Families of USS Arizona's Unknowns Press for Identification

From the November 2021 Military History magazine.

I knew about the USS Oklahoma's unknowns but had never thought about the unknowns of the USS Arizona.  Everyone knows of the ones entombed in the hull of that stricken ship, but what about those whose bodies were recovered, but were too messed up to identify?

The remains of 85 USS Arizona sailors are entombed at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (aka Punchbowl Cemetery) in Honolulu.  They are buried as "Unknowns."

The Defense POW/MIA  Accounting Agency (DPAA)  has announced plans to reinter ths group's remains on the wreck of the ship.  What galls the families of the 85 is that there are no plans to attempt to identify  them like was done with the Oklahoma unknowns.

--GreGen

Minelayer Was Converted Into a Brewery During WW II

From the May 5, 2023, The WarZone "This minelayer was converted into a floating brewery during World War II" by Oliver Parken.

In 19544, the British converted the HMS Menestheus into an amenities ship for Allied forces in the Pacific, complete with a brewery.

The Menestheus was originally a Blue Funnel Line shipping company vessel launched in 1929 by the same name.  The British Navy requisitioned it for use as an auxiliary minelayer early in the war.

As conflict in the European Theater waned and ended, the war in the Pacific was going strong and it was determined that some of the now unneeded minelayers could be altered into so-called amenities ships to help with Allied morale in the Pacific.  One of those amenities was to provide freshly brewed beer.

Before this, beer often spoiled that came from Britain or Australia.

At the behest of Winston Churchill himself, the Admiralty ordered the Menestheus and sister ship Agamemnon be converted for such duty in 1944.  Both ships sailed to Vancouver, British Columbia where their conversion began.

--GreGen

Newly Restored WW II Tower in Delaware

After 15 years and nearly $2 million in renovations and repairs a World War II-era  watch tower is now open to the public at the Delaware  Seashore State Park.

The newly rehabilitated tower, known as Tower  3, is  one of 15 fire control towers built as part of Fort Miles to defend Delaware Bay and River from German attack and ultimately Philadelphia.

There are elevenof these towers still standing.

Fort Miles had 16-inch naval guns, 12-inch and 8-inch guns as well.

These towers were expected to last just ten years.  Each tower took 8 days to complete.  They ranged in height from 40 to 90 feet.  They were built to keep watch on the ocean and direct gunfire in case of an attack (which never happened).

GreGen

USS Oklahoma Survivor George Coburn Dies at Age 103-- Part 2

George Coburn and those others that he escaped with were the luckyones of the battleship.  Because 429 of their shipmates remained trapped inside and died.

Coburn continued to serve in the Navy after that in many of the Pacific Campaigns  He was aboard the heavy cruiser USS Louisville afterwards and received a Purple Heart during a kamikaze attack on his ship during the Battle of Okinawa.

The Louisville was struck by two kamikazes on consecutive days.  The first one struck on 5 January 1945 and hit the No. 2 main battery (turret) of 8-inch guns, knocking it completely out of commission.  It killed one and injured/burned 17 others, including the ship's commander Captain Rex  LeGrande Hicks.

The second kamikaze hit the starboard side of the signal bridge 6 January 1945.  Rear Admiral Theodore E. Chandler, commander of Cruiser Divisin  4, was fatally injutred while helping the sailors to man fire hoses to put out the massive fires.  Forty-two were killed and 125 wounded.

George Coburn left the Navy in May 1946,  but then worked as a civilian with the Navy  doing contractor and electrician work.  He and his wife Jenny settled in San Diego.

--GreGen

USS Oklahoma Survivor George Coburn Dies at 103

From the April 29, 2023, Honolulu Star Advertiser "George Coburn, who served throughout  Pacific Campaign, dies at 103" by Kevin Knodell.

USS Oklahoma survivor, George Coburn died April 19 in Oceanside, California,  at age 103.

