Post by jetjockey on Apr 1, 2011 12:52:08 GMT 1
In 2009 I finally got to visit the above and what a visit it turned out to be.
The USS Arizona memorial is very moving but at the same time the myth which surrounds the leaking oil (Black Tears of the Arizona) is fantastic. It is now believed that this oil will only stop leaking when all survivors are buried with their comrades and the remaining survivors have all agreed to be cremated and their ashes be buried on the Arizona Such is the feeling that two who died prior to this arrangement with agreement with their families were exhumed their remains cremated and buried onboard,and special diving team is in place to carry this out.
From the Arizona it was on to the USS Missouri which is moored to the stern of the Arizona and gives rise to the term "The Book Ends" and on board here can be seen the Japanese Surrender and point where it was signed in 1945.
Another interesting point about this ship is along with one of her sisters USS Wisconsin these were the last two true battleships to see action having been involved in the first Gulf War.
All four ships are now preserved USS Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri and New Jersey.
And so on to the Pacific Air Museum were we had a Korean War Veteran as our guide (He had Navy F9F Panthers) his talk was very good and filled in a lot of gaps on the attack on Pearl Harbour.
the exhibits include Areonca 65TC which was the first civilian aircraft to be attacked and this still has the scars ( this portrayed in the movie Tora Tora Tora by a Stearman) also George Bush Snr's Stearman on which he gained his wings.
The highlight for me was the added visit to Hanger79 were we got up close and personal with aN F14 Tomcat and F15 Eagle along with other airframes in the course of restoration.
Photos are attached and I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoyed taking them
Regards
JJ
Entrance and exit to the Arizona Memorial
The USS Arizona memorial is very moving but at the same time the myth which surrounds the leaking oil (Black Tears of the Arizona) is fantastic. It is now believed that this oil will only stop leaking when all survivors are buried with their comrades and the remaining survivors have all agreed to be cremated and their ashes be buried on the Arizona Such is the feeling that two who died prior to this arrangement with agreement with their families were exhumed their remains cremated and buried onboard,and special diving team is in place to carry this out.
From the Arizona it was on to the USS Missouri which is moored to the stern of the Arizona and gives rise to the term "The Book Ends" and on board here can be seen the Japanese Surrender and point where it was signed in 1945.
Another interesting point about this ship is along with one of her sisters USS Wisconsin these were the last two true battleships to see action having been involved in the first Gulf War.
All four ships are now preserved USS Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri and New Jersey.
And so on to the Pacific Air Museum were we had a Korean War Veteran as our guide (He had Navy F9F Panthers) his talk was very good and filled in a lot of gaps on the attack on Pearl Harbour.
the exhibits include Areonca 65TC which was the first civilian aircraft to be attacked and this still has the scars ( this portrayed in the movie Tora Tora Tora by a Stearman) also George Bush Snr's Stearman on which he gained his wings.
The highlight for me was the added visit to Hanger79 were we got up close and personal with aN F14 Tomcat and F15 Eagle along with other airframes in the course of restoration.
Photos are attached and I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoyed taking them
Regards
JJ
Entrance and exit to the Arizona Memorial
