| Original caption from the Minneapolis Star Tribune on December 3, 1944: “Under the impressive sixteen-inch guns of the after turret, members of the ship’s company and guests are massed on the fantail in this view of the commissioning ceremony of the Missouri at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Across the East River in the background is the New York skyline. The Missouri’s main armament is nine sixteen-inch guns. In addition it has twenty five-inchers and 128 light anti-aircraft guns. (More than half its crew is needed simply to man the guns.) Other interesting facts about the giant battlewagon are these: it has eighteen decks (that means it is eighteen stories high), and seven of these are below water; at sea the Missouri will displace enough water to flood forty-six acres of land. Keel of the Missouri, which was completed nine months ahead of schedule, was laid January 6, 1941.” Commissioning ceremonies of USS Missouri (BB-63), at the New York Navy Yard. Photographed looking aft from atop her Number 19-inch (406 millimeter) gun turret. The 4th USS Missouri (BB-63) to serve in the United States Navy was laid down January 6, 1941; launched January 29, 1944; and commissioned June 11, 1944, with Captain William M. Callaghan (August 8, 1897 – July 8, 1991) in command. There were 2,451 “plank owners” — sailors who were assigned to the crew at the commissioning. At the ship’s launch on January 29, 1944, the ship’s Sponsor was Margaret M. “Mary” Truman (February 17, 1924 – January 29, 2008), daughter of then-senator from Missouri, Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) who was also attending. Jane T. Lingo (September 7, 1924 – February 23, 2007) acted as Maid of Honor. All 3 were on the platform when the bottle was broken to christen the ship and send it down the ways into the East River. In his comments at the time, Truman said, “The time is surly coming when the people of Missouri can thrill with pride as the Missouri and her sister ships, with batteries blazing, sail into Tokyo Bay.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii1938.jpg |
| Image Size | 2.60 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5748 x 4494 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | June 11, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | New York |
| State or Province | New York |
| Country | United States |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-G-K-3858 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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