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NavSource Online: Battleship Photo Archive

BB-39 ARIZONA
Dec. 7, 1941 - 1943


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Pennsylvania Class Battleship: Displacement 31,400 Tons, Dimensions, 608' 6" (oa) x 97' 1" x 29' 10" (Max). Armament 12 x 14"/45 14 x 5"/51, 4 x 3"/50 2 x 21" tt. Armor, 13 1/2" Belt, 18" Turrets, 3" +2" Decks, 16" Conning Tower. Machinery, 34,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws. Speed, 21 Knots, Crew 915.

Operational and Building Data: Laid down by New York Naval Ship Yard, March 16, 1914. Launched June 19, 1915. Commissioned October 17, 1916. Decommissioned (War Loss). Stricken December 1, 1942.
Fate: Sunk by Japanese aircraft during attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7, 1941. Arizona still rests in the berth where she sank. A Monument to her crew was built over the wreck in 1962. 1,177 Officers and Men were lost with the ship and remain on duty inside her rusting hulk. The wreck is still bleeding fuel oil, more than 60 years after her sinking.

In Memorium:

In the Second Book of Shmuel (Samuel), 22nd chapter, 5th through the 19th verses, translated from the original in Hebrew and published by the Koren Publishers of Jerusalem, Israel, can perhaps aptly describe the fate of the crew and all other U.S.sailors who died defending their county:

"When the waves of death compassed me / the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; / the bonds of She'ol encircled me; / the snares of death took me by surprise; / in my distress I called upon the Lord, / and cried to my G-D: / and he heard my voice out of his temple, / and my cry entered into his ears. / Then the earth shook and trembled; /the foundations of heaven moved / and shook because of his anger /...the heavy mass of waters, and thick clouds of the skies /... And the channels of the sea appeared, / the foundations of the world were laid bare, / at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast at the breath of his nostrils. / He sent from above, he took me; / he drew me out of many waters; / he delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me. / They surprised me in the day of my calamity: / but the Lord was my stay..."