He was born in Mankato, Minnesota, on October 26, 1919, but his family moved to San Diego shortly after he was born and he grew up in Southern California.  Enlisting in the Navy in 1939, he was eventually assigned to the USS Oklahoma and was on board completing an inspection of the ship when the attack came

As he and his shipmates began climbing  to the ship's main deck, several torpedoes hot the ship.  The men became  trapped beneath a sealed hatch as the ship quickly listed  45 degrees to its port side.  The blast also ruptured onboard  oil tanks and they found themselves slipping in oil that had pooled on the floor.

The lights went out and Coburn could hear water pouring into the ship as sailors on the ladder tried frantically to open the hatch to the deck above.  They eventually got the hatch opened and he and the others managed to escape through a side porthole that by then was overhead.

--GreGen

When Did It Become World War II (Second World War)?

From the September 1, 2018, History "Were they always called World War I and World War II?" by Elizabeth Nix.

We call it World War II in the United States.  England refers to it as the Second World War.

It is hard to pinpont exactly when the names came into use.   During World War I, of course, no one knew there was going to be a second one, so there was no reason to distinguish it.  Often, it was referred to as the Great War.

After initially calling the first one, the European War, U.S. newspapers adopted World War after the country entered the war.

The term "World War II" first appeared  in print all the way back to  February 1919, when a Manchester  Guardian article used the term, much in the same way people today refer to a World War III.  But in 1941, it was President Franklin D. Roosevelt who labeled the conflict the "Second World War."

Even so, in 1942, he asked for name submissions from the public and over the next several weeks, the War Department received 15,000 names ranging from "The War for Civilization" to "The War Against Enslavement."

However, it was World War II and The Second World War that stuck.

Now You Know.  --GreGen

Death of Ken Potts, One of USS Arizona's Last Two Survivors-- Part 2

Several dozen USS Arizona surivivors have had their ashes interred on the sunken battleship so they could rejoin their shipmates.  But Ken Potts did not want that.

"He said he got off once, he's not going on board again,"  according to Randy Stratton,  son of Donald Stratton, another USS Arizona survivor.   Stratton said that many Arizona survivors shared a dry sense of humor.  

That included his own father, who was severely burned in the attack and also did not want to return to the ship as ashes in an urn.  "I've been cremated once.  I'm not going to be cremated twice," Donald Stratton joked, according to Randy Straton, before his death in 2020 at the age of 97.

"They had that all through their lives.  They had the sense of humor, and they knew sooner or later they would pass," Randy Stratton said.  "Our job now is to keep their memories alive."

A Passing.  --GreGen

Ken Potts, One of Last Two USS Arizona Survivors, Dies at Age 102

From the April 24, 2023, ABC News.

Howard Kenton Potts died Friday, April 21 at his home in Provo, Utah, that he shared with his wife of 66 years, Doris.  The announcement was given by Randy Stratton, whose late father, Donald Stratton, was Potts' USS Arizona shipmate and close froend.

According to Stratton, Mr. Potts "had all his marbles" but lately was having a hard time

Potts was born and raised in Honey Bend, Illinois, near Litchfield and Route 66.  He had enlisted in the Navy in 1939

He was working as a crane operator shuttling supplies  to the Arizona that morning of attack.  He said that a loudspeaker ordered sailors back to their ships, so he got on a boat.

"When I got back to Pearl Harbor, the whole harbor was  afire.  The oil had leaked out and caught on fire and was burning," according to him.

Sailors were tossed or jumped into the oily muck below and Potts and the others pulled them to safety.

The only remaining survivor now of the USS Arizona is Lou  Conter, 101, living in California.

--GreGen

How Many Are Left?-- Part 2

Currently, an average of 180 World War II veterans die each day in the United States.  Over the next year, the number of WW II veterans is expectted to fall by half (from 167,284) and by 2034,  a little more than 1,000 will still be alive.

These figures are according to projections by the National World War II Museum.

Number of  living WW II veterans in 2022 in selected states.  (To see the list of all states, go to this site in my April 18 post.)

California   15,946

Florida  14,823

Illinois   6,114

North Carolina  5,061

Wisconsin  3,700

Georgia  3,299

Iowa  1,767

Hawaii  672

Alaska  99

The Greatest Generation.  --GreGen

The Greatest Generation: How Many of Them Are Left?

