USS Missouri (BB-63)FAQ

[RustyBattleship]

Mr. L,
Could you at some point fill some of us in on Iowas condition? Be it via WAB or other comm.?

Since my materiel inspection report is part of a document submitted to the Navy, I cannot go into any great detail at this time.

I can say this that the rumor of the machinery spaces being stripped to support the AOE's is false. We only found one standby lube oil pump had been removed though its motor and motor foundation were still there.

In the second half of my report that deals with modification to a museum ship, I recommend that the rest of the mast (3 legs) be cut off and be barged over with the other mast sections to a repair facility. Then it can be put back together on its side accurately and SAFELY.

If I am assigned any active part in the ship's restoration, my initial orders are SAFETY FIRST.

What was reported to be flooded tanks (fearing leaks in the hull) turned out to be fresh water used for ballast to level the ship out.

I will just say that any and all interior rust damage on the ship is minor and fully repairable thanks to MARAD in Benicia that did their best to preserve the ship. But they have over a hundred ships to look after and very limited personnel. And with IOWA being the biggest one there, what preservation and repair work they were able to do is very commendable.

Please don't ask about exterior rust damage -- yet.

Oh! We didn't find any ghosts either. However, one of our MARAD escorts said that when he's the only one aboard almost any ship out there, he sometimes feels that somebody is watching him. Especially aboard Iowa.

[Dreadnought]

I do know that New Jersey makes some awful strange noises outside of the creeks from her moorings. I havent spent too much time on her "alone" persay but the older salts say she speaks if you know how to listen to her. I could only imagine what she might have to say.

[Dreadnought]

I am very pleased to hear she is in such condition and that they do attempt to take good care of her. I would suspect that she is their pride and joy being the baddest ship on the block. And as far as the "ghosts" maybe they are trying to say that her and her three sisters would like to go visit off shore of North Korea for a few months of excercise/leg stretching followed by some time in the sun via the Hormez Straits after a much overdue refit.

[Ytlas]

I do know that New Jersey makes some awful strange noises outside of the creeks from her moorings. I havent spent too much time on her "alone" persay but the older salts say she speaks if you know how to listen to her. I could only imagine what she might have to say.

In late 1990, early 1991 I spent many nights on her, a lot of time just two of us on the entire ship. She was already a "dead" ship by then but I don't remember hearing or noticing anything odd. I guess the "ghosts" were on day shift back then.

Now that I think of it, out of our 4 member asbestos removal crew on the ship at the time, 2 have passed away, one at age 47 from heart attack and the other at 50 from natural causes. Perhaps they're coming by the ship to visit...........

[RustyBattleship]

Now that I think of it, out of our 4 member asbestos removal crew on the ship at the time, 2 have passed away, one at age 47 from heart attack and the other at 50 from natural causes. Perhaps they're coming by the ship to visit...........

Without paying for a ticket?

Incidentally, Chapter 20 of my book is about Ghosts and Sea Monsters. It includes experiences with strange noises aboard ships and my findings of what caused them (thanks to the thin piano wire we strung on the elevator rails of the Essex).

Oh? Sea Monsters? You don't remember where one tried to eat the rubber Sonar dome off the USS Stein? That tributylin flouride impregnation of the rubber must have been delicious because it did the same thing to rubber coated submarine sails.

But that's for another thread I think.

[Dreadnought]

No flying Dutchman?

[RustyBattleship]

No flying Dutchman?

Well, I do have a Germanic name and used to fly Cessnas (something to do between marriages besides getting drunk). Does that count?

[Dreadnought]

LMAO

[Dreadnought]

Found a penny on Sunday aboard ship in great condition dated 1940. I Wonder how many Nautical miles she has on her. Either way a keeper

[RustyBattleship]

Found a penny on Sunday aboard ship in great condition dated 1940. I Wonder how many Nautical miles she has on her. Either way a keeper

I'm glad you found SOME money of that era aboard the ship.

When we took off the mast on the New Jersey we found a box with coins in it signifying an old tradition of laying coins under a mast as it was being stepped. Actually only ONE of the workmen noticed it. When he opened up and realized the significance he turned it over to the shipyard commander so they were replaced (with some new coins) when the mast was re-stepped.

But on Missouri, we had photographers, shipyard dignitaries, etc. when the mast was unstepped and all we found was a stain of where money may have been but corroded away.

[Dreadnought]

Payment to cross the river STYX.

[Ytlas]

Found a penny on Sunday aboard ship in great condition dated 1940. I Wonder how many Nautical miles she has on her. Either way a keeper

Back in the early 80's a friend/co-worker found a old (1943) newspaper laying on top of a huge vent in #3 engine room on the Jersey. He still has the newpaper in his garage.

When we were tearing out "Angel Hair" glass in the after funnel of the Jersey in 1991, I found an empty pack of Chesterfield cigarettes and a three quarter-sized match book that advertised the "Deanna Durbin line of clothing." I guess a yardbird working in the area long ago just tucked his trash behind the insulation.

[Dreadnought]

Back in the early 80's a friend/co-worker found a old (1943) newspaper laying on top of a huge vent in #3 engine room on the Jersey. He still has the newpaper in his garage.

When we were tearing out "Angel Hair" glass in the after funnel of the Jersey in 1991, I found an empty pack of Chesterfield cigarettes and a three quarter-sized match book that advertised the "Deanna Durbin line of clothing." I guess a yardbird working in the area long ago just tucked his trash behind the insulation.

When out and about in strange places aboard especially towards broadway or any other high traffic area from long ago i always check the overhead for stuff...lol just habit i guess.

[Ytlas]

When out and about in strange places aboard especially towards broadway or any other high traffic area from long ago i always check the overhead for stuff...lol just habit i guess.

I wouldn't recommend reaching over beams without looking, you're liable to grab the blade of a rusty knife or razor, or knock some nuts or bolts on your coconut. A lot of us used to set our knives or razor knives on "I" beams while working and many times people lost tools in the overhead. I used to have a Dexter paring knife that was so sharp and thinned out that if I dropped it on a hard hat, it would actually puncture the hat and stick in it. I misplaced it either on the USS Horne or Jersey, probably on an "I" beam.

[Dreadnought]

Thanks for the heads up Pal. If I find your knife youll be the first to know...that is outside of me ofcourse.