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BB-39 Arizona55kThe death of the Arizona (BB-39), 0805, December 7 1941. The forward magazines of Arizona explode after she was hit by a Japanese bomb, 7 December 1941. Frame clipped from a color motion picture taken from on board Solace (AH-5). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-G-K-13513, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-39 Arizona71kThe death of the Arizona (BB-39), 0805, December 7 1941. The forward magazines of Arizona explode after she was hit by a Japanese bomb, 7 December 1941. Black and white photo from a picture taken from on board Solace (AH-5). Photo shows greater contrast than the color one above.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-G-6683, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-39 Arizona62kThe forward magazines of Arizona (BB-39) explode after she was hit by a Japanese bomb, 7 December 1941. Frame clipped from a color motion picture taken from on board Solace (AH-5).Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-G-K-13512, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona60kCaptain Isaac C. Kidd, USN. Photographed on board Argonne (AS-10), circa 1931. He was then serving as Chief of Staff to the Commander, Base Force, U.S. Fleet, Rear Admiral Henry H. Hough, USN. USNHC # NH 50176, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-39 Arizona77kCaptain Franklin Van Valkenburgh, USN; who was awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, for devotion to duty and courage while serving as Commanding Officer of Arizona (BB-39) during the 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor. Halftone reproduction, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1948, The Navy", page 272.USNHC # NH 75840, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-39 Arizona93kCommander Samuel Glenn Fuqua, USN, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism and distinguished conduct in action while serving on board Arizona (BB-39) during the 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor. He was a Lieutenant Commander at that time. Halftone reproduction, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1948, The Navy", page 189.USNHC # NH 92306, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-39 Arizona69kRear Admiral Issac C. Kidd, USN. Portrait in oils by Rishell, 1942. The original painting measures 48 inches by 38 inches. USNHC # NH 85226-KN, courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C.
BB-39 Arizona899kThe forward superstructure and Number Two 14"/45 triple gun turret of the sunken Arizona (BB-39), afire after the Japanese raid, 7 December 1941. The foremast is leaning as a result of the collapse of the hull structure below its front leg, following the explosion of the ship's forward magazines.Text from USNHC # NH 97379, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Photo from NARA FILE #: 080-G-32420, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil, Defense Visual Information Center.
BB-39 Arizona83kArizona (BB-39) sunk and burning furiously, 7 December 1941. Her forward magazines had exploded when she was hit by a Japanese bomb. At left, men on the stern of Tennessee (BB-43) are playing fire hoses on the water to force burning oil away from their ship.Official U.S. Navy Photograph,USNHC # 80-G-19942, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona60kArizona (BB-39) sunk and burning after the Japanese attack, 7 December 1941. Her forward magazines had exploded when she was hit by a Japanese bomb, resulting in the collapse of structure below her two forward turrets and superstructure. The tug Hoga(YT-146) is alongside, fighting fires on board the wrecked battleship.Submitted by Scott Dyben.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-G-32485, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona58kView of "Battleship Row" during or immediately after the Japanese raid. Arizona (BB-39) is sunk and burning at right. West Virginia (BB-48) is in the center, sunk alongside Tennessee (BB-43), with oil fires shrouding them both. The capsized Oklahoma (BB-37) is at the left, alongside Maryland (BB-46).Submitted by Scott Dyben.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-G-32485, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona82kThe forward superstructure and midships gun positions of the sunken Arizona (BB-39) , afire after the Japanese raid, 7 December 1941. At right are the ship's mainmast and boat cranes, which were beyond the areas wrecked by the explosion of her forward magazines.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 97380, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona71kThe sunken Arizona (BB-39) burns following the raid by Japanese carrier aircraft, 7 December 1941. Photographed from the shore of Ford Island. The after gun turrets of Tennessee (BB-43) are faintly visible at the extreme right. One of that ship's motor launches is nearby.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 97381, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona60kSunk and burning at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 7 December 1941, after her forward magazines exploded when she was hit by Japanese bombs. YG-21 is alongside, helping to fight the fires.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 83062, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona84kAftermath of the Japanese sneak attack on these three stricken U.S. battleships; from left to right: West Virginia (BB-48) (severely damaged), Tennessee (BB-43)(damaged), and the Arizona (BB-39)(sunk).NARA #(NLR-PHOCO-A-65458).
BB-39 Arizona91kBurned out and sunk at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, after her fires were out, 9 December 1941. She was destroyed when bombs detonated her forward magazines during the Japanese raid of 7 December 1941. Tern (AM-31) and Navajo (AT-64) are alongside. Solace (AH-5) is in the center distance.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 83063, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona90kA harbor tug (YT) and a garbage lighter (YG) fighting fires on the battleship, after she was sunk at Pearl Harbor by Japanese bombs on 7 December 1941. This photograph may have been taken on the following day.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 97382, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona90kView of the starboard side of the sunken battleship's collapsed foremast and midships area, taken at Pearl Harbor on 9 December 1941, two days after the Japanese attack that destroyed her. A motor whaleboat is at left, apparently carrying an inspection party. On the opposite side of Arizona (BB-39) is Tern (AM-31), spraying water on the still-hot wreckage. Stern of West Virginia (BB-48), also sunk in the Japanese raid, is at right.