Of the estimated 16.3 million  Americans who are estimated to have served in WW II, more than 400,000 were killed in action.  Today, only 167,284 American veterans who returned home are still alive.

According to the National  WW II Museum, there are an estimated 3,845  veterans living in Minnesota, the 16th most of all states.  World War II veterans comprise 1.4% of the state's total veteran population of 265,920.  

Nationwide, WW II vets account for 1% of the overall veteran population.

Nearly 80 years have passed since the war's end so that means even the youngest and latest joining members are in their 90s and 100s.

(Growing up, WW II veterans were everywhere among my parents' friends. I could never imagine them becoming so rare at the time.  My dad did not serve as he graduated from high school in 1947.)

--GreGen

'The Great Arsenal of Democracy' and American Mobilization

From the April 15, 2023, The Center Square: Minnesota "This is how many  World War Ii veterans live in Minnesota" by Samuel Stebbins.

Dubbed "The Great Arsenal of Democracy," the United States manufactured more than 96,000 bombers,86,000 tanks, 2.4 million trucks, 6.5 million rifles and billions of dollars worth of supplies in WW II.

The United States also mobilized more troops for the Allies other than the USSR.  In the final year of the war, the number of active -duty Americans totaled 12.2 million, up from 500,000 in 1940.

--GreGen

Why Was the USS Utah Never Raised-- Part 3: Expense and Obsolete

After the attack, efforts were made to salvage the USS Utah and return it to service.  However, it was quickly determined that the damage to the ship was too extensive and that raising it would be  difficult and expensive.

The Utah was an older battleship, having been commissioned in 1911, and its design and construction made it less suitable for  salvage than some of the newer battleships that had been sunk.  The ship's position on the bottom of the harbor also made it difficult to access and  work on.

In addition to the practical difficulties of salvaging the Utah, there were strategic considerations thast weighed against the effort.  In the early years of the war, the U.S. Navy was still building up its naval forces and was focused on  more pressing  priorities, such as building new ships and training new sailors.

The ship was already old and obsolete.  After all, it was a target ship by then.

--GreGen

Why Was the USS Utah Never Raised?-- Part 2

Like with the article on why the USS Arizona stayed where she was, this article had a whole lot of pictures of the USS Utah from when it was being built, to its conversion into a target ship and Pearl Harbor.

Well worth going to the article and looking at them.

Also, there are a lot of pictures of the USS Arizona in the article.

--GreGen

Why Was the USS Utah Never Raised?-- Part 1

From Rebellion Research.

The USS Utah (BB-31) was an American warship (formerly a battleship) sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December7, 1941.

Despite efforts to salvage the ship after the attack, it was ultimately decided to leave it where it was.

This decision was based on a number of factors, including the extent of the damage to the ship, the cost of salvage operations,  and the strategic  priorities of the United States in the early days of the war.

The Utah was moored on the far side of Ford Island from Battleship Row and though just a target ship at the time, was attacked because of its large size.  Hit by two torpedoes it quickly began to list to one side and despite efforts to save her, capsized.  

Fifty-eight sailors died on her.

--GreGen

Two More USS Oklahoma Unknowns Identified: Cecil Barncord and Glen Cyriak

February 16, 2023

The DPAA today announced that Navy Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Cecil E. Barncord, 24, killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor was accounted for on October 14,  2016.

He was on the USS Oklahoma.

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February 17, 2023

Glen Cyriak of Lake  Benton, Minnesota,  was on the USS Oklahoma that day and his remains could not be identified until now.

He will be buried at a cemetery near Verdi, Minnesota.

--GreGen

Why Did They Leave the USS Arizona Underwater-- Part 2:

The USS Arizona was a Pennsylvania-class battleship commissioned by the U.S. Navy in 1916.  At the time, it was one of the most powerful warships in the world.  It had twelve 14-inch guns (three each in four turrets).

It saw action in World War I and in the years following the war served as a training ship and was modernized on several occasions  to keep pace with new develoments in naval architecture.

Sadly, its most  significant moment in history came at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, when it was struck by several bombs, one of which exploded in a forward magazine causing a huge explosion.

