NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive
Patches contributed by Robert M. Cieri
BB-63 USS MISSOURI
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Size | Image Description | Source | |
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| 1941 - June 1944 / Construction - Commissioning |
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12k | Great Seal of the State of Missouri. | Courtesy of Ed Gray. | |
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862k | (Original Caption) Assisted by captain J.J. Broshek (left) Rear Admiral Clark H. Woodward is shown setting in motion the machine that drove the first rivet in the keel of the 45,000 ton battleship Missouri (BB-63) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard today. The Missouri will be a sister ship of the Iowa (BB-61) which has been under construction since June 18. They will be the largest ships in the U.S. Navy. The Missouri is expected to be completed by February 1944, with the building of warships for the defense program now in full swing. The Brooklyn Navy yard is the busiest in its 140 year history. There are 20,000 men on its payroll, which totals $36,000,000 a year. | Photo Bettmann Colletion via Getty Images courtesy of gettyimages.com. | |
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108k | Driving the first rivet, during keel laying ceremonies at the New York Navy Yard, 6 January 1941. Rear Admiral Clark Woodward, Commandant of the Navy Yard, (second from right) did the honors on this occasion. | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 96796. | |
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141k | The Missouri (BB-63) as seen on 3 October 1941. She had been laid down on 6 January and her bottom plating is nearly finished. Most of the workers in the center of the ship are standing on the middle layer of the triple bottom. The keelson projects aft toward the water and on each side of the keelson can be seen the supports for the two inboard propeller shafts. | U. S. Navy photo from the book "IOWA CLASS BATTLESHIPS-Their Design, Weapons and Equipment" by Robert F. Sumrall & Tom Walkowiak, submitted by Mike Green. | |
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211k | The Missouri (BB-63) is shown in mid-1942 with the engines and boilers in place and the torpedo defense system taking shape amidships. Segments of the lower main armor belt are visible. The keyway for fitting the upper belt and the adjacent plates of the lower belt can be seen. Also visible is the welded scalloped butt straps vertically joining the lower belt plates. | U. S. Navy photo from the book "IOWA CLASS BATTLESHIPS-Their Design, Weapons and Equipment" by Robert F. Sumrall & Tom Walkowiak, submitted by Mike Green. | |
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161k | The Missouri (BB-63) is seen in mid-1943 at the New York Navy Yard. The side tanks of the torpedo defense system are visible along with the lower armor belt, with its 19 degree inclination. This belt also serves as Torpedo Bulkhead No. 4. The structure in the left foreground is the bow assembly, being constructed and readied for installation when the hull assembly reaches that point. | U. S. Navy photo from the book "IOWA CLASS BATTLESHIPS-Their Design, Weapons and Equipment" by Robert F. Sumrall & Tom Walkowiak, submitted by Mike Green. | |
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141k | The Missouri (BB-63) is shown in November 1943, only two months before launching. The hull is complete up to the main deck and much of the superstructure is in frame. Amid the maze of scaffolding, air hoses and welding leads, splinter protection for the light weight anti-aircraft battery (quad 40mm) is being installed and the teak deck is being laid. | U. S. Navy photo from the book "IOWA CLASS BATTLESHIPS-Their Design, Weapons and Equipment" by Robert F. Sumrall & Tom Walkowiak, submitted by Mike Green. | |
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522k | After end, outside cradle, 27 January 1944. | USN photo # F1112C91 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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553k | Looking forward from the Missouri's (BB-63) properless stern, 27 January 1944. | USN photo # F1112C92, from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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416k | MK 37 gun director being loaded aboard the Missouri (BB-63). | Photo i.d. courtesy of
Aryeh Wetherhorn. USN photo from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. |
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686k | Bow clamp gear arrangement on main deck starboard, 28 January 1944. | USN photo # F1112C111 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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450k | View aft, 28 January 1944. | USN photo # F1112C118 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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691k | Bow clamp gear arrangement on main deck port, 28 January 1944. | USN photo # F1112C112 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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371k | The New York Navy Yard's newspaper "Shipworker" with the lead story of the day, the launching of the Missouri (BB-63), at the New York Navy Yard on 29 January 1944. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
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32k | Ticket for the launching of the Missouri (BB-63), at the New York Navy Yard on 29 January 1944. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
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436k | Picture of a shop window using the launching of the Missouri (BB-63) to help sell War Bonds, 29 January 1944. | Accession number: 58-769-07 courtesy of trumanlibrary.org. | |
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150k | Cover of the Launch Bulletin for the Missouri (BB-63), at the New York Navy Yard on 29 January 1944. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
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64k | Christening champagne bottle, silver bottle cover and wooden case, prepared for the ship's launching, which took place at the New York Navy Yard on 29 January 1944. | Photograph Naval History and Heritage Command # 19-N-73093, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. | |
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2434k | The following 40 second silent clip is from a home video recorded by Bob McFarland, who worked at the Brooklyn Shipyard at the time of the Missouri (BB-63) launch. Mr. McFarland filmed the Missouri's launch from one of the nearby scaffolds. | Video & text courtesy of eugeneleeslover.com courtesy of Jeff Jacobs. Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 45923. | |
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436k | Truman Family at the Launching of the Missouri (BB-63). | Accession number: 58-769-01 courtesy of trumanlibrary.org. | |
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301k | Launching of the Missouri (BB-63), the big picture. | Photo courtesy of Dage Hargrave. | |
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88k | Miss Margaret Truman, Missouri's (BB-63) Sponsor, ready to christen the ship, during launching ceremonies at the New York Navy Yard, 29 January 1944. Looking on are (left to right): Rear Admiral Monroe R. Kelly, New York Navy Yard Commandant; Rear Admiral Sherman S. Kennedy, USN, and Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri, the Sponsor's father. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-44891, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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516k | Early in the day of Missouri's (BB-63) launch at the New York Navy Yard on 29 January 1944. | National archives photo #80-G-44893, courtesy of David Buell. | |
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436k | Things are looking up before Missouri's (BB-63) launching. | Accession number: 58-769-16 courtesy of trumanlibrary.org. | |
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85k | View of the ship's bow, as she is prepared for launching at the New York Navy Yard, 29 January 1944. Note anchors and launching drag chains. | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 45920. | |
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423k | Margaret Truman and Naval Officers Christening the Missouri (BB-63). | Accession number: 58-769-03 courtesy of trumanlibrary.org. | |
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115k | Approaching the end of the building ways as she is launched, 29 January 1944, at the New York Navy Yard. | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 45925. | |
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85k | Entering the water for the first time, during her launching at the New York Navy Yard, 29 January 1944. Note anchors and launching drag chains. | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 45921. | |
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87k | New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.Aerial photograph, taken 9 March 1944. Missouri (BB-63) is fitting out in the center. Carrier at the bottom is probably Bennington (CV-20). | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 93234. | |
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194k | Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for Camouflage Measure 32, Design 22D intended for battleships of the Iowa class (BB-61 / 66).
Missouri (BB-63) wore this pattern. This plan, showing the ship's starboard side, superstructure ends, and exposed decks, is dated 18 May 1944 and was approved by Commander Arthur W. Colledge, USNR. |
Official USN photo # 80-G-109729, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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138k | Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for Camouflage Measure 32, Design 22D intended for battleships of the Iowa class (BB-61 / 66).
Missouri (BB-63) wore this pattern. This plan, showing the ship's port side is dated 18 May 1944 and was approved by Commander Arthur W. Colledge, USNR. |
Official USN photo # 80-G-109730, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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392k | Three dimensional cutaway of the Missouri (BB-63). | Photo courtesy of unlimiteddetails.com . | |
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97k | Cover of the Commissioning Booklet for the Missouri (BB-63), 11 June 1944. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
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511k | Crewmen and other attendees salute the colors, as the ship is placed in commission. Ceremonies were held at the New York Navy Yard on 11 June 1944. Photographed from the battleship's after deck, with 16-inch gun turret Number Three in the foreground. | USN photo # 80-G-345692 courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large. | |
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106k | Commissioning ceremonies, at the New York Navy Yard, 11 June 1944. Photographed looking aft from atop her Number Three 16-inch gun turret. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-3858, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. Insert photos 19lcm-32 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. |
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| July - December 1944 |
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143k | Missouri (BB-63) and the Wisconsin (BB-64) were completed with enclosed square-faced bridges like this one. There were no baffles, but glass windshields could be raised to protect both primary and secondary conning positions. Note the siren bracketed to the side of the forward fire control tower, and the small Mark 27 radar that replaced the Mark 3 of earlier battleships atop the conning tower. Abaft it is a 36-inch searchlight. The newly completed Missouri is shown at the NYNY on 23 July 1944. | Photo and text courtesy of U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. | |
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535k | Bow view looking aft from inboard end of drydock. | USN photo # F1112C194 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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438k | Port side of upper bow looking inboard from side of drydock. | USN photo # F1112C195 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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565k | Port side looking inboard showing whaleboat davit stowage. | USN photo # F1112C197 courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 500k | Port side looking fwd. and inbd. showing #1 stack, foremast etc. | USN photo # F1112C198 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
 | 639k | Port side looking fwd. and inbd. | USN photo # F1112C199 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
 | 568k | Stern view looking forward from drydock caisson. | USN photo # F1112C200 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
 | 486k | Stern view looking aft from bottom of drydock. | USN photo # F1112C202 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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473k | Starboard side looking forward from bottom of dry dock. | USN photo # F1112C203 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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472k | View of port outboard shaft, strut & propeller from bottom of dry dock. | USN photo # F1112C206 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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700k | Looking forward from top of conning and fire control tower into open bridge. | USN photo # F1112C207 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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498k | Main deck looking forward from anchor windlass control station. | USN photo # F1112C208 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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618k | Main deck looking aft from 20mm platform on stem head. | USN photo # F1112C209 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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440k | Looking aft at # 2 stack & main mast from pilot house top level. | USN photo # F1112C210 courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
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492k | Port side looking forward from the top of the 5" mount #10. | USN photo # F1112C211 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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506k | Port side looking forward from the top of the 5" mount #10. | USN photo # F1112C212 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
 | 306k | Looking aft from top of 5-Inch Mt. #10. | USN photo # F1112C213 courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
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639k | Main deck looking aft from top of turret # 3. | USN photo # F1112C214 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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391k | Main deck looking forward from the stern, | USN photo # F1112C215 courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
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483k | Pilot house looking forward & to starboard. | USN photo # F1112C216 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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447k | Pilot house looking aft at from abreast of conning tower, port side. | USN photo # F1112C217 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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522k | Pilot house cross passage aft of conning tower forward behind of chart room, looking to starboard and aft. | USN photo # F1112C218 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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297k | Main deck of the Missouri (BB-63) port side looking aft & outboard at whaleboat storage. | USN photo # F1112C219 courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 389k | Portside ladder. | USN photo # F1112C221 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
 | 553k | View of the secondary armament. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 279k | Port side looking aft from abreast of turret #2. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 948k | Looking down the barrel of a 16 inch gun and secondary armament towards the stern. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 836k | Propellers and rudder. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
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618k | Three views of Missouri (BB-63) at anchor in Chesapeake Bay after commissioning. A good detail shot of the forward deck/superstructure area. Noticeable atop #2 turret is a quad 40mm gun mount. Except for the Iowa (BB-61), all of the class were completed with a mount at this location. The Iowa was designed as a Fleet Flagship, like the South Dakota (BB-57). The Iowa was completed with a 20mm gun array on #2 turret so as not to block the view of the flag bridge, located below the conning bridge station. The Iowa was large enough and not restricted by treaty conditions, so she carried ten 5"/38 caliber twin mounts, like the others in the class. | USN photo from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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267k | A 350-ton Hammerhead Crane alongside the Missouri (BB-63) helps put the finishing touches on her. | Painting courtesy of artbywayne.com | |
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265k | July 1944 photo of the Missouri (BB-63) wearing her dazzle paint pattern. She is wearing 32/22D camo pattern. Note the OS2U Kingfisher scout plane in flight above her after 16" turret. | Official USN photo from the Public Information Office, 3rd Naval District, 90 Church Street, N.Y. 7, N.Y., File # 2255-1 courtesy of David Buell. Photo i.d. courtesy of Aryeh Wetherhorn. | |
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99k | Missouri (BB-63) on gunnery trials on Chesapeake Bay in August, 1944. The three in-flight shells fired from #3 turret are visible in the upper left of the photo. This photo was officially released in December, 1944, one month after the ship had left for the Pacific War zone. | USN photo courtesy of Mike Green. | |
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1.14k | Target practice on board Missouri (BB-63). | USN photo via USNIP courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
