Archive for the ‘History’ Category

NOTE: This is a re-post from 2009.

There are a lot of familiar images from the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Here is one of them:

The wrecked destroyers USS Downes (DD-375) and USS Cassin (DD-372) in Drydock One at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, soon after the end of the Japanese air attack. Cassin has capsized against Downes. USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) is astern, occupying the rest of the drydock. The torpedo-damaged cruiser USS Helena (CL-50) is in the right distance, beyond the crane. Visible in the center distance is the capsized USS Oklahoma (BB-37), with USS Maryland (BB-46) alongside. Smoke is from the sunken and burning USS Arizona (BB-39), out of view behind Pennsylvania. USS California (BB-44) is partially visible at the extreme left. This image has been attributed to Navy Photographer's Mate Harold Fawcett. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives Collection.

Those who don’t know or haven’t looked closely might not notice that there are two destroyers in front of the battleship. The drydock had been dry when the attack began, but after raging fires began setting off ammunition aboard the destroyers, it was flooded in an attempt to douse the flames. Cassin slipped from her blocks and rolled against Downes.

Both ships were 1500-ton Mahan-class ships and had been commissioned in the mid-30s.

Here’s another image, taken from near where the two men in the first photo are standing at the head of the dock. The men on the Downes surveying the damage give a great sense of scale:

In Drydock Number One at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard on 7 December 1941, immediatly following the Japanese attack. Both ships had been severely damaged by bomb hits and the resulting fires. In the background, also in Drydock Number One, is USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), which had received relatively light damage in the raid. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, NHHC Collection.

Notice the man in white uniform crawling on the Cassin, just behind the partially submerged #2 turret.

Here’s a shot from the rear of the destroyers:
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Murdoc was in NYC for the first time last month and took a tour of the WTC Memorial. While there, he snapped this picture:

Rick Rescorla on the WTC Memorial

I’ve written about Rescorla a number of times over the years, always pointing to this incredible post at Mudville Gazette.

The tenth anniversary has come and gone. The sharp edges of the pain are fading. Life goes on.

But we will never forget.

9/11/2001

For a summary of the events, see “Planes, as in plural.” written in 2004.

The 50th anniversary of Starfish Prime: the nuke that shook the world

On July 9, 1962 — 50 years ago today — the United States detonated a nuclear weapon high above the Pacific Ocean. Designated Starfish Prime, it was part of a dangerous series of high-altitude nuclear bomb tests at the height of the Cold War. Its immediate effects were felt for thousands of kilometers, but it would also have a far-reaching aftermath that still touches us today.

EMP from 1.4 megaton high atmosphere blast was far more damaging at far greater ranges that expected.

Via Instapundit.

Just finished re-watching Episode 2 (‘Day of Days’) of Band of Brothers with the family. We always watch either that or The Longest Day for D-Day.

By coincidence, we watched during the time of day over there that they were jumping. According to Wikipedia, Mission Albany (the 101st Airborne Division) jumped between 00:48 and 01:40 British Double Summer Time.

So I’m posting in America on June 5th. In France it’s D-Day.

This is something I posted a few years back. It is always one of the first things Murdoc thinks about when he thinks of Memorial Day.

Several years ago my family and I visited the USS Yorktown in Charleston, South Carolina. While wandering the great ship, I happened to notice this among the thousands of displays:

It says WITHIN AND NEAR THESE EXHIBIT COMPARTMENTS 32 MEN DIED AND 71 WERE WOUNDED 16 APRIL 1945 WHILE FIGHTING 50 KAMIKAZES.

Right there. Right where I and my family were standing.

Sixty years ago. Before my kids were born. Before I was born. Before my parents were born.

And those men died fighting for all of us.

I don’t know what else to say about it.

Thank-you veterans past and present. Especially those who never come home.

Great gallery of photos on The Atlantic.

Though it was over by the time he was born, Gemini has always been a favorite of Murdoc’s.

From a collection of Soviet space propaganda posters.

A starboard side view of the nuclear-powered attack submarine ex-USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571) with the city of San Francisco visible in the background. The NAUTILUS is being towed from Naval Shipyard Mare Island to Groton, Connecticut, where it will become a museum. Photographer's Name: PHC J. Kristoffersen Location: SAN FRANCISCO Date Shot: 5/28/1985

She served 1954 to 1980.