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THE BOMB

The Japanese had turned an obsolete  16 inch shell from a Nagato-class battleship into a special bomb.  They also had  modified obsolete  Type 88 shells in 1939-1940 to create the Type 99 Number 80 Mk 5 armor piercing bomb.

You really need to look at this articles for pictures and other information.

--GreGen

Why Did They Leave the USS Arizona Underwater?

From the March 31, 2023, Rebellion Research.

This article has a whole lot of pictures of the USS Arizona dating from its construction to its end.  Well worth checking it out for that reason alone.

The battleship was left where it sank for several reasons.

1.  Salvaging the ship would have taken a whole lot of resources, time and manpower, something that was needed elsewhere in the war effort.

2.  The ship had become the tomb for over 1,000 crew members.  Moving it would have disturbed the remains of them and been disrespectful to their memory.

3.  Leaving the ship where it was serves as a symbol for their sacrifice.

--GreGen

About That Flying Fortress Atop the Oregon Gas Station-- Part 3: A $10 Fine and Not There Any More (Being Restored)

He promisd the truck drivers that he would pay any ticket fines they received during the trip.  When the local authorities learned about what Art Lacey was up to, they fined him $10.

Calling the plane "The Lacey Lady" he placed it over his gas pumps as a canopy where it became an instant hit with locals and travelers alike.

By 2000, the weather and elements had taken its toll and the "Lacey Lady."  It was falling apart and a favored nesting area for birds.  After Mr. Lacey's death in 2000, his family created the non-profit B-17 Alliance Foundation several years later to preserve the aircraft.

Today, the Lacey Lady can be seen at the B-17 Alliance Foundation Museum & Restoration hangar at Salem Municipal Airport in Oregon.

Sure beats the blah canopies over gas stations these days.

I love it when business owners do something like Mr. Lacey.  It fits right in with the Route 66 push to attract customers with something, the more oddball, the better.  I'd sure stop there to fill up.

Thanks Art Lacey.  --GreGen

About That Flying Fortress On Top of Oregon Gas Station-- Part 2: Getting It to Oregon

Every thing went well until it was time to land the plane.  The landing gear failed to deploy and Art Lacey had to land the aircraft on its belly. Luckily for Lacey, the bill of sale had not been signed yet and the base commander took pity on him telling him  that it was "the worse case of wind damage he had ever seen" and offered Lacey another B-17 that had only accumulated 50 hours flight time so it was in much better shape.

Not wanting to make the same mistake again, Lacey convinced two of his friends, one of whom had flown B-17s during the war, to come to Oklahoma and help fly the plane back to Oregon.  After a refueling stop in Palm Springs, California, the plane took off on the final leg of its journey to Troutdale-Portland Airport.

After landing, the aircraft was taken apart and loaded onto flatbed trucks for transport to his gas station in Milwaukee, Oregon.  The problem was that loads needed to be shorter and not as high to permit the journey.

Knowing that he would not be able to obtain a license to do it, Lacey hired a motorcycle escort usually used for funerals and set off for Milwaukee.

--GreGen

About That Flying Fortress On Top of the Gas Station in Oregon-- Part 1: A Surplus Bomber

From the April 2, 2023, Simple Flying "Lacey Lady:   The Second World War bomber that sat atop a gas station for almost 70 years" by Mark Finlay.

Boeing B17 Flying Fortresses dropped more bombs on Axis targets than any other Allied aircraft.  Many people know that tidbit, but not many know that another one sat atop a gas station in Oregon for 70 years.

After learning that the U.S. government was selling surplus B-17s for a very minimum price after the war, Milwaukie, Oregon, service station owner Art Lacey decided he wanted one as it would make an ideal attraction and provide shade at the pumps.

In 1947, while attending a party he told friends of his plans and a $5 bet was made that it would never happen.  Eager to make a point, Lacey borrowed the money needed and went to Altus Airfield in Oklahoma where B-17s were in storage.

He bought one for $13,000 and was told it would be fueled and ready to go the following day.  Lacey was an experienced pilot, but had never flown a plane with more than one engine.  B-17s, however, had four powerful engines.  Undaunted, Lacey made several taxi runs before taking of for a short practice flight.

So, What Happened?  --GreGen