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523k | 1 August 1944 view of the Missouri (BB-63) during battle practice in Chesapeake Bay. | US National Archives photo # 80-G-453331 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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403k | Black smokes pours from her one of her funnels in this broadside 3 August 1944 view of the Missouri (BB-63) during battle practice in Chesapeake Bay. | US National Archives photo # 80-G-453332 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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71k | Gunner's Mate Second Class Charles J. Hansen working on a 40mm quad machine gun mount, during the battleship's shakedown period, circa August 1944. Note his tattoos, commemorating service on Vincennes (CA-44) and shipmates lost with her in the Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4510, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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143k | Band concert on the main deck, during the ship's shakedown period, circa August 1944. Note sailor wearing a red "white" hat at left. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4513, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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71k | Missouri (BB-63) fires a six-gun salvo from her forward turrets, during shakedown gunnery exercises, August 1944. Six 16-inch projectiles are visible in the air at the extreme right. Photographed by Arthur Stratham. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4515, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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79k | Mass production of lemon pies in the battleship's bakery during her shakedown period, Summer 1944. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4516, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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76k | Two WAVES look out through the armored rear door of a 5"/38 twin gun mount, while visiting the ship in an east coast port during her shakedown period, circa August 1944. They are Yeoman Second Class Blanche Oswald and Yeoman Third Class Betty Martin. Note thickness of armor plating on the door and mount shield. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4520, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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115k | Lieutenant Rival Joe Hawkins, Chaplain, leads a congregation of sailors in prayer, during services on the battleship's fantail. Photographed during her shakedown period, circa August 1944. Note portable organ at right, 16-inch triple gun turret in center background and censored ship which is Alaska (CB-1) in the right distance. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4531, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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382k | Black & white view along the battleship's port side, during a high-speed run while on her shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4533, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. Insert photo from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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77k | Men conning the ship from her open bridge during her shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. Note armored conning tower and enclosed bridge structure, with cable runs below, sliding panels over bridge windows and window wipers. Also note floater nets in basket at the rear of 16-inch gun turret at left. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4534, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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62k | Fire Controlman Third Class James Tucker adjusts the canvas "bloomer" on a 16"/50 gun, while standing on the gun turret's face plate ladder. Photographed during the battleship's shakedown period, circa August 1944. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4535, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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68k | Ship's Commanding Officer, Captain William M. Callaghan (center) with his "talker", Yeoman First Class Arthur Colton, and the Officer of the Deck, Lieutenant Morris R. Eddy, on the starboard side of her navigating bridge during the battleship's shakedown period, Summer 1944. Note sliding panels above the bridge windows and window wiper mechanisms below. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4536, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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78k | Bridge watch, photographed during the battleship's shakedown period, Summer 1944. Those present are: Captain William M. Callaghan (left), Ship's Commanding Officer; Lieutenant Morris R. Eddy, Officer of the Deck, and Yeoman First Class Arthur Colton, Captain's Talker. Note Callaghan's khaki uniform and Eddy's wartime "Greys". Also note wiring overhead. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4537, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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86k | Commander Jacob E. Cooper, the ship's Executive Officer, passes an order to his talker, Seaman Second Class Vincent Domino, in the primary conning station, part-way up the forward fire control tower. Photographed during gunnery exercises on Missouri's (BB-63) shakedown cruise, August 1944. Note the battleship's forward 16"/50 gun turrets trained out to port below; binnacle and other instruments in the conning station. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4538, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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116k | Several harbor tugs push Missouri (BB-63) into the channel as she gets underway during her shakedown period in mid-1944. The battleship's crew is paraded on deck for morning roll call. Tugs present include four U.S. Navy YTs and two commercial tugs, with the Wood Towing Corporation's tug Camel closest to the camera. Note marking atop Missouri second 16-inch gun turret, indentifying the 40mm gun mount on its top as 40mm mount # 1. Those on the bow, ahead of the turrets, are marked as numbers 18 (port side) and 17 (starboard side). | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4540, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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71k | A bit of light reading occupies the spare time of one of the ship's crew members, during Missouri (BB-63) shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. His booklet is the Public Affairs Committee publication What About Girls? Note helmets stowed on the 40mm gun tub shield behind the sailor. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4541, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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64k | Leadsman taking soundings, as the battleship enters port during her shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. Note line handler assisting the leadsman and talker standing by. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4542, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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66k | Missouri (BB-63) fires the center 16"/50 Mk.VII gun of each of her forward turrets, during a shakedown cruise night gunnery practice, circa August 1944. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4549, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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53k | Missouri (BB-63) fires her 5"/38 secondary battery during a shakedown cruise night gunnery practice, circa August 1944. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4550, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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70k | Machinist's Mate Second Class Reed Bankhead and Machinist's Mate First Class Ralph Weiss operating metal lathes in the battleship's machine shop, during her shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4553, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
 016383a | 1.01k | Back on the Missouri (BB-63) from a Scouting Mission, an OS2U Pilot Unstraps His Flight Log from His Leg, ca. August 1944. | National Archives Identifier: 179036502 Local Identifier: 80-GK-4597 Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov, via Daniel Hacker. | |
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84k | Commander Louis E. Gilge, Medical Corps, makes his "rounds" in the battleship's sick bay as Pharmacist's Mate Second Class Frank Mancini stands by at left. Photographed during Missouri (BB-63) shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4554, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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70k | Crew members get a drink of water from a crew's quarters scuttlebutt, as other men rest and read in hanging berths. Photographed during the ship's shakedown period, circa August 1944. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4555, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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86k | Dental Officers Commander Jessie B. Bancroft and Lieutenant George E. Wheeler at work in the battleship's dental spaces. Photographed during her shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4556, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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75k | Fire Controlman First Class E.M. Smith, Gun Captain of one of the ship's nine 16"/50 Mk.VII main battery guns, opens his gun's breech plug, during Missouri (BB-63) shakedown cruise, August 1944. The gun's polished steel breech is marked with the stamp of its manufacturer, the Naval Gun Factory, Washington Navy Yard, DC. Note tattoo on FC1c Smith's left forearm. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4558, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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48k | Electricians's Mate First Class Kenneth McNally and Seaman First Class George Skiratko operate a 36-inch searchlight, during the ship's shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4560, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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78k | WAVES visiting the ship in an east coast port, during her shakedown period, circa August 1944. They are standing on the main deck at the bow, with the Navy Jack flying behind them. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4563, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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74k | Yeoman Third Class Betty Martin exiting the rear door of a 5"/38 twin gun mount, while touring the ship in an east coast port during Missouri (BB-63) shakedown period, circa August 1944. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4570, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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97k | Signal flags flying from her port side halyards, as the battleship speeds along during her shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. Note 5"/38 twin gun mounts below. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4571, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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59k | Captain William M. Callaghan, ship's Commanding Officer, on the navigating bridge during her Summer 1944 shakedown period. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-4600, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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76k | Crewmen at their battle stations in the 40mm quad anti-aircraft machine gun mounting atop Turret Two, during the battleship's shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. Alaska (CB-1) is in the center background, with a destroyer beyond her. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-5579, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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111k | Sailors loading the ship with supplies, probably during her shakedown period, circa July-September 1944. An endless "human chain" carries boxes of Lucky Strike cigarettes from the truck up the gangway and onto Missouri (BB-63) forward main deck. The original caption states: "An average of five cases of cigarettes is smoked during a tour at sea". | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 96810, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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108k | Crew members loading onions, during the ship's shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-46397, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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113k | Crew members making purchases at the ship's store, probably during the ship's shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-47247, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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389k | As the Missouri (BB-63) turns, her Kingfisher lands in her slick, taxies to her side. | USN photo from the National Geographic March 1945 Photo Essay Battleship Missouri Comes of Age, courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory). | |
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216k | Next time Missouri (BB-63) anchors, her hook may be frozen in hawsepipe. | USN photo from the National Geographic March 1945 Photo Essay Battleship Missouri Comes of Age, courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory). | |
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191k | Here the navigator tracks the ship's course & plots her position. Commander Hylan B. Lyon, the battleship's Navigator, at work in the charthouse, during her shakedown period, Summer 1944. A battleship's library may contain 2,000 books, in the Chaplin's care. |
Partial text courtesy of # 80-G-K-4522 from the USNHC. USN photo from the National Geographic March 1945 Photo Essay Battleship Missouri Comes of Age, courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory). | |
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127k | If this metal piano gets loose in a storm, it would become a wild, butting ram. | USN photo from the National Geographic March 1945 Photo Essay Battleship Missouri Comes of Age, courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory). | |
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452k | Some of the fire control radars have been deleted by the censor, but not others, and also the SK-2 search radar has not been deleted either. | BuShips photo # 71910 & text courtesy of David Buell. | |
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63k | Signal flags flying from her port halyards during her shakedown cruise, circa August 1944. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-14527, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
 016319b | 597k | US Navy Seaman 2nd Class Willard Dunlap purchases a money order at the post office on board the newly-commissioned Missouri (BB-63), November 1944. | Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images, courtesy of gettyimages.com. | |
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233k | Captain William McCabe Callaghan, USN, Commanding Officer of the Missouri (BB-63), in his cabin on board the 45,000 ton battleship on 27 October 1944. Painted on the bulkhead is the Great Seal of the State of Missouri. Captain Callaghan graduated from the Naval Academy in 1919. He was ordered to his command following duty on the staff of Admiral Nimitz at Pearl Harbor. Captain Callaghan is a brother of the late Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan, who was killed in action aboard the cruiser San Francisco (CA-38) in November, 1942. | USN photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo. | |
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301k | Captain William McCabe Callaghan steps into the chart room to talk things over with the Navigator aboard the battleship Missouri (BB-63) in late 1944. | Photo courtesy of the Kibbe Museum via Bill Gonyo. | |
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381k | Five photo PDF of Missouri (BB-63) in camo photographed during her shakedown period, November 1944. | US National Archives photos # 80-G-419723 & 46842 / 46845 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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860k | En route from Panama to San Francisco, 22 November 1944. An escort carrier CVE (either Shamrock Bay (CVE-84) or Wake Island (CVE-65)), is following the battleship. Note that she is still camouflaged in MS32/22D scheme. This would be changed to MS22 in San Francisco. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-190546, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives via Mike Green. | |
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347k | Missouri (BB-63) nears San Pedro, California on 27 November 1944 during her journey to the Pacific war. Her convoy consisted of battleships Arkansas (BB-33) and Texas (BB-35), escort carriers Shamrock Bay (CVE-84) and Wake Island (CVE-65), and Destroyers Hank (DD-702), Weeks (DD-701), Destroyer Minelayer Henry A Wiley (DM-29), and Destroyer Escort Lewis (DE-535). After a short stop outside the San Pedro breakwater to exchange passengers, Missouri and Hank continued North for San Francisco and work at Hunters Point, arriving the next day. | USN photo # 80-G-288337 now in the custody of the US National Archives, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large. | |
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312k | Captain Mildred McAfee on board Missouri (BB-63), 27 November 1944. Shown with Admiral Cochrane and Republican Margaret Chase Smith. | USN photo # 80-G-286997, courtesy of NARA via Rob Hanshew and Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large. | |
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NR | MISSOURI (BB-63) GOING AWAY The Missouri, one of the world’s toughest battleships, showing her stern (a view the Nip navy never will see) as she prowls the Pacific with her terrific armament ready to talk turkey. A ship with no "blind spots," the Missouri looks squat and dumpy from here, hut she actually has trim, racy lines when seen from the side. |
U. S. Navy Photo, Distributed by International News Service Photo Image and text provided by Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library. Photo & text by Detroit Evening Times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 02 December 1944, REDLINE, Image 27 via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
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 | 478k | Undated, WW2 photo of the Missouri (BB-63) conducting air defense drills. Note the 40-mm quad mount atop #2 turret and the deck mounted single 20-mm mounts. An air defense officer and lookout in the foreground are viewing the results. | Photo courtesy of US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No. 2001.256.054 via Mike Green. | |
 | 788k | Following the first carrier air strikes against Japan, the Missouri (BB-63) plows through heavy Pacific swells in company of other Fifth Fleet ships. Note the #1 turret turned fully to starboard. | Photo courtesy of US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No.2001.256.115 via Mike Green. | |
