Page 415 - Hawaii: Diving, Surfing, Pearl Harbor, Volcanoes and More

USS WEST VIRGINIA Struck by up to nine torpedoes, extensive behind the USS CASTOR, firing 171 rounds of anti-aircraft shells
damage severelyhampered the post-attack raising of the ship. How- along the way. The NEOSHO was not damaged.
ever, after repairs, the ship returned to service on July 4, 1944. She
took part in the Battles of Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, and FORD ISLAND NAVAL AIR STATION The Air Stations of Oahu
was in Tokyo Bay during the Japanese surrender on September 2, were bombed and strafed simultaneously at the start of the Japanese
1945. raid. This included Naval Air Stations at Ford Island, Kaneohe, and
Wheeler, plus Bellows Army Air Field and Marine Air Base at Ewa.
USS MARYLAND Struck by two bombs that did not inflict serious This almost eliminated U.S. air response capabilities for the ensuing
damage. The MARYLAND returned to active duty on Feb. 26, 1942. attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. Armed Services had adopted an
She went on to take part in the Battle of Midway, the invasion of the anti-sabotage practice of bunching their aircraft and ships together
Gilbert Islands, the Battle of Tarawa, the invasion of Saipan, and the out in the open. This made for easy targets for the enemy pilots.
Battles of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa.
SEAPLANE RAMP Ford Island Naval Air Station’s seaplane ramp
GARBAGE LIGHTER (YG 17) The heroic crew of this service ship was damaged by the very first bomb of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
assisted all over the harbor with its big pumps shooting water onto
fires. TUG ASSIST FOR USS NEVADA At 8:10am the NEVADA was
hit by a torpedo, and at 8:40 she left her berth. At 9:00am she was
USS VESTAL Damaged by two 1756 lb. bombs, the repair ship VES- bombed, and then beached near the Floating Dry Dock YFD-2.
TAL was helpedaway from the flaming ARIZONA by tugs. She was While she was aground the USS SHAW’S magazine exploded. Tugs
beached to keep from sinking and later repaired by her own crew. came to the rescue and pushed the NEVADA around until her bow
came free, and then pushed her across the channel where she settled
USS TENNESSEE Struck by two bombs that did not detonate. She on the shallow bottom at about 10:30am.
was again readyfor service on Feb. 26, 1942. Throughout the war the
PEARL HARBOR NAVAL HOSPITAL On December 7, 1941 this
TENNESSEE remained near the west coast of the United States. was a small hospital. Teams of doctors, nurses and aides were put to
the task of working around the clock on the hundreds of casualties
USS NEOSHO This oiler had just delivered aviation fuel to Ford from the attack. Civilian help including doctors, nurses, blood do-
Island. During the attack, knowing that her position blocked Battle- nors and the well organized Civilian Defense Program saved many
ship Row, she took the initiative without orders and chopped off her lives. All area hospitals were over capacity. Four local schools were
mooring lines and moved to the Dredge across the channel to clear also used to care for the injured.
the way for the USS MARYLAND. Then she moved to Merry Point