English Civil War. Included are detailed scenarios based on some of the most famous battles, complete with maps and orders of battle £22.50 SEASON OF BATTLE CARD FIELD OF BATTLE etc - One 54 card deck of wargames style battlefield maps. The FOB campaign System BUT USEFUL for ANY wargamer as a random Terrain Generator . £22.50 AMERICAN CIVIL WAR SMOOTHBORE ARTILLERY (SMOOTHBORE ORDNANCE JOURNAL VOLUME 10) Summerfield, Dr S 143pp., 4to, fully illus., large format pbk 38 scale plans, 107 tables, 135 photos. of contemporary & surviving ordnance covers graphically & in detail every aspect of the vital smoothbore elements of ACW artillery. £20.00 AMERICAN REVOLUTION : THE FRENCH - COMMAND & COLOURS TRICORNE - COMPASS GAMES - - £82.50 Armies of the Medieval Italian Wars 1125-1325 - Ospery MAA 523- £10.99 ARMY OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, 1713-1772, PART I: INFANTRY FOR ORANGE AND THE STATES. THE - £17.50 BY FORCE OF ARMS - AUSTRIAN ARMY IN THE SEVEN YEARS WAR 2) Duffy Mint hardback £65.00 HANDBOOK OF THE BELGIAN ARMY 1914 Mint hbk facsimile of British General staff study £29.50 HUSSAR SERGEANT IN THE KING'S GERMAN LEGION: The Memoirs of Cavalry Sergeant Ebbecke, 2nd Hussar Regiment, King's German Legion 1803-15 - This short memoir of Sergeant Ludwig Ebbecke was published in German in 1851, but has never before been translated into English. He served at Stralsund, the Siege of Copenhagen in 1807, and was nearly shipwrecked on the passage back to Britain.
    [Show full text]
  • Offspring 2011 #3
    Offspring Issue 3, 2011 OFFSPRINGOFFSPRING The National Newsletter of the SONS and DAUGHTERS of PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS, INC. “Pearl Harbor ~ December 7, 1941 ~ Lest We Forget” Summer Edition Finch Stowell, Pearl Harbor Survivor 5th District Director Princeville - Finch Stowell, 91, of Princeville died Saturday, July 23, 2011, at Proctor Hospital in Peoria. Finch enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1939, becoming Chief Firecontroller on the USS Oklahoma and the USS Mugford. He served in the Pacific Theater and earned seven battle stars. He was discharged from active service in St. Louis in August of 1945. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1949 with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural engineering. In 1948 he and his wife Lida moved to Alexandria, Va., to work for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon. Finch retired after 31 years as a consultant to the director of transportation. After returning to central Illinois, Finch farmed in rural Edelstein from 1980 until his death. He was the first president of the Historical Association of Princeville and first president of the Princeville Civic Association. He was Princeville volunteer of the year in 1999. He served as past State Chairman for the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association as well as 5th District Director, and was a member of the Navy League, Peoria, Princeville Lodge 360, AF&AM, Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Peoria. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Princeville. Finch was known by many of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors and well loved.... we will miss you, Finch! Tears are still wept, tho' the heart's made of steel, For men nigh forgot tho' a Nation should feel.
    [Show full text]
  • The Unseen Landscape: Inventory and Assessment of Submerged Cultural Resources in Hawai`I
    OCS Study BOEM 2017-021 The Unseen Landscape: Inventory and Assessment of Submerged Cultural Resources in Hawai`i US Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Pacific OCS Region Cover image: Bathymetric map of the Hawaiian Islands. (NOAA) OCS Study BOEM 2017-021 The Unseen Landscape: Inventory and Assessment of Submerged Cultural Resources in Hawai`i Authors Maritime Heritage Program Office of National Marine Sanctuaries National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration Department of Commerce Prepared under BOEM Interagency Agreement M13PG00018 By the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of National Marine Sanctuaries 1315 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 92131 US Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Pacific OCS Region August 18, 2017 DISCLAIMER This study was funded, in part, by the US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Environmental Studies Program, Washington, DC, through Interagency Agreement Number M13PG00018 with the US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. This report has been technically reviewed by BOEM and has been approved for publication. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the US Government, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. REPORT AVAILABILITY To download a PDF file of this Environmental Studies Program report, go to the US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Environmental Studies Program Information System website and search on OCS Study BOEM 2017-021. CITATION NOAA Maritime Heritage Program.
    [Show full text]
  • SIGNAL LOG --USS ANTARES December 7- 8, 1941
    SIGNAL LOG --USS ANTARES December 7- 8, 1941 Here is an account of that memorable day that will put your emotions racing as if you were there. Chip Chiappori was the Signalman on watch that fateful morning. The Antares, a stores issuing ship, was laying to off the entrance to Pearl that morning waiting for permission to enter the harbor. Chip had the presence of mind to make a copy of the signal log for that day, adding a few editorial comments as did so. Signal logs were used for reference by the OOD when writing the official ship’s log (just the facts, ma’am) that is preserved in historical records. What a rich source of information, reflective of the moment, it would have been had the signal logs of the REID been preserved as well. December 7, 1941 TIME REPORT 0600 Exchanged calls with USS WARD(DD139.) WARD on patrol duty outside entrance to Pearl Harbor. Laying to off Pearl Harbor entrance waiting to transfer barge to USS KEOSANQUA 0630 Sighted unidentified submarine on starboard quarter. Reported to Captain who told A.E. Chiappari, Signalman 2/c to send the following message to the USS WARD: “There is a suspicious looking object on our starboard quarter. Would you please investigate.” A patrol plane investigating. USS WARD approached submarine. 0645 USS WARD opened fire on unidentified sub. (First shot of the war.) 0647 - USS WARD ceased firing gun and dropped three depth charges. Submarine sank (submarine later identified as a Japanese midget sub.) 0750 C.G. #400 stood out of Pearl Harbor.
    [Show full text]
  • USS Arizona Memorial
    USS Arizona Memorial Administrative History Review Draft 1.0 September 15, 2004 Prepared for the National Park Service Prepared by Spencer Architects, Inc. 18109 University Avenue #101 Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 [email protected] Table of Contents DRAFT 2.2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE TO THE REVIEW DRAFT (not completed for Draft 2.2) Scope of Work Research problems Recommendations for Completion INTRODUCTION (not completed for Draft 2.2) Purpose of Administrative History General Description of Process and Participants CONTEXT Era of the Battleship Design of Arizona Armament Armor Belt Machinery Crew Compliment Arizona’s Service Record Design of the Utah Pearl Harbor Attack Ward confrontation Torpedo trail picture in Harbor Attack on the Utah Attack on the Arizona Damage Assessment Pearl harbor Salvage Operations Arizona Salvage Operations Battery Arizona BUILDING A MEMORIAL Ideas about a Memorial Pacific War Memorial Commission Navy Ideas about a Memorial Congressional Legislation Fundraising Design of the Arizona Memorial Maintenance of the Memorial Structure BUILDING A PARK Construction of the Visitor Center Design of the Visitor Center Changes to Building Page 1 of 3 Printed 6/22/19 Table of Contents DRAFT 2.2 Elvis Fans Visitors MANAGEMENT ISSUE: RESOURCES Historic Resources Collections Objects Collection Documents Collection Oral History Collection Use of the Collection Collection Management Issues Planning Documents Natural Resources Federal Policies Entrance Fee Policy Budget Close down Boat Tours MANAGEMENT ISSUES: RESEARCH Mapping Surveys Record drawings Reconnaissance of Site Bifouling Study Cyclical monitoring program MANAGEMENT ISSUE: RELATIONSHIPS US Navy Boundary between sacred historic resource and secular harbor Ford Island Development Control of the Waters in Pearl Harbor The Arizona Memorial Museum Association Pearl Harbor Survivors Association Japanese Pearl Harbor Friendship Association Blind Vendors USS Arizona Memorial Fund Controversial Relationship Issues Japanese tourists.
    [Show full text]