Photographic History of the United States Navy
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NavSource Naval History Photographic History of the United States Navy |
DESTROYER ARCHIVE |
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Size | Image Description | Contributed By |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97k | Medal of Honor citation of Water Tender Second Class Elmer Charles Bigelow: "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving on board the U.S.S. Fletcher during action against enemy Japanese forces off Corregidor Island in the Philippines, 14 February 1945. Standing topside when an enemy shell struck the Fletcher, BIGELOW, acting instantly as the deadly projectile exploded into fragments which penetrated the No. 1 gun magazine and set fire to several powder cases, picked up a pair of fire extinguishers and rushed below in a resolute attempt to quell the raging flames. Refusing to waste the precious time required to don rescue-breathing apparatus, he plunged through the blinding smoke billowing out of the magazine hatch and dropped into the blazing compartment. Despite the acrid, burning powder smoke which seared his lungs with every agonizing breath, he worked rapidly and with instinctive sureness and succeeded in quickly extinguishing the fires and in cooling the cases and bulkheads, thereby preventing further damage to the stricken ship. Although he succumbed to his injuries on the following day, BIGELOW, by his dauntless valor, unfaltering skill and prompt action in the critical emergency, had averted a magazine explosion which undoubtedly would have left his ship wallowing at the mercy of the furiously pounding Japanese guns on Corregidor, and his heroic spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death enhanced and sustained the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country." Photo #: NH 77726. Water Tender Second Class Elmer Charles Bigelow, USNR, halftone reproduction of a photograph, published in "Medal of Honor, 1861-1945, The Navy", page 158. Water Tender Bigelow was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in combat action on board USS Fletcher (DD-445) during the Corregidor operation, 14 February 1945. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. | Bill Gonyo | |
| 98k | Undated, location unknown. | - | |
| 55k | Undated, location unknown. | - | |
| 57k | Undated, location unknown. | Joe Radigan | |
| 157k | Undated, location unknown showing her Vulcan Phalanx CIWS mounted forward of her aft turret. | Robert Hurst | |
| 81k | Undated, on a visit to South Africa. | Robert Hurst | |
| 67k | Cheaspeake Bay, July 1964 | © Richard Leonhardt | |
| 57k | USS McCaffery (DD 860) starboard side to USS Bigelow (DD 942) at Kiel, Germany, 1964. Photo taken from Belgian Minesweeper G. Truffant (M 908). Belgian Navy photo. | Joe Radigan | |
| 82k | In Acapulco Harbor August 1967 on the way home from the Vietnam Deployment as viewed from the USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692). | Eric Bollin | |
| 93k | Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, August 31 2002. | Roy J. Brooks | |
| 82k | Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, August 31 2002. | Roy J. Brooks | |
| 11k | Scenes of the sinking of the Bigelow as a target, April 2 2003. | Jim Wimberly | |
| 22k | As above. | Jim Wimberly | |
| 27k | As above. | Jim Wimberly | |
| 51k | Ship's patch | Mike Smolinski | |
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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