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 97383, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona103kBurned out and sunk in Pearl Harbor on 10 December 1941, three days after she was destroyed during the 7 December Japanese raid. Ships in the background are Saint Louis (CL-49), in center, and the hulked minelayer Baltimore (CM-1) at left. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 63918, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-39 Arizona89kSunk at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, after her fires were out, 9 December 1941. She was destroyed during the Japanese raid of 7 December 1941. Navajo (AT-64) and Tern (AM-31) are alongside, spraying water to cool her burned out forward superstructure and midships area. In the left center distance are the masts of West Virginia (BB-48) and Tennessee (BB-43). USNHC # NH 83064, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-39 Arizona116kAerial view of "Battleship Row" moorings on the southern side of Ford Island, 10 December 1941, showing damage from the Japanese raid three days earlier. In upper left is the sunken California (BB-44), with smaller vessels clustered around her. Diagonally, from left center to lower right are: Maryland (BB-46), lightly damaged, with the capsized Oklahoma (BB-37) outboard. A barge is alongside Oklahoma, supporting rescue efforts.Tennessee (BB-43), lightly damaged, with the sunken West Virginia (BB-48) outboard. Arizona (BB-39), sunk, with her hull shattered by the explosion of the magazines below the two forward turrets. Note dark oil streaks on the harbor surface, originating from the sunken battleships. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-G-387565, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-39 Arizona159kSalvage work on the Arizona (BB-39) taken in December, 1942. This photo shows the armored conning tower with all of the surrounding bridges, tripod foremast, and supporting superstructure already removed.USN photo.
BB-39 Arizona86kWrecked at Pearl Harbor, 12 December 1941. Her forward magazines had exploded, destroying the ship, when she was hit by bombs during the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack. By the date of this photo, the National Ensign was being flown from her mainmast, rather than at the stern.USNHC # NH 64473, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-39 Arizona44kThe burned-out, sunken wreck of Arizona (BB-39) , photographed some days after the attack.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-G-1021538, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona65kArizona (BB-39) sunk and burning, with the National Ensign still flying at her stern. See 013916b for comparison of placement of flag.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-G-32591, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona134kView of the sunken battleship's forward superstructure, showing damage caused when her forward magazines exploded during the 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The photograph was taken on 17 February 1942, as work began to remove the collapsed wreckage. The crane in the left background was then removing Arizona's mainmast.USNHC # NH 83993, now in the collections of the National Archives.
BB-39 Arizona79kThe toppled, blackened foremast of the Arizona (BB-39) lies on a barge, 6 May, 1942. The foremast, surrounded by dense black smoke, would be one of the enduring images of the attack. But, in the spring of 1942, it was just so much scrap metal to be removed. From the book "Resurrection-Salvaging the Battle Fleet at Pearl Harbor" by Dan Madsen. National Archives photo courtesy of Mike Green.
BB-39 Arizona69kA small boat alongside the water level turrets of the blown up Arizona (BB-39), circa spring of 1942. Photo courtesy of periscopefilm.com.
Photo added 07/12/06.
BB-39 Arizona106kView of 14 inch projectiles being removed from #4 turret. May 18th, 1942.USN photo.
Pearl Harbor106k Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii view looking northward, with the Navy Yard industrial area in the foreground and the Marine Barracks in the lower right, 28 July 1942. Ford Island is at left, with Oklahoma (BB-37) and Arizona (BB-39) under salvage nearby. San Diego (CL-53) is in the upper center.
West Virginia (BB-48) is in Drydock Number One, in the lower left, and California (BB-44) is alongside the wharf at the extreme right. Cruisers alongside the pier in right center are Northampton (CA-26) (left) and Pensacola (CA-24). Submarines alongside 1010 Dock, just beyond Drydock # 1, are Trout (SS-202), Pollack (SS-180), Dolphin (SS-169) and Cachalot (SS-170). Note camouflage on many of the Navy Yard's buildings.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph # NH 84002, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center, courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Collection of The Honorable James V. Forrestal.
BB-39 Arizona96kThe center gun of the Arizona's(BB-39) turret 4 is pulled free on 25 February, 1942. The turret had been rotated toward Ford Island to provide clearance for the gun's removal.From the book "Resurrection-Salvaging the Battle Fleet at Pearl Harbor" by Dan Madsen. National Archives photo courtesy of Mike Green.
BB-37 Oklahoma 161k May 6, 1943 photo taken onboard the Oklahoma (BB-37), looking aft showing her quarterdeck and rear turrets. A good photo showing the still attached cables around both turret barbettes. In the background, the above water remains of the Arizona are all but gone. From the book "Resurrection-Salvaging the Battle Fleet at Pearl Harbor", by Dan Madsen. National Archives photo courtesy of Mike Green.
BB-39 Arizona142kMembers of the diving crew emerge from water-filled compartments of the sunken battleship Arizona (BB-39) at Pearl Harbor, 25 May 1943. They are removing elements of the ships armament and other items for reuse. Arizona had been sunk in the 7 December 1941 Japanese air raid. Her hull was left where she sank, after removal of most of her superstructure and salvage of her after 14" gun turrets and other guns.Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 64303, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
BB-39 Arizona46kArizona's (BB-39) foremast being removed, circa 1943.USN photo.

USS Arizona BB-39 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The Hazegray & Underway Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Ruth Campbell
Address: PO Box 14435 Tucson, AZ, 85732-4435
Phone: 520-529-7494
E-mail: rcmpbll@comcast.net


Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Battleship Pages By Andrew Toppan.
U.S.S. Arizona (BB-39) Web Site at the University Of Arizona

U.S.S. Arizona (BB-39)Facts
by Lorraine E. Marks (Haislip)
Home of the Heros, U.S.S. Arizona

HyperWar Pacific Theater of Operations.
Pearl Harbor Attack: Commander Battle Force Action Report Naval Historical Center

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