| USS West Virginia (BB-48) underway, en route to the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, for reconstruction. The Pearl Harbor Navy Yard had just finished temporary repair of the damage she had received in the Japanese attack of 7 December 1941. Captain Homer N. Wallin (December 6, 1893 – March 6, 1984), Material Officer for Commander, Battle Force, United States Pacific Fleet, directed the Pearl Harbor ship salvage effort, a huge task that enabled the navy to recover the use of 3 sunken battleships and many other damaged warships. In his memoirs, he recounted the resurrection and refit of USS West Virginia: “The Navy Yard’s design and planning specialties were important to the success of salvaging West Virginia. Various shops also applied their talents to the work. Without them the operation of air compressors and ventilation blowers would have been greatly handicapped.” “The Navy was fortunate indeed to once again have the personnel and the experience of the Pacific Bridge Company. Their abilities in diving work and in design and installation of the patches was an achievement which excited the admiration of all. Without them the work could not have been done. Gratitude was expressed to [Vice President] Andrew E. “Jack” Graham (July 26, 1891 – December 1, 1958), James A. Ginella (March 15, 1901 – December 27, 1967), Les Freeman, and Bertrand N. Rice (July 21, 1902 – July 19, 1983) who handled the outside work and to Frederick W. Crocker (July 24, 1905 – February 13, 1999) and James Foster (???? – ????) who did so magnificently in design.” “The Salvage Division itself was on the job constantly. No harder worker or more devoted man could be found than Lieutenant Wilfred L. Painter (May 26, 1908 – July 10, 1949) who had been in charge of USS California (BB-44) work, and who relieved Lieutenant Emile C. Generaux (April 24, 1909 – January 16, 1974) so he could take the USS Plunger (SS-179) job. [After returning to Pearl Harbor after her first war patrol, Plunger was drydocked on the Marine Railway at Pearl Harbor for repairs when, on February 17, 1942, she slid off the trolley and onto the dock floor. She was salvaged and refloated, after some effort, and returned to service.] Lieutenant Painter was everywhere and spread enthusiasm and initiative. He was a civil engineer rather than a ship man. He was killed in Greece [actually Washington, District of Columbia] after the war by a [gasoline] explosion aboard a private yacht [Motorboat Halcyon]. His loss was a real one to his profession.” “Other Salvage Division officers who stood out were Lieutenant Commander Charles W. Rhodes (July 12, 1898 – September 4, 1971), a machinery and electrical expert; Lieutenant James W. Darroch (February 4, 1912 – December 29, 2005), Lieutenant Earl H. Liedstrand (July 28, 1913 – Oct. 2, 2008) Lieutenant Wilbert M. Bjork (April 20, 1913 – August 2, 1980), and Ensign Edgar S. Beauchamp-Nobbs (April 15, 1916 – March 22, 2004), acting as Lieutenant Painter desired, especially in the installation of patches, the setting of pumps: opening of drain lines, and ventilation. During this time Commander James A. McNally (July 4, 1903 – October 1, 1977), [Chief of Preservation and Identification,] spent only a small portion of his time aboard ship, but he was always active in reconditioning mechanical and electrical machinery.” “Some reference has been made to the work of divers. Without them it would have been impossible to salvage USS West Virginia. They performed hazardous work, both inside and outside, without a casualty. These men came from the Salvage Division, West Virginia, USS Widgeon (AM-22), the Submarine Base, the contractor, and the Navy Yard. In all, from January to June 1942, 527 dives were made totaling nearly 1,400 hours. Nearly half of the hours underwater were done by the contractor Pacific Bridge Company. Credit for the fine record achieved goes to the meticulous officer in charge of all diving, Lieutenant Commander Howard E. Haynes (January 27, 1889 – April 8, 1963) and his assistants who were Bosun Aubra Calhoun (July 25, 1910 – August 14, 1980), Chief Shipfitter John M. Ephland (April 21, 1909 – December 28, 1973), and Chief Turret Captain Garland M. “Jack” Suggs (September 26, 1903 – October 2, 1996).” [All Master Divers.] “In drydock, West Virginia received the attention of the Navy Yard. It was agreed that the ship could be undocked to make way for any battle casualty, but none appeared. The electric-drive machinery was the governing job, so final repairs in lieu of temporary repairs were possible in most cases. The Navy Yard did a great deal of work on West Virginia before her departure for the Puget Sound Navy Yard.” “She sailed under her own power, as was the habit of Pearl Harbor’s sunken ships. She was modernized by the Puget Sound Navy Yard with greater torpedo protection, increased stability and floatability, and a vastly improved anti-aircraft battery.” “West Virginia left the Puget Sound Navy Yard on July 4, 1944, and took up the fight with the Japanese at the famous Battle of Surigao Strait where she poured ninety-three sixteen-inch (406 millimeter) projectiles into the Japanese Fleet. Before this she helped the landings at Leyte by bombardment. Later she took part as flagship in the Mindoro Operation, and still later she participated at Luzon, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. She was present on September 2, 1945 when the Japanese surrendered formally on board Missouri. West Virginia was he first of the ‘old’ battleships to steam into Tokyo Bay and to anchor off the Japanese capital. Such is the history of the ship which was ‘lost’ on December 7 at Pearl Harbor. She had won five battle stars.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii1913.jpg |
| Image Size | 2.31 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5672 x 4438 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | April 30, 1943 |
| Location | Pearl Harbor |
| City | Oahu |
| State or Province | Hawaii |
| Country | United States |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-G-K-571 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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