Ships' Store Restoration Complete

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We had a special visitor aboard today ... Michael Pone (and his wife), nephew of Leonard Pone who was killed in the torpedo attack. Huge thanks to Joe Calla (tour guide) for showing them around the Battleship. And to Kim Simcox (Museum Director, who took them through the torpedo area. And to Steve who prepared the area for visiting. Another fine team effort

The Torpedo Story ... 

On September 15, 1942, Japanese submarine I-19 quickly fired six long-range torpedoes at the U.S. carrier WASP. Three torpedoes struck their target causing such damage that the task force commander ordered WASP to be sunk that night. The remaining three torpedoes raced on across several miles into a second carrier force. One torpedo slammed into the U.S. destroyer O’BRIEN that would break up several weeks later due to severe hull damage. 

Another torpedo blasted NORTH CAROLINA on her port (left) side just forward of the thick armor belt designed to protect her from torpedoes. The enormous blast shook the Ship and crew and sent tons of oil and water skyward. Tons more water quickly flooded into the resulting 32 by 18 foot hole causing the Ship to lean, a situation the crew quickly corrected by purposefully flooding compartments on the opposite side.  Five men were killed and 23 were wounded.

Killed in Action:

Albert Speers Geary (washed overboard)

Ingwald Nels Nelson

Leonard Edward Pone

William Osborne Skelton

Oscar Callaway Stone