USS Wisconsin Veteran's Photos, 1953-55, Part 1

We recently received copies of photographs taken by a veteran of the battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64). He served on the ship from 1953 to 1955 and took these remarkable color photographs with a camera his father gave him right before he shipped out. In 1953, Wisconsin went to Japan before returning to Norfolk, then she headed out to sea again for training exercises and midshipmen cruises in 1954 and '55.

Unfortunately, we have not been able to identify many of the pictures and we would appreciate any help you can provide. Please comment if you can provide any further insight into these images!

Sixteen-inch shells being loaded on board Wisconsin, Sasebo, Japan, 1953

Setting up for divine services on Wisconsin's fantail, Sasebo, Japan, 1953

After being relieved by Wisconsin as flagship of the 7th Fleet,
USS New Jersey (BB-62) begins her long trek home to Norfolk. 

Here is one of our mystery photos- We think this is Wisconsin
at Pier 4, Naval Station Norfolk, 1954. What do you think?

Here is a rare shot of a submarine coming alongside a battleship!  Specifically,
this is USS Grenadier (SS-525). The story behind this encounter was that the
submarine needed cash to make payroll. So, she surfaced and came alongside
Wisconsin to ask for money. 

USS Furst (DD-882) coming alongside Wisconsin.  We think
this was taken in 1953.

Here is another mystery photo- All we know is that the sailor took<
the picture from Wisconsin in the 1950s.We got an answer! This ship is the
destroyer escort USS Tweedy (DE-532) in June 1953.

Ship Models of USS Guadalcanal and Pillsbury Capturing U-505

The Escort Carrier Sailors and Airmen Association recently donated this large diorama depicting the celebrated capture of the German submarine U-505 by a Norfolk-based hunter/killer group. In this diorama are the escort carrier USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60) with her air wing, the destroyer escort USS Pillsbury (DE-133), and the type IX U-boat U-505. It is currently on display in the museum's Battle of the Atlantic gallery.


The Association has donated ship models and dioramas to several museums and historic sites to educate the public about the role of the U.S. Navy's escort carriers and their air wings in World War II. This model is the second model the Association has donated to HRNM. In 2009, it donated a model of USS Santee (CVE-29).

Captain Daniel Gallery, commanding
officer of Guadalcanal, is shown on
U-505's tower.

The capture of U-505 is considered to be one of the U.S. Navy's greatest moments in its history. During World War II, the U.S. Navy succeeded in sinking several U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic, but never captured one. Guadalcanal and her five escorts Pillsbury, Pope (DE-134), Flaherty (DE-135), Chatelain (DE-149), and Jenks (DE-665) left Norfolk on May 15, 1944, with the intent of capturing one.

The group detected and forced U-505 to the surface near the Cape Verde Islands on June 4. A boarding team from Pillsbury stormed aboard U-505 and secured the boat from sinking. The team not only secured the boat, but also seized several dozen classified documents, including code books. A more detailed account of the action can be found at our parent command's website.

After the war, the Navy donated U-505 to the City of Chicago, where she is on display at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Ship's Company, USS Albert T. Harris (DE-447)

This is the graduation picture for the ship's company of USS Albert T. Harris (DE-447) at Naval Station Norfolk, 1944. After taking this picture, the company travelled to Newark, New Jersey to meet their new ship at Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company.

One of Naval Station's primary roles in World War II was serving as the Navy's finishing school for destroyer escort companies. These little warships were one many innovations created by the Allies to combat U-boats. Though not as effective as full size fleet destroyers and lightly armed, destroyers escorts could be built quickly and filled a critical gap in anti-submarine escort needs for convoys.