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3.07k | The Missouri (BB-63) being resupplied by the Mount Baker (AE-4) in this 5 photo PDF. | Photo i.d. courtesy of Gary Priolo & Aryeh Wetherhorn. USN photo s from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
 | 1.24k | Missouri (BB-63) in a bad neighborhood in the Pacific. | USN photo N-3010 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
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858k | About to be hit by a Japanese A6M "Zero" Kamikaze, while operating off Okinawa on 11 April 1945. The plane hit the ship's side below the main deck, causing minor damage and no casualties on board the battleship. A 40mm quad gun mounts crew is in action in the lower foreground. The photographer has been identified as Seaman Len Schmidt. | Text courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 62696. USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 123k | Japanese A6M "Zero" Kamikaze hits Missouri's (BB-63) starboard side on 11 April 1945. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
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419k | Missouri (BB-63) and her escorting company as seen from the bridge of an escorting air craft carrier while under attack from Japanese aircraft. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. Photo i.d. and text courtesy of Herbert Fahr, Jr., USS Missouri (BB-63) Association, Inc. |
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 | 800k | Japanese A6M "Zero" Kamikaze, hits Missouri's (BB-63) starboard side on 11 April 1945. The following PDF contains a series of related material. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
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50k | A 40mm barrel is seen impaled by a machine gun from the kamikaze hit at Okinawa on 11 April 1945. | USN photo. | |
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19k | Damage from a kamikaze attack on the Missouri (BB-63), 11 April 1945, off the coast of Okinawa. | Photo from WW II Damage Reports, courtesy of NavSea / dcfp.navy.mil. | |
 | 308k | Having landed in the slick created by Missouri (BB-63) making a sharp turn to port, one of the ships embarked OS2U Kingfishers taxis toward her for recovery. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 281k | Sailors on board Missouri (BB-63) wield a long fender pole to prevent the wings of one of the ship's embarked OS2U Kingfishers from bumping against the hull as it is recovered by crane. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
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17k | Damage from a kamikaze attack on the Missouri (BB-63), 16 April 1945, off the coast of Okinawa. | Photo from WW II Damage Reports, courtesy of NavSea / dcfp.navy.mil. | |
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369k | Missouri (BB-63) arrived Ulithi 9 May and thence proceeded to Apra Harbor, Guam, 18 May. That afternoon Adm. William F. Halsey, Jr., Commander 3d Fleet, broke his flag in Missouri. She passed out of the harbor 21 May, and by 27 May was again conducting shore bombardment against Japanese positions on Okinawa. Missouri appears here at Guam with 2 CVE's for company in the background. |
Text courtesy of DANFS. USN photo # 80-G-469991 by LCDR H. Bristol, now in the collection of the US National Archives in College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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450k | Two similiar views of the forecastle and business end of the Missouri (BB-63), May 1945? | USN photo # 80-G-470299 & insert 80-G-470349, now in the collection of the US National Archives in College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
 016341c | 128k | Photo taken from Yorktown (CV-10) on 20 July 1945 showing Atascosa (AO-66) between her and Missouri (BB-63). Note the bloomers on the 5in/38cal barrels. | Photo info courtesy of Michael Goughan. Photo i.d. from Stillwell's "Battleship Missouri" book. USN photo # 80-G-376365. |
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477k | An unidentifed British Admiral on the high line between the Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Quadrant (D-17) and the Missouri (BB-63), circa July 1945. | Photo courtesy of picryl.com via U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation by John Spivey. | |
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404k | Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) & Missouri (BB-63), August 1945. | USN photo # 80-G-470354, now in the collection of the US National Archives in College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. Photo i.d. courtesy of Tracy White, Dick Jensen & Fabio Pena. | |
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476k | The Missouri (BB-63) transfers crew to her sister Iowa (BB-61) in the foreground for a landing party in Japan on 20 August 1945. The Iowa now has the new Navigating Bridge and on her Fire Control Tower (Spot 3) Mk.27 radar. She now has radar equipment Mk.4/22 atop the Secondary Battery Directors Mk.37. Just below her Forward Air Defense level a TDY jammer covering both low and high bands, back to back, has been fitted. The other two, flanking her foretop, remain. The SPT-4/ AS-37 have been removed from the Foretop. Mk.8 Mod.1 main battery fire control radar has been fitted now atop her Mk.38 Director (Spot 1) and P/S of it two "Nancy" infrared beacons to her "SK" radar platform. The "SK" air search antenna itself is surmounted by a panel with BL-5 IFF. Fighting light flank her SU radome on her topmast. Missouri had "SK-2" from the start and her SPT-4 (the 4 circular plates with long, thin spokes radiating from them) on all four sides of her Fwd. Air Defence Level) /AS-37 "Wagon Wheel" antennas are still there. Note the very prominent Quad.Forty atop her No.two 16-Inch Main Battery turret. Two Mk.57 A.A. Directors with their MK.37 antennas are visible on both sides of her #1 Mk.37 Secondary Battery Director. On Spot 1 and - 2 she has radar equipment MK.8 Mod 1. She now has the new SC-1 "Seahawk" on both her catapults. |
USN photo & text courtesy of Pieter Bakels. |
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72k | Surrender of Japan, 1945. Admiral William F. Halsey, Commander, Third Fleet, and other senior U.S. and British Navy officers toast the end of World War II, aboard Missouri (BB-63), 22 August 1945. Those present are (left to right): Rear Admiral Robert B. Carney, USN; Captain J.P.L. Reid, RN; Vice Admiral Sir Bernard Rawlings, RN; Admiral Halsey; Vice Admiral John S. McCain, USN, and Rear Admiral Wilder D. Baker, USN. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-331688, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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NR | HALSEY CUTS UP Admiral William F. Halsey cuts a cake carrying design of a Japanese flag during victory celebration aboard a ship with his 3d Fleet. today, aboard his flagship, the battleship Missouri (BB-63), on whose decks Japan will sign her surrender, the admiral was presented with a highly decorated saddle sent him by Reno businessmen after the fleet commander expressed the hope of riding Hirohito’s white horse through the streets of Tokyo. Whether the admiral will really ride the horse is still any one’s guess. Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, 5th Fleet commander, said in Manila that he didn’t know "how long it has been since Halsey has ridden a white horse. |
AP Wirephoto From Paramount News. Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 25 August 1945, Image 2, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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72k | Admiral Halsey's Saddle. Fancy tooled leather saddle presented to Admiral William F. Halsey, Commander, U.S. Third Fleet, by the Reno, Nevada, Chamber of Commerce in 1945. The saddle, which was high-lined to Missouri (BB-63), Halsey's flagship, on 25 August 1945, had been made in response to an earlier comment by the Admiral's Flag Secretary, Commander Harold Stassen, that "It won't be long before Admiral Halsey is riding the Emperor's white horse."Though Halsey never had an opportunity to put the saddle to its intended use, it became part of the collections of the U.S. Naval Academy Museum, in Annapolis, Maryland. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-17611, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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71k | 27 August 1945. Japanese harbor pilot boards the Missouri (BB-63) with charts for sailing into Sagami Bay. | Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-490393, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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90k | Japanese naval officers go over charts of Sagami and Tokyo Bays during a piloting conference with Admiral William F. Halsey's Third Fleet staff, 27 August 1945, as preparations were being made for the entrance of U.S. Third Fleet and British Pacific Fleet ships into Japanese waters. At left, in baseball cap, is Rear Admiral Robert B. Carney, Third Fleet Chief of Staff. At right is Japanese language officer Commander Gilven M. Slonim. The State of Missouri Seal is on the bulkhead in the upper left corner. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-490401now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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45k | Sagami Wan, Japan. Warships of the U.S. Third Fleet and the British Pacific Fleet in Sagami Wan, 28 August 1945, preparing for the the formal Japanese surrender a few days later. Mount Fujiyama is in the background. Nearest ship is Missouri (BB-63), flying Admiral William F. Halsey's four-star flag. British battleship Duke of York is just beyond her, with HMS King George V further in. Colorado (BB-45) is in the far center distance. Also present are U.S. and British cruisers and U.S. destroyers. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-339360, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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548k | Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, U.S. Navy, Commander in Chief, Pacific, and Pacific Ocean Areas arriving at Tokyo Bay in a Consolidated PB2Y-5R Coronado seaplane, 29 August 1945. The battleship Missouri (BB-63), Third Fleet Flagship, is in the center background. | NHHC photo # NH-96809 history.navy.mil via Robert Hurst | |
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86k | Admiral Halsey welcomes Fleet Admiral Nimitz aboard the Missouri (BB-63), 29 August 1945. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-490425, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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158k | Escorted by the Nicholas (DD-449) and followed by the Iowa (BB-61), the Missouri (BB-63) steams up Tokyo Bay on 30 August 1945. Steaming to her anchorage in Tokyo Bay for the formal signing of the Japanese surrender, 29 August 1945. This photograph was flown to Washington, DC, directly from Japan, arriving on 2 September 1945, the day the Japanese surrender was signed. | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 96780, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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69k | Anchored in Sagami Wan or Tokyo Bay, Japan, with other units of the U.S. Third Fleet, 30 August 1945. Mount Fujiyama is faintly visible in the distance. Missouri (BB-63) is flying Admiral William F. Halsey's four-star flag. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-490436, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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62k | Missouri's (BB-63) bow frames Mt. Fuji, Japan. 1945. | Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-700863, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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1.30k | Watercolor of Missouri (BB-63) & Massachusetts (BB-59) & other units of the Pacific Fleet at war's end by Tom Freeman. | Photograph courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
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219k | VIP's arriving for the on the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay, 2 September, 1945. | USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
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304k | Surrender ceremonies in progress, as seen from Missouri's (BB-63) foredeck, with the Marine guard and Navy band in the center foreground and the ship's embarkation ladder at lower left. The backs of the Japanese delegation are visible on the 01 level deck, to the left of 16-inch gun turret # 2. | Photograph SC # 210628, from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives via Bill Gonyo. | |
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68k | Oil painting by the artist SYDNEYSimon, entitled "U.S.S. Missouri". Surrender ceremonies in progress, as seen from Missouri's (BB-63) bridge, with the Marine guard and Navy band in the center foreground and the ship's embarkation ladder at lower left. The Japanese delegation are visible on the 01 level deck, to the left of 16-inch gun turret # 2. |
Oil painting by the artist SYDNEYSimon, entitled "U.S.S. Missouri", courtesy of pbs.org., from the series "They Drew Fire, Combat Artists of WWII". | |
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59k | The Japanese delegation signs the instrument of surrender on the morning of 2 September, 1945, aboard Missouri (BB-63) in Tokyo Bay. General of the Army Douglas A. MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander, signed for the Allies. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz signed for the United States. | USN / Jose Vigil | |
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3.97k | Surrender of Japan, Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945; Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, signs the Instrument of Surrender as United States Representative, aboard Missouri (BB-63), 2 September 1945. Standing directly behind him are (left-to-right): General of the Army Douglas MacArthur; Admiral William F. Halsey, USN, and Rear Admiral Forrest Sherman, USN. | USN photo courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler. Insert From: U.S. Naval Institute, Naval History Magazine, Page 64, October 2020 via Tommy Trampp. | |
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501k | Surrender of Japan, Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945: Lt. General Kuzma Derevyanko representing the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is shown signing the Allied copy of the Instrument of Surrender. | Photo i.d. courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory). USN photo from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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370k | Gen. Douglas MacArthur signs the Japanese surrender documents aboard the Missouri (BB-63) in Tokyo Bay. Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright, left foreground, who surrendered Bataan to the Japanese, and British Lt. Gen. A. E. Percival, next to Wainwright, who surrendered Singapore, observe the ceremony marking the end of World War II. | AP Photo by Frank Filan courtesy of the denverpost.com via Ronald Norford, whose brother, Robert Nelson Norford, F1/C, USNR was lost on the Escolar (SS-294). | |
 | 171k | The second commemorative plaque of the Japanese Surrender on the bulkhead above the quarterdeck, where the first plaque marks the actual surrender site, on the deck. This plaque lists the names of Allied and Japanese principal actors in the drama of 2 September 1945. | Photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
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96k | Japanese representatives on board Missouri (BB-63) during the surrender ceremonies, 2 September 1945. Standing in front are: Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu (wearing top hat) and General Yoshijiro Umezu, Chief of the Army General Staff. Behind them are three representatives each of the Foreign Ministry, the Army and the Navy. They include, in middle row, left to right: Major General Yatsuji Nagai, Army; Katsuo Okazaki, Foreign Ministry; Rear Admiral Tadatoshi Tomioka, Navy; Toshikazu Kase, Foreign Ministry, and Lieutenant General Suichi Miyakazi, Army. In the the back row, left to right (not all are visible): Rear Admiral Ichiro Yokoyama, Navy; Saburo Ota, Foreign Ministry; Captain Katsuo Shiba, Navy, and Colonel Kaziyi Sugita, Army. (Identities those in second and third rows are from an annotated photograph in Naval Historical Center files.) | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # USA C-2719, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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81k | General Yoshijiro Umezu, Chief of the Army Japanese General Staff, sign the official surrender aboard Missouri (BB-63) on 2 September 1945. Lt.Gen. Richard K. Sutherland stands near the table while General of the Army Douglas MacArthur is at the microphone. | USN photo # 1478-46, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. Photo i.d. courtesy of Bob Turner & Herbert Fahr, Jr. USS Missouri (BB-63) Association, Inc. | |
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93k | Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz signs the official surrender document aboard Missouri (BB-63) while RADM Sherman stand to one side of Nimitz. General of the Army Douglas MacArthur speaks with Admiral William Halsey at the microphone. | USN photo # 1480-46, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
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110k | Another view of the Japanese delegation at the surrender aboard Missouri (BB-63) on 2 September 1945. | USN photo # 1481-46, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
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105k | The Japanese delegation receives honors as they depart Missouri (BB-63) at the conclusion of the surrender ceremonies, 2 September 1945. General Yoshijiro Umezu is in the center, saluting. Photographed by Lieutenant Barrett Gallagher, USNR, from atop Missouri's forward 16-inch gun turret. Note photographers on platforms in the background, band in the lower left and "seahorse" insignia on the shoulder by the Marine in lower right. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-472629, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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537k | Surrender of Japan, 2 September 1945. Navy carrier planes fly in formation over the U.S. and British fleets in Tokyo Bay during surrender ceremonies. Missouri (BB-63), where the ceremonies took place, is at left. Detroit (CL-8) is in the right distance. Aircraft include TBM, F6F, SB2C and F4U types. | Text from Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-421130. Photo # HD-SN-99-03029, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
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38k | Oil on canvas painting by the artist Robert Taylor, entitled "Victory Flyover". The mass flyover Tokyo Bay, 1945 heralding the Surrender on board Missouri (BB-63). |
