Bob Comet-Navy Veteran, Docent, and Friend of the Museum

It is with great sadness that we mourn the lost of Bob Comet. Bob was a docent at the museum who volunteered his time to the art of model ship building. He shared his knowledge and love for the craft with anyone who stopped by his table in the museum gallery.  Bob built several dozen models, many from scratch with just wood, tools, his hands, and a set of original ship plans.  Three of his models, the Revolutionary War brig Fair American, the torpedo boat USS Winslow (TB-5), and the patrol gunboat USS Nashville (PG-7), are on display in the museum gallery.

USS Nashville

Bob Feller

Bob Feller, Hall of Fame baseball player and World War II Navy veteran, died yesterday at the age of 92. Feller was a true American patriot.  Two days after Pearl Harbor was attacked, Feller informed the Cleveland Indians baseball team not to expect him for Spring training as he just enlisted in the Navy.While the Navy gave him the rate of "Chief Specialist Athletic," he wanted to train like any other sailor.  He struck as a gunner's mate and began his training here in Norfolk.  He later served as a 40mm gun captain on the Norfolk-built battleship USS Alabama (BB-60).

 When I started to work on an article about the "NTS Nine," the name of Naval Training Station Norfolk's baseball team in World War II, I got a phone call from Mr. Feller himself.  He had heard through the grapevine that someone wanted to talk to him about his time in the Navy.  He told me he was always more proud of his service in the Navy than his time in the Major Leagues.   Shortly after the interview, he sent me the autographed picture shown above.  

I strongly encourage you to visit our special section on our website to read about Feller's time here in Norfolk and the rest of the Major League players who gave up a life of luxury to serve their country.

Bob Feller and two of his NTS Nine teammates "Ace" Parker (Football Hall of Fame and Portsmouth, Virginia-native) and Sam Chapman (Philadelphia A's all-star outfielder).

Kids' Activities in the Museum

This week, we're coming up with activities for kids to do on a daily basis in our museum gallery. These need to be low-tech, cheap (but fun!) activities that can be available everyday, even if a staff member is not able to run them. For this task, we'd like to get our visitors' input. What do you want to see in our museum for your kids to do? Do you want a variety of activities, from coloring and games for younger kids to more intensive hands-on activities for older kids? Is there anything in particular that, when you've visited our museum--or any museum relating to naval history--your kids have said, "Wow, I really wish I could do [this]?" If so, please let us know! We want to incorporate your ideas into our new low-tech kids' activities so this is truly an area designed by you, our visitors. If you feel uncomfortable sharing your ideas here where everyone can see them, please send them to me at laura.l.orr@navy.mil. We look forward to hearing from you soon, and thanks so much for helping out!

Ranger Receives the War Warning

While on stationed on the Neutrality Patrol, the Norfolk-based aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-4) received this message.

Deleting an Urban Legend on USS Constitution

The Internet is a wonderful tool for distributing information.  Unfortunately, that includes urban legends and misinformation.  You made have seen this e-mail forwarded to your inbox:
---------
Subject: A LITTLE KNOWN TIDBIT

LITTLE KNOWN TIDBIT OF NAVAL HISTORY...

The U. S. S.. Constitution (Old Ironsides), as a combat vessel, carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators (i.e. fresh water distillers).

However, let it be noted that according to her ship's log, "On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water; 7,400 cannon shot; 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum."

Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping."
Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum.

Then she headed for the Azores , arriving there 12 November. . .She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine.

On 18 November, she set sail for England . In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchant ships, salvaging only the rum aboard each.

By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn. Then she headed home.

The U. S. S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whisky, and 38,600 gallons of water.

I told my students, "That’s probably where the expression ‘Sailing the  High Seas originated.’"

GO NAVY!
-----------
Not only is this "forward" full of errors, it is somewhat insulting to the real history of "Old Ironsides."  Here are just a few of the errors:

1) In 1799, the United States was war with France, not England.  The British were actually our unofficial allies in the "Quasi-War" with the French Republic. 
2) The United States Navy moved away from using Jamaican rum as part of the grog ration and moved towards more home grown spirits such as Kentucky whisky.  Captains also had a strict policy against public intoxication.  A sailor found less than sober was often subject to flogging.
3) Speaking of Jamaica, the colony was a major British naval station.  Why would it outfit an American warship during an alleged war with the British?
4) USS Constitution defeated four British warships (Java, Guerriere, Levant, and Cyane) ...in the War of 1812.
5) Having said that, Constitution never raided the home isles.  However, the brig USS Argus did (see the book Fatal Cruise of the Argus). 
6) When a warship captured a merchant ship, the alcohol supply was the last thing on the captain's mind.  Instead, he was looking for goods he could sell when the cruise was over. 

I strongly suggest going to Constitution's website to see more about the real ship.  Better yet, go to Boston and see the ship in person.