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"The Rock" Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor


Eric Queen
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The pencil signature is kind of funky (although I believe period done by one of those authorized to do so) but the image itself is beautifully rendered IMO. This is the original. Water color and ink on poster board.

 

I have seen a few of the printed ones (Disney designed insignia) but the originals seem hard to find.

WD x.jpg

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Very nice! Member Disney Dave is going to like this one! I'm sure this image...or a version of it...features in the book "Disney dons dog-tags", which I have on my shelf. Either that, or a TIME/LIFE book I have on the war under the Pacific which features colour plates of submarine "noseart". I'll take a look later today.

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Outstanding example of Disney art.

Thanks much for sharing.

Bob

BTW- Came upon this image in my files that I thought you might enjoy.

 

post-6249-0-09529900-1387388867.jpg

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Thanks. Here's another one.

 

I guess the parachute represents the fact that during one of their patrols they picked up a downed pilot (?)

rock.jpg

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vintageproductions

Eric-That is a great image.

Some day I will get you down to the showroom and you can see my wall of origina Disney art boards and other original Squadron patch art boards.

Bob

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Super piece. That one was created by Disney artist Hank Porter and the Walt Disney signature was signed by Porter too - he was one of a few artists authorized to sign Walt's scriptive signature on items.

 

The studio created around 40 sub designs during the war. I own around 26 pencil drawings of insignia created by Porter as well as three pieces of finished art executed in watercolor. I have the pencil art for the subs USS Barracuda, and USS Sailfish, and for the HMCS Forest Hill, a Flower-class Canadian corvette that performed anti-sub patrols. Most of the Disney art created for submarines featured the fish the sub was named after.

 

As a side note, I am currently writing an article on Disney sub designs for the San Diego Maritime Museum. The article will appear in their May 2014 magazine.

 

Sabrejet...the art is on page 52 of Disney Dons Dogtags an it appeared in a Hank Porter story published in the March 17, 1944 Alaska edition of Yank.

 

Eric - where did you find that illustration...the one mentioning the design was Disney in origin...very cool.

 

Here's the entry for the Rock that I found in my database:

 

USS Rock SS-274

 

Named after a striped bass found along the Atlantic Coast.

 

Commissioned October 1943.

 

First war patrol engaged an enemy convoy. Scored no hits and sustained major damage to her periscopes and bridge. Returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs. Second patrol cruised the Tokyo Bay area. Third patrol joined the USS Tilefish and USS Sawfish as an attack group. Rock was credited with damaging two tankers, two transports and a freighter. Fourth patrol scored three hits on a tanker. Fifth patrol rescued a downed pilot. Sixth patrol rescued 15 merchant seaman, was attacked by an enemy plane and struck by a “dud” torpedo, and engaged and presumably sank a destroyer. Sailed to San Francisco for an overhaul and on the return trip to Pearl Harbor learned of the cessation of hostilities.

 

Decommissioned September 1969 and sold for scrap in August 1972. Earned four battle stars.

 

Insignia created: circa 1943

Description: fish wearing a tar hat and boxing gloves

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Those battle flags remind me of a funny story. When I used to have a real job I worked for Northrop Grumman directly supporting a Navy command on Point Loma, in San Diego. One day we had a farewell for the Japanese exchange officer (a super nice guy, btw). The farewell was down at the Sub base club, in one of the function rooms. The room was decorated with, wait for it, WWII submarine battle flags showing how many Japanese ships they had sunk! He had the decency to not notice.

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Thanks for the information Dave. I appreciate it.

 

That B/W illustration of "the rock" is pretty cool but it is not mine. Something I found on the internet (let me know if you want the link as it would seem you cannot copy/paste here )

 

Here is another nice one which was part of the same auction. I tried to get this one also but had to step away when it went over 3K.

 

 

xx.jpg

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Yes, I saw this one in the auction too...Heritage if I recall. The above design is for USS Parche. This was also a Porter design. While I haven't taken the time to document this sub's history, here's the info I currently have of her in my database:

 

USS Parche SS-384

Named after a small butterfly fish, known for its ability to swim in and around coral heads and reefs. The Parche can swim through intricate passages upside down or on its side. Commissioned November 1943.

 

Insignia created: January 1944

Description: mermaid guiding a fish

 

And here's the pencil drawing the art was created from:

 

blog parche.JPG

 

 

 

 

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