Text and drawing courtesy of naval-art.com | |
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86k | USAAF B-29 bombers fly in formation over Missouri (BB-63), during the surrender ceremonies, 2 September 1945. Photographed from on board the ship, looking up past her forward superstructure, which is crowded with spectators and photographers. | Photograph SC # 211875, from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives. | |
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619k | 4 photo PDF showing the Japanese version of the surrender agreement and some inside Missouri (BB-63) during the surrender with unknown Japanese military. | Photos courtesy of Larry B. Lynn, IC2, Inchon (LPH-12), 1974-1977. | |
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91k | In Tokyo Harbor with IJN Nagato. | Photo courtesy of Yu Chu. | |
 | 654k | View of the Missouri (BB-63) taken during the Surrender Ceremony in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. | Image taken by Ted H. Lambert, from his B-29 Superfortress. Photo courtesy of his son via Robert Hurst. | |
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264k | Spectators and correspondents from all over the world pick vantage positions on the deck of the Missouri (BB-63), in Tokyo Bay to watch the formal Japanese surrender ceremony marking the end of World War II. | AP Photo by Frank Filan courtesy of the denverpost.com via Ronald Norford, whose brother, Robert Nelson Norford, F1/C, USNR was lost on the Escolar (SS-294). | |
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111k | Spectators and photographers crowd Missouri's (BB-63) superstructure to witness the formal ceremonies marking Japan's surrender, 2 September 1945. The framed flag in lower right is that hoisted by Commodore Matthew C. Perry on 14 July 1853, in Yedo (Tokyo) Bay, on his first expedition to negotiate the opening of Japan. It had been brought from its permanent home in Memorial Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy for use during the surrender ceremonies. | Photograph SC # 210644, from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives. | |
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86k | Fleet Admiral Nimitz presents an award to Admiral William F. Halsey aboard the Missouri (BB-63), 2 September 1945. | Official USN photo # Naval History and Heritage Command # K-6424, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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86k | Painting of Fleet Admiral Nimitz by Albert Murray. In the background are Gen. MacArthur and Admiral William F. Halsey aboard the Missouri (BB-63), 2 September 1945. Note: The artist has reversed the actual orientation of the scene. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # K-6424, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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123k | Exhibit featuring copies of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender and an article, entitled The Sailor and the General, concerning preparations for the surrender ceremonies held on board Missouri (BB-63) on 2 September 1945. Photographed on board the ship, at the Bremerton, Washington, Reserve Fleet facility, 19 March 1970. | Photograph USN # 1143632, from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives. | |
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104k | Surrender of Japan, Tokyo Bay, 2 September 1945, Wallet card souvenir of the occasion, issued to Lieutenant Robert L. Balfour, USNR, a member of Admiral Halsey's staff. These cards were designed by Chief Shipfitter Donald G. Droddy and produced by Missouri's (BB-63) print shop. One was issued to each man who was on board the ship on 2 September 1945, when the surrender of Japan was formalized on her decks. The cards contain the facsimile signatures of Captain Stuart S. Murray, ship's Commanding Officer, General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and Admiral William F. Halsey. | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 100856-KN, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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419k | Plaque on Missouri (BB-63) commemorating the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay, 2 September, 1945. | USN photo # 19lcm-32 from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. | |
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74k | Rounding the east end of Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, in late September 1945. Photographed from the top of the Makalapa Administration Building. | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 82812, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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1.38k | Naval Gun Factory, Washington Navy Yard, D.C. President Harry S. Truman views two bronze plaques commemorating the surrender of Japan, during his visit to the Naval Gun Factory on 25 September 1945. Accompanying the President are Rear Admiral Theodore D. Ruddock, Navy Yard Superintendent, and Mr. J.H. Brown. The plaques were designed and cast at the Gun Factory. Copies of them were mounted on board Missouri (BB-63). |
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph # NH 43168, from the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, via flickr.com. | |
 | 577k | The Missouri (BB-63) as she left Pearl Harbor and sailed past Diamond Head on her way back the United States mainland after the end of World War II and the signing of the Japanese surrender on her decks on 2 September 1945. The date of this photo is 29 September 1945, as she sailed from Pearl, escorted by the destroyer Kimberly (DD-521), (not shown in this photo). Note that at this time, she has already had her hull painted solid Navy Blue, eliminating the area of Haze Grey on her bow. | USN photo & text courtesy of David Buell. | |
 | 1.04k | Missouri (BB-63) drew a large crowd of spectators as she passed through the Panama canal on 13 October...... | USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. | |
 | 275k | 13 October 1945 photo showing the Missouri (BB-63) passing through the Gatun Locks en route from the Pacific Ocean to the East coast. Note the crowd gathered to view the famous ship where the surrender was signed. | US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No.2001.2756.072 via Mike Green. | |
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704k | In the Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal, 13 October 1945, & out of the Miraflores Locks while en route from the Pacific to New York City to take part in Navy Day celebrations. Note the close fit of the ship in the locks. The beam of battleships of this era was determined by Panama Canal lock dimensions. | Text courtesy of USNHC. USN photo # 80-G-701368 (insert) & 80-G-701369, from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert. |
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109k | Crewmen paraded at quarters as the battleship steams toward New York City to participate in the Navy Day Fleet Review. Photographed in early October 1945. Note small radar antenna atop Missouri's (BB-63) armored conning tower, near the bottom of the view. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-6565, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
 | 247k | Aerial view of the Renshaw (DD-499) alongside the Missouri (BB-63) on 25 October 1945. The Renshaw is transferring President Harry Truman to the Missouri during the Navy Day celebrations held in New York City. The photo is a good aerial view of the armament layout of both ships. | US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No. 2001.256.079 via Mike Green. | |
 | 467k | Searchlights aboard the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CV-6); and battleships Missouri (BB-63) and New York (BB-34) provide fans of light from their berths in the Hudson River as the biggest Navy Day celebration in NY history commences, New York, New York, 26 October 1945. | Photo by Underwood Archives/Getty Images, courtesy of gettyimages.com. | |
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646k | Navy Day, 27 October 1945. Renshaw (DD-499) dwarfed in comparison, stands alongside Missouri (BB-63) to pipe President Harry S. Truman onboard for Navy Day luncheon. Donated by Mr. Thomas J. Watson from a recording America's tribute to its victorious fleet in first peacetime Navy Day since the start of World War Two. |
U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph # Lot 10625-14, from the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, via flickr.com. | |
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2.90k | 14 page PDF entitled "The Missourian" dated "Navy Day, 27 October 1945." The booklet has many photos, including a center spread of the Surrender Ceremonies that ended the war with Japan. | PDF courtesy of Bob Carey AF2, USN. | |
 | 252k | President Harry S Truman waves from the destroyer Renshaw (DD-499). The Missouri (BB-63) & New York (BB-34) are in the background and off the bow. | Photo i.d. courtesy of Evan Dwyer. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. |
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 | 385k | Sailors line the deck of Missouri (BB-63) as Renshaw (DD-499) comes alongside for transfer of President Harry S. Truman during Navy Day celebrations in New York. | USN photo & text courtesy of National Naval Aviation Museum via Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 3.23k | "On Navy Day in 1945, a seven-mile line of U.S. Navy warships anchored in the Hudson River and some 1,200 Navy planes flew overhead in commemoration of the event." Tugboats and U.S. Navy warships pictured in the Hudson River with the New York City skyline in the background on the occasion of Navy Day on 27 October 1945. Visible in the foreground are the anchored heavy cruisers Augusta (CA-31), Helena (CA-75), and Macon (CA-132); carriers Midway (CVB-41) and Enterprise (CV-6); and battleships Missouri (BB-63) and New York (BB-34). | USN photo & text courtesy of National Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No. 2001.256.009. | |
 | 2.54k | Navy Day - 27 October 1945: President Harry S. Truman joins Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet ADM Jonas H. Ingram and FADM William D. Leahy, Chief of Staff to the President in examining the commemorative plaque marking the spot on the deck of Missouri (BB-63) upon which the Japanese surrender treaty was signed. In this address to a New York City audience, Truman pays tribute to the four million men and women in the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard and to the ships which carried them to victory in World War II. The President describes the need of four principal military tasks and the fundamentals of American foreign policy—all of which are directed not toward war or conquest, but rather toward a lasting peace. FYI, there was more than one commemorative plaque marking the spot. For further reading, see the enclosed PDF. In 1945 soon after the surrender of Japan on the deck of the Missouri, it was decided to have two plaques made to commemorate this and installed on the ship. One plaque was more rectangle and the other circular or oval in shape. At the time there were four different types made of the round one, one by the Naval Gun Factory here at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, DC and one by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, also in DC. Not sure who created the other two types of plaques, but the designs were submitted and the one by the Naval Gun Factory was chosen to be installed on the ship. Four of each of these plaques (round and rectangular ones) were made and one set installed on the ship by December 1945. Three of the other sets were installed on Victory Trains travelling through the United States on a bond drive and one set went to the museum at the Naval Academy (the only Navy museum at the time). | USN photo & text courtesy of National Naval Aviation Museum via Bill Gonyo. PDF text inspired by Clay Shill and written by Lea French Davis, Associate Registrar for Acquisitions, Curator Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command. | |
 | 648k | Seated at the same table upon which the instrument of surrender was signed in Tokyo Bay the previous month, President Harry S. Truman signs the guest log on board Missouri (BB-63) during a visit to the ship on the occasion of Navy Day, 1945. Standing behind him left to right are ADM Jonas H. Ingram, Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet, CAPT Stuart S. Murray, skipper of Missouri, Mr. Grover Whalen, chairman of the mayor's reception committee for the President, Fleet ADM William Leahy, Chief of Staff to the President, New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia (partially obscured), and Commodore James K. Vardaman, Jr., naval aide to the President. | USN photo & text courtesy of National Naval Aviation Museum via Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 140k | The Missouri (BB-63) with her name painted amidships, which was done during this period right after the war ended but only for a short time around Navy Day. | USN photo courtesy of David Buell. | |
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81k | Captain Stuart S. Murray commanded the battleship Missouri (BB-63) from 14 May 1945 to 6 November 1945. | Official USN photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo. | |
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54k | N.Y. Governor Thomas H. Dewey and wife on Missouri (BB-63), October 1945. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # K-6552, courtesy of the U.S. Naval Historical Center. | |
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58k | Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal is saluted as he comes abroad Missouri (BB-63), October 1945. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # K-6546, courtesy of the https://catalog.archives.gov/id/176251226. | |
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107k | Crew members painting a decorative chart of the ship's wartime travels, on the forward bulkhead of the Wardroom, in preparation for public visits during Navy Day at New York City, 27 October 1945. Photographed some days earlier, while Missouri (BB-63) was en route from the Pacific to New York. Those present are (left to right): Signalman Third Class Jose de la Torre, Jr.; Signalman Second Class Gerald Parker and James H. Reichart, Jr. (from Muncie, Indiana). | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-6582, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. Photo & text i.d. courtesy of Michael Weidenbach, Curator, Battleship Missouri Memorial. |
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238k | Mt Fuji escorts the navy. | Accession number: 58-560 courtesy of trumanlibrary.org. | |
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NR | Blind Read Surrender Plaque. When two hundred blind children from the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind visited the mighty battleship Missouri (BB-63) they "read" the surrender inscription sunk in the deck. | Image and text provided by Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records; Phoenix, AZ. Photo & text by The Coolidge Examiner. [volume] (Coolidge, Ariz.) 1930-current, 23 November 1945, Section A, Image 7, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
| 1946 - 1950 |
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805k | Tugs are pushing the Missouri (BB-63) away from a pier at the Naval Shipyard Annex at Bayonne, New Jersey in April, 1946. The ship was carrying the body of former Turkish ambassador Mehmet Munir Ertegun10who died in November, 1944. The cruise was also used to show the Soviet Union and other countries, the United States concern about the region's political instability. | US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No. 2001.256.090 courtesy of Mike Green. | |
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71k | A game of cards in the Flag Cabin, while the ship was en route to Istanbul, Turkey, 3 April 1946. Those present are (left to right): Alexander W. Weddell, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey; Admiral H. Kent Hewitt, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe; Captain Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter, Missouri (BB-63) Commanding Officer, and M. Kadri Rizan, Turkish Minister of Protocol. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-365725, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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102k | Missouri (BB-63) (center). Off Istanbul, Turkey, 5-9 April 1946. She had brought the body of the Late Turkish Ambassador to the United States, Mehmet Munir Ertegun, home for burial, on a mission that was also made to influence Soviet Middle East policy. Power (DD-839) is at left, and the Turkish Battlecruiser Yavuz (formerly the German (Goeben) is at right. Dolmabahce Mosque is in the foreground. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-366179, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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86k | Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt, USN, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe greets Archbishop Damaskinos, Regent of Greece, on board Missouri (BB-63) off Piraeus, Greece, circa 10-14 April 1946. Directly behind Admiral Hewitt are (left to right): Commodore Tully Shelly, USN, and Captain Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter, Missouri Commanding Officer. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-702531, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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75k | Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt, USN, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (second from right). Examines the plaque in Missouri (BB-63) deck that marks the spot where the Surrender of Japan took place on 2 September 1945. Photographed while Missouri was visiting Piraeus, Greece, circa 10-14 April 1946. To the left of Admiral Hewitt are (left to right): Constantine Tsaldaris, Foreign Minister of Greece; Greek Prime Minister Panajiotia and Commodore Tully Shelly, USN. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-702560, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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113k | Missouri (BB-63) tied up to the pier, 9 - 12 May 1946 at Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia. An unidentified air craft carrier perhaps HMS Ruler (A-731) is off to her starboard side. What is left of her hull number identifies her as one of the British CVEs used as aircraft transports in the Pacific, late in WW2. What looks like an attack transport is off her stern. | Photo by Joseph Albright, courtesy of Christopher Albright. Text courtesy of Fabio Pena. | |
