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Summer 1944 / Shakedown Cruise
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| Click On Image For Full Size Image |
Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
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12k | Great Seal of the State of Missouri. | Courtesy of Ed Gray. | |
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108k | Driving the first rivet, during keel laying ceremonies at the New York Navy Yard, 6 January 1941. Rear Admiral Clark Woodward, Commandant of the Navy Yard, (second from right) did the honors on this occasion. | USNHC # NH 96796. | |
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141k | The Missouri (BB-63) as seen on 3 October 1941. She had been laid down on 6 January and her bottom plating is nearly finished. Most of the workers in the center of the ship are standing on the middle layer of the triple bottom. The keelson projects aft toward the water and on each side of the keelson can be seen the supports for the two inboard propeller shafts. | U. S. Navy photo & text from the book "THE IOWA CLASS BATTLESHIPS" by Malcom Muir, ISBN # 0-8069-8338-8, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York, NY 1991, submitted by Mike Green. | |
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211k | The Missouri (BB-63) is shown in mid-1942 with the engines and boilers in place and the torpedo defense system taking shape amidships. Segments of the lower main armor belt are visible. The keyway for fitting the upper belt and the adjacent plates of the lower belt can be seen. Also visible is the welded scalloped butt straps vertically joining the lower belt plates. | U. S. Navy photo from the book "IOWA CLASS BATTLESHIPS-Their Design, Weapons and Equipment" by Robert F. Sumrall & Tom Walkowiak, submitted by Mike Green. | |
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161k | The Missouri (BB-63) is seen in mid-1943 at the New York Navy Yard. The side tanks of the torpedo defense system are visible along with the lower armor belt, with its 19 degree inclination. This belt also serves as Torpedo Bulkhead No. 4. The structure in the left foreground is the bow assembly, being constructed and readied for installation when the hull assembly reaches that point. | U. S. Navy photo from the book "IOWA CLASS BATTLESHIPS-Their Design, Weapons and Equipment" by Robert F. Sumrall & Tom Walkowiak, submitted by Mike Green. | |
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141k | The Missouri (BB-63) is shown in November 1943, only two months before launching. The hull is complete up to the main deck and much of the superstructure is in frame. Amid the maze of scaffolding, air hoses and welding leads, splinter protection for the light weight anti-aircraft battery (quad 40mm) is being installed and the teak deck is being laid. | U. S. Navy photo from the book "IOWA CLASS BATTLESHIPS-Their Design, Weapons and Equipment" by Robert F. Sumrall & Tom Walkowiak, submitted by Mike Green. | |
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371k | The New York Navy Yard's newspaper "Shipworker" with the lead story of the day,the launching of the Missouri (BB-63), at the New York Navy Yard on 29 January 1944. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
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32k | Ticket for the launching of the Missouri (BB-63), at the New York Navy Yard on 29 January 1944. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
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150k | Cover of the Launch Bulletin for the Missouri (BB-63), at the New York Navy Yard on 29 January 1944. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
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64k | Christening champagne bottle, silver bottle cover and wooden case, prepared for the ship's launching, which took place at the New York Navy Yard on 29 January 1944. | Photograph USNHC # 19-N-73093, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. | |
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88k | Miss Margaret Truman, Missouri's (BB-63) Sponsor, ready to christen the ship, during launching ceremonies at the New York Navy Yard, 29 January 1944. Looking on are (left to right): Rear Admiral Monroe R. Kelly, New York Navy Yard Commandant; Rear Admiral Sherman S. Kennedy, USN, and Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri, the Sponsor's father. | Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-G-44891, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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85k | View of the ship's bow, as she is prepared for launching at the New York Navy Yard, 29 January 1944. Note anchors and launching drag chains. | USNHC # NH 45920. | |
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107k | Sliding down the ways, during her launching at the New York Navy Yard, 29 January 1944. | USNHC # NH 45923. | |
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115k | Approaching the end of the building ways as she is launched, 29 January 1944, at the New York Navy Yard. | USNHC # NH 45925. | |
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85k | Entering the water for the first time, during her launching at the New York Navy Yard, 29 January 1944. Note anchors and launching drag chains. | USNHC # NH 45921. | |
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87k | New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York. Aerial photograph, taken 9 March 1944. Missouri (BB-63) is fitting out in the center. Carrier at the bottom is probably Bennington (CV-20). | USNHC # NH 93234. | |
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194k | Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for Camouflage Measure 32, Design 22D intended for battleships of the BB-61 / 64 class.
Missouri (BB-63) wore this pattern. This plan, showing the ship's starboard side, superstructure ends, and exposed decks, is dated 18 May 1944 and was approved by Commander Arthur W. Colledge, USNR. |
Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-109729, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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138k | Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for Camouflage Measure 32, Design 22D intended for battleships of the BB-61 / 64 class.
