Miss Alice Wright-Mann at Christening and Launch of the U.S.S. West Virginia
Date:
1921/11/19
Description:
Alice Wright-Mann, of Mercer County, is pictured with a large bouquet of flowers and what appears to be a bottle of champagne.Ms. Wright-Mann sponsored the battleship which was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. of Newport News, Va. Wright-Mann was the daughter of a millionaire coalmine operator, Isaac T. Mann.
Miss Alice Wright-Mann, third from left holding a large bouquet and bottle, poses with a group on the battleship. The rest of the subjects are unidentified.Alice Wright-Mann, of Mercer County, sponsored the battleship which was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. of Newport News, Va. Wright-Mann was the daughter of a millionaire coalmine operator, Isaac T. Mann.
Captain Thomas J. Senn of the U. S. S. West Virginia
Date:
1923
Description:
Caption reads, "Captain Thomas J. Senn, U. S. N., who has been placed in command of the new battleship U. S. S. West Virginia, the largest ship of itS kind in the U. S. or any other navy. The ship was placed in commission at the Norfolk Navy Yard, December 1."
Whale boat crew that won a race near San Pedro, California, on February 4, 1934 with a time of 16 minutes, 7 seconds. William Hand is identified as front row, far right.
Portraits of the men in the U.S.S. West Virginia's S Division, which handled supply, disbursing, and commissary. All photos are identified with last name and first initials. Several of the men are also identified by nickname. William Hand is at bottom center.
A sailor stands in the boat while it's being raised by the battleship's crane. The "punt" boat was used only to paint the sides of the ship. The boat pictured on the far left is a whale boat, which is used as a life boat and is also used in racing. The boat on the right is called a "racing cutter" and is also used as a life boat and in cutter racing.
U.S.S. West Virginia Sailors Hoist Their Glasses at Monkey Bar, Pearl Harbor, HI
Date:
1941/12/06
Description:
L to R: Jack Miller, Frank Kosa, Clifford Olds.Olds and 2 other crew members , Ronald Endicott and Louis Costin were trapped in a sealed compartment in the West Virginia's bow after it sank on December 7th. Any rescue attempt meant certain death. The 3 stayed alive until December 24th according to a marked calendar found with their bodies which were recovered after the ship was raised from the harbor bottom in May, 1942.
U.S.S. West Virginia Sinking after Pearl Harbor Attack, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Date:
1941/12/07
Description:
On the left, only the top deck and caged masts of the U.S.S. West Virginia can be seen. The U.S.S. West Virginia was hit with nine bombs and torpedoes total. In the center is the U.S.S. Arizona and on the right is the U.S.S. Tennessee. All ships are on fire.
Aerial Photograph taken from Japanese Plane during Attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Date:
1941/12/07
Description:
The photograph was taken at the beginning of the attack. The explosion seen in the center of the photograph is a torpedo that struck the U.S.S. West Virginia.
Damaged Battleships following Japanese Attack, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Date:
1941/12/07
Description:
Smoke billows from the U.S.S. West Virginia, which is pictured in the back and center of the photograph. The ship eventually sank.Floating on the left is the U.S.S. Maryland. On the right is a capsized U.S.S. Oklahoma.
Fern Evan's husband, GM3e Woodrow W. Evans was killed aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, leaving Fern to support herself and their 20 month old son. Subsequently, Mrs. Evans was employed at a West Coast aircraft plant. She's shown here working on a radio bracket for a bomber.
Salvaging Operations aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Date:
1942/05/05
Description:
The U.S.S. West Virginia looks battered and wounded while docked at the naval shipyard. The "Wee Vee" was hit by nine bombs and torpedoes by the Japanese warplanes during the December 7th attack.
"This port quarter shot of the W. Va. taken from the capsized Oklahoma, shows a general view of the damage to the W. Va., sunk in the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941."The U.S.S. Tennessee is visible behind the sunken U.S.S. West Virginia. Part of the U.S.S. Oklahoma is visible in the foreground.
U.S.S. West Virginia in Dry Dock, Pearl Harbor, Hi.
Date:
1943/05/25
Description:
"The W. Va. is shown as she was photographed at a dry dock in Pearl Harbor. The battleship was severely damaged in the Japanese raid Dec. 7, 1941. Damages to her sides are visible."
Seaman William Wright and Female in Hula Skirt, Pearl Harbor, Hi.
Date:
1944
Description:
Wright, left, is pictured with an unidentified woman on his lap. Photos are from an album belonging to a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Unidentified Crew Member of the U.S.S. West Virginia
Date:
1944-45
Description:
A man likely named Al is pictured on the ship. Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Unidentified Crew Member of U.S.S. West Virginia, Pacific Theater
Date:
1944-45
Description:
Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
Two sailors pose together for a photo. The man on the right is likely named Al. Photos are from an album belonging to a member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
The two men in the photo are sitting on top of or near one of the gun turrets on the ship. Photos are from an album belonging to a crew member of the U.S.S. West Virginia. William Wright, Radio Technician 2C, was on the ship from 1944-45 and saw action at Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
U.S.S. West Virginia Landing Vehicle Headed for Okinawa Beaches
Date:
1945/04
Description:
Troops loaded into landing vehicles head for the beaches of Okinawa as part of the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific theater during World War II. The U.S.S. West Virginia is pictured in the background.
U.S.S. West Virginia in dry dock, likely in Newport News, Va. during construction. The keel was laid down in April 1920, and the ship was launched in November 1921.
Crew members pal around during the crossing initiation ceremony, where sailors who have never crossed the equator before are "brought before Neptune" and tested.