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17k | Commanding Officers of the Missouri (BB-63): Captain William M. Callaghan, USN - June 11, 1944 - May 14, 1945 Captain Stuart S. Murray, USN - May 14, 1945 - November 6, 1945 Captain Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter, USN - November 6, 1945 - May 31, 1946 Captain Tom B. Hill, USN - May 31, 1946 - April 2, 1947 Captain Robert L. Dennison, USN - April 2, 1947 - January 23, 1948. He appears here on the left. Commander John B. Colwell, USN - January 23, 1948 - February 24, 1948 Captain James H. Thach, Jr., USN - February 24, 1948 - February 5, 1949 Captain Harold P. Smith, USN - February 5, 1949 - December 10, 1949 Captain William D. Brown, USN - December 10, 1949 - February 3, 1950 Commander George E. Peckham, USN - February 3, 1950 - February 7, 1950 Captain Harold P. Smith, USN - February 7, 1950 - April 19, 1950 Captain Irving T. Duke, USN - April 19, 1950 - March 2, 1951 Captain George T. Wright, USN - March 2, 1951 - October 18, 1951 Captain John Sylvester, USN - October 18, 1951 - September 4, 1952 Captain Warner R. Edsall, USN - September 4, 1952 - March 26, 1953 Commander James R. North, USN - March 26, 1953 - April 4, 1953 Captain Robert Brodie, Jr., USN - April 4, 1953 - April 1, 1954 Captain Robert T. S. Keith, USN - April 1, 1954 - September 18, 1954 Commander James R. North, USN - September 18, 1954 - February 26, 1955 Captain Albert Lee Kaiss, USN - May 10, 1986 - June 20, 1986 Captain James A. Carney, USN - June 20, 1986 - July 6, 1988 Captain John J. Chernesky, USN - July 6, 1988 - June 13, 1990 Captain Albert Lee Kaiss, USN - June 13, 1990 - March 31, 1992 All Commanding Officers were Regular Navy.Three Commanding Officers were full Commanders, previously the Executive Officer. One Commander served twice as Commanding Officer. Three Captains served twice as Commanding Officer. Captain Kaiss is the only Commanding Officer in history to put a US Navy ship into commission, and take the same ship out of commission. He is also the last Commanding Officer of a Battleship and in essence, the last Battleship Sailor. He was the last sailor to leave the ship on 31 March 1992. |
Image from the Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum & Library, courtesy of Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 37k | Commemorative post mark on the occasion of Missouri's (BB-63) visit to Turkey on 5 April 1946. | Photo courtesy of Cüneyt Demir. | |
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NR | PLAQUE FOR A SEA DOG — Capt. R. H. Hillenkoetter, commander of the battleship Missouri (BB-63), looks at a plaque cast from native Missouri ore which was presented him by miners at ceremonies at Flat River, Mo. His home is St. Louis. | Image and text provided by Alaska State Library Historical Collections. Photo by The Nome Nugget. [volume] (Nome, Alaska) 1938-????, 22 July 1946, Image 4, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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225k | President Truman greets President Dutra of Brazil, 2 September 1947. | Accession number: 66-1201 courtesy of trumanlibrary.org. | |
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286k | President Truman meets "Davy Jones". | Accession number: 66-1286 courtesy of trumanlibrary.org. | |
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101k | President Harry S. Truman appears before Master Sgt. A. Waclawski, Royal Prosecutor of the Royal High Court of the Raging Main, to participate in a ceremony for those who have not previously crossed the equator to become a "Shellback." Margaret Truman in sun glasses stands next to Bess Truman in the background on the left. The President is aboard the Missouri (BB-63), returning from Brazil on 11 September 1947. | Accession numbers: 2009-1669 (insert) & 66-1299 courtesy of trumanlibrary.org. | |
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102k | A volunteer walks down "shillalah alley," a 60-foot double line of shellbacks armed with stuffed canvas billies, as they prepare to whack the pollywogs (those crossing the equator for the first time), a punishment meted out by the Royal Court during ceremonies held aboard the Missouri (BB-63) carrying President Harry S. Truman from Brazil to the U.S.A. | Accession numbers: 2009-1690 courtesy of trumanlibrary.org. | |
 | 108k | The Truman Chow Line. Not only Harry S. Truman, but Bess and Margaret Truman went through the chow line and ate with the crew. This was on the return trip from Rio in 1947. | Photo courtesy of Herbert Fahr, Jr., USS Missouri (BB-63) Association, Inc. | |
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341k | Inspection of African American sailors, 13 September, 1947. | Accession number: 66-1343 courtesy of trumanlibrary.org. | |
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66k | Arriving at the Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with President Harry S. Truman and his party on board, 19 September 1947. She is manning the rails in his honor. Itara (YTB-391) is pushing on the battleship's port bow. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-387418, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 689k | (Original Caption) 9/20/1947: Aboard Missouri (BB-63): President Harry S. Truman leads the members of the Truman Athletic Club in calisthenics on the deck of the battleship Missouri as he returned to the U.S. from Brazil. Reporters on the trip formed the club and presented the President, who was named 'coach,' with a T-shirt with six stars on the sleeves. | Photo by Bettmann/Getty Images, courtesy of gettyimages.com. | |
 | 679k | President Truman is seen here looking through a movie camera aboard the Missouri (BB-63). | Photo by Bettmann/Getty Images, courtesy of gettyimages.com. | |
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NR | MISSION OF MERCY ON HIGH SEAS Comdr. J. A. Murphy, Navy physician, leaves deck of battleship Missouri (BB-63), handhold fashion, to board the hovering helicopter for transfer to the carrier Leyte (CV-32) (left background). Comdr. Murphy went to the Leyte to attend a Marine who was struck by a whirling propeller during air operations in recent North Atlantic maneuvers. |
AP Photo. Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo & text by Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 25 November 1948, Image 4, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 | NR | KANSAS CITY.—SILVER FOR THE MISSOURI (BB-63) —Judge John Caskie Collet (right) and George Goldman preview part of the $10,000 silver service to be presented Saturday to the battleship Missouri at Norfolk, Va. Mr. Goldman is holding a water kettle, part of a seven-piece tea service. On the table are two 5-branch candelabra, six of 18 goblets in the service, a water pitcher, a sugar bowl and a cream pitcher. The two men were advisers to Gov. Phil M. Donnelly in allocating the funds appropriated by the Missouri Legislature for the purchase of the service. Gov. Donnelly will make the presentation. | A .P. Wirephoto. Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo & text by Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 02 December 1948, Image 22, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 | NR | NORFOLK.—"MIGHTY MO" GETS SILVER SERVICE President Truman looks over part of the silver service presented to the battleship Missouri (BB-63) yesterday by Gov. Donnelly (right), on behalf of the State of Missouri. Secretary of the Navy Sullivan (left) and Capt. James H. Thach, JR., the Missouri's skipper, look on. | Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo & text by Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 05 December 1948, Image 3, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
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73k | Sikorski HO3S-1 helicopter (Bureau # 122527) landing on the forward 16-inch gun turret, during the 1948 Midshipmen's cruise. Guard mail, ships' newspapers and personnel were exchanged via helicopter while the Midshipmen's cruise squadron was at sea. Most exchanges were made by "hovering pick-up". The forward turret was used as a landing platform since the floatplane catapults on the ship's fantail prevented helicopters from operating there. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-706093, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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100k | Firing her main battery at Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, during Caribbean amphibious maneuvers, circa March 1949. Note floatplanes on the ship's catapults. Planes and catapults were removed in May 1949. Pocono (AGC-16) is in the right background. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-706922, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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162k | Photo taken on 17 January 1950. The photo was taken from an altitude of 800 feet. The time was approximately 1630 hours. It shows the Missouri (BB-63) hard aground on Thimble Shoal in Chesapeake Bay. | Official USN photograph # USN-412241, submitted by Robert M. Cieri. | |
 | 103k | Aground on Thimble Shoals, Virginia, with tugs alongside and astern attempting to pull her off, during one of four unsuccessful attempts to free her after she ran onto the shoal on 17 January 1950. She was freed by the fifth attempt on 1 February, following dredging to open up a path between her position and the main shipping channel. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-707571, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 91k | Aground on Thimble Shoals, Virginia, 21 January 1950, as several harbor tugs attempt to free her. She went aground on 17 January and was refloated on 1 February. Note minesweepers and other ships in the shipping channel beyond Missouri (BB-63) stern. Their apparent closeness indicates that the photograph was taken with a telephoto lens. | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH K-14925. | |
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NR | NEW CHANNEL CUT IN ATTEMPT TO FREE BATTLESHIP A DREDGE CARVES A CHANNEL in Chesapeake Bay mud in an attempt to free the Missouri (BB-63) from shoals off Old Point Comfort, Va. The "Big Mo" rammed the mud bank a week ago and has frustrated all efforts to get her afloat. Old Point Comfort is in the background. | Image and text provided by University of Florida. Photo by The Key West Citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 26 January 1950, Image 2, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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NR | BLASTS NUDGE MIGHTY MO In a preliminary move to free the battleship Missouri (BB-63), the Navy set off explosive charges near her hull yesterday. A rising geyser of water may be seen near the stern here. | A .P. Wirephoto. Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo by Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 30 January 1950, Image 5, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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NR | THIS PHOTO DIAGRAM, based on the Navy's maneuver chart, details the projected plan for "Operation Pull-Off", an all-out attempt to free the Missouri (BB-63) from the Chesapeake Bay mudbank near Norfolk. Va. The operation is scheduled for 2 February. Part of the effort will be by the Missouri herself. Powerful winches on the battleship's deck will haul on nine cables (black lines tanning out from Missouri) to four-ton anchors embedded in the bottom of the bay. Two windlass-type beach salvage ships, the "Windlass" and the "Salvager", will be linked to the Missouri by tow cables and will haul against beach gear cables anchored far astern. Five sea-going tugs, held together by a lead tug and two harbor tugs pressing from opposite sides, will work in a surging or rocking pull. Heavy broken lines outline channel dredged from Missouri's stern to main ship channel, a half-mile away. Other tugs will work alongside the Missouri with two harbor tugs alternating in pushing against the bow of the ship in a "whipsaw" motion to help break the suction grip of the mud. Mooring lines (light broken lines) from bow to stern are intended to keep the big ship from turning out of the dredged channel. | Image and text provided by University of Florida & Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo by The Key West Citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 30 January 1950, Image 1, & Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 29 January 1950, Image 3, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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234k | A drawing of the final pulling arrangement that finally freed Missouri (BB-63). | Image and text from Mud, Muscles, and Miracles: Marine Salvage in the United States Navy. 2nd Edition. Captain Charles A. Bartholomew, USN and Commander William L. Milwee, Jr., USN (Ret.). Naval History & Heritage Command, Naval Seas Systems Command, Department of the Navy, Washington, D.C., 2009, via Robert Hurst. | |
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2.79k | The photo was taken from the bridge of the Missouri (BB-63) and was processed by the Missouri's own Photo Lab. The photo was taken on 1 February 1950 showing three ATR's(Seagoing rescue and salvage tugs) forward of the Missouri, in the last all-out effort to pull her free of Thimble Shoal. | USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. For more info, see The Crack in Barbette III & hamptonroadsnavalmuseum. Insert photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. | |
 | 63k | View of the ship's stern, showing how far it was raised above her normal waterline while she was aground on Thimble Shoals, Virginia, 17 January - 1 February 1950. | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 96789. | |
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NR | BATTLESHIP MISSOURI (BB-63) FREED THIS MORNING A NAVY TUG ATTACHES A SUBMARINE PONTOON to the side of the Battleship Missouri for the mighty effort that freed her this morning from a mud bank in Chesapeake Bay off Hampton, VA. Twenty one tugs made a concentrated attempt to pull the huge vessel free. | A .P. Wirephoto. Image and text provided by University of Florida. Photo & text by The Key West Citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 01 February 1950, Image 5, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 | 3.74k | 7 photo PDF showing the Grounding Incident at Thimble Shoals, 1950 - Hampton, Virginia. It took 23 vessels and dredging around the battleship to free it on 1 February 1950. | Photo from the Collection from the Norfolk Public Library (Va.) Photograph Collection | |
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NR | BIG MO BACK IN SERVICE Norfolk, Va.: Pushing and pulling, a score of tugs and lighter craft got the battleship Missouri (BB-63) off the Chesapeake Bay mudbank, where she has been stranded since 17 January. Capt. William D. Brown, USN, commanding officer of the Missouri, in the conning tower during the salvage operations. | Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo & text by Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 01 February 1950, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 | 291k | (Original Caption) One of the happiest men on board the Missouri (BB-63), when she was finally liberated from her mud bank this morning was Bevin E. Travis, Quartermaster Second Class, who was at the wheel of the big battleship when she got into her humiliating predicament. He is shown at his station here. Lest there be any smart cracks about Travis, be it understood that he doesn't decide on the direction in which to steer, he gets those orders from navigation officers. | Photo by Bettmann/Getty Images, courtesy of gettyimages.com. | |
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NR | BACK FOR INSPECTION—Norfolk, Va.: The battleship Missouri (BB-63) as she was nudged into drydock at the Norfolk Navy Yard after being refloated yesterday. The 45,000-ton warship will undergo examination to determine the damage caused when she stranded in Chesapeake Bay 17 January. | Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo by Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 02 February 1950, Image 2, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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NR | Army Report on Ports Seen of Little Value In Grounding of 'Mo Temporary Skipper Tests 'Mo' at Sea | Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo by Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 08 February 1950, Image 7, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. |
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 | 76k | Captain Irving T. Duke reads his orders during change of command ceremonies on the battleship's after deck, at Norfolk Naval Station, Virginia, 19 April 1950. He relieved Captain Harold P. Smith (2nd from left, in background) as Missouri (BB-63) Commanding Officer. Captain Roland Smoot is at left. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-414591 now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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120k | July 1950 photo of the Missouri (BB-63) transiting the Panama Canal Zone. In a little more than a month she would sail for the Korean War Zone. | USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
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166k | Fuel lines hang from the Missouri (BB-63) while refueling the destroyer Joesph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850), circa post August 1950. | USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
 | 506k | Harbor at Inchon: The time is 15 September 1950. The place Inchon, in the Republic of Korea. The largest amphibious landing since the end of World War II is underway. The Missouri (BB-63) is pictured left of center. | Official USN photo # HD-SN-98-07598 & Air & Space Museum # 306-FS-237-2 from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 90k | Scene in the ship's main battery plotting room, during operations off Korea, 17 September 1950. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-420319, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 83k | General of the Army Douglas MacArthur boards Missouri (BB-63) off Inchon, Korea, 21 September 1950. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command #: 80-G-420485, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 80k | Vice Admiral Arthur D. Struble, USN, Commander, Seventh Fleet In his office aboard Missouri (BB-63), off the coast of Korea, circa October 1950-March 1951. Original photo is dated 20 July 1950, when Missouri was still in the Atlantic. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-430079, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 1.50k | 21 October 1950 photo shows the Missouri (BB-63) bombarding Communist positions off Chong Jin, Korea. She is only about forty miles from the Soviet border, so all hand are at General Quarters. Being the only Iowa class (BB-61 / 66) ship that wasn't put into reserve after WW2, the Missouri was immediately sent to the far east at the beginning of the war. | Text courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-K-12603. Photo courtesy of Dan Wilmes. |
