Thanks to Charlie Baker, a volunteer on the Battleship North Carolina for putting this together.
Commissary Operations by Charlie Baker (pdf)
DownloadOn the first Saturday of each month, we offer our "6 for 60 Tour." For just $6 per person (plus normal admission) you will receive a 60-minute guided tour with a trained tour guide. This is a main deck tour so it's good for all ages. Tours run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. No advance purchase is necessary.
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
Buying from The Battle Star Collection means owning a piece of American History! You share in the story and support of the most highly decorated American Battleship in the Pacific Theater during World War II, which earned 15 battle stars.
Today is the 80th anniversary of the commissioning of the Battleship North Carolina. Below is an interview our Friends of the Battleship North Carolina board member, Ron Henderson RADM (Ret) recently did with WRAL TV. Happy 80th to the Showboat.
Show your support for the Friends of the Battleship North Carolina. Shop online at our "Official" Battleship Teamwear Store. Proceeds of all sales go to support the Friends of the Battleship North Carolina.
The "Meet the Showboat" series is a great way to interact with the Battleship from the comfort of your own home. Be sure to look at all of the topics that are available--there is something for everyone!
Battleship volunteers RDML Ron Henderson, USN, Retired, LtCol John Munn USMC, Retired, CDR Charles Gore USN, Retired, LCDR Mike Bowers, USN, Retired, and Alex Dydula invite you to join them in an opportunity to "Zoom In" with an expert on Battleship NORTH CAROLINA. Each virtual program lasts 30-45 minutes followed by time to engage with the presenter. The programs are free but online registration is required as limited space is available. https://tickets.battleshipncfriends.org/Info.aspx?EventID=18
In 2020, the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA received a NC CARES: Humanities Relief Grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council, www.nchumanities.org. Funding for NC CARES has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan.
Friends of the Battleship North Carolina
Consider a Friends membership and be an official part of the most decorated World War II battleship. Annual memberships start as low as $45.
Details can be found here.
A History of the Showboat
Copyright © 2023 Friends of the Battleship North Carolina - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy