Page 1547 - Dive the Seas and More-2
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the battleship, but it was fatal to the pilot, Submarine Fleet in ultimately destroying
whose plane bounced off into the sea. 55% of all of Japan's vast naval force
16 INCH GUNS Nine massive guns could during World War II. BOWFIN is also
fire a 2,700 pound shell more than 25 recognized for meritorious support in
miles (40 km.). Huge turrets (seen in cut- laying mines, rescuing downed aviators,
away) could turn the guns 90 degrees in and supplying Philippine guerrilla troops.
23 seconds, and could elevate to 45 However, during the war the U.S. lost 52
degrees in four seconds. submarines and 3500 submariners. A
monument at the USS BOWFIN Park
USS BOWFIN SUBMARINE MUSEUM commemorates the loss of these heroes.
AND PARK
This museum and park have restored and USS BOWFIN STATISTICS: Class:
preserved the World War II submarine Balao Submarine Length: 311 feet, 8
USS BOWFIN (SS-287) and submarine- inches (95 meters)Beam: 27 feet, 2 inches
related artifacts are within the park and in (8.3 meters)Draft When Surfaced: 17 feet
the museum. This wonderful site is (5.2 meters)Displacement: 1525 tons
presented and kept up by the Pacific Fleet Armament: 10 21-inch torpedo tubes,
Submarine Memorial Association, a non- one5-inch/25 caliber gun, one 40mm gun,
profit organization. one 20mm gun.
You will find a highly-detailed and PACIFIC AVIATION MUSEUM
accurate computer-aided drawing of the Although this museum officially opens
USS BOWFIN. It is especially interesting months after the premier edition of
to see the sleek form of a World War II Franko's Map of Pearl Harbor is
American submarine drawn like this, but introduced, it is too important to leave off
it is much better to visit the park and of the map of present-day Pearl Harbor.
actually walk the length of the submarine, The captions for the various hangars and
both inside and out. The descriptions on phases of the museum are as follows:
the map are as follows:
Phase I of the Pacific Aviation Museum
“THE PEARL HARBOR AVENGER” opens to the public on December 7, 2006.
The USS BOWFIN was launched on Luke Airfield's hangars and control tower
December 7, 1942, exactly one year to the are no longer being used, but still remain
day after the infamous Pearl Harbor intact, and in nearly the same condition as
attack, and so she acquired this nickname. in 1941. These structures are being
She was destined to wreak havoc on the converted into an aviation museum
Japanese Navy, sinking four military displaying a history of aviation in Hawaii
ships and 39 merchant ships during a total and the Pacific. It is hoped that all four
of nine war patrols. The USS BOWFIN phases will be completed by December
combined with the rest of the U.S. 2008.