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 | 318k | New Jersey (BB-62) gets double billing in this photo, dated 11 February 1954. In the center as first recommissioned in 1951, and also after her first post-war overhaul, with changed radars and fire control. The Missouri (BB-63) (upper left), is pictured on 21 October 1950 bombarding Communist positions off Chong Jin, Korea. Wisconsin (BB-64) (lower right) and Iowa (BB-61) (upper right). The Iowa is pictured off Pearl Harbor in 1952 & shows the standard fleet painting adopted after WW2. Small war time hull numbers have been replaced with larger, easily seen block numerals. The catapults were removed after WW2, the area now a helicopter landing area. Some 40mm mounts are gone, but most remained on board until she was decommissioned on 24 February 1958. All 20mm gun mounts have been removed. | Official Navy Photo, # 633578, released by Department of Defense. Courtesy of David Buell. | |
 | 927k | Splash Colors of the Iowa class (BB-61 / 66). | PDF courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory). | |
 | 90k | Chief Gunner's Mate W.L. Stull (left) and Ensign R.H. Sprince relay an order to load all guns of turret one, during bombardment operations off Korea, October 1950. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-421187, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 96k | Crewmen receiving food supplies on board, during replenishment at sea by Graffias (AF-29) in the Sea of Japan, 17 December 1950. Each cargo net high lined between the two ships contains twenty boxes, holding a total of 2000 pounds of potatoes. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-424636, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 86k | Teleman First Class Howard Bursley, USNR, carries bags of Christmas mail received on board during operations off the Korean coast, 18 December 1950. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-424639, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 67k | Missouri's (BB-63) forward turret fires a 16-inch shell at enemy forces attacking Hungnam, North Korea, during a night bombardment in December 1950. In the background, LSMRs are firing rockets, with both ends of the trajectory visible. This is a composite image, made with two negatives taken only a few minutes apart. Photograph is dated 28 December 1950, but was probably taken on 23-24 December. | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 96811. | |
 | 70k | Forward turret trains to port, as the Missouri (BB-63) moves into firing position off Kansong, Korea. Photo is dated 5 February 1951. | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 96782. | |
 | 79k | Crewmen load 16-inch projectiles aboard Missouri (BB-63) in preparation for further Korean War bombardment operations. Photographed at a base in Japan, circa February 1951. Photo is dated 14 February 1951, a day when Missouri was at Inchon, Korea. Note shell carts, used to move the projectiles on the battleship's upper deck. | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 96784. | |
 | 89k | Crewmen of starboard midships 40mm quad gun mounts stand by as the after 16"/50 gun turret fires a salvo at enemy forces at Kansong, Korea, in February 1951. Photographed from the forward fire control tower. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-426473, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 76k | Fires a salvo from her forward turrets, during bombardment operations off Korea in February 1951. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-426474, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 1.54k | Bow to the Missouri (BB-63) underway in 1951. | Photo courtesy of Dan Wilmes. | |
 | 67k | Fires a three-gun salvo from her number two turret at a Korean Target, circa February 1951. Note U.S. flag and the ship's hull number used as identification markings on the forward turret. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-426954, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 608k | The General Visits Battleship via Helicopter: Lt. Gen. Matthew Ridgeway 8th Army Commander in Korea, salutes Vice Admiral Arthur Struble, 7th Fleet commander (right) after being landed aboard the Missouri (BB-63) by helicopter in Korean waters on 12 February | A.P. Wire photo courtesy of Tommy Trampp. | |
 | 370k | April 1951 photo of the Missouri (BB-63). She departed Yokosuka Japan 28 March, and upon arrival Norfolk 27 April became flagship of Rear Adm. J. L. Holloway, Jr., commander, Cruiser Force, Atlantic Fleet. | Text courtesy of DANFS. USN photo courtesy of Ed Zajkowski. |
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605k | The photo was taken 27 April 1951 upon the Missouri's (BB-63) return from her first deployment to Korea during that conflict. She is in the process of docking at Norfolk Naval Station Pier 7. The "stepped" main mast to support the SP height finder was installed at New York Naval Shipyard (Brooklyn, NY) during overhaul from 18 October 1947 thru 28 February 1948. Curtis SC-1 float plane operations continued off the ship as late as February 1949. The catapults were removed in a yard period in 9 - 26 May 1949 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Portsmouth, Va.) - and prior to the ships grounding on Thimble Shoals on 17 January 1950. While in this photo, the ship does sport her peacetime black funnel caps, she still carries her small wartime hull pennant numbers – which were changed to the normal large numbers during her shipyard availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard 29 August 5 / September 1952 (just prior to leaving for her second Korea Deployment, 16 September 1952). In this photo, the Cruiser on the adjacent side of Norfolk Pier 7, is the Albany (CA-123). |
Text courtesy of Capt. Dan DeCosta, USN. (Ret.) USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. |
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 016317c |
NR | Battleship Missouri (BB-63) Changes Commanders CAPT. GEORGE C. WRIGHT Commands the Mighty Mo. | Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC Photo & text by Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 02 March 1951, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov. | |
 | 92k | Midshipmen holystone the deck during a summer training cruise. Holystoning the deck with sand, soap and sea water is traditional for Midshipmen on their first cruise. | Photograph courtesy of Stan Svec / Springfield (MASS.)Republican, ROTOGRAVURE Section, June 1951. | |
 | 78k | "After the battle" sailors paint Missouri's (BB-63) 16"/50 guns. | Photograph courtesy of Stan Svec / Springfield (MASS.)Republican, ROTOGRAVURE Section, June 1951. | |
 | 88k | Captain John Sylvester, USN (left) and Captain Warner R. Edsall, USN shake hands, after Captain Edsall relieved Captain Sylvester as Commanding Officer of Missouri (BB-63). The change of command ceremonies were held on board the ship at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia, 4 September 1952. Note fancy life ring. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-641308, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 67k | Captain Warner R. Edsall, USN, Commanding Officer, Missouri (BB-63). On the bridge of his ship, observing results of recent attacks on transportation facilities along the east coast of North Korea, 5 November 1952. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-448876, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 106k | Vice Admiral Joseph J. Clark, Commander, Seventh Fleet, accompanies Republic of Korea President and Mrs. Syngman Rhee as they visit the ship, off Pusan, Korea, 20 November 1952. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-641315, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 97k | Missouri (BB-63) is shown in port, at Norfolk, VA, after returning from a tour in Korean waters. The heavy cruisers Albany (CA-123) and Macon (CA-132) are shown at the left, 8 December 1952. | USNI photo. | |
 | 268k | Cover art of the 1952-1953 far-eastern cruise book of the Missouri (BB-63). This is one of the more than 8,000 cruise books to be found in the Navy Department Library. The library does not regularly receive newly issued cruise books because they are unofficial, privately published works. Veterans and commanders of current naval activities are strongly encouraged to donate new or old copies of cruise books to the library. | Navy Historical Center File Photo # N-0000X-001, courtesy of chinfo.navy.mil. | |
 | 61k | Moving slowly in close ashore at Wonsan, Korea, to deliver gunfire on enemy positions, 7 February 1953. | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 96790. | |
 | 75k | Captain Robert Brodie, Jr., USN reads his orders to assume command of Missouri (BB-63), during ceremonies held on board the ship at Yokosuka, Japan, 4 April 1953. Vice Admiral Joseph J. Clark, Commander, Seventh Fleet, is at left. Captain Brodie relieved Commander James R. North, who had been acting Commanding Officer since the death of Captain Warner R. Edsall on 26 March 1953. | Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-641298. | |
 | 81k | Naval Academy Midshipmen practice sending and receiving messages with a 24-inch signal light, during Midshipman's cruise, June 1953. Those present are (left to right):Peter W. Sandusky, 3rd Class;Edward H. Browne, 3rd Class;Robert F. Rigling, 1st Class. | Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-633588. | |
| 1954 - 1987 |
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 | 339k | Tugs of war with the Missouri (BB-63) in the early 1950's. | Photo courtesy of Mueller-Debus via Gary Priolo. | |
 | 210k | The battleship Missouri (BB-63) at anchor circa 1954. She has, on Stack #2 a tripod mast to support the new SP air search set on the maintop. On the maintopmast is the SG surface search radar. | USN photo courtesy of David Buell. Photo i.d. courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. |
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 | 155k | The Missouri (BB-63) taken just before her 1954 inactivation. She has had the rotating shields on Mounts 41, 42, 417 and 418 removed already. | Photo courtesy of David Buell. | |
 | 68k | Battleship Division Two: In line abreast formation, 7 June 1954, in the Virginia Capes operating area, on the only occasion that all Iowa class (BB-61 / 66) battleships were photographed operating together. Ship closest to the camera is Iowa (BB-61). The others are (from near to far):Wisconsin (BB-64); Missouri (BB-63) and New Jersey (BB-62). | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-638938, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 69k | Battleship Division Two Steaming in column, 7 June 1954, in the Virginia Capes operating area, on the only occasion that all Iowa class (BB-61 / 66) battleships were photographed operating together. Ship leading the column is Wisconsin (BB-64). The others are (in no particular order): Iowa (BB-61); New Jersey (BB-62) and Missouri (BB-63). | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-638966, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 29k | Battleship Division Two: In line abreast formation, 7 June 1954, in the Virginia Capes operating area, on the only occasion that all four Iowa class (BB-61 / 66)s were photographed operating together. Ship closest to the camera is Iowa (BB-61). The others are (from near to far):Wisconsin (BB-64); Missouri (BB-63) and New Jersey (BB-62). | Official USN photo courtesy of martinipundit.com. | |
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297k | Oil on canvas painting by the artist Wayne Scarpaci showing Battleship Division 2 off the Virginia Capes on 7 June 1954. They are (F to B ) Iowa (BB-61), Wisconsin (BB-64), Missouri (BB-63), New Jersey (BB-62). | Painting courtesy of artbywayne.com | |
 016356d | 479k | Battleship Missouri (BB-63) at Pier 91 in Smith Cove viewed from above, Seattle, 1954. | Photographer: Miller Seattle Post-Intelligencer. This photograph was taken by either Bob Miller or John M. "Hack" Miller, both of whom worked for the Post-Intelligencer at this time. To order this photo please include this URL from your browser & this Image Number 1986.5.13772. Photo & text courtesy of digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu courtesy of Museum of History and Industry |
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609k | Change of Command goes North: Capt. North releives Capt. Keith., 18 September 1954. | Photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo. | |
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327k | North strikes twice:26 March 1953 – 4 April 1953 & 18 September 1954 – 26 February 1955. | Photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo. | |
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80k | Missouri (BB-63) pictured in Toulon, France, probably taken after she departed Norfolk 7 June 1954 as flagship of the midshipman training cruise to Lisbon and Cherbourg. | USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Text courtesy of DANFS. | |
 | 47k | Missouri (BB-63) approaching the first step for the transit of Panama Canal at Pedro Miguel Locks as seen from Control House. | Photo i.d. courtesy of Darrin Spain. Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory). |
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 | 66k | Missouri (BB-63) steams away from Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia, 23 August 1954, en route to Bremerton, Washington, to be decommissioned. Sailors and Navy families are watching her departure from the fantail of Iowa (BB-61). | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 96791, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 249k | The Missouri (BB-63) and the New Jersey (BB-62), Summer 1954. NOB Norfolk, Va. | Courtesy of Larry Bohn. | |
 | 140k | The Missouri (BB-63) at Pier 7, Summer 1954. NOB Norfolk, Va. | Courtesy of Larry Bohn. | |
 | 80k | Captain Karl Poehlmann, Commander of the Bremerton Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet, accepts Missouri (BB-63) into his custody, during decommissioning ceremonies at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, 26 February 1955. Missouri Commanding Officer, Captain James R. North, is in the center, holding her final commissioning pennant. At left the ship's Executive Officer, Commander William Davis. Rear Admiral Homer N. Wallin, Commander of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, is between Commander Davis and Captain North. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # 80-G-659069, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
 | 109k | Ship's ensign is hauled down by Seaman Carl Dewesse, during her decommissioning ceremonies, at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, 26 February 1955. Fire control man Apprentice Lynn Jex is assisting. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 96792. | |
 | 619k | The decommissioned Missouri (BB-63) and Maryland (BB-46) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard 1955. | Photo by Bettmann via Getty Images via Joe MacDonald courtesy of gettyimages.com. | |
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290k | Model Missouri (BB-63) in 1955. | Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory). | |
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148k | Independence Day 1963 see's yet another year for the Missouri (BB-63) in mothballs at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington. | USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
 | 107k | Memorial service honoring the late General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, held on the decommissioned battleship's after deck, at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington. Photograph by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, released for publication by Thirteenth Naval District Public Affairs Office on 10 April 1964. | Seattle Post-Intelligencer /Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 96793. | |
 | 58k | Shrouded in fog, at the Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, 19 March 1970. At that time, approximately 180,000 visitors boarded the ship each year. | Official USN photo Naval History and Heritage Command # USN 1143674. | |
 016344d | 2.65k | July 1974 view of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Ships I can identify are battleship Missouri (BB-63) at lower left (note protective domes covering her 40mm guns), heavy cruiser Saint Paul (CA-73) across the pier from her (identifiable by the missing forward centerline 5in/38 mount), aircraft carrier Hornet (CVS-12), heavy cruiser Rochester (CA-124) across the pier from her, carrier Bennington (CVS-20), and battleship New Jersey (BB-62). Another Essex class carrier is in the background but I cannot identify her. |
Photo 412-DA-14494_16-0074M via catalog.archives.gov courtesy of Theodore Leverett. | |
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270k | Missouri (BB-63) in mothballs at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, September 1975. | Photo courtesy of Leland Barnecut, Seattle, Washington. | |
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178k | Stern view of the Missouri (BB-63) in mothballs with a partial view of the heavy cruisers Canberra (CA-70) and St. Paul (CA-73) at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, September 1976. | Photo & text i.d. courtesy of Anthony Trotta, USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. |
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744k | Bremerton Washington - 1977 Program for Missouri (BB-63). | Courtesy of Anthony Trotta. | |
 | 384k | Balloons are released into the air as the Missouri (BB-63) begins the trip to Long Beach Naval Shipyard, California, where it is scheduled to undergo reactivation/modernization construction. It is currently at Bremerton, WA., 14 May 1984. | Official USN photo # DN-SN-84-10585, by JOCS Jones, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 321k | Tugs guide the Missouri (BB-63) toward the dock at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, where it will undergo reactivation/modernization construction. Note the "igloos" used to protect the 40 mm gun mounts while the ship was in reserve, 25 May 1984. | Official USN photo # DN-SN-84-10409, by PH2 (NAC) Lawrence B. Foster, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 44k | The following 2 photos were taken during the rigging of the tow for Missouri (BB-63). They took place in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, in May, 1984. Missouri being rigged in tow behind Beaufort (ATS-2); for her tow to Long Beach California, for re-activation in 1984. The Missouri was brought out from Bremerton (Puget Sound Naval Shipyard) by tractor tug, and then Beaufort picked up the tow there in the strait. | Brian O'Connor MM1(SW/DV)Ret. | |
 | 44k | Missouri (BB-63) being towed in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, in May, 1984. | Brian O'Connor MM1(SW/DV)Ret. | |
 | 900k | A view of the support blocks laid out in dry dock No. 1 for the Missouri (BB-63) which is currently undergoing modernization at the shipyard at Naval Shipyard Long Beach, CA., 7 August 1984. | Official USN photo # DN-SC-93-00824, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
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60k | Robert M. Cieri holds the front page of the San Francisco Examiner on 28 June 1985. The photo was taken at NAS Alameda Officer's Club and announced that the City of San Francisco won the right to homeport the Missouri (BB-63) in San Francisco. Actually, she would have been berthed at Naval Station Treasure Island, where the Navy built a new pier just for her. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
 | 241k | Montage of photos of the Missouri (BB-63) undocking from start to finish in Dry Dock # 1, circa 1985-88. | Courtesy of Richard Miller, BMCS, USNR RET. | |
 | 153k | Front cover of the Welcome Aboard Program of the Missouri (BB-63), circa 1985-88. | Courtesy of Richard Miller, BMCS, USNR RET. | |
 | 658k | Crewmen march double-time while manning the battleship Missouri (BB-63) during recommissioning. | Official USN photo from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. via Pieter Bakels. | |
 | 80k | Missouri (BB-63) passes the Golden Gate Bridge while en route to San Francisco for its recommissioning, 10 May 1986. The US Navy Large Harbor Tug Poughkeepsie (YTB-813) sprays water into the air. | USN photo by PH2 Steve Grzezdzinski. | |
 | 881k | Crew members man the rail as the Missouri (BB-63) passes under the Golden Gate Bridge while en route to San Francisco for its recommissioning, 10 May 1986. | Official USN photo # DN-SC-86-06956, by PH2 Steve Grzezdzinsk, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 117k | The national ensign flies on the fantail of the Missouri (BB-63) during its recommissioning. The Oakland Bay Bridge is in the background. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-86-07093, by PH2 Michael D.P Flynn, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
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43k | Missouri's (BB-63) Tomahawk Launchers wrapped up in bunting on her recommissioning day. | Photograph courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
 | 855k | Captain Albert L. Kaiss, commanding officer of the battleship Missouri (BB-63), introduces Dianne Feinstein, mayor of San Francisco, during the ship's recommissioning, 10 May 1986. | Image from the National Archives DN-SN-86-06997 via Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 134k | The star of the day appears in the center during her recommissioning day as viewed from afar. | Photograph courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
 | 393k | Captain Albert Lee Kaiss and retired Admiral William M. Callaghan. Both were commissioning CO, Callaghan in June 1944 and Kaiss in May 1986. Kaiss is the only CO to commission and de-commission the same ship, and it is known that he is the "last battleship sailor" being the last to leave the ship in March 1992. The picture was taken at the Missouri (BB-63) reunion in 1985 in Annapolis, MD by Shipmate Jim Hartman. | Photo courtesy of Herbert Fahr, Jr., USS Missouri (BB-63) Association, Inc. | |
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506k | Capt James Allen Carney commanded the battleship Missouri (BB-63) between 20 June 1986 to 6 July 1988. Also during his naval career he commanded the Spruance-class destroyer Leftwich (DD-984) from 25 August 1979 to 14 August 1982. | USN photo # DN-SC-85-04142 courtesy of Bill Gonyo. | |
 0163006 | 238k | Vice Adm. Diego E. Hernandez, commander, 3rd Fleet, U.S. Pacific Fleet, speaks from the battleship Missouri (BB-63) during a ceremony remembering the colony of Hansen's disease victims on Molokai, Hawaii. The ceremony was a reenactment of an event that took place when the Great White Fleet sailed around the world in 1907-1909. The Missouri is beginning a cruise to Australia and around the world. | Official USN photo courtesy of nara.getarchive.net | |
 | 699k | An aerial bow view of the Missouri (BB-63), left, the fleet oiler Kawishiwi (T-AO-146), center, and the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk (CV-63) participating in an underway replenishment operation, 25 July 1986. | Official USN photo # DN-SC-87-09872 by PH3 Hensley, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 125k | Boiler technicians service the boiler system of the Missouri (BB-63) prior to the ship's cruise to Australia and around the world, 1 September 1986. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-87-00663 by PH1 Bob Lindel, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 569k | Crew members aboard the Missouri (BB-63) participate in the Golden Shellback Initiation given to sailors crossing the equator for the first time. The ship is on a cruise around the world. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-87-00679 by PH2 Paul T. Erikson,from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 689k | A water-level bow view of the battleship Missouri (BB-63) underway 1 September 1986. The ship is en route to Hawaii prior to a cruise to Australia and around the world. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-87-00683 by Greg Manor, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 474k | The Missouri (BB-63) is being brought alongside at Garden Island dockyard, Sydney Australia on 6 October 1986. | Photo Credit Tom Strasse via Yu Chu. | |
 | 118k | The Missouri (BB-63) at anchor in Sydney Harbor for the celebration of the Royal Australian Navy 75th anniversary, October 1986. | Paul Coleman & Royal Austrailian Navy Photo. | |
 | 130k | The Missouri (BB-63) at anchor in silhouette in Sydney Harbor for the celebration of the Royal Australian Navy 75th anniversary, October 1986. | Paul Coleman & Royal Austrailian Navy Photo. | |
 | 42k | Missouri (BB-63) transiting the Gatun Locks on the final leg of an around-the-world shakedown cruise. 10 December 1986. | Official USN photo by Carlos Drake, courtesy of the USNI. | |
 | 311k | Members of the Marine detachment from the Missouri (BB-63) pose for a photograph prior to talking part in a field exercise at Camp Pendelton, California on 5 July 1987. The men are armed with M-16A2 rifles. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-92-00917, by PH1 Terry Cosgrove, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
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101k | Welcome Aboard Missouri's (BB-63) cruise from Bay to Bay, San Francisco to Monterey , 7 July 1987. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
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301k | Plan of the day for the Missouri's (BB-63) cruise from Bay to Bay, San Francisco to Monterey , 7 July 1987. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
 | 134k | View of the Missouri's (BB-63) superstructure while at dock during her worldwide shakedown cruise at Hobart, Tasmania. Australia, September 1987. | Courtesy of Nick Jansen. | |
 | 102k | View of the Missouri's (BB-63) rear 16"/50 turret while at dock during her worldwide shakedown cruise at Hobart, Tasmania. Australia, September 1987. | Courtesy of Nick Jansen. | |
 | 91k | Firing a 16-inch projectile from turret one during gunnery exercises in 1987. Photographed by PH1 Terry A. Cosgrove. | Naval History and Heritage Command # NH 96786. | |
| 1988 - 1993 |
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 | 54k | Missouri (BB-63) in company with the Long Beach (CGN-9) and others just prior to RIMPAC '88. | Courtesy of Larry Lee. | |
 | 252k | A bow on view of the battleship New Jersey (BB-62) leading theAmerican battle line. She is followed by the battleship Missouri (BB-63) and the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser Long Beach (CGN-9) with other screening vessels following astern of the cruiser. The photograph was taken from the fantail of the Enterprise (CVN-65), possibly during exercise RIMPAC '88 during Jul 1988. | Official USN photo # N-0000X-042, submitted by Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 306 | An over head view of the battleship Missouri (BB-63) firing a broadside from its Mark 7 16-inch guns during a firepower demonstration. The Missouri and the ships of its battle group are participating in the multinational exercise RIMPAC '88 during July 1988. | USN photo DN-ST-89-05374 by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Terry Cosgrove, courtesy of navy.news.mil., submitted by Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 243 | The battleship Missouri (BB-63) fires several of its Mark 7 16 inch guns while underway of the coast of Hawaii during exercise RIMPAC '88. | USN photo # N-0000C-002 / DN-ST-91-12054 by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Terry Cosgrove, courtesy of navy.news.mil. | |
 | 87k | Enginemen check fuel samples in an engineering space aboard the Missouri (BB-63) during RIMPAC '88, 1 Jul 1988. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-92-00519, by PH1 Terry Cosgrove, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 638k | A crew member organizes records in an administrative office aboard the Missouri (BB-63) during RIMPAC '88. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-92-00526, by PH1 Terry Cosgrove, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 179k | Marine mans his station on the Mark 37 director for Mark 28 5-inch 38-caliber guns aboard the Missouri (BB-63) during RIMPAC '88. A Mark 25 radar is atop the director. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-92-00527, by PH1 Terry Cosgrove,from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 214k | A crew member aboard the Missouri (BB-63) takes a reading with a sextant as the vessel is underway during RIMPAC '88. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-92-00537, by PHAN Brad Dillon, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 91k | The intelligence team aboard the Missouri (BB-63) checks information as they observe a Soviet Intelligence collector ship shadowing the Missouri, January 1989. | Official USN photo # DN-SN-93-04058, by PH1 Terry Cosgrove, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 22k | 1989 was a hectic year in the life of Missouri (BB-63). The early part of the year found the ship in the Long Beach Naval Shipyard for routine maintenance. Independence Day weekend brought its share of fireworks. Academy Award-winning actress/singer Cher made a rock music video on Missouri foc'sle. The video also starred a couple hundred members of the crew, and although controversial due to Cher's outfit, it was a smash. The song "If I Could Turn Back Time" was a chart topper. | Official USN photo courtesy of the USNI. Text courtesy of chinfo.navy.mil. | |
 | 49k | The Missouri (BB-63) joining the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN-65), during a underway replenishment, 5 August 1989. | Official USN photo by PHAN Greg Welch, courtesy of the USNI. | |
 | 389k | A 16-inch projectile lands near the bow of the target ship being fired at by the New Jersey (BB-62) and Missouri (BB-63) during Fleet Exercise '89 on 14 October 1989. | USN photo # DN-SN-93-04361, by PH1 Terry Cosgrove, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 222k | The hull of the Missouri (BB-63) is painted with a coat of primer as the ship lies in dry dock at Long Beach Naval Shipyard for maintenance, 1 January 1990. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-92-00737, by PH1 Terry Cosgrove, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 366k | Sheets of plastic cover the propellers of the Missouri (BB-63) as the ship's hull is painted during a dry dock period. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-92-00738, by PH1 Terry Cosgrove, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 366k | A straight-on bow view of the Missouri (BB-63) as the ship lies in dry dock for hull painting and maintenance. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-92-00740, by PH1 Terry Cosgrove, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 191k | A rainbow provides the backdrop to the superstructure of the Missouri (BB-63) while the battleship is underway with other ships of its battle group during exercise RIMPAC '90 near Hawaii. Three of the vessel's Mark 7 16-inch/50-caliber guns can be seen in the foreground, 1 May 1990. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-91-07901, by PH3 Brad Dillon, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 192k | A starboard view of the Missouri (BB-63) underway with its battle group during exercise RIMPAC '90 near Hawaii. The Australian underway replenishment tanker HMAS Success (OR-304) is underway to port of the Missouri. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-91-07907, by PH3 Brad Dillon, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 227k | Pacific Ocean....Smoke billows from the muzzles of the Mark 7 16-inch/50 -caliber guns in each of the three main gun turrets aboard the battleship Missouri (BB-63) after the ship fired multiple salvos during exercise RIMPAC '90 near Hawaii. | USN photo DN-SC-91-06792, submitted by Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 687k | Wisconsin (BB-64) left, and Missouri (BB-63) rendezvous in the gulf during Operation Desert Shield on 1 January 1991. The hospital ship Comfort (T-AH-20) is behind the Wisconsin. | USN photo # DN-SC-92-08657, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 158k | An Iraqi mine floats near the Missouri (BB-63) prior to being detonated by explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team members during Operation Desert Shield, 12 January 1991. | Official USN photo # DN-SN-91-08062, by PH3 Brad Dillon, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 237k | The fast combat support ship Sacramento (AOE-1), center, conducts an underway replenishment with the Wisconsin (BB-64), foreground, and the Missouri (BB-63) during Operation Desert Shield, 14 January 1991. | USN photo # DN-SN-91-09308, by PH3 Brad Dillon, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
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813k | A Tomahawk BGM-109 land attack missile (TLAM) is readied for firing from a Mark 143 launcher aboard the battleship Missouri (BB-63) on the first day of the Operation Desert Storm offensive against Iraq, 17 January 1991. A Phalanx Mark 15 close-in weapons system (CIWS) stands in the foreground. | Official USN photo # DN-SN-91-08057, by PH3 Brad Dillon, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 420k | A Mark 7 16-inch/50 caliber gun is fired aboard the Missouri (BB-63) as night shelling of Iraqi targets takes place along the northern Kuwaiti coast during Operation Desert Storm, 6 February 1991. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-91-09304, by PH3 Brad Dillon, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 429k | A Mark 7 16-inch/50 caliber gun is fired aboard the Missouri (BB-63) as night shelling of Iraqi targets takes place along the northern Kuwaiti coast during Operation Desert Storm, 6 February 1991. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-91-09306, by PH3 Brad Dillon, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 159k | A crew member aims a Remington 1100 12-gauge shotgun at a clay target tossed out from the fantail of the Missouri (BB-63) during skeet shooting practice aboard the vessel during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. The 2 marines pictured are Lance Corporal's Lance Wright in the front and Kelly Carreno. | Photo i.d. courtesy of Ralph D. Ponder. Official USN photo # DN-ST-93-01526, by PHAN Brad Dillon, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. |
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 | 223k | The battleship Missouri (BB-63) returning from Operation Desert Storm, 1991. Photo taken at the entrance of Pearl Harbor on the Hickam AFB side as the ship returned from the Gulf. | Photo courtesy of Lacy Lee, RM1/USN Ret. | |
 0163040 | 2.93k | Missouri (BB-63) leaving harbor. Taken from Hickam AFB on 6 May 1991. I believe this was a post-Desert Storm Tiger Cruise back to homeport. | Photo courtesy of William Ullmann. | |
 0163011 | 2.93k | Artillery shells and the country of Kuwait are outlined on the forward gun turret of the battleship Missouri (BB-63) Mark 7 16-inch 50-caliber guns while the number "289" signifies the number of shots fired by the forward guns during Missouri's participation in Operation Desert Storm. The vessel has just returned to Naval Station, Long Beach, following its Persian Gulf deployment, 13 May 1991. | Scene Camera Operator: JO1 (Aw) Joseph F. Lancaster National Archives Identifier: 6485568. Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov | |
 | 35k | Missouri (BB-63) & Wisconsin (BB-64) decommission pictorial cancellation at Norfolk, Virginia on 10 September 1991. Historical navy mail with commemoration postmarks honoring end of an era for active duty service. | Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory). | |
 | 904k | The crew of the battleship Missouri (BB-63) mans the rail as it arrives in port on Survivor's Day, when the sailors and Marines of the battleships that were sunk or damaged in the 7 December 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor are honored. The battleship, the last of its kind in commission, is deployed to help commemorate the 50th anniversary of the bombing. | Official USN photo # DN-SC-92-05804 by JOC(AW) Gloria Montgomery, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 371k | A guest studies a painting depicting the history of battleships. The artwork was painted by George Skybeck and presented to the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association during their annual banquet at Honolulu, Hawaii, on 8 December 1991. | Official USN photo # DN-SC-92-05391, by PHC Carolyn Harris, the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
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192k | Cover of the Second Decommissioning Booklet for the Missouri (BB-63), 31 March 1992. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
 | 432k | A crew member lowers the colors on the Missouri (BB-63) for the last time at the vessel's decommissioning ceremony at NAVSTA (Naval Station) Long Beach, 31 March 1992. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-92-08973, by JO2 Sharie D. Derrickson, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. Text i.d. courtesy of Don Barker, LTJG (Retired), Principal Researcher, Living History Registry. | |
 | 365k | The crew of the Missouri (BB-63) mans the rails during the decommissioning of the Navy's last active battleship at NAVSTA (Naval Station) Long Beach, 31 March 1992. | Official USN photo # DN-ST-92-07091, by PH2 Thomas P. Milne, from the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. Text i.d. courtesy of Don Barker LTJG (Retired), Principal Researcher, Living History Registry. | |
 | 74k | Narragansett (T-ATF-167) with recently decommissioned battleship Missouri (BB-63) in tow departs Naval Station Long Beach, CA., 3 April 1992, enroute to the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA. | USN photo by PH1 C.T. Yebba, courtesy of Gary Priolo. | |