Missouri (BB-63) wore this pattern. This plan, showing the ship's port side is dated 18 May 1944 and was approved by Commander Arthur W. Colledge, USNR. |
Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-109730, now in the collections of the National Archives. | |
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97k | Cover of the Commissioning Booklet for the Missouri (BB-63), 11 June 1944. | Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. | |
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106k | Crewmen and other attendees salute the colors, as the ship is placed in commission. Ceremonies were held at the New York Navy Yard on 11 June 1944. Photographed from the battleship's after deck, with 16-inch gun turret Number Three in the foreground. | USNHC # NH 96795. | |
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106k | Commissioning ceremonies, at the New York Navy Yard, 11 June 1944. Photographed looking aft from atop her Number Three 16-inch gun turret. | Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-G-K-3858, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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143k | Missouri (BB-63) and the Wisconsin (BB-64) were completed with enclosed square-faced bridges like this one. There were no baffles, but glass windshields could be raised to protect both primary and secondary conning positions. Note the siren bracketed to the side of the forward fire control tower, and the small Mark 27 radar that replaced the Mark 3 of earlier battleships atop the conning tower. Abaft it is a 36-inch searchlight. The newly completed Missouri is shown at the NYNY on 23 July 1944. | Photo and text courtesy of U.S. Battleships: An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. | |
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418k | Main deck of the Missouri (BB-63) looking aftfrom 20mm platform on stem ahead. 23 July 1944 at the New York Navy Yard. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
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400k | Port side looking inboard showing whaleboat davit stowage, 23 July 1944 at the New York Navy Yard. For a closer look at whaleboat davit stowage, see the following PDF file and photos here |
USN photo # F1112C197 courtesy of Pieter Bakels. Photo added 03/13/08 | |
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440k | Looking aft at # 2 stack & main mast from pilot house top level, 23 July 1944 at the New York Navy Yard. | USN photo # F1112C210 courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
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391k | Main deck looking forward from the stern, 23 July 1944 at the New York Navy Yard. | USN photo # F1112C215 courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
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297k | Main deck of the Missouri (BB-63) port side looking aft & outboard at whaleboat storage. 23 July 1944 at the New York Navy Yard. | USN photo # F1112C219 courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
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83k | In New York Harbor, 30 July 1944, with the barge Cleary Bros. No. 76 alongside and ship's boats moored astern. Note camouflage pattern painted on her deck. | Photograph USNHC # 19-N-68799, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. | |
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91k | In New York Harbor, 30 July 1944, with a barge alongside. She is wearing 32/22D camo pattern. | Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-G-190546, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. Photo i.d. courtesy of Aryeh Wetherhorn. | |
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267k | A 350-ton Hammerhead Crane alongside the Missouri (BB-63) helps put the finishing touches on her. | Drawing courtesy of artbywayne.com | |
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265k | July 1944 photo of the Missouri (BB-63) wearing her dazzle paint pattern. She is wearing 32/22D camo pattern. Note the OS2U Kingfisher scout plane in flight above her after 16" turret. | Official USN photo from the Public Information Office, 3rd Naval District, 90 Church Street, N.Y. 7, N.Y., File # 2255-1 courtesy of David Buell. Photo i.d. courtesy of Aryeh Wetherhorn. | |
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107k | At anchor in this July, 1944 photo. All radars in this photo have been erased by the wartime censor. | USN photo. | |
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129k | Missouri (BB-63) at anchor in Chesapeake Bay after commissioning. A good detail shot of the forward deck/superstructure area. Noticeable atop #2 turret is a quad 40mm gun mount. Except for the Iowa (BB-61), all of the class were completed with a mount at this location. The Iowa was designed as a Fleet Flagship, like the South Dakota (BB-57). The Iowa was completed with a 20mm gun array on #2 turret so as not to block the view of the flag bridge, located below the conning bridge station. The Iowa was large enough and not restricted by treaty conditions, so she carried ten 5"/38 caliber twin mounts, like the others in the class. | USN photo. | |
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229k | Stern view of the Missouri (BB-63) underway, 1944. | U.S. Navy Photograph, courtesy of John Hummel, photo i.d. courtesy of Benjamin F. Graves. | |
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99k | Missouri (BB-63) on gunnery trials on Chesapeake Bay in August, 1944. The three in-flight shells fired from #3 turret are visible in the upper left of the photo. This photo was officially released in December, 1944, one month after the ship had left for the Pacific War zone. | USN photo courtesy of Mike Green. | |
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111k | Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia. Warships at the Base piers, circa August 1944. Among them are: Missouri (BB-63), the largest ship; Alaska (CB-1), on the other side of the pier; Croatan (CVE-25), and destroyers of the Fletcher and "Four-Pipe, Flush-Deck" classes at the next pier. | Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # 80-G-190547, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. | |
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250k | Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia. Missouri (BB-63) at the Base piers, circa August 1944. | USN photo courtesy of Pieter Bakels. | |
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.
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