 | 47k | Laid up at the Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Bremerton, Washington, circa 1992. | Unknown | |
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176k | Welcome Aboard cover for the Missouri (BB-63) in 1993 while she was at the Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Bremerton, Washington. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
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148k | 2 minutes 22 seconds video of Holystoning. | Video courtesy of eugeneleeslover.com courtesy of Jeff Jacobs. | |
| 1994 - Present |
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77k | Front cover for the commemorative ceremony booklet issued on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the surrender of Japan signed aboard the Missouri (BB-63), 2 September 1995. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
 | 88 | An Acrylic on illustration board by the Official Navy Artist DM2 Robert Adam Malin, entitled "The Mighty Missouri (BB-63)," was done as part of the RIMPAC 98 operation. | The Mighty Missouri, Robert Adam Malin. Acrylic on illustration board, 1998, 98-110-J, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. |
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 | 70k | An Acrylic on illustration board by the Official Navy Artist DM2 Robert Adam Malin, entitled "Defenders of Freedom, Past and Present," was done as part of the RIMPAC 98 operation. Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) pulls in to relieve Independence (CVA-62) in Pearl Harbor. Missouri (BB-63) is in the background. | Defenders of Freedom, Past and Present, Robert Adam Malin Acrylic on illustration board, 1998, 98-110-A |
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 | 50k | The battleship ex-Missouri (BB-63) passes Diamond Head 21 June 1998, en route to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton signed the Donation Agreement on May 4th, allowing Missouri's use as a museum near the Arizona Memorial. | USN photo # N-7749B-002 by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Kerry E. Baker. | |
 | 624 | With the help of three tugs, the battleship Missouri (BB-63) enters Pearl Harbor en route to its new berth at Ford Island near the Arizona Memorial, 21 June 1998. | USN photo # N-7749B-002 by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class David Mercil, submitted by Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 400 | The battleship Missouri (BB-63) passes Pearl Harbor ships on her way to a new berth at Ford Island, 22 June 1998. Secretary of the Navy John H. Dalton signed the Donation Agreement on 4 May allowing Missouri to be used as a museum near the Arizona Memorial. | USN photo # N-8421M-002 by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class David Mercil, submitted by Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 453k | Tugs move Missouri (BB-63) to her berth at Ford Island (background). This berth is roughly where the battleships Maryland (BB-46) and Oklahoma (BB-37) were moored on 7 December 1941. The 184 foot-long Arizona Memorial in the foreground spans the mid-portion of the sunken battleship Arizona (BB-39). | USN photo # DN-SD-03-09094, by JOC(AW) Gloria Montgomery, the Department of Defense Still Media Collection, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil. | |
 | 604 | The battleship Missouri (BB-63) moors to her new berth at Ford Island, 22 June 1998. | USN photo # N-8421M-003 by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class David Mercil, courtesy of navy.news.mil., submitted by Bill Gonyo. | |
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152k | Front cover of the Grand Opening Ceremony for the Missouri Memorial, on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of her launching, 29 January 1999. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
 | 200k | Looking out from the bow of the Missouri (BB-63). | Courtesy of Daniel W. Gless. | |
 | 214k | Crewmembers aboard the aircraft carrier Nimitz (CVN-68) man the rails and prepare to salute upon entering Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 11 March 2003, while passing the Missouri (BB-63) and Arizona Memorial. Nimitz and her battle group are currently deployed conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. | USN photo # N-6688F-011 by Chief Photographer's Mate Kevin Farmer, courtesy of news.navy.mil. | |
 | 294k | Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 23 October 2003, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush arrive with Commander U. S. Pacific Command, Adm. Thomas B. Fargo, aboard the retired battleship Missouri (BB-63) to meet with veterans and service members during a visit to Pearl Harbor. President Bush stopped in Hawaii on his return from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in Thailand. The President also laid a wreath and met with Pearl Harbor survivors aboard the Arizona Memorial. | USN photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jason L. Jacobowitz, courtesy of news.navy.mil. | |
 | 208k | Jerry Weiss, a former Engineman 2nd class talks to reporters 2 September 2003 aboard his former ship, the Battleship Missouri (BB-63) shortly after the Anniversary of the End of World War II ceremony. Weiss served aboard the battleship from 1948 to 1951 and was one of more than 100 former Missouri crewmembers that were present at the ceremony hosted by the Missouri Memorial Association. The ceremony marked 58 years since General Douglas MacArthur and Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, along with other U.S. and Allied officers, accepted the unconditional surrender of the Japanese, ending World War II on the deck of the Missouri. | U.S.Navy photo # N-3228G-004 by Photographer's Mate 1st Class William R. Goodwin, courtesy of news.navy.mil. | |
 | 341k | Former crewmembers of the Battleship Missouri (BB-63) pose for photos 2 September 2003 shortly after the Anniversary of the End of World War II ceremony, held aboard the famous ship. More than 100 former Missouri crewmembers were present at the ceremony, hosted by the Missouri Memorial Association. The ceremony marked 58 years since General Douglas MacArthur and Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, along with other U.S. and Allied officers, accepted the unconditional surrender of the Japanese, ending World War II on the deck of the Battleship Missouri. | USN photo # N-3228G-003 by Photographer's Mate 1st Class William R. Goodwin, courtesy of news.navy.mil. | |
 | 311k | Ceremonial honor guard prepares to render a 21-gun salute at the 59th anniversary ceremony of the end of World War II aboard the battleship Missouri Memorial. Japan signed the Instrument of Formal Surrender in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945, on the decks of the Missouri. A plaque marks the exact location of the surrender and copies of the original documents are displayed on the "Surrender Deck" for visitors around the world to see when they visit the memorial. | USN photo # N-3019M-014 by Journalist Seaman Ryan C. McGinley, courtesy of news.navy.mil. | |
 | 229k | Crewmembers aboard Nimitz (CVN-68) and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11), man the rails 27 October 2003 while passing by the battleship Missouri (BB-63) museum upon entering Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) are deployed to the Western Pacific. | USN photo # N-2385R-004 by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Yesenia Rosas, courtesy of news.navy.mil. | |
 | 371k | A quote made by Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz is inscribed on a granite wall at the National World War II Memorial located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Fleet Adm. Nimitz was the United States signatory to the surrender terms aboard the battleship Missouri (BB-63) in Tokyo Bay, Japan on 2 September 1945, thus ending World War II. Established by the American Battle Monuments Commission, the memorial honors all military veterans of World War II, the citizens on the home front, the nation at large, and the high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nation's call to arms. On 29 May 2004, the memorial was formally dedicated with an estimated 200,000 people expected to attend, and includes 100,000 visiting veterans of all wars. | USN photo # N-0295M-011 by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Daniel J. McLain, courtesy of news.navy.mil. | |
 | 35k | Commemorative postal cover marking the 60th anniversary of Missouri's (BB-63) commissioning, 11 June 2004. | Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory). | |
 | 181k | Formed in 1994, the Missouri Memorial Association is a private organization based in Hawaii that acts as Missouri's caretaker. It funds the costs of restoring, operating and preserving the battleship through admission, retail and concession sales, donations, grants and volunteers. | All Hands magazine photo # N-2653P-003 by: Journalist 1st Class (SCW/SS) James G. Pinsky, March 2004, pg. 32 & submitted by Bill Gonyo. | |
 | 232k | Ceremonial Color Guard, assigned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, renders a 21-gun salute aboard the memorial battleship Missouri (BB-63) during a Veteran's Day sunset ceremony on 11 November 2004. The ceremony was attended by Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle and featured a keynote address by World War II veteran, William Paty Jr., a former prisoner of war. | USN photo # N-3019M-004 by Journalist Seaman Ryan C. McGinley, courtesy of news.navy.mil. | |
 | 214k | The decommissioned battleship Missouri (BB-63) is illuminated by the setting sun during a tribute ceremony for retired Chief Boatswain's Mate Harold B. Estes at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 17 November 2004. More than 200 guests paid tribute to Estes, who after retiring from the Navy in 1955, has received numerous awards from the Secretary of the Navy for public service and involvement in the Sea Services. Estes is also known for helping to bring the Missouri and Bowfin(SS-287) to Pearl Harbor as floating museums. | USN photo # N-3228G-006 by Photographer's Mate 1st Class William R. Goodwin, courtesy of news.navy.mil. | |
 | 250k | Service members and their families walk the deck of the battleship Missouri (BB-63) in the early morning hours to attend an Easter Sunrise Service onboard the ship, 27 March 2005. The inter-denominational service, conducted by Navy Region Hawaii, was open to all military personnel and their families and included inspirational worship, music from the Pacific Fleet Band and a continental breakfast. | USN photo # N-3019M-001 by Journalist 3rd Class Ryan C. McGinley, courtesy of news.navy.mil. | |
 | 126k | View of the broadway looking aft on the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 201k | View of the broadway looking forward on the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 132k | View of the engine room # 4 on the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 162k | View of the engine room # 4 on the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 114k | View of the engine room # 4 on the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 138k | Missouri's (BB-63) barber shop, November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 115k | Laundry room of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 131k | Laundry room of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 195k | 5" gun control room of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 145k | 16" gun control room of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 118k | 16" gun control room of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 134k | Repair locker of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 133k | Repair locker of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 105k | Supply officer's state room of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 111k | XO's state room of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 123k | USMC Detachment 5" mount of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 148k | USMC Detachment 5" mount of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 171k | Bridge/pilot house of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 123k | Bridge/pilot house of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 146k | Bridge/pilot house of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 104k | Tomahawk launcher of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 98k | MAIN Engine room #4 of the Missouri (BB-63), November 2005. | Courtesy of SK1(SW) Joseph A. Gless. | |
 | 376k | Newly restored Chief Petty Officer Mess and Lounge. | Photo courtesy of Herbert Fahr, Jr., USS Missouri (BB-63) Association, Inc. | |
 | 99k | Newly restored Dental Clinic and Lab. | Photo courtesy of Herbert Fahr, Jr., USS Missouri (BB-63) Association, Inc. | |
 | 177k | The battleship Missouri Memorial (BB-63) is illuminated in red, white and blue for the 23rd annual Hawaii Military Appreciation Month opening ceremony. The ceremony kicked off a month-long celebration to express appreciation and "mahalo"to Hawaii's service members for their everyday sacrifices here and abroad. | USN photo # N-6674H-033 by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paul D. Honnick, courtesy of news.navy.mil. | |
 | 796k | The battleship Missouri (BB-63) arrives at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard 14 October 2009 to begin a three-month, $18 million effort of extensive maintenance and preservation work. | USN photo # N-7498L-001 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Mark Logico, courtesy of news.navy.mil. | |
 | 442k | Tugs get into position to turn the historic battleship Missouri (BB-63) to face toward the channel of Pearl Harbor as the ship was moved from its berth at Pier F-5 on Ford Island, Pearl Harbor to Drydock 4 in the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. | USN photo # N-7498L-030 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Mark Logico, courtesy of news.navy.mil. Text courtesy of Bruce Asato / The Honolulu Advertiser. | |
 | 184k | Riding the Missouri (BB-63) for the two-mile trip from Foxtrot 5 to Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard's Drydock 4, the largest of the shipyard's four drydocks, meant boarding the ship before sunrise and staying on for 12 hours until 53.4 million gallons of seawater drained from the drydock at a rate of one foot every three minutes. "Michael A. Carr, president and chief operating officer of the Missouri Memorial stood on the Missouri's "flying bridge"during the two-mile trip and marveled at the precision in which the various shipyard crews coordinated the move, which included men and women pulling the Missouri into drydock by hand and using laser measuring tools that precisely positioned the Missouri over 310 concrete blocks inside the drydock that each weigh 8,000 pounds. | Photo by Scott Morifuji, courtesy of The Honolulu Advertiser via Ron Reeves (of blessed memory). Text courtesy of Mike Gordon / The Honolulu Advertiser. | |
 | 443k | Workers at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard prepare for the undocking of the battleship ex-Missouri (BB-63). Approximately 1,000 civilian and military guests were aboard the ship for the 2-mile journey back to her pier at Ford Island. | USN photo # N-3944N-011 by Liane Nakahara, courtesy of news.navy.mil. via Tony Cowart. | |
 | 373k | The Missouri (BB-63) is being undocked by Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard workers to begin its 2-mile journey back to Ford Island on 7 January 2010. | USN photo # N-6412L-191 by Machinist's Mate Fireman Dustan Longhini, courtesy of news.navy.mil. via Tony Cowart. | |
 | 904k | The battleship Missouri (BB-63) begins its 2-mile journey back to Ford Island after being undocked by hundreds of Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard workers. | USN photo # N-6412L-253 by Machinist's Mate Fireman Dustan Longhini, courtesy of news.navy.mil. via Tony Cowart. | |
 | 567k | Painting of the battleship Missouri (BB-63) and current Missouri (SSN-780) by James Daniel Dyke. | Photo # DSCN0920 courtesy of Edward S. Gray, Secretary, Missouri (SSN-780) Commissioning Committee. | |
 | 787k | All the Missouri's appear here as SAR Charles Lily presents this special painting at the Salute to the Missouri Gala 30 July, 2010. | Photo courtesy of Edward S. Gray, Secretary, Missouri (SSN-780) Commissioning Committee. | |
 | 511k | Missouri (BB-63) model. | Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory). | |
 | 811k | Shaded view of the surrender deck & site plaque. | Photo courtesy of John Skillman. | |
 | 643k | Captain's quarters. | Photo courtesy of John Skillman. | |
 | 977k | "Instrument of Surrender" document on the surrender deck of the Missouri Memorial (BB-63). | Photo courtesy of John Skillman. | |
 | 1.50k | PDF of Missouri (BB-63) today. | Photos courtesy of Austin Oliver. | |
| Commanding Officers | ||
| 01 | CAPT. Callaghan, William McCombe, USN (USNA 1918) :VADM | 11.06.1944 - 14.05.1945 |
| 02 | CAPT. Murray, Stuart Shadrick (Sunshine), USN (USNA) 1919 :ADM | 14.05.1945 - 06.11.1945 |
| 03 | CAPT. Hillenkoetter, Roscoe Henry, USN (USNA 1919) :VADM | 06.11.1945 - 31.05.1946 |
| 04 | CAPT. Hill, Tom Burbridge, USN (USNA 1922) :ADM | 31.05.1946 - 02.04.1947 |
| 05 | CAPT. Dennison, Robert Lee, USN (USNA 1923) :ADM | 02.04.1947 - 23.01.1948 |
| 06 | CDR. Colwell, John Barr, USN (USNA 1931) :VADM | 23.01.1948 - 24.02.1948 |
| 07 | CAPT. Thach Jr., James Harmon, USN (USNA 1923) :ADM | 24.02.1948 - 05.02.1949 |
| 08 | CAPT. Smith, Harold Page, USN (USNA 1924) :ADM | 05.02.1949 - 10.12.1949 |
| 09 | CAPT. Brown, William Drane, USN (USNA 1924) :VADM | 10.12.1949 - 03.02.1950 |
| 10 | CDR. Peckham, George Edward, USN (USNA 1931) :RADM | 03.02.1950 - 07.02.1950 |
| 11 | CAPT. Smith, Harold Page, USN (USNA 1924) :ADM | 07.02.1950 - 19.04.1950 |
| 12 | CAPT. Duke, Irving Terrill, USN (USNA 1925) :VADM | 19.04.1950 - 02.03.1951 |
| 13 | CAPT. Wright, George Charles, USN (USNA 1925) :VADM | 02.03.1951 - 18.10.1951 |
| 14 | CAPT. Sylvester, John (Jack), USN (USNA 1926) :VADM | 18.10.1951 - 04.09.1952 |
| 15 | CAPT. Edsall, Warner Ryerson, USN (USNA 1927) | 04.09.1952 - 26.03.1953 |
| 16 | CAPT. North, James Robert | 26.03.1953 - 04.04.1953 |
| 17 | CAPT. Brodie Jr., Robert (Steve), USN (USNA 1927) :RADM | 04.04.1953 - 01.04.1954 |
| 18 | CAPT. Keith, Robert Taylor Scott, USN (USNA 1928) :VADM | 01.04.1954 - 18.09.1954 |
| 19 | CAPT. North, James Robert | 18.09.1954 - 26.02.1955 |
| Decommissioned | 26.02.1955 - 10.05.1986 | |
| 20 | CAPT. Kaiss, Albert Lee, USN | 10.05.1986 - 20.06.1986 |
| 21 | CAPT. Carney, James Allen (Al), USN | 20.06.1986 - 06.07.1988 |
| 22 | CAPT. Chernesky Jr., John Joseph, USN | 06.07.1988 - 13.06.1990 |
| 23 | CAPT. Kaiss, Albert Lee, CAPT USN | 13.06.1990 - 31.03.1992 |
The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.
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